This is basically a vocabulary check, but presented as a game. It facilitates peer learning and makes it OK not to know something, as it’s actually part of the game.

As teachers, we often do too much. Here the teacher only introduces words none of the students know. And while you are facilitating the learning and not teaching much, you have to time to observe:

1. which words they know best (usually first to go),
2. who knows what and
3. who knows a lot or little.

Game variation:

If you are extending vocabulary on a certain topic and you have a lot of cards on the table that are for review, you can first play ‘I remember, I don’t remember’ (which means that I know it, just not at this very moment) and then move on to ‘I know, I don’t know’.

Tip:

often we start with stronger students, but in this game it is best to start with the weaker students, so there is still something on the table that they know when it is their turn.