Time: 15+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

In pairs, students read hints to their partners to identify pairs of Homophones. While they are doing that, they will also be building their vocabulary, listening and spelling skills. For example:

Student A: A forest animal.
Student B: A special person.

Together they think of all the synonyms they can to find one pair of words with the same pronunciation.

In this case, the answers are:
   deer a forest animal
   dear a special person.

There are a total of 18 paired homonyms on this worksheet.

There are four additional "Homophones" lessons available. They are:
Homophones #2 (not easy) (See Lesson 01b below)
Homophones #3 (difficult) (See Lesson 01c below).
Homophones #4 (difficult) (See Lesson 01d below) -and-
Homophones #5 (mixed difficulty) (See Lesson 01e below).

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Pairs of students offer hints to their partners in order to identify paired homophones. Along the way, they will be building their vocabulary, listening and spelling skills. For example:
Student A: steps.
Student B: looks intently.

Together they think of all the synonyms they can to find one pair of words with the same pronunciation.

In this case, the answers are:
   stairs steps.
   stares looks intently.

There are a total of 18 paired homonyms on this worksheet.

There are four additional "Homophones" lessons available. They are:
Homophones #1 (easy) (See Lesson 01a above)
Homophones #3 (difficult) (See Lesson 01c below).
Homophones #4 (difficult) (See Lesson 01d below) -and-
Homophones #5 (mixed difficulty) (See Lesson 01e below).

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Students work together in pairs offering clues to their partners in order to identify pairs of homophones. Because these pairs of homophones are difficult, students will be building their vocabulary, listening and spelling skills. For example:
Student A: a big animal.
Student B: hair product.

Together they think of all the synonyms they can to find one pair of words with the same pronunciation.

In this case, the answers are:
   moose: a big animal
   mousse: hair product.

Student A: to select.
Student B: eats carefully.

The answers are:
   choose: to select
   chews: eats carefully

Student A:a group of cows.
Student B: listened.

The answers are:
   herd: a group of cows
   heard: listened

There are a total of 18 paired homonyms on this worksheet.

There are four additional "Homonyms" lessons available. They are:
Homophones #1 (easy) (See Lesson 01a above)
Homophones #2 (not easy) (See Lesson 01b above).
Homophones #4 (difficult) (See Lesson 01d below) -and-
Homophones #5 (mixed difficulty) (See Lesson 01e below).

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Offering hints to their partners, students work together in pairs to identify homophones. Since these pairs of homonyms are quite difficult, students will be building their vocabulary, listening and spelling skills. For example:
Student A: before afternoon.
Student B: time of sadness.

Together they think of all the synonyms they can to find one pair of words with the same pronunciation.

In this case, the answers are:
   morning before afternoon
   mourning time of sadness.

There are a total of 18 paired homonyms on this worksheet.

There are four additional "Homonyms" lessons available. They are:
Homophones #1 (easy) (See Lesson 01a above)
Homophones #2 (not easy) (See Lesson 01b above).
Homophones #3 (difficult) (See Lesson 01c above) -and-
Homophones #5 (mixed difficulty) (See Lesson 01e below).

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Tri-work Activity (Three students)

Homophones 5 has three homophones for each set. For example: their, there and they're. Students work together in pairs offering clues to their partners to identify these triple homonyms. Students will be building their vocabulary, listening and spelling skills.

For example:
Student A: pennies
Student B: perception
Student C: smells.

Together they think of all the synonyms they can to find one pair of words with the same pronunciation.

In this case, the answers are:
   cents pennies
   sense perception
   scents smells.

There are a total of 12 triplicate homophones on this worksheet.

There are four additional "Homonyms" lessons available. They are:
Homophones #1 (easy) (See Lesson 01a above)
Homophones #2 (not easy) (See Lesson 01b above).
Homophones #3 (difficult) (See Lesson 01c above) -and-
Homophones #4 (difficult) (See Lesson 01d above).

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair / Group Activity

This Travel Report is very simple, yet practical for Q & A, discussion and learning about classmates' travel experiences. Students are always interested in hearing what happened during a trip. Intermediate and advanced students can talk fluently about a trip, but lower-ability students can have difficulty expressing themselves. This lesson offers a structure for students to talk about their travels.

