segunda-feira, 21 de abril de 2014

Snowball Fight

This is a great activity if you need to wake your students up!! They feel very excited and get really into this game. All you need to do is give your students some draft paper, no more then 5 pieces. Tell them to write down the words they learned thet day, they can draw as well. After writing the words, they have to smash their papers, making some paper balls or snowballs!! Divide the class into two teams, and they have to thow the balls at the opposite team. Paly some music during the "war". Stop the music, they stop throwing snowballs, and you check which side has more paperballs. The side with fewer paperballs scores a point. Then everyone gets one paperball opens it and makes a sentence usind the written word. Play again until they have read at least 3 or 4 different words and made different sentences with them.


Mini Whiteboard

Students absolutely love the mini whiteboard!! It's like having an ipad to write on!! It's easy to use anywhere and anytime. I use to practice grammar points. For instance, let's suppose my students are learning the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE. I will select some verbs that I want them to use and divide the class into two teams. Each student will write at time, so everyone has a go. All the team can help build the sentence, but only one writes it. So I show them the verb and the sign (+)(- )(?) so they have to write a sentence using the given verb and an affirmative, negative or interrogative sentence. I made some dice for these activity and they are super simple to make, you just need a foam paper(EVA), scissors, a marker, and a stapler. Roll the dice, and whatever comes up they have to create a sentence. The first team to write a correct sentence, should raise the board so the teacher can check if they are correct so they can score a point! Then it's another student's turn to write on the board. The miniboard can be erased with paper towel.



Indoor Basketball

This activity is great to raise their energy level. They feel very excited to play as team and they try very hard to score a basket!! It's great to teach GRAMMAR STRUCTURE. 
You divide the class into 2 teams, forming two lines. The teacher can write the sentences on the board for the students or show them a flash card, with the action. Let's suppose your grammar focus is present continuous. HE + IS + DRIVING + A + CAR . The very last student in the line will start saying the sentence (HE) and pass the ball to the next student (IS) pass again + (DRIVING) pass the ball+ (A) pass the ball + (CAR) shoots the ball into the basket!!!! The first team to get the ball into the basket scores!! Then next round students should change places in the line, so everyone has the chance to say different words: SUBJECT/VERB TO BE/VERB+ING/COMPLEMENT





Balloons in the air

This activity will make your students move a little bit! They will watch a movie scene and write a few vocabulary words they saw in the video, no more than 5 words. The difference is that they will write these words in a balloon. The teacher then plays some music while they play with their balloons, trying to keep them in the air. The teacher stops the music and they have to grab a balloon, find a partner and discuss the word(s) written in the balloons. Play again and let them pair up with a different person each time. They will talk about different words and learn from different students.



Popsicle Sticks

This activity is great for a first day of class, when you are meeting a new group and expect their participation. The popsicle sticles can be used for true or false sentences, agree or disagree, pros and cons, do's and don'ts-when you are teaching rules, right or wrong, or for choosing optins A, B or C if you have more options of colors available.
Each should should ger a green and a red stcik. Teacher read the sentences (about him/herself) or grammar sentences and students have to raise the stciks according to what they think. If it's right or wrong, true or false, if they agree or disagree. Nobody is on spot here, so it's a safe activity therefore they all participate.