Grade: Middle
Subject: other

#1087. Blank Board Fill-In

other, level: Middle
Posted Tue Jun 22 16:12:26 PDT 1999 by Chad Stephenson (chadstep@yahoo.com).
Mercy High School, US
Materials Required: Blackboard / dry erase board, keyboards (computer), keyboard blinders
Activity Time: 30 minutes
Concepts Taught: Finding keys, total physical response

On the blackboard, create a of or more sets of the basic alphabetic keys in the shape of the
keyboards, without the letters on them. Put the "keyboards" side by side. Hand out writing
materials--chalk, dry-erase pens--to student candidates who choose to participate. Those who
don't participate can opt to sit with a detatched computer keyboard in their laps with the keyboard
"blinders" (sheet of dark material which covers the keypad, but still allows you to touch-type)
over their keyboards.

The teacher (or designated student) then chooses a word at random and writes it where the
"players" can see it. It is then the job of the students at the blackboard to fill in the
keypad with the letters of the word, using guidance from those with the keypads sitting
in their chairs, to get all the letters in the right spot. Once the word is completed,
that team gets a point. Players must rotate if a team keeps winning, naturally.

This does require the teacher to make sure, when the first student finishes, to check the
work. Students gain points by being the first to fill in the keypad with the correct
letters on the correct keys.

Keys can then be erased and used again for the next word!