Some of the questions include:

How was the weather?

What did you think of the food?

What was the highlight of your trip?

Although this worksheet is very simple, it is also extremely practical in helping students build fluency in relating their travel experiences. They will be able to make a smooth presentation and classmates will have practice in asking questions, writing and discussing.

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

Building vocabulary of common objects; asking for information and favors; negotiating.

There is one main worksheet for this lesson, and for younger or lower-ability level students, there are two additional worksheets to assist the students.

In small groups, students have a list of 34 common items that they will have to collect in a given amount of time. To do this, they will need to ask other students in class if they can borrow an item..

This request may involve a little trading, and since the groups are competing against each other as well as against the clock, there's going to be a lot of activity (and noise) for a while.

This lesson is guaranteed to bring any class to life and it only takes about 25 minutes!

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Time: 25+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Pair / Group Activity

When students read English like a robot, or when the class is lethargic, let them try their hand at Movie Auditions. Suddenly, they have to read their lines with a selected emotion. Sometimes the emotions match perfectly, but it's a lot more fun when they don't! Imagine this scene from a horror movie:

Greg (reading happily): What's that?

Jenny (reading sleepily): What?
Greg (reading happily): Over there. That green blob?

Jenny (reading sleepily): I don't know, but (yawn) it's coming here.
Greg (reading happily): Jenny, look out! It's climbing up your leg.

Jenny (reading sleepily): Help me Greg! I can't move.
Greg (reading happily): I'm trying, hold on Jen.

Jenny (reading sleepily): Greg. It's (yawn) got my arm. . . . . .

There are six short audition dialogues on the worksheet, each one is very different and depending on the emotions that students use, they can be really entertaining. Perhaps most importantly, students will have a lot of fun acting the parts - with feeling!

For similar lessons, see:

Mini Movie Clips (See Lesson 04b below)
Mini Mood Cards (See Lesson 04c below) -and-
Mood & Feeling Cards (See Lesson 04d below).

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Time: 30+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Pair / Group Activity

Motivating students is one of the hardest techniques for any teacher to learn. Occasionally though, a lesson itself is so fun and engaging that motivation is not a problem. This lesson is just one of those.

The key to the success of this lesson is adding emotion to the activity. On the Worksheet, there are six Mini Movie Clips. In pairs, students read their lines with a selected emotion. Partners need to guess what emotion is being used.

A perfectly natural dialogue becomes very strange and humorous when students read their lines emotionally. (For a prepared set of 62 emotions, see: Mood & Feeling Cards - Lesson Collection Set #5, Lesson 04d.)

Imagine this scene from a Movie Clip entitled "Spies on the Radio":

Old Spy (reading tearfully): Pssst! Redbird to Papa Bear. Come in. (Sniffle)
New Spy (reading angrily): Papa Bear here.
Old Spy (reading tearfully): 12:00 at our secret meeting place.
New Spy (reading angrily): OK, Redbird. Is that 12:00 noon?
Old Spy (reading tearfully): Midnight, Redbird (Sniffle) midnight!
New Spy (reading angrily): Oh. Meet on the old bridge?
Old Spy (reading tearfully): No, Redbird. That was last month.
New Spy (reading angrily): So where is it this month?. . . . . .

All six of these Mini Movie Clips will sound very different, depending on the emotions that students use. Not only will your students laugh a lot with this exercise, they'll actually be reading with feeling!

For similar lessons, see:

Movie Auditions (See Lesson 04a above)
Mini Mood Cards (See Lesson 04c above) -and-
Mood & Feeling Cards (See Lesson 04d below).

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Time: Varies
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Group / Whole Class Activity

This is a condensed version of the Feelings & Moods Cards (see 04d below) - with all 62 of the emotions printed on a single sheet of paper.

This worksheet is an easy reference guide for the Feelings & Moods Cards, and can easily be separated into easier emotions (upper half) and more difficult emotions (lower half).

Use this worksheet for any of the following:

Individual Study Check List / Vocabulary List

Grammar practice (Converting Adjectives to Adverbs)

Flashcard Creation

Motivation

Ask a student to read a passage from the textbook, a newspaper or magazine - but first, the student selects one of the Feelings & Moods Cards. Other students in class, while referring to their worksheets, try to identify the emotion the reader is expressing.

