The quartet game

guitar

MUSICAL INST RUMENTS

piano

MENTS MUSICAL INSTRU

trumpet

NTS MUSICAL INSTRUME

drums

MUSICAL INSTRU MENTS

Objectives of the game The objective of the quartet game is to create sets of four cards belonging to the same category, or otherwise three cards of the same kind plus a joker.

The game is meant for learners who have already achieved the A2 CEFR language level and it aims to improve students’ logical thought processes and build up their vocabulary in various different areas.

The cards will help learners to assimilate and memorise new terms in a fun natural way.

The game is straightforward, user-friendly and familiar to people all over the world so no time will be wasted in working it out.

Contents The game consists of 132 cards, divided into: 128 cards organised into 32 quartets: SCHOOL blackboard - teacher’s desk - desk - chair BOOK cover - title - pages - bookmark JEWELLERY bracelet - ring - earrings - necklace SHOES boots - sandals - trainers - walking boots BEDROOM bed - wardrobe - bedside table - chest of drawers LIVING ROOM sofa - armchair - carpet - lamp TEA teapot - water - teabag - cup 2

IN THE BATHROOM toothbrush - toothpaste - shower gel - shampoo CAR seat - seat belt - steering wheel - gearbox ROAD traffic lights - pavement - road sign - zebra crossing MEANS OF TRANSPORT motorcycle - car - bicycle - bus SEASONS spring - summer - autumn - winter PENCIL CASE pencil sharpener - pen - pencil - eraser FRUIT pineapple - kiwi - apple - apricot VEGETABLES cauliflower - courgette - spinach - carrot SWEET FOOD cake - ice cream - cupcake - biscuit MATERIALS glass - plastic - paper - metal MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS guitar - piano - drums - trumpet CARDINAL POINTS north - south - east - west FACE eye - ear - nose - mouth HOUSE bedroom - kitchen - living room - bathroom NATURE waterfall - river - lake - sea IN A BAG wallet - mobile phone - glasses - keys TREE branch - trunk - roots - leaves INSECTS ant - mosquito - ladybird - bee 3

DRINKS fruit juice - coffee - milk - soft drink CUTLERY knife - fork - tablespoon - teaspoon SKY ANIMALS swallow - seagull - eagle - parrot SEA ANIMALS whale - dolphin - turtle - shark THE SOLAR SYSTEM the Earth - the Moon - the Sun - star SPORT ball - tennis racket - skis - in-line skates THE WEATHER clouds - wind - rain - snow

Each card shows the name and picture of one element of the quartet, the name of the set it belongs to and a picture of the other three elements of the quartet.

4 jokers 1 instruction booklet with instructions and tips Games and learning activities GENERAL RULES (APPLY TO GAMES 1 - 2)

The leader decides at the beginning of the game whether to use the jokers or not and whether to play with all the cards or only with some quartets. They also establish how long the game will last. Once this has been decided on, each player receives the same number of cards. Players receive between 4 and 8 cards depending on the number of cards that you are playing with and on the number of players in the game. The youngest player begins. Then play continues in a clockwise direction.

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1 LET’S SWAP! The leader shuffles the pack and deals out the cards.

The players then sort their cards according to their quartets.

If they have been lucky enough to collect a whole quartet at the start of the game, it must be laid on the table and the player reads out loud the name of the quartet and of its four elements.

If none of the players manages to complete a quartet, the game goes on like this: the players take turns to ask another player of their choice for a specific card, saying the name of the object shown on the card. If the asker gets this card, they thank the other player and give them any one of their own cards, naming it out loud. Please note that jokers cannot be asked for. If the asker doesn’t get the desired card, it will be the turn of the next player to ask another player a question. The first player to complete a quartet shows the other players the 4 cards, reading the name of all the elements out loud.

The first player to make a quartet is the winner.

If the player has put together a quartet with three cards from the same set plus a joker, they must say the name of the missing element, otherwise it will not count as a win.

The game is over when one of the players wins, or when the time is up (as established at the start of the game). In the latter case, whoever has the most cards belonging to the same quartet is the winner.

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2 TAKE YOUR PICK The leader shuffles the pack and deals out the cards.

The players then sort their cards according to their quartets.

