PALAYOK : Reinvention of a Traditional Game for EFL Classrooms

Ask any Filipino about Pukpok Palayok or Hampas Palayok, and chances are they played it or saw it played at least once during their childhoods. The game is so immensely popular that any celebration or town fiesta is not complete without children (oh yes, sometimes adults) playing it. Having colonized by the Spaniards for three hundred and thirty three years, Pukpok Palayok is the Filipino version of Pinata, and just like the fiesta, Spaniards used the game to attract the natives to their ceremonies and convert them to their religion. The Filipinos, known for reinventing things to suit their needs out of limited resources, adapted it by using a clay pot instead of the Mexican painted paper Pinata. In those times paper and paints were scarce and expensive, whereas clay pots were plentiful and cheap.

In the Philippines, pukpok means to hit, and palayok is a clay pot, so the game literally means to hit a pot. Traditionally, the game is played with the decorated clay pot filled with goodies (candies, sweets, coins, and sometimes peso bills), suspended by string in the air, high enough for players to reach and smash it. A player is blindfolded and a  long bamboo stick is used to hit and break the pot, so that other players as well as by-standers can grab as many goodies as they can. The player who breaks the clay pot wins a prize, usually a gift or in currency.

For EFL classrooms, Pukpok Palayok uses no clay pot, nor a bamboo stick. Instead, the game makes use of the white board, picture cards (with magnets attached at the back), and an ovesize party hat (my children hate to be blindfolded with a handkerchief). In this adaptation, hitting is not  permitted; children make use of their sense of directions, understanding of the commands given, and using their hands to feel for the targets. In my experience, the game works wonderfully for preschoolers, for teaching the alphabet, colors, shapes, animals, fruits and vegetables. While for elementary graders, it works very well for practicing specific target language like; ("I'm hungry! What do you want? I want ... Go find it!" or "Where are you going? I'm going to ... Go find it!"). In addition to target language, this is also a great way to reinforce language for giving directions like: go straight, to your left, to your right, stop, that's it,

Target Language

S1 :       I'm hungry!

Class :   What do you want?

S1 :       I want (a hamburger).

Class :   Go find it!

S1 :       What's for lunch?

Class :  (Spaghetti) is for lunch.

             Do you want (spaghetti)?

S1 :       Yes, please.

Class :   Go find it!

Class :    Where are you going?

S1 :        I'm going to the (park).

Class :    How are you going there?

S1 :        I'm (riding a bicycle).

Class :    Have fun!

Players 

Two (2) or more the merrier

Materials

picture cards

board

magnets                             
a party hat (oversize) or a blidfold

How to play

1.  Determine the order of play.

2.  In random, using the magnets. attach all the picture cards on the board.

3.  Instruct the players to remember the placements of each card.

4.  The first player takes his turn. He stands 12 steps (more is better) away from
     the  board. The  other  players ask the question; for example, "What do you  
     want?" The first player answers "I want (a hamburger). The other players                
     answer back "Go find it!"
5.  The first player puts on the oversize hat (covering his face), and turns around
     three (3) times.
6.  The other players give directions, starting with "Go straight!" or "To your
     right!" "To your left!" etc.

     The aim is for the player to find the target by following directions given by
     players (class).

Alphabet Rhythmic Game

(This game will need to be adapted to the teaching items you're teaching and the abilities and interests of the children you teach.)

Target Language

the alphabet

Players

two (2) or more


Materials
alphabet cards


How to play

Best tried when children start to gain some mastery over the alphabet. In random, lay the alphabet cards on the playing surface or on the floor. Determine the order of play. The first player picks up letter Aa, says the letter and attach the card on the board. The second player picks up letter Bb, says the letter and attach the card on the board next to letter Aa. The next player picks up letter Cc and do the same. The aim is for the children to make a complete alphabet line from Aa to Zz. Once they're done, the children recite the alphabet together. Next, the teacher removes some letters in random. The children start again saying the alphabet , but when they come to a missing letter, they should not say the missing letter, instead they should clap their hands together. The player who will be out of synch (commit mistake) is eliminated.

Have fun and enjoy playing Alphabet Rhythmic Game with your children.


Rating    * * * *

Hot Tote Bag

(This game will need to be adapted to the teaching items you're teaching and the abilities and interests of the children you teach.)

Target Language
Q : What do you have in your bag?  
A : I have (a book) in my bag.

Q : How many (squares) are there?
A : There are (ten squares).

Players
five (5) or more

Materials
small tote bag
picture cards (playing size)
music player

How to play
Put the picture cards in the bag. Players stand in a circle. Play some music and players pass around the bag, but when the music stops the one who is holding the bag draws a card out from the bag and identify it. If he is right he keeps the card, if he can't identify it, he returns the card back into the bag and the game starts all over again. The game continue until all cards are gone. The player with the most card wins the game.