For similar lessons, see:

Movie Auditions (See Lesson 04a above)
Mini Movie Clips (See Lesson 04b above) -and-
Mood & Feeling Cards (See Lesson 04d below).

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Time: Varies
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Group / Whole Class Activity

One of the best ways to get a class enthused is to encourage students to add a little emotion to their speaking and/or reading. If a student starts relaying a travel experience, or an important memory or a plan for the future, the emotion they use to express their English completely changes the narrative.

The Teachers' Instructions offer three very different activities as to how to use these cards, as well as several variations per activity. But imagination allows for dozens of fun and interesting ways to bring your classes to life with these 62 Feelings & Moods Cards.

These cards go hand in hand with the Verb Cards Lesson Collection Set #4 - Lesson 04c and Time Cards (Lesson Collection Set #3 Lesson 03). These three sets of cards will bring any class to life. There are 64 Mood and Feeling Cards in total, 32 of them are not so difficult adjectives, the other 32 are more difficult. And you can download the Mini Mood Cards.

The easier cards include moods and feelings such as:
happy
worried
sleepy -and-
excited

The other set includes more difficult adjectives such as:
mysterious
flirtatious
snobbish -and-
grumpy

There are endless ways to use these practical Mood Cards and the Teachers' instructions offer several suggestions.

For similar lessons, see:
Movie Auditions (See Lesson 04a above)
Mini Movie Clips (See Lesson 04b above) -and-
Mini Mood Cards (See Lesson 04c above).

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Time: 40+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Students first create their own biorhythm charts. Then, in pairs, they discuss the items on their "To Do" list. Some of these tasks require more mental, physical OR emotional stamina.

A typical conversation might go like this:
Student A: When's the best time for you to study all night?
Student B: The best time for me to study all night is around
June 14th because I will be UP mentally. How about you?
Student A: That's not the best time for me. How about early July?
Student B: That's OK. How about July 3rd?
Student A: That's fine because I'll be way up mentally around that time.

This lesson guarantees a whole lot of lively discussion, and students will have to not only listen carefully to each other, but they'll have to coordinate their Biorhythmic schedules.

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Time: 30+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Tri-work Activity (Three students)

This is a fun and active lesson for learning new vocabulary (natural disasters) and for working with schedules to find an available time for three Super Heroes to get together for a photo shoot.

All three Super Heroes have to fly all over the world to stop natural disasters from occurring, so they're pretty busy.

There are two worksheets with this lesson, Part 1 and Part 2, Part 1 introduces 12 natural disasters. They are illustrated, and students need to identify them from the list of 12 natural disaster words.

Once done, and students are familiar with the natural disasters, students (in groups of three) assume the role of a Super Hero character and have a discussion to arrange their schedules so they can meet.

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Time: 30+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

While students learn the names of the planets in our solar system, they also practice very large numbers, asking and answering questions, listening carefully, confirming the information, spelling and even a little ordinal practice.

Because this lesson is highly structured, even lower-ability level students can do it; but it's also useful for more advanced students as well.

In pairs, students ask each other questions such as:
Student B: What's the name of the first planet?
Student A: It's Mercury.
Student B: What's the distance (of Mercury) from the sun?
Student A: It's 57,910,000 kilometers.
Student B: What's (the length of) its orbit?
Student A: Its orbit is 88 days.
Student B: What's its diameter?
Student A: Its diameter is 4,878 kilometers.
Student B: What's its rotation?
Student A: Its rotation is 58 days and 16 hours.

When finished, students will know the names of all of the planets and will have practiced using some very large numbers. Did you know that Pluto (now a dwarf planet) is 5,913,520,000 kilometers from the sun? It takes 248.54 years to complete one orbit (Earth takes 365 days), and one day on Earth - 24 hours- takes 6 days and 9 hours on Pluto!

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Time: 50+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

If you're looking for a lesson to really get your students jabbering on and on in English, this is it!

There are two scenarios for this lesson, one (not so nice) implores the eight people packed into a rapidly descending hot air balloon to throw out two or three of the passengers. If they don't, everyone will die!

The other scenario (nice) encourages eight volunteers to wisely select five or six among themselves (the most qualified people) to assist with disaster relief for a period of three weeks.

