The Top 10
The Top 10
A great activity and game with very low teacher prep. needed.
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Everyone loves a list! Remember Buzzfeed? They became an internet sensation just by making lists of any and all things. There is a drive inside us to rank, collect, compare - teachers can harness that in their classroom. You can make lists for practically any topic - here is my own “list of lists”.
Without a doubt, the Top 10 list is a very generic category. Go on YouTube and search and you’ll find dozens of Top 10 videos for any topic imaginable. Maybe even ask ChatGPT to provide a topic list as your scorecard. Also, search our video lesson platform.
So how would you use this activity idea in class?
It’s really easy and here are some suggested steps for setting up the activity well. Use our free pre-made template for students to record their Top 10 guesses.
Paid subscribers, see our full Top 10 activity book of pre-made games in the lesson library. All ready to go. Also, find it on TpTs. There is also a PPTx game version.
Choose a topic. Usually, it will be something of interest to your students, something they are studying and focused on at this moment or the theme of your syllabus / unit.
Search YouTube and find a top 10 video for the topic. It should have the answers written and some text support. Not too long either, no more than 3-4 minutes I’d suggest. Here is an example on our Video Lesson platform - Top 10 Global Issues.
In class. Model the activity and language you want students to use. Choose a simple topic to do together as a class for Top 10. For example - Top 10 Netflix Series. Brainstorm together as a class, making the list on the board. As you elicit student answers, write down the expressions used for offering opinions.
Check the answers with students and see how many the class got correct.
After this preparation, PLAY THE GAME! Provide the topic. Students brainstorm in small groups and make their top 10 list. Or alternatively, you could provide students with a list of the video’s 10 answers and have them rank them.
After a set time, watch the video. Students note how many of their answers are similar to the video’s answers. Who got the most matching answers? Who got the most in the correct ranking?
Discuss with students the answers they think should have been included in the video and which weren’t. Why do they feel they should be included?
Top 10 is a strong language activity not only because it uses the power of lists and draws on the personal context and background of students but also because it provides extensive listening/watching practice. Students uptake a lot of language as they watch the video and process the meaning communicated in a very structured (list) way. It works!
The Top 10
Dear David
Unfortunately, I can not download it. I can not even enter the Teachers Pay Teachers website. I am from Iran and because of the sanctions, I need to turn on my VPN to enter Substack. I think it is because of my VPN that I do not have access to the website and materials. Can you help me fix it?
Many thanks