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Many Japanese speak English. But they do not think our thoughts. They worship at other shrines; profess another creed; observe a different code. They can no more be moved by Christian pacifism than wolves by the bleating of sheep. We have to deal with a people whose values are in many respects altogether different from our own.

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

The Mission of Japan, 1937

Whose Shoe?

Target:

yours, mine

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

humour
feet
guessing
pronouns

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