This lesson includes three worksheets, two of them have character cards which the students use to role play and the third is the voting record sheet.

Within groups of eight, students pair up and discuss which of the characters they feel should be able to ride the balloon and which should not. This is repeated with a second and finally with a third partner. Then the whole group must make a Final Decision.

For a similar activity, see:

The Lifeboat (See Lesson 09a below).

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Time: 50+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

This life and death role play activity will get your class actively involved in discussing, collaborating, deciding, evaluating, negotiating, compromising, pleading, bribing, conspiring, betraying - you name it, but all in fun. This is the ultimate communicative activity.

In this role play, there are 8 people (of various descriptions) in a lifeboat. There isn't enough water and unless two people are sacrificed, everyone will die. Two people must be thrown overboard (into the shark infested water) so that the others can live.

Students get very animated during this activity - after all, they are pleading for their lives!

There are also two alternate character lists available.

There's a built-in worksheet for students to keep track of their individual and small group decisions.

For similar activities, see:

The Great Balloon Debate (See Lesson 08 above) -and-
Lifeboat Rescue (See Lesson 09b below).

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Time: 50+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

In this role play activity, eight people (of various descriptions) have survived a shipwreck. They find themselves on a small deserted island with very little water and only a small lifeboat. In the distance, they can see a much larger island which may provide assistance. The group must elect two or three capable and trustworthy "volunteers" to row the lifeboat for help. If not, everyone will die.

Two alternate character lists are available.

There's a built-in worksheet for students to keep track of their individual and small group decisions.

There are two similar lessons available:

The Great Balloon Debate (See Lesson 08 above) -and-
Lifeboat Survival (See Lesson 9a above).

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Time: 35+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Group / Whole Class Activity

In this two-part lesson, students first work in pairs to complete a "Gap Exercise" in order to acquire all of the ingredients needed to make four popular types of cookies. When finished, they will have the recipes for :

Sugar Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

After students have the recipes, they work together as a team of four to collect the ingredients from other students in class. They have to mill around the classroom and ask their classmates for items such as:

1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
2 large eggs
1/3 cup of milk
1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips, etc.

Students race against each other to be the first to collect all 24 of the ingredients. During that time, the whole class is very busy collecting things they need to make the cookies. This lesson is not recommended for teachers who prefer a quiet class!

For a similar style lesson, see:
Cocktails (See Lesson 10b below).

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Time: 45+
Level: University~Adult
Mode: Group / Whole Class Activity

At first, students work in pairs to gather information from each other in order to acquire all of the ingredients needed to make four popular cocktails. When finished, they will have the recipes for a:

Pina Colada, Martini, Bloody Mary and Margarita.

After students have the recipes, they work together as a team of four to collect the ingredients from other students in class. They have to mill around the classroom and ask their classmates for items such as:
2 shots of Tequila
a cherry
some Worcestershire sauce
an olive
2 shots of Gin, etc.

Students race against each other to be the first to collect all 20 of the ingredients they need to make their cocktails. Caution: your class will explode with excitement and, yes, lots of noise. But at least the noise will be in English!

For a similar style lesson, see:
Cookie Recipes (See Lesson 10a above).

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Time: 25+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

A simple and fun pair work lesson to practice the following two polite requests: Would you mind NOT ________ing? and Please don't ________ . On each worksheet, there are 10 (annoying?) habits that each student requests his/her partner not to do.

A typical conversation sounds like this:
Student A: Would you mind not slurping your soup?
Student B: Excuse me?
Student A: Please don't slurp your soup?
Student B: I'm not slurping my soup?
Student A: Yes you are. It really bugs me.
Student B: Well, I always slurp my soup when I'm excited.

This lesson is also a natural discussion starter since many of the habits listed on the worksheets may annoy some students and not have any effect on others. Plus, cultural conditions also play a part in what is annoying and what is not.

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Time: 25+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

We all use abbreviations every day. We see tons of them in headlines and throughout the media. Although the meanings of the abbreviations are usually known, students may not know the actual words used to create the abbreviation.

This lesson is not only fun, it's really practical. Students will learn the meanings of commonly recognized abbreviations such as UNICEF, NASA, CNN, GDP and UFO.

