Whose Shoe?
| Target: | yours, mine | humour feet guessing pronouns |
| Age: | kindergarten aged and up | |
| Duration: | depends on class size | |
| Class Size: | any | |
| Energy Level: | moderate | |
| Type: | claiming activity | |
| Equipment: | shoes and a basket to put them in |
This rather silly activity has a serious language purpose - to encourage understanding of possesive pronouns. It is very simple. One person, usually the teacher gathers one shoe from each person present. The shoes are put in a basket and taken out one at a time and returned to their rightful owners. That's it!
Typical dialogue might be:
Teacher: Your shoe?
Student A: No!
Teacher: Your shoe?
Student B: Yes!
Usually I've done this activity in places where students remove their outdoor shoes before entering the room. I always include one of my own shoes. I like to see if anyone can work out the reply "Your shoe!" when I try to give away my own shoe.
When I do this activity I focus on the concept of possession rather than trying to elicit full sentences. I think that producing full sentences without full understanding is more or less meaningless. I feel that children especially, gain nothing from being forced to use full sentences. I think it can lead to confusion.
It's best to avoid this game on inclement days. Where muddy shoes hold sway a clean indoors will pass away!
