Connect Four

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Game Features

Imagery and gameplay based on the actual Connect 4 game

Easily correct mistakes or reset the board

Minimal prep work and simple game mechanics

Play as a reading or speaking game

How to Play

Split your class into 2 teams: Yellow and Red.

To drop their colored puck in a slot, a student/team says the target vocabulary or expression in the white box of row they choose.

The teacher then clicks the team’s corresponding button above the white box to drop their puck.

Then, it’s the other team’s turn.

Teams keep taking turns until one team gets four pucks of the same color in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. That team wins the game.

Further instructions on how to play and edit the game can be found in the notes section of each slide.

Variations

To play as a speaking game, use images in the boxes. To play as a reading game, use letters/words/sentences in the boxes.

If using as a warm-up activity, I usually just play one round. If I’m trying to take up more time, I count each win as a point, and the team with the most points when time is up wins the whole game.

Runtime

(NOTE: The runtime for this game can VARY depending on how many rounds you play and how long it takes a team to get four in a row.)

STUDENTS: 1 TIME: 5min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

STUDENTS: 2 TIME: 3min SKILL FOCUS: Writing FINISHED GAME?: Yes

STUDENTS: 5 TIME: 20min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

I played this with my 4th grade english club students and they loved it. it took them a while to realise that this wasnt only a game of english skill but also a game of strategy. the kids who though would win would always get caught out in the last round. it was fun to watch.

STUDENTS: 8 TIME: 15-20min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

Played this game with my 5th graders (5 students) and 6th graders (8 students). The 5th graders seemed to have more fun and were able to get in a couple of rounds. The 6th graders were more strategic and therefore a bit slower to answer and maybe didn't have quite as much fun. If I play again with the 6th graders I might have to implement a timer. The 5th graders played with "Where are you from" and photos of flags in the bottom, they had to respond with "I am from _____." While the 6th graders played with "What grade are you in?" and "I am in the _____ grade." Overall they seemed to enjoy the game!

STUDENTS: 16 TIME: 15min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

I teach middle school and I've been playing this with all grades this week. 1st grade is definitely the most into it and has the most participation. 2nd grade is pretty ok too. 3rd grade there's usually only 1 or 2 people from each team making the decisions and speaking and the rest just doze off. So, I made it a rule that everyone on the team has to say the sentence or I won't move the puck. This game SAVED me with the super low prep time. I'm going to use it soon at my travel school as well.

STUDENTS: 16 TIME: 30min SKILL FOCUS: Reading FINISHED GAME?: Yes

STUDENTS: 17 TIME: 25min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

STUDENTS: 30 TIME: 10min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

STUDENTS: 40 TIME: 30min SKILL FOCUS: Speaking FINISHED GAME?: Yes

Played with non-academic high school students- they had to make an original sentence using the target language (present/past tense) plus the word that was in the column they wanted to place the puck. In one class the students were divided into two big teams and a co-teacher alternated calling on a student from each team. In another class the students were placed in teams of 6 and assigned a color, raised their hands to answer (without a designated order), and were allowed to place multiple pucks on the board per turn as long as the incorporated the words in the columns.

The runtimes in this chart are based on experiences from me and other teachers. If you had a different experience playing this game and would like to submit your own runtime feedback, please use the form below.

Connect Four

Game Features

How to Play

Variations

Runtime

Game runtime feedback

Questions & Feedback