The worksheets are divided into four categories:
Organizations
Companies
Music & TV and
Sports

In pairs, groups or as a whole class, students try to identify the real English words which compromise very common abbreviations. Everyone knows the company named IBM. How many students know what the letters stand for? Other abbreviations include: NATO, OPEC, FBI, NBA, BBC and R&B many others.

All of the abbreviations in this lesson are common and most will be recognized and understood by students.

For similar style lessons, see:
Abbreviations 2 (See Lesson 12b below)
Abbreviations 3 (See Lesson 12c below)
Business Abbreviations (See Lesson 12d below) -and-
Medical Abbreviations (See Lesson 123 below).

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Time: 25+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

More everyday abbreviations seen throughout the written media. Although the meanings of the abbreviations are usually known, students may not know the actual words used to create the abbreviation.

This lesson is not only fun, it's really practical. Students will learn the meanings of commonly recognized abbreviations such as CPU, USB, ATM, FYI and NYSE.

The worksheets are divided into four categories:

      Computers
      Money
      E-mail and
      Education

In pairs, students try to identify the real English words which compromise very common abbreviations. Everyone knows the software file name of PDF (these worksheets are printed from a pdf file!). How many students know what the letters stand for? Other abbreviations include: PIN, ASAP, TOEIC, GPA, CAD and others.

For additional Abbreviation lessons, see:

Abbreviations 1 (See Lesson 12a above)
Abbreviations 3 (See Lesson 12c below)
Business Abbreviations (See Lesson 12d below) -and-
Medical Abbreviations (See Lesson 12e below).

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Time: 40+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Most students will readily recognize these common abbreviations, but will they know the meanings? This lesson is not only fun, it's practical.

In pairs, students try to identify the real English words which compromise all 24 of these very common abbreviations such as 150cc, CEO, DIY, LED, ETA and others.

If they don't know, they simply ask their partner the question as printed on the bottom of the worksheet.

The worksheets are divided into four categories:
Automobile
Medical
Miscellaneous 1 and
Miscellaneous 2

For similar style lesson worksheets, see::
Abbreviations 1 (See Lesson 12a above)
Abbreviations 2 (See Lesson 12b above)
Business Abbreviations (See Lesson 12d below) -and-
Medical Abbreviations (See Lesson 12e below).
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Time: 25+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

This lesson worksheet is particularly useful for Business English classes. As you know, businesses rely on abbreviations of all kinds. Many of these have become accepted internationally. In some cases, business people use abbreviations, but they may not know the actual words used to create the abbreviation.

This lesson is not only fun, it's really practical. Students will learn the meanings of commonly recognized abbreviations such as MBA, S&H, bcc, NA and CEO.

The worksheets are divided into four categories:

General

Correspondence

Titles and Groups

Delivery and Money

In pairs, groups or as a whole class, students try to identify the real English words which compromise very common abbreviations.

All of the abbreviations in this lesson are common and most will be recognized and understood by students.

For a similar style lesson, see:

Abbreviations 1 (See Lesson 12a above)
Abbreviations 2 (See Lesson 12b above)
Abbreviations 3 (See Lesson 12c above) -and-
Medical Abbreviations (See Lesson 12d below)

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Time: 40+
Level: SHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

As the title suggests, all of these abbreviations are used in the field of medicine. Students may be familiar with many of them, but do they know the actual words used to create the abbreviation.

This lesson is not only fun, it's really practical. Students will learn the meanings of commonly recognized medical abbreviations such as MRI, ICU, HIV, BMI and CAT.

The worksheets are divided into four categories:
    Equipment
  Diseases
  Hospital Terms and
    Miscellaneous

In pairs, groups or as a whole class, students try to identify the real English words which compromise very common abbreviations. Most students may know the abbreviation ICU. But do they know the letters stand for Intensive Care Unit?

For similar style lesson, see:
Abbreviations 1 (Lesson 12a above)
Abbreviations 2 (Lesson 12b above)
Abbreviations 3 (Lesson 12c above) -and-
Business Abbreviations (Lesson 12d above).

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Time: 45+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Tri-work Activity (Three students)

Your English class will be so busy with this lesson that students may forget they are practicing the use of ordinals, prepositions and verb tenses. In groups of three, students first create their own schedules, then ask their partners questions to discover their schedules.

