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Games for Gaels



General Guidance Notes for Teachers and Players



Comics

Some of the games have a background story which is covered in the Comics which are also in the Fun & Games section of Am Baile. If this is the case, the story name is given in brackets beneath the title. Watching this first may enhance enjoyment of the game.


Points Score

Most of the games award points for correct answers given.


Time Limit

Most of the games work within a time limit - when that expires a 'Score' flash box will appear. Game can be restarted by clicking.


Responses

As with all computer work, responses need to be exactly those which match the bank of answers programmed into the game. We have tried to allow some leeway for differing correct responses, but undoubtedly someone will come up with a correct answer which does not match the ones expected. Be patient – and try another style, or wait to see the correct response required (only one style will be shown on screen) and copy that format.


Instruction Reading is also required to get the best out of the games and to save frustration – however, some players (especially younger children) may take a more 'Play it and See' attitude. This may be reasonably successful – especially in a number of the games where there is no further Language focus after the instructions.


Instructions

All games contain 2 or 3 support boxes showing Instructions, Vocabulary and Grammar. Points are generally lost for reference to the Vocabulary and Grammar boxes. We have tried to keep the content of these boxes logical and specific to the needs of the game to avoid unnecessary complication.


Gaelic Language Teaching Points:

Included in this set of Notes detailing Contents of Games, which also gives:


Levels of language difficulty

A rough guide from 1 (easiest) to 3 (most difficult).


Game Title
(Comic Story name)
Computer
Other Skills
Language
Focus
Language
Level

Make Tartan

Follow instructions.
Make patterns.
Click and drag for colours, width, etc

None

0

Seven Sins

(Alan of the Forays)

Click and drag (at speed).
Match colours.

None

0

Mole Bash

Click accurately on moving object.
Hand/eye coordination.

None

0

Piggy Grand Prix

Click accurately on moving target.
Hand/eye coordination.
Follow instructions.

None

0

Moose's Colour Game

Click and drag.
Logical thinking (matching correct/ nearly correct lights to colour options). Note that often one colour is used twice on line.

None

0

Cat's Bananas

Type in answer, choosing and copying from given set of words.
Match foodstuffs to animals.

Is toil/ Is fheàrr

1

Finn's Missing Word

Click on letters.
Note letters previously used.

Spelling of simple words.

1

Witch's Word Bubbles

Choose, Click and drag.
Work against clock.
Monitor score.

Simple sentence word order
(tha + subj + verb and/or place..........).

1

Seeing & Doing

Observe basic actions and match to verbs.
Type in words, copying from list.

Present tense of verb 'to be' and simple verbs of action
(Tha e a' snàmh, etc)

1

Five Letter Words

Identify & name objects
Type words.
Use logic to ID letters in word

Spelling.
Extension of vocabulary of basic objects.

1

Catch the Monster Midge

(The Monster Midge)

Listen to Soundtrack (if desired)
Click on midge and drag to put out window.

(Not essential) read & listen to phrases of location etc.

1

Where is the Monster Midge

(The Monster Midge)

Listen to Soundtrack (if desired)
Click on places in room to locate midge & win points.

(Not essential) Read &Listen to phrases of location starting "A bheil... and "An ann......... and Yes/No responses

1

The Seeing Stone

Observe formation of object & identify it.
Type in Gaelic object word.
Use rolling list for correct spelling if required.
Work at speed to get more points.

Learn Gaelic Nouns for simple objects. Spell correctly.

1

Fraoch Stories

(Fraoch)

Click to choose Passage.

Read and Understand.
Compose a sequenced story from pre-written options.

1/2

Doing Many Things

Copy correctly from list.
Memory skills as to what happened in sequence.

Verbs in a' (seinn) form with verb 'to be' past, present & future

1/2

Hedgehog Panic

Hand/eye coordination at speed.
Click to catch a letter.
Note letters used.

Spelling of simple words.

1/2

Christmas Presents

Observe who is speaking.
Read names on gift tag.
Identify 1st/2nd/3rd party use required.
Click on answer from drop-down list.

Emphatic forms of dhomhsa etc & leamsa etc given . Correct one to be clicked.

1/2

Where's the Whisky?

Read question given in Gaelic on screen.
Click answer from drop-list.
Observe Ali progressing homeward v Soldiers coming to capture him.

Verb 'to come/Thig' in all tenses.
Q & Ans: Read & understand Qestn.
Click on answer from drop-list.

1/2

What's the Weather Like?

Look at the pics and identify weather types.
Match Tha/Bha/Bidh to Today /Yesterday /Tomorrow.
Use word banks to extend weather vocabulary, including adverbs.

Use two forms of sentence:
Tha ..(noun/ceò)...ann & Tha e/i .. (adjective/ ceòthach). Tha/Bha/Bidh.
(No 'S e...a th' ann construction in this game).
Weather vocabulary.
Intensive adverbs: terribly; fairly; very, etc

1/2/3

What Do You Look Like?

Click on square.
Simple typing.
Observation skills.

Physical description of faces, head and neckwear.
Aige, oirre etc (having/wearing)

2

Mine & Yours

Choose correct phrase from drop-down box.
Memory skills/ whose toy.

'S ann/ Chan ann
leamsa, leatsa
etc.
masc/fem, e/i
(possession)

2

Finding Baby Urisk

(Baby Urisk)

Choose from list.
Copy correctly.
Type in words.

