Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

1

Author of EFL activities : Anita Lewicka

©Copyright for EFL activities: Friendly Lingua

Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2)

in EFL classroom

Cats – vocabulary bank:

MIND MAP

1. SS: In the vocabulary bank below there are various words (in)directly related to

CATS. Divide them into the categories the names of which are present in the MIND

MAP on CATS. There are some words which don’t fall into any of the categories.

Think of a category / categories yourself.

T: You may first get SS to read out the words, to make sure their pronunciation is

correct. They work on it in pairs or in groups. Elicitation follows.

ABANDONED, ABYSSINIAN CAT, AGGRESSIVE,

ALLEY CAT, ARCHED BACK, AWARE , BENGAL

CAT, BRITISH LONGHAIR, BRITISH SHORTHAIR,

BURMESE CAT, CALICO, CALM, CATNAP, CLAWS,

CLEAN, DEMANDING, DEVON REX, DOCILE,

DOMESTIC, DOMINANT, FANGS, FELINE, FLICK

TAIL, FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND, FUR, GROOM, HOME

CAT, JAW, JUMP, KITTEN, KITTY LITTER, LEAP,

LICK, MANX LONGHAIR, MEOW, NIBBLE, NINE

LIVES, NORWEGIAN FOREST, PAWS, PERK EARS,

PERSIAN CAT, PLAYFUL, PURR, SAWDUST,

SCRATCH, SHARPEN CLAWS, SIAMESE, SPHINX,

STRAY CAT, STRETCH, TURKISH ANGORA,

TWITCH, WHISKERS, WILD CAT

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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WORD SEARCH

2. SS: In the square below, you will find 10 hidden words. The words, of course, come

from the vocabulary word bank above. The words go horizontally or vertically. Once

you’ve found the words, be ready to define them, to find their equivalents in your

mother tongue and to draw some representations of the words. Follow any school of

painting you wish.

T: Get SS to work on the task either individually or in pairs. Tell them to limit the use

of their word bank and, instead, to rely on their short-term memory. Elicitation

follows.

CATS

______________

________?

What are cats

like?

What do cats do?

What do cats

have?

____________________

_________?

What cat breeds

are there?

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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JUMBLED WORDS

3. SS: In the sentences below, there are some jumbled words. Your task is to unscramble

them so that they make sense in the context given by the sentences.

T: Encourage SS to work on the task individually and not to refer to their word bank.

Monitor their progress. Elicitation follows.

[a] Body language is well known to cats; they IKFCL their ISATL when they

are playful or they may also be agitated by someone’s behaviour, if not yours.

[b] LOCACI cats tend to have a coat of white fur with distinct patches of different

colours.

[c] Stray cats, sometimes feral and suited for domestication, are by some also called

LEAYL STCA.

[d] The average IERLTT size for cats is 3-5. It’s commonly known that purebred

cats should have the same number of kittens each time.

[e] At www.simoncat.com you can watch animated videos presenting a unique cat

which is up for many things. In one of the episodes entitled “A sleepy kitten wants a

cuddle”, one playful kitty prevents the other cat from taking a TPACAN.

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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MEMORY GAME

4. SS/ T: There are two tables below. In the first table (16 boxes) there are pictures

representing English words, phrases from the other box (16 boxes). Your task is to cut

the tables out, to have 32 pieces which you put face down and play a memory game. Ss

play the game in pairs / in groups – element of competitiveness should be present

here. The aim of the game is to turn over pairs of matching cards (picture + English

word, phrase). The winner of the game is the person with the biggest number of the

pairs. You monitor SS working in groups or in pairs and make sure they use English.

TABLE 1:

There are various websites where you may find representations of the words from

TABLE 2. Also, you may get Ss to draw their pictures – self-generated materials are

always welcome, appreciated and the more of them, the more effective your SS’ output

becomes.