Students not only have to find the dates on which their partners are doing things, but they also have to find what they are doing.

When finished, partners should have an exact duplicate of each of their partners' schedules on their worksheet. They use that duplicate to confirm their partners' schedules.

The Teachers' Instructions include several suggestions as to how to make this lesson more appropriate for higher ability students as well.

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

This fun lesson targets rejoinders with "am." In pairs, students first write their partner's randomized alphabet letters (A - R) without reading the statements. When finished, they read the silly statements as if they were true.

For example, one student might say: I am really scary. The partner needs to reply with an honest rejoinder such as: I'm not! or I am, too.

Then the student reads the second statement: I'm not very kind. Again, the partner replies honestly: I am! or Neither am I.

To really give the students a workout, put them into groups of four or five. One reads the first statement and the others offer appropriate rejoinders - but there's one rule, none of the exact rejoinders can be repeated for each statement. Otherwise, two or three students might simply repeat each other with Me, too.

There are five other versions of this lesson:
I Can, Too! (See Lesson 14b below)
I Do, Too! (See Lesson 14c below)
I Will, Too! (See Lesson 14d below)
I Did, Too! (See Lesson 14e below) -and-
I Have, Too! (See Lesson 14f below).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

Getting students to smoothly use the phrases: "I can, too," "So can I," Me, too," "I can't either," "Neither can I," " Me neither," "I can," and "So can I," is what this lesson is all about. Rejoinders.

The worksheet comes with a self generating array of 18 silly statements to which students offer honest replies. This lesson is really a blast!

In small groups, students listen a reader's (odd) statement, then they offer honest rejoinders. For example:
  Student A: I can bite my toenails but only at night.
  Student B: I can, too!.
  Student C: So can I!
  Student D: Me too!
  Student E: I can't!

Here's another example:
  Student A: I can't hop 200 meters on one leg.
  Student B: I can't either.
  Student C: Neither can I
  Student D: Me neither
  Student E: I can!

They'll have so much fun that they probably won't realize that they are learning - not only rejoinders, but also adverbs and adverbial phrases as well as some new vocabulary.

There are five other versions of this lesson:
  I Am, Too! (See Lesson 14a above)
  I Do, Too! (See Lesson 14c below)
  I Will, Too! (See Lesson 14d below)
  I Did, Too! (See Lesson 14e below) -and-
  I Have, Too! (See Lesson 14f below).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

Rejoinders can be a little tricky, especially negative ones. After students have randomly matched two parts of sentences on their worksheet, the fun begins. One student may say, for example:

I really don't like expensive jewelry.

Other students in the group reply to that statement truthfully by saying things like:
Neither do I.
Me neither.
I don't either. or
I do!

Then another student reads a sentence such as: I love to hit fat pigeons.
Group mates reply with rejoinders such as:
I do too.
So do I.
Me Too! or
I don't!

That's what this lesson is all about - working with rejoinders. The worksheet comes with a self generating array of 18 silly statements to which students offer honest replies. Students really enjoy this lesson.

There are five other versions of this lesson:
I Am, Too! (See Lesson 14a above)
I Can, Too! (See Lesson 14b above)
I Will, Too! (See Lesson 14d below)
I Did, Too! (See Lesson 14e below) -and-
I Have, Too! (See Lesson 14f below).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

Students practice rejoinders using future tense will and won't. At the same time, they will be using conditionals by agreeing or disagreeing with other's (strange) superstitions. For example, one student may say:

I'll become a politician, if I see a white dog with brown ears."

Other students in the group reply to that statement truthfully by saying things like:
I will, too!
So will I,
Me, too! -or
I won't.

Then another student reads a sentence from the worksheet such as:
I won't live in the jungle for 5 years if someone gives me a black rose,

Students offer appropriate rejoinders to that statement such as:
I won't, either!
Neither will I!
Me neither! -or-
I will!

There are five other versions of this lesson:
I Am, Too! (See Lesson 14a above)
I Can, Too! (See Lesson 14b above)
I Do, Too! (See Lesson 14c above)
I Did, Too! (See Lesson 14e below) -and-
I Have, Too! (See Lesson 14f below).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work / Group Activity

Students practice rejoinders using past tense did and didn't. For example, one student may say:

Last Valentine's Day I had a toothache.

