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The Minister's Cat is an activity that encourages learners to develop rhythm, practice vocabulary, and become comfortable thinking on their feet.
The Minister's Cat is an activity that encourages learners to develop rhythm, practice vocabulary, and become comfortable thinking on their feet.
Steps:
Steps:
1. Find or clear a large space. Gather your students in a large circle. Everyone should be facing the center of the circle and in their own personal space.
1. Find or clear a large space. Gather your students in a large circle. Everyone should be facing the center of the circle and in their own personal space.
2. Join the circle, bend your knees, and begin tapping your thighs at a moderate pace. Ask your students to join in to create a beat.
2. Join the circle, bend your knees, and begin tapping your thighs at a moderate pace. Ask your students to join in to create a beat.
3. Once the beat is going steadily and all your students are tapping in unison, introduce the game as follows: “I once saw the most REMARKABLE cat! The cat belonged to my neighbor, the minister, and it could be anything I wanted it to be.” Note that if you'd prefer, you can change the creature and profession referred to in the game - for example, you might have the farmer's cow or the learner's dog!
3. Once the beat is going steadily and all your students are tapping in unison, introduce the game as follows: “I once saw the most REMARKABLE cat! The cat belonged to my neighbor, the minister, and it could be anything I wanted it to be.” Note that if you'd prefer, you can change the creature and profession referred to in the game - for example, you might have the farmer's cow or the learner's dog!
4. Ask your students to help you describe the minister’s cat by completing this phrase: “The minister’s cat is a(n) (adjective) cat!” If you'd prefer, you can ask your learners to provide a gerund, profession, etc. in place of an adjective.
4. Ask your students to help you describe the minister’s cat by completing this phrase: “The minister’s cat is a(n) (adjective) cat!” If you'd prefer, you can ask your learners to provide a gerund, profession, etc. in place of an adjective.
5. The phrase will be passed around the circle, each student completing it with a different adjective. The phrase must always be spoken in rhythm, and there should be no pauses as it moves from person to person. Remember: The minister’s cat can be ANYTHING - even a contradiction, so there are no wrong answers when completing the phrase.
5. The phrase will be passed around the circle, each student completing it with a different adjective. The phrase must always be spoken in rhythm, and there should be no pauses as it moves from person to person. Remember: The minister’s cat can be ANYTHING - even a contradiction, so there are no wrong answers when completing the phrase.
6. Ensure that each student gets the chance to describe the minister’s cat once, then continue play as desired. If your students are up for more of a challenge, go through the alphabet as you play the game, instructing each student to complete the minister’s cat phrase with an A adjective the first time around, then a B adjective, then a C adjective, and so on. Additionally, you can make the game more challenging by tapping quickly to create a faster rhythm, and you can make the game easier by tapping slowly, creating a leisurely rhythm.
6. Ensure that each student gets the chance to describe the minister’s cat once, then continue play as desired. If your students are up for more of a challenge, go through the alphabet as you play the game, instructing each student to complete the minister’s cat phrase with an A adjective the first time around, then a B adjective, then a C adjective, and so on. Additionally, you can make the game more challenging by tapping quickly to create a faster rhythm, and you can make the game easier by tapping slowly, creating a leisurely rhythm.
Tools:
Tools:
The video below shows an example of the Minister's Cat played in the movie Scrooge!
The video below shows an example of the Minister's Cat played in the movie Scrooge!
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