ABC of the new country

Objectives

• Fun and movement
• Teambuilding
• Get to know “the new country”
• Show what you already know

Participants can test their knowledge about their new country and learn something new about the country in a fun way.

Material

• Flip chart sheets (or other big sheets of paper)
• 2 markers.

Preparation

• Prepare two flip chart sheets by writing down the full alphabet on both from top to bottom in such a way that you can put a word behind each letter. Rare letters like ‘Q’, ‘X’ and ‘Y’ may be combined.
• Attach the sheets to opposite walls.

Instructions

• Divide the group into two teams and make each team stand in the middle of the room, facing one of the two flip chart sheets.
• Give each team a marker.
• Each group has to complete the letters on their own flip chart sheet with a word that begins with that letter and has something to do with “the new country” (e.g. Germany).
• Participants take turns running to the flip chart sheet on the wall, writing down a word, running back and passing the marker to another person in the group.
• The ABC has to be filled in in the right order.
• The team who has added words that have something to do with the new country to all letters wins.

Variant

Variation 1:

• The group can be divided in more than two groups. Depending on the number of groups, more flip chart sheets are needed.
• The method does not need to be a competition. The groups can fill out the sheets at their own speed, without any rush. If the person who has the turn can’t think of a word, someone else in the group can help. Nevertheless, take care that everyone is involved.
• The method can be used for different topics. You can use it to make existing knowledge visible (e.g. to start a new topic in class) or to test the learning outcome at the end of a theme.

Variation 2:

Another variant:

Choose one (key)word (example EUROPE) and choose a few categories to fill in.

EXAMPLE: