Game: What is ist? Is it ...?

Many games provide experience of the use of particular patterns of syntax in communication, and these are here called structure games. Among them are a number of guessing games which can be played at various age levels. In general, the challenge to guess arouses considerable interest and encourages the learners to communicate what they see as possible 'right answers'.

1. What is it? Is it...?
Level: elementary, intermediate, and advanced
Age : any
Group size: whole class, groups, or pairs
Use: to practice 'yes-no' and other questions and to brush up vocabulary.

Somebody thinks of an object or person the class knows the name of, and the others ask questions, putting up their hands and waiting to be called on: Is it a green book? It is May's desk? Is it my face? Is it the door? Is it John and Peter? Is it the railway station? Is it the man who came here this morning? etc. The first to guess correctly takes the 'thinker's' place.
After such a game has been successfully played by the class as a whole, it can be played in groups or even in pairs.
The learner who has thought of something may be questioned by members of another team only, and points scored according to the number of questions asked (e.g. one point for a guess after only five questions). There should be a requent change from one team to another, to keep the whole class active.
The number of yes-no questions may be limited (e.g. to twenty), after which the answer must be given and the game started again.