General Karuta Cards
By Melissa Noad
Files
Directions
This set of cards can be added to your travelling bag of tricks. They can be used simply for a listening activity, or as inspiration for stories or conversation.
To create the cards, simply print both files. Glue the picture and word pages back-to-back, making sure the grid lines up. To be safe, print a black and white copy of the files to see if the lines are even. If not, tinker with it until they match. I originally made the file with Open Office and wasn't able to lock the cell height and width. After gluing, cut out the cards and laminate them. Use the single card laminating sheets, available from K's Denki or Sunday for about 200 yen for a 100 sheet box. You can generally laminate 3 at a time with an A4 laminator.
Keep in mind the ideas below are for groups of students with 3-5 people.
Ideas for Use: Picture Side
- Describe the image, students should be the first to collect the card. You can use a similar grammar point to reinforce an idea, such as ~ing, comparatives and superlatives, and so on. For example, "The cat is playing video games."
- List of words in the picture for lower level students.
- Use the cards for a read and run activity. Give students a card, have them write a sentence using the pictures given.
- Tell a story - Students get or choose 3-5 pictures and use them to make up a story that they will write and share with the class. Give them a story template to fill in the blanks to make it easier for them. For example, "Last night, (picture image). Next, (next image). Suddenly, (next image). etc. etc.
Ideas for Use: Word Side
Note: the red words are adjectives, the black ones are nouns, and the blue words are verbs.
- Say the opposite of the words on the card.
- Make a sentence using the words on the card.
- Use the cards for a read and run activity. Give students a card, have them write a sentence using the words given.
Ideas for Use: Both Sides
- Students flip half the cards to the word side and half to the picture side. Students take one word card and one picture card. They must try to use anywhere between 1-3 words on the card to describe the picture or make a sentence that works with the picture.
Ideas for Making Your Own Cards
You can edit the cards to make them more advanced and add your own pictures. You can use culture-specific images and words, or even pictures of yourself, school, and so on.
Please edit this page to add your own ideas for how to use these cards!
