Fun activities for CAE classes
Word formation game (courtesy of a colleague of mine)
If you have an IWB, this is really easy to make and reuse. If not, it can also be drawn up quickly on the
normal whiteboard. In this activity students work in teams to write down as many different correct
forms of a word as possible. I have them using mini-whiteboards in pairs, but they could also just write
their answers on paper.
Create a grid on the board/flipchart like this:
If you're using an IWB create a bank of word stems around the central grid, which you can drag onto
the grid, or else just write 6 word stems in the boxes to start the game. Look at CAE Word Formation
tasks for the best words to use. See picture.
Now you're ready to play!
1) Drag 6 words onto the grid.
2) Ask a student to roll a dice, or use the one on the IWB. This will determine the word students
will work with in this round.
3) Set the timer for a minute, or use your watch.
4) Students have to write down as many different forms of that word as possible within the time
limit.
5) Check students' answers, and award +1 point for every correct word, but -1 for every misspelt
or nonexistent word.
6) Change the word you've just used for another from the bank, and start the next round.