Vocabulary

Objective & content

A printable memory game on animals for absolute beginners (A1-): twelve pairs including dog, cow, sheep, chicken and rhino. Each pair joins an illustration to the written name and its phonetic transcription; students turn the cards face down, match them and say the animal aloud to claim the pair. By the end, they recognise and say the twelve animal words.

Pedagogical guide

Animals suit a first lesson: the picture carries the meaning and the theme is familiar and fun. Memory brings each word back without a drill, and saying it aloud makes pronunciation part of the game. The transcription lets non-native teachers check a tricky word such as chicken at a glance. Point out that sheep and fish take no plural s. Use the deck after an oral introduction and before written work.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Lay one set face up. Name each animal, students repeat and, if they like, make the animal's sound or movement.
2. (5 min) Turn the cards face down in a grid and model one turn aloud: "A dog... and a cow. No match."
3. (15 min) Groups of three or four play. A pair only counts if the player says the word aloud; partners check the phonetic transcription and may ask for a second try.
4. (5 min) Close as a class: show a picture card, the class names the animal, then show the written word.

Adaptations

[S] Play with 8 pairs only and keep the word cards face up as a word bank.

[A] Ask the winner of a pair for a short sentence (The dog is big.).

Materials & prerequisites

Print the two card sheets once per group of three or four and cut out the 24 cards; laminate them to reuse the deck.