1  Spot The Difference

Use downloadable flashcards for a spot the difference activity with low levels.  Alternatively, higher levels can use the same flashcards to practice the present perfect and identify ‘What has happened‘ between the 1st and second picture.   If that’s not enough, give out the first flashcard to intermediate learners and get them to predict what ‘will‘ happen and then give out the second picture – now then can see what is ‘going to‘ happen.

2 Who wants to play Samorost 2

If your learners have completed Samorost 2 why not do a reading activity with this fun PowerPoint quiz ‘Who knows all about Samorost 2‘ based on the popular Tv show ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’.  For the ‘phone a friend’ option I usually allow them to text someone outside the classroom (in English) and allow two minutes for a reply.  ’Studio audience’ you can take a class vote (some interesting results with that – join in yourself  if you like).  If your learners like the game so much why not ask them ‘who wants to do a quiz about Samorost 2?‘ and get them to practice question forms and download the PowerPoint template and write their own questions and answers.

3 Poetry with Samorost 2

An acrostic poem is where you write the name of your subject vertically down a page. Ask your learners to do this with the word ‘Samorost’, and to start a line to their poem starting with a letter from the word ‘Samorost’.  Alternatively, try a more traditional poem with an advanced class using a more structured approach.

4 Vocabulary Crossword

You may want to do a pre gaming or language activity (e.g. a walkthrough) with your class and a good way to pre- teach some of the vocabulary is to do a Samorost 2 crossword.  Learners can get good dictionary work in while they have fun doing a crossword that targets vocabulary from Samorost 2.  To change this activity from a primarily reading activity to a writing activity, learners can write down a list of vocabulary from Samorost 2 and write their own Samorost 2 student crossword.

5  Live Listening

If you have downloaded and printed off a copy of the walkthrough you can do a live listening.  While your learners play the game in a computer room you use the walkthrough to guide them through the game.  If some learners get further ahead than others then ask them to switch their screens off and describe to others how they have got to where they are in the game or direct the slower gamers to an online copy of the walkthrough to help them.

6 Picture dictation

Picture dictations are great for lower levels and offers a great opportunity to focus on prepositions of place.  The first screen shot of Samorost 2 lends itself well to a description that makes a great picture dictation to learners who are unfamiliar with the game Samorost 2.  Either use a Samorost 2 picture dictation text or make your own up.  When learners have finished they can compare their pictures with the original either as a downloaded flashcard or on a screen at the front of the class if you have a computer, internet connection and the means to display the game.

7 Comic Books

Comic books are visually engaging and can help to both stimulate the imagination and provide a fun way for learners to practice writing.  They can focus on direct speech elements (left) and reported speech or narrative tenses (right).   Download either of the templates pictured here as well as other comic pages from the Samorost 2 game by clicking on the links in brackets above in this text.

8 Wonderous walkthroughs

8 Walkthroughs

Samorost 2 (part 1) Video Walkthrough

A walkthrough in online gaming can be a written walkthrough text, which consists of step-by-step  instructions on how to complete a game, or a video walkthrough of the game being played and completed.hrough in online gaming can be a written walkthrough text, which consists of step-by-step  instructions on how to complete a game, or a video walkthrough of the game being played and completed.  Why not learn how to use the ‘search this site‘ and look for some ideas on how to use a video or written walkthrough with language learners.

9  Sequencing events

Download and print off a copy of the Samorost 2 action verb cards and there is plenty you can do.  Learners can watch a video walkthrough and sequence the verbs in the order they appear in the video walkthrough (lights! Camera! Action Verbs!).

Once the verbs have been ordered, learners can then tell the story of Samorost 2 (Action speaks louder than words) using the verbs to help them.

Finally learners can use the ordered verbs as scaffolding for a writing activity (The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword) where they write the story of Samorost 2.

10 Verbs + Prepositions

Lots of activities and worksheets to download focusing on verbs + prepositions that cover the whole of the free online part to Samorost 2.  Use password codes to skip levels to do specific worksheets or work your way through over the course of a few classes.  Worksheet activities include:

Mind the gap Place the verb and prepositions in the gapped walkthrough.

Grammar jigsaw Communication gap where learners match sentences ending with a verb with a partners sentence that starts with a preposition.

Scramble! Order the words to form walkthrough sentences.