Here too, if they have been lucky enough to collect a whole quartet in their hand at the start of the game, it must be laid on the table and the player reads out loud the name of the quartet and of its four elements.

If none of the players manages to complete a quartet, the game goes on like this: the players take turns to pick a card from the next player’s hand, hoping to create a set of cards belonging to the same quartet. On the other hand, the other player will hope that they don’t lose one of the cards that they need to create their set. And that is what makes the game fun!

The game continues like this, going from one player to the next until someone manages to form a quartet. Once a quartet is formed, the player shows the four matching cards to the other players and then reads out loud all of the elements. Here too, if the player has put together a quartet with three cards from the same set plus a joker, they must say the name of the missing element, otherwise it will not count as a win.

The game is over when one of the players wins, or when the time is up (as established at the start of the game). In the latter case, whoever has the most cards belonging to the same quartet is the winner.

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Variations, ideas and tips The joker cards are not needed for these activities.

• HOW DO YOU SPELL IT? For this activity, a card is given to each player (or each team) who must then write the name of the three missing elements required to form a quartet on a piece of paper.

All players can be shown the same card. In this case, the first player or team to correctly write the name of the three elements is the winner.

• LET’S LENGTHEN THE LIST! The leader chooses a selection of cards (excluding closed categories such as Seasons or Cardinal points) and shows the players one card, asking them to identify and write down the elements belonging to the same set.

The players must not only write down the names of the pictures shown on the card, but also think of other elements that belong to the same set.

The player with the most elements (correctly spelt) is the winner.

Distance learning This game is also useful for online learning courses with a slight adaptation. The leaders need to frame the card in the viewfinder and ask each player to write a list of the elements belonging to the same quartet. In this case too, whoever thinks of the most elements and spells them correctly is the winner.

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• WHERE DO I BELONG? Players take turns to pick a card from the pack without showing it to the others. Then, they say the name of the picture on the card. The next player guesses the name of the quartet it belongs to. If they get it right, it is worth one point. Otherwise, the next player can have a go. Whoever earns the most points is the winner.

• THE FAB FOUR Players take turns to pick a card from the pack without showing it to the others. Then, they say the name of the quartet written on the card. The next player then guesses the names of the four elements in the set and says them out loud. If they say the elements correctly, it is worth one point.

Otherwise, the next player can have a go. Whoever earns the most points is the winner.

• FIND THE ODD ONE OUT! The leader divides the pack into 32 sets and gives a quartet to each player. The remaining cards are shuffled and placed face down in the middle of the table. Players (or teams) then take turns to draw a card from the pack and read out loud the name on each card they are holding.

If the next player manages to identify the odd one out and explain why it doesn’t fit, they earn one point. Whoever earns the most points is the winner.

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• AN ODD TALE The leader deals out the same number of cards (from 6 to 10) to the players. Players then take turns to make up a story based on the cards in their hand. Whoever includes the most elements in their story or whoever tells the most interesting story is the winner.

• WHAT’S ON THE CARDS? The youngest player picks a card from the pack and starts to tell a story that is somehow based on the picture. Whenever a player stops talking, or the leader decides to interrupt them, the next player picks another card and continues the story based on the new picture.

• TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY The leader divides the pack into 32 sets and gives a quartet to each player. Players write a few sentences about the “family” of cards they have been dealt. The most interesting or best-written story is the winner.

These are only some suggestions on how to use The Quartet Game.

The game leader can use the game in different ways, depending on the language level of the players and their language objectives. It can be used as a basis for many other activities and is an effective teaching aid which stimulates and encourages the English language learning process.

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A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Beginner Elementary Intermediate Upper Intermediate Advanced Proficiency

The Quartet Game

by Chiara Colucci

The Quartet Game - 80883 - V70337

CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

© ELi s.r.l.

P.O. Box 6 - 62019 Recanati - Italy Tel. +39 071 750701 www.elionline.com Art Director: Letizia Pigini Editors: Gigliola Capodaglio and Francesca Bugiolacchi Illustrations: Silvia De Ventura Production Manager: Francesco Capitano Graphic Design and Layout: Gianni Caputo Printed in Italy by Tecnostampa Pigini Group Printing Division - Loreto - Trevi ISBN: 978-88-536-4073-4 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher ELi.