Aim of the Game
The aim of the game is to create correct sentences including both direct and indirect objects from verbs given by the teacher in order to continue a volleyball rally and return the ball to the other team. When teams answer incorrectly, the other team wins a point. Points are scored as in volleyball and the first team to win a set of a nominated number of points is the winner.
Procedure
Explain to the class that they are going to play a game of volleyball, in order to practise using both direct and indirect objects in a sentence.
Put the volleyball court up on the whiteboard or somewhere where it is easily visible to all learners.
Split the class into two teams and assign a name to each team.
Decide the order of play between teams.
Stick the volleyball on one of the back line players (i.e. the ih logos) of the team that will serve first.
Explain to learners that they will take it in turns to decide which articles they need to put in the gaps in the article about Patagonia. The first team have to answer one question correctly in order to serve successfully. You then move the ball from their side of the court to the side of the other team. This team then have to answer three questions in a row correctly to successfully return the ball (reflecting the custom in volleyball of taking three touches to return the ball) and the rally continues. If they answer a question incorrectly the rally is finished and the other team wins the point. Do an example or two to make sure everyone knows how the game works.
The first team have to make one sentence correctly in order to serve successfully. You then move the ball from their side of the court to the side of the other team. This team then have to create three sentences in a row correctly to successfully return the ball (reflecting the custom in volleyball of taking three touches to return the ball) and the rally continues. If they create a sentence incorrectly the rally is finished and the other team wins the point. Do an example or two to make sure everyone knows how the game works.
Points are scored as in volleyball (one point per rally won). Nominate how many points a team needs to win a set before beginning play (if you have ten questions, first to 5 will suffice). Remember that to win the set a team has to win by at least two points.
Variations
To make sure everyone participates, nominate different members of each team to take turns creating the sentences, either with or without consulting their team, depending on your needs.
Allocate members of each team to different players on the court (1 - 6) and nominate who creates the next sentence by moving the ball to their logo on the court.
To create a higher scoring game, award a point for each correct sentence given and two points for a rally won. After they have created each sentence, give each team the possibility to set (i.e. keep the ball on their half of the court and create another sentence up to a maximum of three) or smash (return the ball to the other team who has to create the next sentence). Setting gives a team the opportunity to score more points, whilst smashing gives the team more chance to win the rally. If a team answers incorrectly having set, they lose all the points gained since the ball last crossed the net.
There is also a blank version so you can adapt to your own activity.