Over & Out Gap fill preposition activity

Why not check out The 101 ways (and more) to use Samorost site for other ideas, material and lesson plans.

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The answer to that could be hundreds and to prove it the site below has come up with over a hundred and one TEFL activities with the game Samorost 2.  Is there a guinness book of records entry for this?  Maybe not but it’ll certainly keep language learners entertained, engaged and in English.  The name of the site?

101 Ways (and more) to use Samorost

Technically it should read Samorost 2 but with all the activities and download material up for grabs who’s quibbling?  Maybe it’s important to have the distinction because the first Samorost game (Aptly named just ‘Samorost’) does have a slightly inappropriate image of a man smoking (??) a pipe (??) that you may want to avoid with young learners.  A fact that’s definitely worth remembering if you are telling your learners to sit down in a computer room and log into the game.

Just to help you navigate round the site here’s a little help:

ACTIVITY TITLES -  Here’s a nice list of activities by name.

SEARCH WINDOW -  Search by level (beginners, preintermediate, intermediate, upper intermediate & advanced), Location (classroom has minimal technology; connected classroom involves a computer, internet connection and some form of electronic white board; and a computer room for multiple online access), Activity (reading, writing, speaking & listening) and Grammar/ Language (conditionals, tenses, prepositions, phrasal verbs, sequencers etc).

PLAY THE GAME -  Access Samorost 2 directly from the site by clicking here.

SCREENSHOTS -  Take a look at the visual content of the game with the screenshot slideshow.

POTLUCK -  101 (and more) ELT uses all numbered.  Fancy taking potluck at an activity?  Click on a number and see what you get.

Main problem with the site?  I think learners may get a bit fed up with just the one game but the point being stressed here is an online game can be used for so many different grammar areas, skills practice and language focus.

NEXT WEEK

Top ten Samorost 2 activities – Ten different levels, activities and grammar areas to give you a feel for the site.  Add a comment if you have a class in mind and I’ll see about including a relevant activity.

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Language Focus: Present Perfect simple /passive

Time: 30 – 40 minutes

Game:Droppy

Help Droppy to solve problems in 11 different situations and help him stay out of trouble.

Preparations

Download a single copy of the walkthrough for you to use in class and download a copy of the Droppy worksheet. Play the game yourself to get a feel for the game. In class have the game set up at the beginning ready to start and in a place where can be easily seen. Download the present perfect passive exercise sheet for extra language support for lower levels.

NOTE The majority of sentences in the walkthrough are in the present perfect simple but it is possible to produce a present perfect passive structure and still be correct. Be aware that learners may produce grammatically correct sentences that are part of the language focus but that are not included on the walkthrough sheet.

Playing

Hand out a copy of the Droppy worksheet to your learners. Ask them to compare the picture they have on their worksheet with the game on the screen. In pairs, ask them to find as many differences as possible between the two. While they are doing this write this on the board:

The rock on the ground has been moved.

He the top of the cactus has been cut off.

Droppy has put a hat on.

Feedback on any differences the learners have found. Get them to connect the differences to the three sentences on the board. Ask a volunteer to come up and complete this level of the screen.

When the first level has been completed and the game level menu is up tell your learners you now want them to talk about the differences but write down what has happened by comparing their picture with the game on the screen. The first pair to finish should say stop. They then read out their present perfect passive/ simple sentences and you tick them off against your walkthrough. If the pair have identified all elements of your walkthrough, one of them can come up and play the game to the next level. If they have failed to identify all elements of the walkthrough then you should give them clues on where to find them.

e.g.

In the 6th level (roasting marshmallows) Droppy has to get a magnifying glass out of his bag to use the suns rays to start a fire. This is not apparent from the learner’s picture. You can give clues like:

“What do you notice about what has happened to his bag!”

When the magnifying glass comes out you can ask:

“Has anyone seen this object before? What have you used it for?”

Notice how the questions use the present perfect. You can then tell them what the object is “It’s a magnifying glass”.

Repeat for all 11 stages of the game.

Post Playing

Learners use the present perfect to write their version of the Droppy walkthrough (either in class or for homework but you will need extra copies of the droppy worksheet, one for each learner, if you do this). When they have finished they compare their walkthroughs with others and discuss the differences.

