Minimal Pairs Activity

Minimal Pair Race

1.  Students are handed a series of cards with words on them (one word per card)
2.  Teacher reads word aloud (not a word from any of the student cards) Teacher directs students to find minimal pair in their note cards
3. Students read their words silently to find minimal pair and then race to write their chosen word on the board.  First student to write the word correctly on the board earns one point for being first and a second point for writing correct word.
4. After all students have written a word on the board, teacher does "boardwalk" reviewing all words placed on board and has class pronounce all the words as teacher directs - teacher awards point to each correct word after class agrees that it is minimal pair.  In event of word error, students will work together to figure out why it is not a correct minimal pair.
5. Game continues with new teacher words, repeating steps 2-4 until all target pairings have been established.  


Objective is not to just find one word but multiple pairs of word that was read.  Organizationally, students could be given different color markers or sections of board to write on to allow for easy tracking of participation and to award points.