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A1 Housework Unit • 20 Mins Mingle

FIND YOUR HELPER! 🤝

A fun speaking game. Students ask for help with housework.

16 Role Cards

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Game Rules

🧑‍🏫

Teacher Guide

1 Set-up: Give half the class a Need card (A-H). Give the others a Helper card (1-8). For small classes, remove pairs.
2 Play: Students walk around. They ask, "Can you ...?"
3 Points: Students draw a line on the card back. Do this for every question.
4 Check: Use the key to check the pairs.

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Student Mission

1 Need card: Ask 'Can you ...?' Find your helper.
2 Helper: Answer with your card. Say 'I can' or 'I can't'. When you match, stand together. Tell the teacher.
3 Points: Draw a line (|) on the back of your card. Do this for every question.

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Action Shot: The Game

Diverse primary school students in a bright classroom holding colorful cards with housework icons, smiling and interacti

Students ask questions. They walk around to find their helpers!

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Time Plan (20 Minutes)

Step 1

Give Cards

Give out the cards. Explain the rules.

Step 2

Practice Sentences

Practice the 6 sentences together.

Step 3

Class Game

Students walk, ask, and answer. They count their points.

Step 4

Check Pairs

Pairs stop and look at their cards. Check with the teacher.

Step 5

Count Points

Count the points. Answer the 3 closing questions.

🙋

Need Cards (Set 1)

8 Cards • A to H

🙋 NEED CARD A

Need someone to cook dinner

🙋 NEED CARD B

Need someone to wash the clothes

🙋 NEED CARD C

Need someone to wash the plates

🙋 NEED CARD D

Need someone to clean the window

🙋 NEED CARD E

Need someone to carry the bags

🙋 NEED CARD F

Need someone to tidy the garden

🙋 NEED CARD G

Need someone to clean the room

🙋 NEED CARD H

Need someone to clean the kitchen

🤝

Helper Cards (Set 2)

8 Cards • 1 to 8

🤝 HELPER CARD 1

Can wash plates, cannot clean room

🤝 HELPER CARD 2

Can clean room, cannot cook dinner

🤝 HELPER CARD 3

Can cook dinner, cannot carry bags

🤝 HELPER CARD 4

Can carry bags, cannot wash clothes

🤝 HELPER CARD 5

Can wash clothes, cannot clean kitchen

🤝 HELPER CARD 6

Can clean kitchen, cannot clean window

🤝 HELPER CARD 7

Can clean window, cannot tidy garden

🤝 HELPER CARD 8

Can tidy garden, cannot wash plates

🎉

A Perfect Match

Two happy students standing together holding matching cards, one with a chore icon like washing dishes, the other with a

A matched pair is ready. They tell the teacher.

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Points System

+1 Point

Good Question

For a good question: "Can you...?"

+1 Point

Good Answer

For a good answer: "I can" or "I can't".

+3 Bonus Points

Correct Match!

For finding your partner.

✏️

Card Back Points

Draw lines ( |||| |||| ) on the back of your card. Do this after you speak.

Sample: |||| || = 7 pts

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6 Sentence Starters

General Request 01

"Can you help me, please?"

Start with a polite question.

Specific Chore 02

"Can you cook dinner?"

Ask for help with a job.

Washing Task 03

"Can you wash the clothes / plates?"

Ask about a job on your card.

Offering Help 04

"Can I carry your bag?"

Offer to help.

Affirmative 05

"Yes, I can. / I can tidy the garden."

Say you can do it.

Negative / Polite 06

"No, I can't clean the kitchen. Sorry!"

Say no politely.

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Teacher Key & Listening Guide

Teacher key: what each picture shows

Card A: 🍲 I need someone to cook dinner. Ask: "Can you cook dinner?"

Card B: 🧺 I need someone to wash the clothes. Ask: "Can you wash the clothes?"

Card C: 🍽️ I need someone to wash the plates. Ask: "Can you wash the plates?"

Card D: 🪟 I need someone to clean the window. Ask: "Can you clean the window?"

Card E: 🛍️ I need someone to carry the bags. Ask: "Can you carry the bags?"

Card F: 🌳 I need someone to tidy the garden. Ask: "Can you tidy the garden?"

Card G: 🛏️ I need someone to clean the room. Ask: "Can you clean the room?"

Card H: 🍳 I need someone to clean the kitchen. Ask: "Can you clean the kitchen?"

Card 1: ✅ I can wash the plates. ❌ I can't clean the room. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 2: ✅ I can clean the room. ❌ I can't cook dinner. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 3: ✅ I can cook dinner. ❌ I can't carry the bags. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 4: ✅ I can carry the bags. ❌ I can't wash the clothes. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 5: ✅ I can wash the clothes. ❌ I can't clean the kitchen. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 6: ✅ I can clean the kitchen. ❌ I can't clean the window. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 7: ✅ I can clean the window. ❌ I can't tidy the garden. If not on card: "No, I can't."

Card 8: ✅ I can tidy the garden. ❌ I can't wash the plates. If not on card: "No, I can't."

🎯 Matching Pairs

Pair 1

A – 3

Cook dinner

Pair 2

B – 5

Wash clothes

Pair 3

C – 1

Wash plates

Pair 4

D – 7

Clean window

Pair 5

E – 4

Carry bags

Pair 6

F – 8

Tidy garden

Pair 7

G – 2

Clean room

Pair 8

H – 6

Clean kitchen

🗣️ Example Talk

Student A: "Can you cook dinner, please?"

Student 3: "Yes, I can cook dinner! But I can't carry the bags."

Result: ✅ Match found! Stand together. Get 3 bonus points.

👂 Listen & Correct

❌ "Can you to cook?" ➔ Correct to: "Can you cook?" (No 'to')
❌ "I can cooking" ➔ Correct to: "I can cook" (Use base verb)
❌ "I no can clean" ➔ Correct to: "I can't clean"

🔀

Variations

Level 1 • Easy

Use Pictures

Write the 8 verbs on the board. Add picture cards to help students read.

Easy: use pictures

Level 2 • Medium

Fast Swap

Matched pairs swap cards with another pair. Then they find a new match.

Medium: fast swap

Level 3 • Hard

Act it Out

The helper acts out the job. The asker guesses: 'Can you...?' The helper answers.

Hard: act it out

Bonus Task

Fast Finishers

Fast pairs take a whiteboard. They write 2 new jobs. Example: feed the cat.

Creative Production

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Closing Questions

Your helper

"Who was your helper today? What can they do?"

Model: "[Name] is my helper. They can wash the plates."

At home

"What housework can you do at home?"

Model: "At home, I can tidy my room and carry bags."

Please

"Do you say please? Say: 'Can you help me, please?'"

Say it together.