Spill My Secret Word

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Apply language and communication skills.
  
• Build age-appropriate vocabulary.
  
• Converse amiably with one another.

Resources:

Materials

For the whole group:

• Secret Words (see attached PDF file)
• Paper bag or other container
• Dictionary (physical or online)

For each student:

• Pen/Pencil
• Notebook

Resources:

Secret Words

Preparation

• Read through and familiarize yourself with the entire activity.
• Download and review the 30 secret words in the PDF file. You may wish to replace some words or add new words. Consider including names of places, people, or events that are likely to be familiar to students at your school.

Resources:

Activity Steps

1. Tell students that today’s activity is called Spill My Secret Word. Explain the rules of the game:
   
   • Every student will pick a secret word from a paper bag.
   • Students will form small groups and start a conversation about any subject they like.
   • Students must not say their secret word but should instead try to steer or manipulate the conversation so that someone else says the word.
   • During breaks, students should take notes about who says their secret word and record their guesses about the secret words of other students.
   • At the end of the session, the winner will be the student who made the most students say their secret word without realizing it.
2. To demonstrate the activity, invite 3 or 4 students to join you for a conversation. Ask them if they went to the movies recently or had a movie night at home. Then ask what film they saw, whether they enjoyed it, and if they ate any snacks while watching the movie. At the end of the conversation, explain that the secret word was “popcorn.” Ask the whole group if they had guessed that this was your secret word and whether they noticed anyone saying it.
3. Invite students to ask any questions they have about the game. Explain that derivations of a secret word, such as plurals and verb tenses, still count as the secret word, as do compound words. For example, if someone says “bookcase,” then they have also spoken “book” and “case,” either of which could be someone’s secret word.
4. Have students select their secret words, and allow them to consult the dictionary if needed. Then divide students randomly into groups of 4 or 5. Tell students to begin their conversations.
5. Call time after about 6 or 8 minutes. Encourage students to record their guesses about the secret words of their conversation partners, as well as notes about who said their own secret words. Then have students form conversation groups in new combinations, and continue the activity.
6. Repeat step 4 as time allows. As you circulate among the groups, you may wish to participate in the conversations, suggest conversation topics, or ask students direct questions that are designed to get them talking.
7. Reconvene to wrap up the activity. For each group member, ask the whole group for guesses about their secret word. Then have the group member announce their secret word and name the other students who said it in conversation.
8. Award a winner. For any remaining time, have students discuss their experiences with the activity. Thank everyone for playing and wish them a great rest of their day!

Resources:

Variations

1. For the selection of secret words, use proper names of people, places, or events that are familiar to the students.
2. For a briefer version of the activity, invite a few students at a time to play the game with you at the front of the room. Start by having the players display their secret words to the audience, and then begin the discussion with one another.

Resources: