Никоненко Тамара Петрівна

1. Begin by reviewing the English words for various colors as well as unfamiliar English words that might be paired with colors in “color idioms”.

2. Prepare a set of index cards with just the names of colors on them.  Also, prepare a separate set of index cards with the words that correspond to the colors to form “color idioms”.  A list of some “color idioms” is provided below.

3. Give each student both a color card as well as a non-matching word card.  Have students read out which cards they have in their hands.  Then ask them to use their best guesses to find the student who has the proper match for their color card.

4. After proposed matches are made, review the correct answers and explain the meaning of each “color idiom”.

5. Use the complete sets of index cards, i.e., colors and matching word to play a game of “Concentration”, instructions for which follow at the end of the document.

1) Rose (colored) Glasses (To see things as better than they actually are.)

2) Red Flag (Be alert – possible danger.)

3) Green (with) Envy (Jealous)

4) White Lie (Small fib.)

5) Black Heart (Evil.)

6) Brown Nose (Obsequious; paying insincere flattery to secure favor.)

7) Purple Rage (Great anger.)

8) Yellow Streak (Cowardice.)

9) Blue Blood (Aristocrat.)

10) Gold(en) Touch (Ability to make money.)

11) Silver Lining (Positive side of an otherwise unfortunate situation.)

12) Blue Nose (Well-born person.)

13) Red Herring (Misleading or unrelated issue.)

14) Silver Spoon (in one’s mouth) (Born into wealth.)

15) Grey Area (Uncertainty.)

16) True Blue (Loyal.)

Instructions and Rules for a game of “Concentration”

a) Prepare 30 – 36 index cards with new, recently-taught vocabulary words written on half and definitions of those words written on the other half.

b) Shuffle all the cards together and then spread them out facedown on a large table.  For 36 cards, arrange the cards in six columns with six cards per column.

c) Divide the class into two or three teams of up to four persons per team.  (For a large class, suggest that two or more separate games be sponsored simultaneously.)

d) While the second team is watching, a member of the first team turns two of the cards face-up.  The objective is to find a matching pair of cards — that is, a vocabulary word and its matching definition..

e) If the two selected cards do not match, the cards are turned back face-down on the table in their original location.  Then a member of the second team gets a chance to select two cards while members of the first team watch.

f) If a team succeeds in picking up two matching cards, it keeps that pair of cards and is given a second turn (and a third turn, etc. if it continues to successfully pick up matches).

g) The game is over once all the cards have been picked up in matching pairs.  The winning team is the one having the largest number of cards in its possession.