Teaching ideas for LOTE Identikit objects:

There are two versions of Identikit  - Identikit 1 teaches students the vocabulary for describing parts of the face by matching pictures with sound files spoken by a native speaker, and written text. 

Identikit 2 enables students to test their knowledge as they type in the correct text to match pictures and sound. Please note that Identikit 2 is case sensitive - so correct answers must be typed without capitals unless capitals are normally used in that language.

Users can print their finished faces using the 'print' button, or use 'print screen' to copy their picture into another program such as Word or a drawing program such as Irfanview or Photoshop before emailing it as an attachment or sharing through the Presentation Pages or Discussions area of WebCT.

Teaching suggestions:

The following suggestions may be of help to teachers in using these objects in their LOTE classes:

• Students could create an identikit picture of a thief or missing person. This could take the form of a wanted poster / newspaper article / TV news item, and be done online or offline.  If done offline, descriptions of the faces could be written separately to the drawings / collages, and other students could try to match them.  This could be done aurally (student or teacher reads the description while other students view some possible faces), or by reading as well.

• Online identikit pictures could be created using the Identikit, copied into Irfanview or Photoshop or another drawing program, and cropped so that only the picture was visible. This could then be displayed in the Discussions area for students to write the matching description, or emailed to students.

• Use pictures from the game 'Guess Who?' and have students write the vocabulary to match as modelled in the LOTE Identikit object. Play the game in the target LOTE. Teachers would need to prepare the students by teaching the vocab for asking questions about facial features. 

• Students could create an identikit for a teacher or student using modelled vocabulary.  Class listens or reads and then guesses who they think it is.

• Play 'Celebrity Heads' with pictures of famous people. This could be done online with a group of pictures of faces and a sound file and/or text describing the face. Students listen and/or read, then guess which face is being described. Offline students may also need some other questions and possible answers (eg about occupations or ages) to help them identify the famous face on their heads.

• Students can work in pairs on an information gap activity - where one student reads a description while the other one draws the face described.

• Use the Identikit to reinforce agreement and word order of adjectives.

• Students can complete cloze exercises offline or online to practise the vocabulary. Go to http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/openit/ to download the Cloze Machine (for students of any age who can read independently). This great tool is used for online cloze exercises. Teachers and students upload their own text to the 'machine'.   Teachers then choose a level of difficulty and the machine will take out a corresponding number of words. Students have to position the removed words in the appropriate places.