Activity

The Hot Seat!

The Hot Seat - warm-up activity

The Hot Seat!

UPDATED with 2 slightly more difficult versions and a Christmas version

My favourite warm-up activity by far. I have used it in elementary and junior high school classes.

-Split the class in two (left and right)
-Set up the TV/projector at the front, as close to the centre of the class as possible with two chairs in front .
-Students take turns sitting in the "hot" seats and trying to guess the picture that is on the TV.
-I do a 30 second time limit, free for all, any student can shout clues, but no Japanese or gestures (I do first violation gets a warning, second loss of points). First student to guess the picture correctly gets a point for their team and that round finishes. I have done a variation in a smaller class were students took turns giving hints but it was slow and boring.
-ALT and JTE police one half of the students each.
-Depending on how large a class you have, it may take up to 20 minutes, give or take. Try to make sure all the students get a turn.

Suggestion: I like to ask the students to set their own team names beforehand, but for quieter classes I might use my name and the JTE`s name. "Team Chris" and "Team Tanaka" for example. I like to selectively mishear the name suggestions and write something similar in English or use a nickname for a particular loud student perhaps. Adds to the fun....

Hope you guys enjoy!

Files:
Medium files (requires an account to download) -
  • THE HOT SEAT!.pptx (5.99 MB)
  • THE HOT SEAT! part 2.pptx (6.99 MB)
  • THE HOT SEAT! part 3.pptx (6.34 MB)
  • THE HOT SEAT! Christmas ver.pptx (5.25 MB)
  • 36
    Submitted by jiggswalsh July 5, 2021 Estimated time: 15 minutes depending on class size.
    1. Beestonian July 5, 2021

      Good twist on the 3 hint quiz.

    2. FoolishQuadFire July 16, 2021

      My students at elementary school loved this activity! Thanks :D

    3. icdfgen December 7, 2022

      I played this game with my 6th Graders today. Thank you so much!

    4. kobekobo February 6, 2023

      I played this game with my 1st years and they loved it and had a lot of fun with it. Just one question on question #9 is that your face on the tv? The students thought it was sooo funny and were thrown off and kept asking me who that white man was haha

    5. jiggswalsh March 16, 2023

      Yeah! Confusing people across the country is why I got into this job!

    6. xxieyu October 31, 2023

      Both my JHS kids and the first years at my low level SHS love this game!

    7. sensei Love January 23, 2024

      My students and JTE had so much fun playing this game. Thank you so much.

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