Riddles

Materials

• Riddles whose answers and explanations have been checked
• Optional: picture cards

How to play

1. Choose a riddle-giver and listeners. Prepare several questions based on word sounds or double meanings, checking the answers and explanations beforehand.
2. Read slowly and repeat on request. For the Japanese example, explain that pan means bread, then ask: “Which pan cannot be eaten but is used for cooking?”
3. Allow thinking time before inviting someone, such as a participant with a raised hand, to answer. A different guess need not end their attempt; they may keep thinking or pass.
4. The example answer is furaipan, a frying pan. Explain how its final pan sound links to the question. Consider other answers together if their reasoning works.
5. Change riddle-givers after a few questions. Test original riddles on someone else first to make sure they make sense.

Ways to adapt

Preschool children: picture riddles about recognizable features. Younger primary school children: sound-based wordplay. Older primary school children: also try creating riddles.

Sources and references

• みんなの教育技術『小1国語科 あいうえおであそぼう』言語活動の特徴 ↗