Learning Game for Kids: Question vs. Comment

You may be surprised how many times a day a student raises their hand, says they have a question, and then proceeds to describe their favorite ice cream toppings.   

As a teacher, I love having conversations and chatting with my students about all of the fun activities of their weeks and learning about their favorite interests! This brings so much joy to the classroom and really helps teachers, students, and classmates to connect. 

However, when this type of conversation begins to shift the classroom off of topic from the lesson at hand, then it can cause a distraction and keep the learning environment from being the best that it can be. 

It is important for students to understand the difference between a question and a comment, especially when participating in an online class. This will help the class to run smoother, stay on topic, and improve the overall class environment. Many younger students, ages 10 and younger, often confuse the difference between the two. One of my favorite ways to help students grasp this concept is by playing the game I created called, 'Comment vs. Question.'

How to play

First, explain to the child(ren) the difference between a question and a comment: 

A question seeks information, an answer, or clarification on a topic. It often asks about the other person's interest or experiences, and typically ends with a question mark (?). For example: 'What is your name?', 'How old are you?', 'Do you have any pets?' 

On the other hand, a comment expressions a statement, typically a fact, it provides information or expresses an opinion. This type of statement typically ends with a period (.) or an exclamation mark (!). For example: I have 3 dogs. I love chocolate cake. I am six years old. 

Setup

The purpose of the game, Questions vs. Comments, is to help the child(ren) to grasp the differences between these two concepts. This game is excellent for building mastery on the topic, while still having lots of fun! 

The game will be set up similarly to Red Light, Green Light. You may play this game indoors or outdoors. Find a large space such as a living room, yard, or driveway. Have the child(ren) stand against a wall, fence, or line. Remove any objects out of the way, the students will be running or walking across the area. Choose someone (typically an adult or older sibling) to be "it". This individual will be the person who asks the questions and makes the statements, while the children are the active participates.

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to get to the other side of the room before your opponent (if only one child is playing, then the purpose is simply to reach the other side as quickly as possible) in order to win.

When the child(ren) are asked a question, they must STOP (this is the Red Light). When a child is told a statement they are allowed to GO (this is the Green Light). If the child goes when they are supposed to stop, or stop when they are supposed to go, they must take one step back. For more of a challenge, you can have the child return all the way back to the beginning. As the guardian, you may chose the best fit for your child. 

Winning

The first child to reach the other side of the room, yard, or driveway wins the game. If only one child is playing, you can time the race and have the child try to beat their time across the area each time they play. The game is then repeated until the child(ren) have built an understanding of the difference between a question and a comment, or have grown tired of playing and need a break.

Questions

Here are some questions and comments you may state during the game. Feel free to come up with your own as well! Get creative and have fun! The kids LOVE silly questions and comments.    

1. My dog loves to eat bacon flavored ice cream and pizza. 

2. What would you do if you woke up one morning and everything was upside down?

3. What do you think would happen if an elephant tried to ride a bike?

4. I saw a cow surfing in the ocean yesterday, her fur was blowing in the breeze.

5. What would you do if you woke up with blue hair?

6. If you eat too many carrots, you might start hopping like a bunny.

7. Penguins secretly love to surf when no one is watching.

8. Do you think dinosaurs have pillow fights before bedtime?

9. What would your house look like if it were made entirely out of candy?

10. If you drink too much gatorade, you might turn into a gator. 

11. If you had to wear a costume all day, what would you wear?

12. If you had to chose between eating something really sour or really spicy, which would you chose?

13. I love singing at the top of my lungs in the shower.

14. If you could chose to switch places with any cartoon character, who would you chose?

15. If you could fly like a bird, where would you go?

16. If I had a pet dragon, I would name it Reginald. 

17. Why do you think giraffes have really long necks?

18. If my dog talked, I think it would have a really high pitch voice and sound like Mickey Mouse.

19. What do you think a rainbow tastes like? 

20. I saw a chipmunk wearing tiny sunglasses today, it was adorable!

21. My hotdog just told me that it wants to be a superhero when it grows up.

22. If you could be any fruit, which one you be and why?

23. Did you know that your dental floss secretly does the floss dance when no one is looking?

24. I think I saw my pencil writing by itself the other day, it was magical! 

25. Do you think fish need swimming lessons?

I truly hope your family enjoyed playing this game and helping your student(s) grasp the concept between a question and a comment!

I would be delighted to have your student in my classroom! Feel free to reach out with any questions! 

~ Sara K.

https://www.indyed.com/secular-curriculum/sara-kalbhenn