Clothes shop game

Here’s a great activity that integrates Cooperative Learning and clothing vocabulary.

You’ll need paper dolls and paper clothes for dressing them (you can use real dolls and their clothes if you have them, of course). Feel free to print out and use the ones I have here:

You also have this version for colouring in:

So it goes like this. I divide the class into groups of 4-6 students (I do this activity with my 5-year-olds). Each group gets a paper doll. I show them the paper clothes I have in my “clothes shop”, but before “buying” them, each group needs to discuss and decide the clothing they need.

We use the “Pencils in the middle” technique for this. They each get a numbered list for taking notes (drawings) of their decisions. You can use this sheet: (cut it to get 3 lists for 3 kids):

“Pencils in the middle” is a 2-step technique. First, the group makes a decision without drawing or writing anything. Then, everyone takes a note of what has been decided.

So I would ask everyone: “What will clothing number 1 be?” Each group has to decide on the first item. After the decision has been made, they can each draw it or write it down on their list. When I see that almost everyone has finished, I call “pencils in the middle”. At that moment, kids have to put their pencils away and put their hands behind their backs (this helps them inhibit the impulse of grabbing the pencil before the group decision has been made). I would ask another question like: “What will clothing number 2 be?”, and so on, until they have 5 items of clothing on their lists.

The rules for this structure are:

• Use indoor voices
• Everyone participates in the decision making
• Don’t waste time
• If you haven’t finished drawing or writing when I call “pencils in the middle”, you’ll have time at the end of the activity to finish

While working with this technique, kids learn to compromise, come to an agreement and cooperate. See another Cooperative Learning activity HERE.

After everyone has their list ready, they take turns coming to the “shop” to buy clothes. It goes like this:

Teacher: Hello!

Student: Hello.

T: What do you need?

S: I need a sweater.

T: Here you are.

S: Thank you! (gives me some imaginary money)

T: Thank you, bye!

S: Bye-bye.

Kids get really motivated with this game, so I find it really easy to blend in some structured cooperation.

How do YOU teach clothing vocabulary? Let me know!