Unstrip Grammar

This game is one of those that students will remember for the rest of their lives.  I have been doing it for 20 years with students in grades 6-12 and it has always been a huge hit.  With poor classroom management, it can  be a huge headache due to the excitement it  creates. Use this activity sparingly- on a special day, possibly the day before vacation when quiet and order is not generally expected.
 
To play this activity, you need approximately 20 sentences, or grammatical problems you want students to read or solve.  They should be fairly difficult but not impossible.  You also need a pile of costumes  or crazy clothes.  As an ex- drama teacher,  I have these in abundance.  They don't have to be full costumes and in fact it works better if they aren't.  You need scarves, aprons, jackets, crazy glasses, skirts - pretty much anything weird and/or sparkly will do.  

The procedure is fairly simple. Arrange the class in a circle so that everyone can see everyone else  Hand out the sheet that has the 20 sentences or questions on it.  Students will need pencil and paper or white boards.  Have students write the answer to your first question -translate this sentence,  write ambulare in the first person, imperfect tense.  It really doesn't matter.  Students then hold up their answers and everyone who got the answer wrong has to wear a piece of clothing from your costume pile.  After everyone is dressed,  repeat.  The winner is the student wearing the least amount of clothes at the end.  That's why its called UNstrip grammar.  Its about putting on clothes NOT taking them off.  Get it?

This game is one that you can guarantee will NOT be played in any other class.  Students will talk about it for the rest of the year.  "Remember when Malcolm wore...."  Part of my goal has always been to make my class memorable even legendary.  News of this game will spread far and wide.   It's a seed being planted in those hearing the stories. You mean there are monsters AND costumes in Latin?? Hmm.. Maybe I should take Latin.

Tips to Make this Activity Work

• There will be some (usually boys) who will be very nervous about wearing women's clothes.  Don't make them.  I have a collection of jackets , old ties and large shirts as well as other bland items for these students.  I tell them that this is supposed to be fun and I am not interested in embarrassing anyone.  
• Like every other activity I do,  participation is not optional.  You have to wear something or there will be a consequence.  Students opting out can ruin the activity. 
• There will also be some that can't wait to wear the craziest clothes that you have.  I recommend that you simply throw the students something to wear.  Don't let them sort through your pile or you will never advance to the next question. 
• Some will want to wear ALL the clothes.  I tell students after 3 wrong answers, you are done putting on clothes.  I also let students take off some clothes if they get the answer correct so that the pile doesn't become completely depleted.
• Be careful about hats.  Lice is always an issue in schools.  I've stopped handing out wigs because a lice infestation would ruin my collection. 

• This activity is hugely hilarious.  Students will want to pose, preen and snap each other's pictures.  I tell everyone that I will leave 5 minutes at the end so that they can admire each other and take pictures.  That tends to quell the need for constant photo snapping and trips to the mirror.  
• This activity is NOT for every group.  It is not appropriate for a class that easily flies out of control, insults each other, or one where the first response of most of the students is "I don't wanna."  Luckily in my experience, groups like this are rare but if your class has had trouble with other games on this blog,  don't. Wait till next year.

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