Spelling
Compound (two-part) prepositions (ri taobh, faisg air, etc).
Genitives (of the) of nouns.

2

Black Toad of Clanranald

(Black Toad of Clanranald)

Click & drag.
Choose correct action.
Observe and adjust actions.

Read and understand phrases.

2

Rabbits & Hunters

Counting.
Type and spell correctly.

Numbers of objects (rabbits) and of people (hunters).

2

Gaelic Place Names

Identify land features in pic.
Choose from list.

Vocabulary of land features.
Recognise Genitive cases given (e.g. hill OF the tree)

2

Bigger Better

Typing words correctly.
Interpret pictures to give answers.

Comparative & Superlative form of adjectives (e.g. beag, nas lugha, as lugha)

2

Where do they Live?

Match people and objects to their normal habitat.
Match Q. & Answer type
Type words for response

A bheil...? Am bi....?An e....? An ann....? Respond correctly to these questions.
Places and locations.

2

Do the Housework!

Observe icon in order to give pos or neg response.
Copy/type response to a command or question.

Vocabulary of housework.
Read command or simple question in future and past tense of regular verb and respond accordingly. (e.g.An do ghlan thu an làr? Ghlan mi an làr.

2

Lighthouse Tales

Explore a picture.
Choose options from drop-down list.

Compose story from bank of options.
Read completed story.
Sequencing.

2

Here and There

Type in words.
Notice if this/that to be used.
Copy adjectives correctly.
Type nouns with correct def.article (gender given).

Seo/ Sin.
Identify forms of def article: (am/an/a') re fem/masc nouns.

2

Spring Cleaning

Follow Masc/Fem/Pl indicator.
Type in two words per screen.
Watch character follow instructions.

ga /ga h- / gan /gam (used in correct form).
Knowledge of 2nd parts of verbs required : tilgeil; falach; ithe

2

Phone Home

Read question & observe from style of pic whether pos or neg response required.
Respond to question by typing in words.
Copy remainder of sentence correctly (from/to/in Glasgow /at the bridge, etc)

Respond using verb/tense asked. Past/Future of : Faic, Rach, Thig, Ruig, Fàg, Fuirich, Tadhail.
Scottish town names and place features (& pics) e.g. Oban/the town/the hills, etc used in prepositional phrases to be copied from question.

2

Boy Wizard

(Boy Wizard)

Type in sentences.
Identify animals

An gabh? Gabhaidh/cha ghabh
Animal names & genitive: 'dreach nathrach/form of a snake'

2/3

Doing a Good Job

Type in options
Relate clothes to occupations

Occupations.
Tha e/i na ................
'S e ...............a th'ann/a th'innte, etc

2/3

Lady of Lawers

Observe prophecies coming true (See the world come to an end if all correct in time).
Click to choose correct verb alternative in each box.

Indirect Speech (mainly 'thuirt' in past + future).
Read longer phrases & sentences – choose from two alternatives for each verb form.

2/3

Wizard's Apprentice

Read command & identify if direct or polite.
Identify required item from screen pics.
Follow correct sequence of actions in response : Type words/press 'Enter'/click, drag click, etc.
Use mouse skills to lift correct item and to drop it in the Cauldron (specific lift/drop target areas).
Play at varied levels to suit different language ability.

Respond using 1. 'Ni mi sin'
or 2. identify (a) command or (b) request and respond correspondingly using (a)Here's a (spider) or (b) Gheibh/Bheir/Thig/Cuiridh/ Lorgaidh/ Togaidh mi (spider)
Variety of nouns for cauldron items.

2/3

Zombie Rockpool

Click & drag.
Type words in boxes. valign="top" Follow 'score' to check for optimum score actions.

Parts of the body.
Left and right hand/foot (with (un)aspirated adjective)
Set of noun names in genitive (of the) case.
Masc & fem nouns.

3

Family Photos

Observe/Identify person in pic & person 'flashing', and the family relationship between them. (3rd person statement – that's his son, etc)
Look for 'head-to-head' icon which indicates 1st/2nd person statement (That's my/your sister).
Type in simple phrase 'S e sin do mhac' etc.

Family nouns (given on screen) father, mother, etc.
Possessive adjs my/your/their, etc
mo sheanair/ a h-athair/ ogha, etc

3

Minister and fairy

Choose action by clicking on icon.
Type in correct form of words.
Look for 'angry' person & adjust to more polite language.
Observe action happening on screen.

Give commands, using familiar (min to fairy) or respectful (fairy to min):Suidh/ suidhibh; seinn/seinnibh etc. If 'angry' change to request: Am b' urrainn dhuibh....; An deigheadh sibh...; An suidh thu....etc
Also directional commands incl left/right/behind etc; parts of body esp face/head; variety of simple verb commands incl scratch/burp/cough etc ; do & bhur poss adjs = do shuil/bhur teanga, etc

3

Take That

Look at pic and try to see from expressions what's happening: who's giving/taking.
Fill in blanks: click to choose words from drop-list.
Use correct Question words to gain correct Answer forms – still click-choosing.
Check 'Sanas/Clue' for English translation.

Q & Ans. Verb 'Thoir' in Past/Present/Future tenses.
Prepositional Pronouns leam/dhiot/dhaibh etc also listed for click choice.

3

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