01/23/2008
What’s Inside The Magic Box?
Kids and adults love to see a good magic trick! The trick becomes even more enjoyable for the audience when they get to participate. When teaching English as a second language, teachers can leverage on this simple, yet powerful, fact by using the wonderful, mysterious, captivating MAGIC BOX!
This simple tool is based on the American classic, the magic 8-ball: a liquid-filled black ball with a hole in the top that showed various answers--yes, no, etc.--that are pre-printed on a floating cube. You ask a question, shake the magic 8-ball, and the ball gives you the answer. In this case, questions are written in the verb tense (VT) or using the grammar point (GP) being taught in class. This is especially great for future tenses, but I’ve been successfully using the Magic Box with even Present Simple. Any VT or GP can be used in this game!
Now, teachers do not always have access to magic 8-balls, as schools do not always consider them essential teaching tools, so we must make our own. Simply find an empty container that has a lid (in my case, I use a black box my watch came in). You can choose to decorate the container with stars and glitter if you like. Next, write on pieces of papers answers you wish to use. I stick to the classic answers (Yes, No, Definitely, Never, Probably, etc.) but you can change the answers to whatever you like. Fold the pieces of paper into tiny cubes and place them into the box.
Start the activity with a loudly spoken interrogative, such as “What’s inside THE MAGIC BOX?” while holding the box high into the hair as if it is a sacred artifact. Students who have never seen the game are instantly captivated and curious. Students always ask, “What’s inside the box?” or “What does the box do?” Tell them “It is a “Magic” Box that tells the future, and that I can prove it!” Now the fun begins! The game just has four steps:
Have students work in pairs (Partner-A and Partner-B). Instruct the students to write 2 or 3 sentences using the VT or GP you are teaching. Be sure to tell the students to have fun, and create humorous sentences about their partner. The number of questions depends on the amount of time you wish to play the game, as well as the number of students playing.
After students are done writing sentences, have Partner-A read the first sentence. Partner-B holds the magic box, and shakes it (tell students to shake it hard and crazily, as it more fun!). Partner-B then reaches into the box, and pulls out one of the folded answers and reads it out loud.
Repeat for each of Partner-A’s questions.
Partners change roles and repeat from step 1.
Example: (VT = Be + Going To)
Partner-A: “Sarah (age 20) is going to have 8 children!”
Partner-B: *~ Shakes the box and reaches in ~* “DEFINTELY!“
Class starts to laugh hard at Sarah (partner-b) whose hiding her face.
Since creating this game, I’ve used it in every class I’ve taught. This game works with little High Flyers to Upper-intermediate Business English students. It is a very fun way to get students practicing writing, reading and speaking in the VT or GP. It’s a highly interactive game that allows every person in class have a great time mastering English. I constantly get asked to bring the Magic Box to class!
Rodney Johnson - Teacher
