Activity

Space Invaders - vocabulary attack!

This is a vocabulary game based on the arcade game space invaders! Will your students shoot down the words or get hit first?

In this game, students will work together as a class to eliminate the vocabulary words before they hit the 'danger line' and crash your spaceship. They can win if they destroy all of the vocabulary words. This game is played in class rows, so its social distancing friendly! Give each student in the first row a white board (or piece of paper) and a pen.

Before class

Fill in your vocabulary words in the boxes above the slide. The colours coordinate with the aliens on the screen When filling in the boxes, take care not to move, delete or otherwise change the animation settings, as this will disrupt the motion paths and timing, and the game won't work.

How to play

  • Start the game and click the yellow alien to make the first set of vocabulary words drop down.

  • Students in the first row take the first turn. They secretly choose ONE vocabulary word and translate it. So, if the word is in English, they write it in Japanese and vice versa. But, they must keep their choice a secret. This is an important rule, as it balances the game.

  • When time is up, the students reveal their answers. If the answer is right, the word is destroyed! (By clicking on the word). If the answer is wrong, the word stays. Since the students are writing their answers secretly, it's likely that two or more will choose the same word. The word can only be destroyed once, no matter how many students write it.

  • The students hand their whiteboards and pens to the row behind them. It's now the next row's turn.

  • The teacher will now click the orange alien to make the next set of words drop in, and the remaining yellow words drop down further. A student can choose any of the words on the board, no matter the colour. Make it clear to the students that they can choose any word, but if a word touches the DANGER LINE, then they all lose.

  • Keep playing like this, clicking on the aliens one by one to drop in the words. If at any point a word drops below the DANGER LINE, the students LOSE. Click the skull icon for the LOSING ANIMATION.

  • Once you reach the green alien, there are no more words. Now, click the downwards arrows on the other side to make the remaining words continue to drop.

  • If the students can eliminate all the words without any crossing over the danger line, they WIN. Click the spaceship for the WINNING ANIMATION.

Files:
Medium files (requires an account to download) -
  • Space invaders.pptx (2.17 MB)
  • 14
    Submitted by katiegregory July 6, 2022 Estimated time: 10-15 mins
    1. DavoTheWise September 5, 2022

      This is really fun!

    Sign in or create an account to leave a comment.