Buried Bells

No separate online/Zoom version - use game as is for online classes

Download game font HERE

Game Features

• Credit for the original game concept goes to Adam Zero and his game, Rabbit Hole

• Practices both language and critical thinking

• Based in an Animal Crossing universe and features graphics, fonts, sound effects from the game

• Clear, in-depth, visual instructions for students

• 30 pre-game boards

How to Play

• Students can play in teams, pairs, or individually depending on your class size.

• The goal of this game is to find the bell bag hidden underground.

• First, a student makes a sentence using the text or images in the horizontal and vertical boxes in order to choose a crack in the ground.

• The teacher will click on the crack to dig the hole and reveal their findings.

• If the bell bag is not there, a sign will appear. The number on it will be a hint to where the bell bag is (1 = one space away; 2 = 2 spaces away; 3+ = 3 or more spaces away).

• As each new sign appears, students will have to use their deduction skills for figure out where the bell bag is located.

• When a team/pair/student finds the bag, they get a point.

• The team/pair/student with the most points at the end of the game wins!

• Further instructions on how to play and edit the game can be found in the notes section of each slide. Additionally, view the video above for a visual explanation on how to play the game.

Variations

• I usually use this game with a target language that involves a single sentence (see the PowerPoint for an example), but you can also use it with question-and-answer target language (see the game Cave Raiders for an example). You can even simply put vocabulary words or letters (to practice phonics) in the boxes too, so it’s very versatile.

Runtime

(based on experiences from me and other teachers)

• Time: ~15min; Students: 22; Skill Focus: Speaking; Finished: No (only did 5 rounds with 6th graders, time includes explaining the instructions, but great for carrying over into a future lesson)

• Time: 20min; Students: 24; Skill Focus: Speaking; Finished: No (used with second grade high school, played  12-15 rounds - students tended to lose interest after 15 rounds)

• Time: ~20min; Students: 26; Skill Focus: Speaking; Finished: No, can't remember how many rounds were left, but there were over half

If you had a different experience playing this game and would like to submit your own runtime feedback, please use the form below.