Have fun and enjoy Hot Tote Bag with your children!


Rating    * * *

Frogs In The Pond

(This game will need to be adapted to the teaching items you're teaching and the abilities and interests of the children you teach.)

Target Language
Q : What is that?
A : It's (a chair). 

Q : Where are you going?
A : I'm going to the (park).
Q : How are you going there?
A : I'm (walking).

Q : Who is (he)?
A : He is (Mr. Brown).
Q : What does (he) do?
A : He is (a teacher).

Players
two (2) or more

Materials
picture cards
music player

How to play
In random, lay picture cards face down on the floor. Play fast beat music. Children hop in from card to card. When the music stops, children stop hopping and remain where they are. Players find a pair and do Rock-Scissors-Paper. The losser turns over his card and the pair do Q & A. The aim is for players not to step on the floor or on any identified  cards. Children keep playing until all picture cards are all identified. 


Have fun and enjoy playing Frogs In The pond with your children.


Rating   * * *

Fruit Basket

(This game will need to be adapted to the teaching items you're teaching and the abilities and interests of the children you teach.)

Target Language
Q : How's the weather today?
A : It's (sunny) today.

Q : What's the weather going to be like tomorrow?
A : It's going to be (cloudy).

S : I'm hungry.
Q : What do you want?
S : I want (rice) and (fish).


Players
five (5) or more

Materials
picture cards (one less tthan the number of players)
chairs (one less than the number of players)

How to play
Players are seated in a circle. Shuffle the picture cards (the weather) and place them upside down on the floor. One by one players pick up a card without letting other players see it . The 'it' stands at the center of the circle, approach one of the player and ask the question, for example; How's the weather (the picture card)? If the answer is;  It's rainy (the picture card)! The players remain seated. But if the answer is; It's sunny (the picture card)! Everybody shouts; Let's play! and exchange seats. The 'it' must also grab a seat. Whoever will be left without a seat will be the next 'it'.  Play several rounds for mastery,

Have fun and enjoy Fruit Basket with your children!


Rating   * * *

Stone Bridges

(This game will need to be adapted to the teaching items you're teaching and the abilities and interests of the children you teach.)

Target  Language
Q : Can you (play the piano)?
A : Yes, I can.
      No, I can't.

Q : Who is (he)?
A : He is my (grandfather).
Q : Who is (she)?
A : She is my (sister).

Q : Where are you going?
A : I'm going (to the park).
Q : How are you going there?
A : I'm (walking).

Q : Excuse me.
      Where is the(classroom)?
A : It's next to the (office).

Players
two (2) or more

Materials
picture cards (teacher cards size)
cards of naughts and crosses (student cards size)
counters (colored magnets)
magnets
challk

How to play
Draw two vertical lines parallel to each other mark START and GOAL. Give enough space between the two lines and draw (7) 'stone bridges' in it. Using magnets attach the (7) picture cards (one on each 'stone bridge'). Determine the order of play and give each player a counter (colored magnet). Shuffle enough number of noughts and crosses, make two piles and place them upside down on the playing surface. The players place their counters on START. The first player takes his turn, moves his counter to the first stone bridge. Answers the question and turns over a card from the pile. If the card shows a nought, he moves his counter to the second stone bridge and continue playing. But, if the card shows a cross, he stops playing and remain in the same stone bridge. The second player takes his turn and do the same. The aim is for the player to cross the stone bridges and reach the GOAL first.

                     
Have fun and enjoy Stone Bridges with your children!

Rating   * * * *

Musical Chairs

(This game will need to be adopted to the teaching items you're teaching and the abilities and interests of the children you teach.)

Target Language
Q : What's this?
A : It's (a bag).
Q : Is this (an eraser)?
A : Yes, it is.
     No, it isn't.  It's (a crayon).

Q : How many (balls) are there?
A : There are (three balls).

Q : Who is (he)?
A : He is my (bother).
Q : Who is (she)?
A : She is my (grandmother).

Q : Can you (sing)?
A : Yes, I can.
     No, I can't.  But, I can (dance).

Q : Where are you going?
A : I'm going to the (zoo).
Q : How are you going there?
A : I'm (taking a bus).

Players
four (4) or more

Materials
picture cards (one less than the number of players)
chairs (one less than the number of players)
music player

How to play
Place chairs in a circle back-to-back facing outward. There should be one less chair than the number of players. When the music starts all the players march in circle around the chairs. When the music stops players  find a chair and sit down as quickly as they can. The player left standing answers a question, while players sitting asks a question.
Play several rounds for mastery of the target language..

Have fun and enjoy Musical Chairs with your children!



Rating   * * * *