The Mystery Box Lesson Level: High School Description: This is a tactile learning activity in which students describe objects placed into a “mystery box” using only their sense of touch. Instructions: 1. Before doing this lesson, prepare a medium size cardboard box to use as the mystery box by cutting a hand-sized whole in the lid. 2. Before class, place 10 to 20 small objects with labels around the classroom. Objects should be things that have a distinct texture or are otherwise easily identifiable by sense of touch. I use things like a banana, a wet sponge, a pinecone, a feather, a ball of cotton, and bubble wrap. But use whatever you like. 3. Inform students that they will learn to describe objects based on their sense of touch. 4. Go over a list of tactile vocabulary with students. In my lessons, I put the vocabulary list at the top of a worksheet I hand out with the lesson. But use whatever means you like to present students with the information. These are the words I use: Hard かたい Soft 柔らかい Rough 粗い Smooth なめらか Slimy ヌルヌル Sticky 粘い Thick 厚い Thin 薄い Big 大きい Small 小さい Long 長い Short 短い Fluffy フワフワ Round 円形 Flat 平らな Sharp するどい Light 軽い Heavy 重い Dry 乾いている Wet 濡れている Plastic プラスチック Metal 金属 Solid 固形の Liquid 液状の 5. Ask students to go around the room, feel each object, and then write a description of it using as many of the words from the lesson vocabulary list as they can. For example, in describing a banana, students could say, “It’s long, smooth, and dry.” 6. After students have written descriptions for each object, collect all the objects and ask them to return to their desks. 7. Tell students that they will play a game and ask them to make teams with 2 – 4 people, depending on the size of the class. Give each team a name, or ask them to come up with their own, and write the team names on the board. 8. Secretly place one object into the mystery box. 9. Explain the game: One student at a time will come to the front of the class. In low-level classes, allow students to bring their papers up with them. The student will place his or her hand into the box, feel the object, and describe it for the rest of the class. Other students guess which object is in the box by saying, “Is it a ____________?” The first student to get the correct answer wins a point for his team. The student who described the object also wins a point for his team. Repeat with a new object and student. 10. Play the game for a while using the objects for which students have already written descriptions on their papers. Once students have become comfortable with this, switch to using mystery objects that students have not yet seen. I try to use objects that are obvious for the feeler to discern and are either funny or strange. Student favorites have been cooked soba, a whole goya, and a roll of toilet paper. They tend to get really excited and nervous about putting their hands into the box at this point. I award double or triple points for this round.