NOTE

This activity can be easily adapted to Present Perfect passive by changing the object in the present perfect sentences to the subject.

e.g.

‘He has made a fire’ to ‘A fire has been made’.

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The Tomb of the Mummy I is a very difficult puzzle game. Because of its difficulty, it’s ideal to use it with an upper intermediate - advanced  class in a connected classroom (i.e. one with a computer & a data projector or IWB) and to use it to generate language used for hypothesis (should, conditionals, etc).

Example language : “We think you should press the beetles in the following order…”, “You should try clicking on the axe while it is swinging”, etc.

Preparation (the Rules)

a) Show the students the first screen and tell them the objective is to free the mummy from the tomb

b) Tell the learners to work in teams and that you will award points to the  team that comes closes  to solving each of the stages of the puzzle

c) Ask them to think of ideas to try out, which the team secretary will write down on strips of paper and then hand to you

d) If you want, you can insist on a particular format for their sentences (e.g. using should as in the solution, below)

e) Tell the students that if their sentences are incorrect, you will not accept them (you will give them back to correct them)

Playing the game:

• As you receive the learners’ ideas, read them aloud and try them out if they are grammatically correct
• If you receive any sentences which are not correct, give the sentence
• If they solve part of the puzzle, award points (keep score on the board)
• After several attempts, if no team comes close, give clues to the class (tell them the parts of the solution below marked in bold)

Solution:

1) You should click on the blue scarab continuously to move the first rock into the cup of the left-hand brazier

2) You should press the question mark in the bottom left hand corner

3) On the screen showing the riddle, you should move the ball-shaped rock that’s right above the white bug.

4) You should put the rock in the top right hand corner (you will notice that’s the only rock missing – the other three corners have rocks)

Note: A ray of light will shine on the screen and a new rock appears – This rock that one is for the other torch/brazier thing

5) You should click the scarabs to move the rock until it jumps into the brazier

6) Notice the small rocks on the top of both braziers – you should click the scarabs until these two rocks are in the same position (close to the doors)

6) Wait for the mummy to knock hard, so that the torches are rocking. Then you should click the blue beetle in the middle several times while he is knocking, and this will knock the torch pillars down.

7) Now you will see an axe swinging – While the axe is swinging, you should push the scarabs in order : G + B + B + R + R + Y + B + R + Y + P ( see order above door) -

You should push the colours just before you hear the sound of the axe.

Now, you should push the door to open it.

9) To close the door after releasing the mummy, you should click the left scarab when the axe disapears left (you should hear a click) click the right scarab when the axe disappears right (you should hear a click) after clicking a few times the door closes

Finally…have fun – this is just one way of exploiting a puzzle game in the classroom and can be adapted to any similar game.

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Language: descriptions of people, relative clauses and the difference between first and second conditionals. This game is also a very rich source of vocabulary that you can either pre-teach the learners or deal with as you go along.

Preparing to Play

1) Ask the learners if they like travelling by public transport – what disadvantages are there?

2) Write this on the board:

What would you do if you found yourself crammed into a particularly busy tube train carriage?

Next, show the learners the following image (the easiest way is to start the game)

Ask them to describe the people and identify the potential problems they might cause

Game Plan:

The carriage is too busy – it would be better if someone left. But who would you like to get rid of first? And why? The options are:

• The man blowing the party blower who is carrying the ghetto blaster
• The bald-headed man who has the sweaty armpits
• The backpacker who’s carrying the heavy rucksack
• The small child who is holding the fizzy drink
• The tall man in the suit with the red nose who’s got a cold
• The plump ginger-haired man who’s carrying lots of food
• The goth with the red sun-glasses who has a pigeon on his head

Once the learners have given their ideas, ask them to guess the answer to the following questions

• What would happen if I hit the balloon? (correct answer: it would bounce off the wall)
• What would happen if I nudge the backpacker?

After their ideas for each action, carry it out and then check with them what they saw. Now, once they know what happens, ask the students to confirm what they have seen? (So, what happened when I nudged the backpacker?)

• What’s in the backpacker’s trouser pocket? (bubble gum)
  
• What would happen if I gave some to the little boy?
• What would happen if I gave more to the boy?
  

Now, which person is bothering me the most? (The man eating the crisps)

And what happened when the boy left? (a little dog came in)

• What would happen if I gave the dog one of the man’s crisps? (it would want more)
• What would happen if I continue feeding the dog? (It would try to eat them all and the man with the crisps would have to leave)

Now who’s the problem? (the bald man with the sweaty armpits)

And what happened when the door opened? (a spider came in)

• What should I do now? Why? (Push the spider. Because the bald man is afraid of spiders)
• What would happen if I hit the balloon now?

What happened when the bald man left screaming from the carriage? Who came in? ( A nun, a strange man wearing a hat and a bat) What is sticking out of the man’s hat and jacket? (twigs)

• What would happen if the pigeon took the twigs? (it would start to build a nest)
• What’s going to happen when the bird finishes building a nest?

What happened when the pigeon finished building a nest? What’s left of the pigeon? (a feather)

Who’s the most irritating person in the carriage now? Why?

• What would happen if I tickled the man’s nose with a feather?

Now, what’s different?

• What has the man in the hat got in his pocket? (a cricket bat)
• What would happen if the goth had a music cassette?
• What would happen if I hit the bat while the goth was singing?
• What would happen if I hit the ghetto blaster out of the carriage at the next station?

Now who’s the most annoying person?

• What would happen if the two men really saw each other? (tug on the trouser pocket of the man with the cold to find out)

Now, who’s the last person I have to deal with? (a health fanatic)

What’s that on the floor of the carriage? (a lunchbox)

• What would happen if the health fanatic were given some sandwiches?

THE END

Follow-up

After the game has finished, restart it and ask the learners to remember and write as many of the questions you asked them earlier, but to write them using the first conditional (e.g. What happens if I hit the balloon? etc.) – you can tell them that you have to use the first conditional now because they know the answers and this is what happens every time you do this (= now there’s no hypothesis).

Once they have finished, you can get them to ask their partner and see how many of them they can answer. Finally, check the answers by going through the game again.

Extension / Homework

Ask them to write what happened in the game as a narrative: Last Thursday I was on my way home and decided to take the Tube…

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The Game

You are a robot and you find yourself in a scrap yard and you need to get back to the city.  First of all you need to put your body back together and then solve various puzzles en route back to robot city.  The Puzzles can be difficult to solve and a walkthrough makes things a lot easier . . .

Preparation

Print a copy of the walkthrough gap fill activity (either a copy for each learner or a copy for each pair) as well as the walkthrough.  The walkthrough tells you how to complete the game.  For instance the first thing you have to do in the game is:

Make the bathtub disappear and then get the torso to jump down (just click it!)

Spot the phrasal verb?  Gap it out and you have the start of a gap fill activity that focuses on phrasal verbs:

Make the bathtub disappear and then get the torso to __________ (just click it!)

Pre gaming

Hand out walkthrough gap fill in class and ask them to read the phrasal verbs at the top.  Do they understand them all?  Remember that most of them involve verbs of action and a preposition so you may find miming them a little easier than explaining.

Tell them they have 10 minutes to read the walkthrough gap fill and to guess which phrasal verbs may go in the space.  Point out that the asterisk means that the phrasal verb can be separated.  That is, the object goes between the verb and the particle.  Without seeing the phrasal verbs in context this is quite a hard activity.  This activity is more to orientate your learners and to get a general understanding rather than to complete the gaps.  Encourage them to discuss what might go in the spaces.  If they want to write then they should use a pencil.

Gaming

Learners take their walkthrough gap fill to the computer room and use it to play the game and complete the puzzles.  By playing the game they can more clearly see the context in which the phrasal verbs are used.

Post gaming

When you are back in class feedback on the answers.  At times you may find that learners’ answers differ from the master copy walkthrough. Discuss any differences and decide if they are ok or not.  You may wish to do a follow up activity on the phrasal verbs, looking at the different types (see activity sheet II)

Homework

Ask your learners to find a short walkthrough to a game and add some of the phrasal verbs they saw in the class today.

About the game Machinarium

This walkthrough is not for the complete game but it does cover the three levels you can play for free on the internet.  When you have played the game using the walkthrough this is the end of the demo and if you want to play more you have to pay for the full version.  The full version of Machinarium costs 12.99 €. You may be able to convince your school to purchase the full version.  You can then adapt a full version walkthrough for use in the class.  Check our website for more ideas on how to use a walkthrough.

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