Learning Simple Sentence Construction Using Colourful Jenga Blocks

Abstract

Primary school Malaysian pupils are generally still weak in simple sentence construction. Hence, this quasi-experimental study was conducted among 5 Year3 pupils in Subis, Sarawak to test their competency in constructing simple sentences before and after learning using colourful Jenga blocks. Besides, it also aims to investigate how the colourful Jenga blocks help pupils to construct simple sentences with correct grammar. 6 dissimilar word classes which are represented by 6 different colours of Jenga blocks were introduced to the pupils. They were taught to construct simple sentences using 4 different sentence patterns. The intervention was carried out within 8 writing lessons with a duration of 1 hour for each lesson. The data collection methods used in this study were pre-test, post-test and semi-structured interview. The test scores were analysed using descriptive analysis whereas the semi-structured interview transcriptions were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that all 5 pupils have shown increments in their test scores after learning using colourful Jenga blocks. Alternatively, thematic analysis of the interview transcriptions identifies 5 subthemes which explain how the intervention assists pupils. The 5 subthemes are: fun and interesting, colourful, easier, understand and remember sentence patterns or grammar rules, and increase vocabularies. This study has impacted pupils positively and transformed their perception of English writing lessons.