TABLE 2:

FANGS

JAW

WHISKERS

ARCHED BACK

KITTEN

PAWS

GROOM A CAT

PERK EARS

NINE LIVES

FUR

TAIL

PERSIAN CAT

DEVON REX

BENGAL CAT

ALLEY CAT

NORWEGIAN

FOREST

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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BUILDING WORDS:

5. SS: Below you see one phrase taken from the word bank. Out of the phrase, build at

least five different words. The words, of course, do not have to be linked to cats. Show

off with your knowledge of words in English!

T: When the phrase has been given, ask SS to give you a model. On the basis of this,

they continue on their own. You monitor and see their progress in English, their

reliance on their previous knowledge (long-term memory). You control your SS’

spelling as well. Elicitation follows. You may also make it into a game: the student

with most words wins.

SHARPEN CLAWS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

REBUS PUZZLES:

6. SS: In the rebus puzzles below three expressions from CAT word bank have been

hidden. Find them, please and remember that they may appear in different forms here.

T: SS work individually. This task tests not only the SS’ capacity to retain new words

but also (if not foremost) their ability to mentally link words, find correlations, rely on

their previous knowledge, etc. Elicitation follows in which each individual element is

clearly explained.

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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1.

G + + K

2.

M + B /NOT: FRONT

3.

TLE + MA

References (pictures) (DOA – 04.03.2015):

http://slodive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/living-room-design-ideas/modern-living-room-idea.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/08/18/business/18burgera.190.jpg

http://www.1waychurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/marching.jpg

http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/6620948/Bedford-Black-Queen-Bed-3d02a811-ff6f-42a5-a44e-

4f1b1497b718_320.jpg

http://childcarefirstaid.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/whistle.jpg

https://domestigoth.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/coffeebeans2.jpg

http://www.freakingnews.com/images/app_images/coffee-pot.jpg

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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Cats – article: “Expert urges cat lovers to own just one animal each” by Jonathan Brown (in)

“The Independent”, 29 September 2014

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/expert-urges-cat-lovers-to-own-just-one-animal-each-

9763540.html DOA: 03.03.2015

WORD SEARCH

7. SS: Below there are five reading comprehension T/F questions. When you’ve decided

whether the sentence is true or false, circle the correct letter in the column. Once

you’ve done all five questions, the word built out of the circled letters will reveal the

name of CAT in one of European languages. What language is it? What is CAT in

your mother tongue? What is the etymology of the word in your language?

T: Get SS to read the article first. Give them a handout with the T/F task. Besides

concentrating on the T/F, ask SS to find a reference from the text to prove their

opinion. Elicitation follows. Different names of CAT are given. Ask SS their opinion

on the article, namely which side they support and why.

T/F questions

T F

1. Cat fans got angry when they’d heard the specialist’s

opinion on a number of cats per household

G S

2. Dr Ellis says people want to own more cats because the

owners don’t want to harm lonely animals.

L A

3. People wish to re-domesticate cats, which is not cat nature

at all.

T V

4. People shouldn’t be made to own just one cat, which

creates an odd situation, according to a representative

from Animal Trust.

T K

5. Nowadays cats tend to get adopted in the UK without any

previous insight made.

I O

CROSSWORD PUZZLES

8. SS: There are three crossword puzzles below. The words in the puzzles come from the

article in “The Independent”. The clues give you synonyms, antonyms, definitions,

homophones. The first letters of all the words are important as they reveal three other

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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words both from the article and cat word bank. Once you’ve done the puzzles, write

your own clues for the words – use synonyms, antonyms, definitions.

T: Ask SS to work in pairs on the task. After elicitation (spelling is important here),

ask SS three questions related to the KEY WORDS from the puzzles: [1] In what way

are cats ______________ animals? [2] _____________ cats is right, isn’t it? [3]

Give as extensive definition of ___________ as possible. Give references of famous

___________ in literature or films.

1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Clues:

1. The number of inhabitants in one area

2. People who possess, have some things, materials goods, etc.

3. Consisting of, having a lot of elements, parts, etc.

4. A task, practice

5. Not double, not united

6. Male cats

7. To force upon, to enforce, to levy, e.g. taxes

8. A band of metal, leather or plastic put around the animal’s neck in order to identify

the animal

2.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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Clues:

