Sample Activities
Around the Classroom
Skills Practiced: Vocabulary, Reading Level: 1-2 ELL Grade: K - 12 Materials: paper, tape Activity: 1. Write the English words of objects in the classroom. 2. Tape those words to the object. Note: If the student cannot read yet, it might be helpful to spend some time after school saying the words out loud to the student and having him or her repeat the word back. Vocabulary Squares
Skills Practiced: Vocabulary, Writing, Listening/Reading Level: 3+ ELL Grade: K - 12 Materials: paper, pens/pencils, colored pencils/crayons/markers Activity: 1. Divide the paper into four squares with the vocabulary word in the middle. 2. In one square, write the definition. 3. In one square, write a sentence using the word. 4. In one square, draw a picture or pictograph that will aid in remembering. 5. In the last square, choose one of the following: part of speech, related forms of the word, synonyms/antonyms Note: Students can also use a similar idea to make flashcards with the vocabulary word on one side and the definition with a picture on the other side. Sticky Notes
Skills Practiced: Listening, Writing, Content Level: 2+ ELL Grade: K - 12 Materials: sticky notes, pens/pencils Activity: 1. Have students write questions about class or homework on the sticky note (either in English or in his or her native language). 2. Allow students to put the sticky notes on the test to ask the teacher later. 3. Answer the questions on the sticky note. Graphic Organizer
Skills Practiced: Listening, Writing Level: 3+ ELL Grade: 6 - 12 Materials: blank graphic organizer sheet, pens/pencils Activity: 1. Students fill in a graphic organizer sheet during lecture/class period with key points. 2. Afterwards, check the students sheet to make sure all key points wer discovered. |
As The World Turns
Skills Practiced: Speaking, Writing, Listening Level: 1+ ELL Grade: K - 12 Materials: picture, notebook, pencil, coloring materials Activity: 1. For younger/lower proficiency level students, the teacher would present a picture of something that would be interesting to the student, such as a picture of a mom with her daughter or son, or a picture of a young person spending time at a local “hangout.” 2. The student should be asked to tell a story, or draw pictures about the picture presented. 3. As proficiency and/or the grade levels get higher the activities could become more challenging by having the student write longer stories, or giving them more specific criteria. Note: This activity can be made as simple or difficult as you would like. Back to Back
Skills Practiced: Reading, Listening, Writing, Dictation Level: 2-3 ELL Grade: 3 – 12 Materials: Reading texts with missing words Activity: 1. Put the students into pairs. 2. Hand one student partner A and the other student partner B. Tell the students to sit back to back. 3. Ask the students to complete the texts by reading to one another. Make sure that the students don't look at each other’s texts. Example of reading: PARTNER A My sister -------------really long, brown hair. She has blue eyes and a ---------- over her eyebrow. Her ------------ are -------------- big and she has very -------------- legs. She's got ---------------- and --------------. She has quite a chubby face but she's pretty. She is quite -------------- and heavyset. She ---------- to go out and is ------------------sociable. She never ------------------ at home on the weekends. She always ---------------friends and goes out with ------------------------. PARTNER B My -------------- has really long, brown hair. She has blue eyes and ------ scar over her --------------- Her feet are really -------------- and she has ----------------- long legs. She's got freckles --------- dimples. She has quite a chubby ----------------------- but she's ---------------. She is quite tall and -------------------. She loves to go ---------------- and is very ---------------. She never stays at home on the weekends. She always meets friends and goes out with them. |
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