TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES The Explanation Game

Activity Type Introduction

Reading and speaking This fun 'be going to' and present continuous board game is
activity, group work perfect for reviewing future plans and arrangements.

Procedure
Language Focus
Tell the students that they are going to play a board game where
Present continuous for
they invent future plans and arrangements using 'be going to' and
arrangements
the present continuous.
'be going to' for future
plans Divide the students into groups of three or four.

Explaining with 'so' and Give each group a copy of the game board, a dice and counters.
'because'
All the students place their counters on the start square.

Aim Students take it in turns to roll the dice and move their counter
along the board.
To complete sentences
and phrases with
When a student lands on a square, they read the sentence or
explanations about future
phrase and invent an ending by explaining their future plans or
plans and arrangements.
arrangements to the group using 'be going to' or the present
continuous, e.g. 'I don't have much money so I'm going to get a
part-time job at the mall'.
Preparation
Make one copy of the If you want to make the game harder, tell the students that they
game board for each must talk for 30 seconds, so they produce a number of sentences
group of three or four. based on the situation or topic.
Enlarge to A3 if possible.
Also, provide a dice and The other students in the group judge the student's explanation
counters for each group. and use of future forms.

If the response is appropriate, the student stays on the square.

Level
If a student makes a mistake or cannot think of an explanation,
Intermediate (B1)
they go back to their previous square.

Time If the other students are unsure, they can ask you for help.

25 minutes The first student to reach the finish square wins the game.

As an alternative, you could have the students miss a turn instead

of going back to their previous square.

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 FUTURE PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES The Explanation Game

34 33 32
I have to be at the I don't understand
FINISH Next weekend... airport at 3 p.m. my English
because... homework so...

28 29 30 31
I'm nervous about The house is a mess I'm very happy
Tomorrow morning...
tomorrow because... so... because...

27 26 25 24
Move forward I can't meet you I need to start doing It's a lovely day
3 spaces tomorrow because... more exercise so... outside so...

20 21 22 23
I want to improve I'm moving house Tonight at eight,
I'm very tired so...
my English so... because... I'm...

19 18 17 16
I need to go Go back I'm meeting my best
Next month... 1 space
shopping because... friend after class...

12 13 14 15
I have to wake up
I'm not feeling very I've just booked my
early tomorrow After class...
well so... holiday...
because...

11 10 9 8
It's Joshua’s birthday My car's broken Go back to the I have a busy day
tomorrow so... down again so... start tomorrow because...

4 5 6 7
Go forward I'm so excited I can't come to class
2 spaces Next year...
because... tomorrow because...

3 2 1
On Saturday I don't have much
afternoon...
After breakfast ...
money so... START

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