Activities for Pick-Me-Up, Practice and Production Steps of Lesson

Planning

Writing

Blank
pieces of
paper

Producti

Materials

Practice

1 Relay/Collaborative Writing: In
a group, each student has a piece
of paper. At the top of the sheet,
they write a sentence and fold
the paper so it covers the line.
Pass sheet to next student. He/she
writes another sentence, folds and
pass on. Read the final story after
6 to 8 folds.
2 Shark bait: Draw a shark about to
eat a man with a parachute. Lines
on the parachute = total chances
to guess a word. Students pick a
letter. Wrong guesses = cut a line
of the parachute. When all the
lines are cut, shark eats the man.
Objective is to guess the word.
3 Find someone who.
Students have to complete a
worksheet or Bingo card by
mingling and speaking with
students to find out who matches
the items listed. Eg. Has a sister,
plays the guitar, parachuted out a
plane. Increase or decrease
challenge by adjusting time limit
(shorter time is more challenging),
or setting handicaps like no more
than 3 repeat names. Make list
relevant to student group. Make
one list item uncommon eg.
Jumped out a plane to force
students to move around in order
to find that one unique person.
Most names = winner
4 Unscramble a Sentence: Using
flashcards or cards pinned to a
students shirt (one word per
card). Put a sentence back in
order. Pinning a sentence to the
back of each student adds an
additional challenge.
5 20 Questions: Students have 20
chances to guess an object the

Langua
ge
Focus

Pick-Me-

Number

Activity

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Speakin
g

Word(s) for
guessing

Speakin
g,
Authent
ic
convers
ation,
Forming
questio
ns

Worksheet
or Bingo
Card

Speakin
g

Flash
cards, word
cards for a
sentence

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Speakin
g

Words for
guessing

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teacher is thinking of. Yes or No

questions (to be questions .Is it a
.?) Great for critical thinking. List
guesses on the board so students
can remember and wont repeat
the same question.

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0

Tic Tac Toe/ Noughts &

Crosses: Draw a Tic Tac Toe Grid
#. Two teams choose a symbol
each. In each grid put a picture
or symbol eg. Vocabulary word/
verb/ preposition etc. Teams must
make for example a present
continuous sentence or a
preposition sentence to win the
square. Peer correction. First
team to make a row of three wins
(horizontal, vertical or diagonal)
Role Play: Give students cards
and they have to act (with
actions & words) as instructed.
Put students in pairs, triads or
small groups give each one a
character card with opposing
personalities & objectives, then
let them loose and watch the fun.
OR ask students to prepare and
perform a role-play of their own
based on lesson topic/objective.
Spin the Bottle: Students sit in
a circle. Teacher spins the bottle
to decide who is next to speak or
do something. Eg. Answer a
question from another student.
Or make a sentence in Present
Simple (Every day)
Debate: Two teams where one
has to be for or against a
particular topic and engage with
the other team in a debate,
taking turns.
Visualisation, Discussion &
Agreement: Students form a
group. Teacher sets a scene.
Students must discuss and
engage in decision making where
all group members must agree.
Eg. Choose 5 things to take to a
deserted island and why,
everyone must agree what to
take 5 things shared by all
group members. OR Lifeboat: 8
students but only 5 seats. Why

Speakin
g
Writing

Tic Tac Toe

grid

Speakin
g
*Writing
(If they
have to
write
and
prepare
)

Character
cards

Speakin
g

Something
to spin:
bottle ,
flashlight
etc.

Speakin
g

Topic for
debate

Speakin
g

Scenario &
instructions

Producti

Materials

Practice

Langua
ge
Focus

Pick-Me-

Number

Activity

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1

should you be given a seat?

Persuade others.
Memory Card Game: Cards lay
face down. Students open a
matching pair to win the set.
Most sets win. Eg. Word +
definition = 1 Set

Reading

Flashcards
printed on I
side only

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Charades: Student gets teammates to guess a word or phrase

by acting without speaking.