1. Its homophone is ROME.

2. To meet, to come across someone

3. The living space and possessions which are there

4. To possess, to have

5. A person who presents designers’ clothes on catwalk

6. To live in a place

7. When used with animals, the word means castrated and spayed.

8. Not: unfriendly, introverted, unhospitable

3.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Clues:

1. Your mate, your pal (more formally)

2. A living thing that does not belong to plants

3. Local, regional, typical of a place

4. A group of animals or plants that share some characteristic features

WORD CHAIN:

9. SS: In the sequence of letters below, you may find eleven words from CAT word

bank and from ARTICLE words. The last letter of each word becomes the first

letter of next word. Good luck! Make sure you know all the words listed here and

are able to find them either in the MIND MAPS or in the ARTICLE.

T: Monitor SS working individually on this task. Make sure their pronunciation of

the target words is correct.

CLAWSAWDUSTWITCHOUSEH

OLDEMANDINGROOMINGREG

ARIOUSHARPENINENCOUNTE

REHOMING

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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PICTURE PUZZLES (+ POEMS)

10. SS / T (4 groups): As a group, you have a picture of a feline creature. The picture

(not cat) has been cut into irregular puzzle pieces. Arrange the pieces so that they

create a picture. Describe the picture. Make up a story based on the picture. Now,

turn the pieces over and on the other side you will find a poem on cats. Read the

poem to yourself (each other) and then try to skillfully present it to the others in

class as a group. SS may find the continuations of the poems and you may create a

lesson on POETRY in the classroom.

1. a.

b.

The Cat And The Moon by W.B. Yeats

The cat went here and there

And the moon spun round like a top.

And the nearest kin of the moon,

The creeping cat, looked up.

Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,

For, wander and wail as he would,

The pure cold light in the sky

Troubled his animal blood.

Minnaloushe runs in the grass

Lifting his delicate feet…..

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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2.

a.

b.

My Cats by Charles Bukowski

I know. I know.

they are limited, have different

needs and

concerns.

but I watch and learn from them.

I like the little they know,

which is so

much.

they complain but never

worry…….

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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3.

a.

b.

Cats Sleep Anywhere by Eleonor Farjeon

Cats sleep, anywhere,

Any table, any chair

Top of piano, window-ledge,

In the middle, on the edge,

Open drawer, empty shoe,

Anybody’s lap will do,

Fitted in a cardboard box,

In the cupboard, with your frocks –

Anywhere! They don’t care!

Cats sleep anywhere….

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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4.

a.

b.

How Neatly a Cat Sleeps by Pablo Neruda

How neatly a cat sleeps,

sleeps with its paws and its posture,

sleeps with its wicked claws,

and with its unfeeling blood,

sleeps with all the rings –

a series of burnt circles –

which have formed the odd geology

of its sand-coloured tail.

I should like to sleep like a cat….

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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KEY:

ARTICLE – WORD BANK:

ANIMAL, BOWL, CLIMB, COLLARS, COMPANIONSHIP, DENSITY,

ENCOUNTER, EXERCISE, FELINE, GREGARIOUS, GROOMING, HOUSEHOLD,

IMPOSE, INHABIT, MODEL, MULTIPLE, NEUTERING, OWN, OWNERS,

REHOMING, ROAM, SINGLE, TERRITORIAL, TOMS, VERMIN

CROSSWORD PUZZLES:

1.

1. D e n s i t y

2. O w n e r s

3. M u l t i p l e

4. E x e r c i s e

5. S i n g l e

6. T o m s

7. I m p o s e

8. C o l l a r s

2.

1. R o a m

2. E n c o u n t e r

3. H o u s e h o l d

4. O w n

5. M o d e l

6. I n h a b i t

7. N e u t e r i n g

8. G r e g a r i o u s

Anita Lewicka - Meow, meow, meow – vocabulary language games (A2-B2) in

EFL classroom

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3.

1. C o m p a n i o n

2. A n i m a l

3. T e r r i t o r i a l

4. S p e c i e s

Author of EFL activities : Anita Lewicka

©Copyright for EFL activities: Friendly Lingua