Ooh, Red Light Green Light, right? That would be a cool game to play to help them learn English. You could vary it a little, depending on the age of the kids and what you're teaching them. Like, instead of having them go with you say Green Light and stop when you say Red Light (not sure if this is actually how you were playing, since there are, of course, variations), you could hold up a picture of something they're supposed to be learning, and if they say it right in English (or translate the English word into Japanese), they get to take a step forward. You go through each of the kids, and the first one to reach you wins. You could make it harder by having them take a step back if they get it wrong.
Something similar. More like Daruma-san ga koronda (which is like red light, green light).
Rules: Kids on one side. Me on the other facing away from them. They take one step at a time, doing what I say. In this case it was moving your body - touch your knees, raise your hands, touch your head, wave your hands. If I catch them moving, they're out. If they reach me/touch me, they win. Special Rule - if I say "Please___" they have to go all the way to the back. By the time class was over I was telling them what to do and they would do it. No more gestures, no more pointing to cards. They're smart kids. But no first one wins stuff here. That doesn't jive with the community vibe - either everybody wins, or everybody loses. Especially with first grade - kids will cry if they lose.
Ooh ... the love child of Simon Says and Red Light Green Light.
Yes, I forgot Japan has that all or nothing attitude. As an American, this annoys me. XDDD But I understand that's their culture. Just, personally, that doesn't jive with me.
Kids pretty much always cry if they don't get what they want. XD Well ... sometimes. :/
I don't like that losing will reduce the kids to tears. To me, losing at a relay game isn't a big thing. They take competition way too seriously, and they're just in grade school you know.
I've had kids cry because I didn't call on them. Some of them can be super sensitive so I try to always do something where everyone wins. That way fights don't start and no one cries.
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I wonder if this is actually how you played. 8D
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Rules: Kids on one side. Me on the other facing away from them. They take one step at a time, doing what I say. In this case it was moving your body - touch your knees, raise your hands, touch your head, wave your hands. If I catch them moving, they're out. If they reach me/touch me, they win. Special Rule - if I say "Please___" they have to go all the way to the back. By the time class was over I was telling them what to do and they would do it. No more gestures, no more pointing to cards. They're smart kids. But no first one wins stuff here. That doesn't jive with the community vibe - either everybody wins, or everybody loses. Especially with first grade - kids will cry if they lose.
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Yes, I forgot Japan has that all or nothing attitude. As an American, this annoys me. XDDD But I understand that's their culture. Just, personally, that doesn't jive with me.
Kids pretty much always cry if they don't get what they want. XD Well ... sometimes. :/
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I don't like that losing will reduce the kids to tears. To me, losing at a relay game isn't a big thing. They take competition way too seriously, and they're just in grade school you know.
I've had kids cry because I didn't call on them. Some of them can be super sensitive so I try to always do something where everyone wins. That way fights don't start and no one cries.
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