(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading...The mouse is smaller than the dog.
Practice
You can print 2 of each page and cut up the cards for EACH group. Then use them to play Top Trumps comparatives. You will need to teach (Height -> Taller than..etc)
I make most of my activities but I didn’t make this one. If someone knows who I should credit please leave a comment. Cheers 🙂
You can use the big versions for demoing the game, showing how they look, and how they are read.
andymckie
matchbox20
Shane
I have just realized that the last 7 animal cards are not the same size as the first 4 sheets.
Woops. If you crop the image before printing it out they should match the others. Sorry about that
These cards are great, thanks! I used them a bit differently in my class and wanted to share my game variation:
I used these to practice comparatives (-er) only. For each group, you need one set of cards and two dice.
There are five categories and each has two comparative attributes (Height – tall / short; Length – long / short; Weight – heavy / light; Speed – fast / slow; Age – old / young). I elicited and practiced these with the students before the game. Then I assigned each attribute a number value from 2~12 (Height – tall 2 / short 3, Length – long 4 / short 5, etc.). 12 was free (students can choose any attribute). I made a handout with the number values for easy reference, but you could also just write the values on the board.
Gameplay:
Put the students in groups of about 3~4 and give each group a set of cards and two dice.
Students take 7 cards each and put the remaining cards face down in a pile in the middle.
Open one card from the pile as the starting card.
The first student rolls the dice and then plays a card from their hand that is ~er than the animal on the starting/discard pile and make a corresponding sentence. (For example, a students rolls a 4– the attribute assigned to 4 is long, so they must play an animal that is longer than the animal on the starting/discard pile and then make a sentence “A snake is longer than a fish.”). If they do not have a card, they must draw one from the pile and either play it or pass.
(I always make a rule that the students must say the sentence aloud to the group or they cannot play their card to encourage speaking.)
The first student to get rid of all of his or her cards is the winner.
This game worked well for me and the students had a great time. Enjoy!
That’s a great, fresh idea. I’ll definitely be trying this version out when it’s time again for comparatives.
Thanks Melissa!
I’d love to play the game but how do I download/print the cards?
You can click on the small square pictures of the cards to make them big then right click on the big version and click SAVE.
That will save the file on to your computer 🙂
Hey Andy,
I’ve never played a game like this, but it looks fun. Are the students walking around collecting cards? how does the stronger card win?
I’ve read how to play Top Trumps just would like to know how it would be applied using the target language? The students can easily just read out values without using the target language.
That’s true. Like all the games, the student could just play and not use the English.
You’ll need to be the enforcer if you decide to use it in a “less than perfect” class.
The kids play in small groups of 3-6.
The first kid chooses an attribute then the others get to play their first card (without looking).
The winner takes all the cards and makes a sentence.
The dog is longer than the cat.
What’s a lady bird? The bug we call a ladybug in the states.
Yeah. It’s a UK thing. It’s short for “Lady Bird Beetle”.