SHIRLEY TODD

MATCH MATE

GRADE 7 - 12

LOCATION

INTRODUCTION:

This is a geographic icebreaker suitable for the beginning of the school year or semester. On the first day of school, students participate in a get acquainted activity called Match Mate. As students enter the room, each receives a 3x5 index card. The card received will show either: l) the name and picture of a world leader, or 2) a map with the name and picture of a world leader, or 3) a map with the name of the country of the world leader. In addition, on all of the index cards there are three of the same questions that each student will ask the other once they find their mate. The purpose of the this activity is to have students renew friendships through group interaction. At the same time the activity provides a setting for the study of world geography.

TIME REQUIRED: 45 minutes (1 day).

MATERIALS:

World maps visible throughout the classroom

3 x 5 - inch cards of two descriptions:

l) Cards each showing the picture and name of a different national leader that can be matched with:

2) Cards each showing a map and name of a country that can be matched by one of the national-leaders cards.

PROCEDURE:

1. Give each student a 3 x 5 - inch card upon entering the classroom.

2. Explain that their task is to find the classmate who has a match for their card -- the right leader with the right country. Tell them that once they have found their match mate they are to proceed to a world map and make sure they have both located the country and the continent on which it is located.

3. Tell students that once they match the leader with the country, they will have three minutes to ask the three get acquainted questions written on the card:

a) What was the best thing you liked about school last year?

b) What was the most exciting thing that happened to you during the summer?

c) Make two predictions about world geography for the coming school year.

4. After three minutes, ask each student to introduce their match mate and the match mate's responses to the three questions.

5. Ask students, "Did you have a problem matching your national leader to a country? That is a leading question that results in discussion of geographical subjects.

EXTENSION:

Students can use the same idea by replacing national leader/country pairs with other kinds of matching pairs. For example, they might brainstorm famous authors and places of birth. Once students engage in brainstorming, groups can be randomly selected, either given a pair or have each group select a pair, then develop the activity for future use.

SOURCE:

Junior Scholastic Vol 93, No. 4, October 19, 1990.