Speakin
g

1
3

Taboo: Help your team-mates

guess the word on your card
without using any of the taboo
words listed down.
Listing Race: Students form
teams. Take turns to run up to
the board to make a list of some
kind. (If they shout it out instead
of writing, it could be a
speaking/listening activity).
Memory Game: Place items on a
tray covered by cloth. Reveal for
a few seconds. Describe items on
the tray. Ask questions based on
those items.
Hot Seat Game: Students form
a circle, one chair in the middle =
hot seat. One student sits in hot
seat and must answer
questions asked by group but
avoid saying yes or no.
Back to Back Drawing:
Students pair-up & sit back-toback. One faces whiteboard,
other faces opposite direction.
Teacher draws something on
board.. student must tell
partner how to draw without
naming the objects. Best drawing
wins. (Can also have students put
paper on their head, teacher
gives instructions of what to
draw, just adds an element of fun
and a funny drawing at the end)
Find Your Partners Sound:
Students get a card with a sound
on it. Students must make the
appropriate noise/sound & listen
for someone else with a matching
sound/noise to find their partner.
Great for phonics.
Who am I: In groups, each

Listenin
g
Speakin
g
Writing,
Reading
Listenin
g
Speakin
g
Listenin
g
Speakin
g

Charade
words & a
bucket to
pick words
from
Taboo cards

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5

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6

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8

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List
topic/objecti
ve

Tray, Cloth,
Fun items

Speakin
g
Listenin
g

None

Speakin
g
Listenin
g

A drawing
(students
compare
with original
at the end).

Pronunc
iation &
Listenin
g

Cards with
sound or
phoneme

Reading

Headbands

Producti

1
2

Practice

Materials

Pick-Me-

Langua
ge
Focus

Number

Activity

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student wears a headband with

the name of a famous person.
Cant see their own. By asking
questions in the appropriate form
as taught in that lesson, students
must figure out who they are.

Listenin
g
Speakin
g

with names
of celebrities

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2
3

2
4

2
5

Listenin
g

None

Listenin
g
Speakin
g
Reading
Writing

None

Listenin
g
Speakin
g
Reading
Writing

Whiteboard,
Words

Speakin
g

Ball or
anything
that can be
tossed like a
table or a
chair?

Listenin
g
Speakin
g
Reading

Ball,
whiteboard,
blue-tack,
words,
questions, or
pictures.

Listenin
g
Speakin
g

Timer, Bell

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Producti

2
2

Materials

Practice

2
1

Simon Says: Students do as

instructed but only when it
begins with Simon Says. Can
also be a lesson in manners by
replacing it with Simon Says
please
Brainstorm: Students generate
ideas while teacher facilitates.
Can be in list form, or any other
form, including a mind map.
Students may call things out or
write them on a board or in their
books.
Mind Map: In a circle on the
board, place a picture or words
that represent the central idea or
theme. From this, students
branch out from the circle by
coming up with related words or
ideas. Students may call out their
ideas, write them on the board,
or write in their books as a group.
Ball Toss: Students stand in a
circle. Teacher makes first toss.
First student to catch must
answer (Example: Make a
sentence using yesterday, name
a vocabulary word, answer a
question from the teacher or
another student). Student tosses
again to a different student, etc.
Board Target: Place a series of
words or pictures on the board.
These will be the answers.
Teacher will then ask the
students a question to answer,
student must throw a ball at the
board, targeting the correct
answer (Listening, Reading). Can
also be reversed ie. Questions
are on the board & student has to
answer the question (Reading,
Speaking).
Beat the Time: It can be any
activity eg. Listing, Mind
Mapping, etc.. the idea is for
teams to generate as much as

Langua
ge
Focus

Pick-Me-

Number
2
0

Activity

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possible within a time limit. Most

correct answers win.
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6

Musical Chairs: Put chairs in a circle,

one less than the total number of
students, so one student always has to
stand. Students walk around the chairs
in a circle, as music plays. When music
stops, students must find a seat. The
student left standing must answer a
question (can be a verbal or written task)
to stay in the game- and game
continuous. Otherwise student must
leave and teacher removes another
chair.

Reading
Writing
Listenin
g
Speakin
g
Reading
Writing

Chairs,
Music,
Stereo

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