True or False Pens

I first learned about this game by stumbling onto a blog post written by Mis Clases Loca. She simply called this game The Marker Game and I refer to it as true or false pens. It is a low-prep (the best kind) activity to use in the classroom after you have provided content through storytelling or a culture lecture.

Why do you want to use this activity?

• It is low prep
• Easy to use
• You can create it off the top of your head to kill a few minutes at the end of class
• Students love it
• It is engaging
• It is a quick way for the teacher to check if students are understanding

When can I use this game?

True or false pens can be used after any story, movie talk, or picture talk. It even works well after a culture lecture.

How does it work?

As mentioned above this is a low-prep (really no prep) game. All you need are students and a pen or object students can grab that won’t hurt them. I use Expo markers. But empty water bottles or bean bags can work for this game too.

Step 1: Tell the story.

Step 2: Place 2 students across from each other (facing each other) with the marker in between them.

Step 3: Provide a statement in the target language.

You can create the statements prior to the game or just make them up as you play the game.

How do you play?

Students sit across from each other with a pen between them. The teacher will sign a statement. If the statement is true, students will grab the pen and earn a point. If the statement is false and the student grab the pen, they lose a point. The student with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Mis Clases Loca plays teams but I just place students in partners. All the winners at the end of the round get a stamp. A similar true or false game would be coloring glyphs.

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