Digital Play

By kylemawer 　http://digitalplay.info/blog/2010/01/an-annotated-game-for-reading/

Level: Pre-intermediate

Time: 30 minutes

Preparation: Just before the class goes into the computer room open up two internet explorer windows.  On one window get the game ‘Hamster rescue’ ready so it’s ready to start.  In the other window open up a copy of the annotated walkthrough. Be prepared to show the class the opening screenshot of the game (see below) either as a printed copy or by connecting online.

Game: Hamster rescue is a point-and-click game where you have to help the hamster escape from his cage.  Various objects on the screen need to be collected and sometimes combined in order for the hamster to escape.

Opening screenshot of the game ‘Hamster Rescue’

Pregaming activity

Show your learners the opening screenshot of the game ‘Hamster Rescue’ for 1 minute and then ask them to write down from memory a list of the things they saw.  Learners swap lists and then you show them the screenshot again.  Feedback on the items in the screenshot.  Learners give one point for each item on their partner’s list that is in the picture.  Cover any new vocabulary items.

Playing

In the computer room show your learners the walkthrough and tell them that this activity is a race.  In pairs they have to play the game using the walkthrough to help them complete the game as quickly as possible.  Point out that some of the words in the walkthrough are underlined and in blue:

If they don’t know what one of these underlined blue words mean they can click on it and see a picture of it.  For example if you click on the first annotated wor ‘paperclip’ you get this image:

The first pair to finish the game gets less homework.

Post Play

Tell your learners that foir homework they have to play a game.  Tell them they will have to use two windows like today – one to play the game and the other for the walkthrough.  Direct them to this page and ask them to play two of the other games.  The link to the game can be reached by clicking on the title and the walkthrough link is highlighted below the picture.  The pair that finished the game first and have less homework only have to play one of the other games.

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