Other students in the group reply to that statement truthfully by saying things like:
I did, too!
So did I!
Me, too! -or-
I didn't!

Then another student reads a sentence from the worksheet such as:
Most of last month, I didn't take a bath.

Group mates offer appropriate rejoinders such as:
I didn't, either!
Neither did I!
Me neither! -or-
I did!

As in the above two examples, many of the sentences are quite silly (thus fun) and students need to respond honestly and quickly. To make this activity more enjoyable (and difficult) - students may not use the same rejoinder once it's been said for any given statement. If all students simply say: Me, too! Me, Too!, Me, Too, it's not only too easy, it's boring.

There are five other versions of this lesson:

I Am, Too! (See Lesson 14a above)
I Can, Too! (See Lesson 14b above)
I Do, Too! (See Lesson 14c above)
I Will, Too! (See Lesson 14d above) -and-
I Have, Too! (See Lesson 14f below).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

Students practice rejoinders using past perfect tense have and haven't. In the first step, pairs of students randomize the printed sentence endings (which will produce some very silly statements).

Once done, pairs of students team up with another pair to form a group of four. One of the students reads the now completed statement from her worksheet. For example:

I have kissed a dog four times this month.

Group mates offer truthful rejoinders to this statement such as:
I have, too!
So have I!
Me, too! -or-
I haven't!

To add more conversation to this lesson, students could be encouraged to ask follow-up questions to explain the odd behavior. They might ask, for example:

Why have you kissed a dog four times this month? Whose dog have you kissed?" etc.

When the Q & A has run its course, another student reads a ridiculous statement from his worksheet. For example:

I haven't washed my hair since I was ten years old.

Other students offer rejoinders to this statement such as:
I haven't, either!
Neither have I!
Me neither! -or-
I have!

Follow-up questions could include:

Why haven't you washed your hair since you were ten years old?
Are you wearing a wig? etc.

There are five other versions of this lesson:

I Am, Too! (See Lesson 14a above)
I Can, Too! (See Lesson 14b above)
I Do, Too! (See Lesson 14c above)
I Will, Too! (See Lesson 14d above) -and-
I Did, Too! (See Lesson 14e above).

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Time: 40+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

This is a high-energy activity in which students need to lend and borrow items in order to do a weekend project. There are four Weekend Project worksheets included with this lesson as well as an additional worksheet which has all 24 items which students will need to complete their projects.

The four Weekend Projects are:

Building a birdhouse

Doing yard work

Wallpapering the bedroom -and-

Washing the car.

In groups of four, students have to ask each other if they have the things they need to do their weekend project. Since everyone is trying to borrow six items as fast as they can AND since everyone needs to lend six items out, the classroom will erupt in excitement.

But that's only half the lesson. Once students have borrowed everything they need to do their weekend project, they must then ask to get the items back which they had lent out. This lesson is guaranteed to make the class bristle with animated conversation.

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair work / Whole Class Activity

Students of any age and ability will enjoy these common English Tongue Twisters - and while they practice, they'll unconsciously be building fluency through pronunciation, intonation, rhyme and rhythm.

Imagine your students trying to say the following three times:

This thick thistle thrived in that thicket.OR

The Sheik's sixth sheep is sick.

There are five Tongue Twisters on each worksheet. In pairs, Student A dictates the printed Tongue Twisters while Student B writes them on the lines printed. Then they reverse roles. When finished, they will both have 10 fun Tongue Twisters.

The Teachers' Instructions include several famous and not so famous Tongue Twisters. As a bonus, it's guaranteed that students will naturally begin sharing common Tongue Twisters from their own language!
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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Group / Whole Class Activity

Students of any age and ability will enjoy these common English Tongue Twisters - and while they practice, they'll unconsciously be building fluency through pronunciation, intonation, rhyme and rhythm.

Imagine your students trying to say the following long tongue twister:

Ed Nott was shot and Sam Shott was not. So it is better to be Shott than Nott. Some say Not was not shot, but Shott says he shot Nott. Either the shot Shott shot at Nott was not shot......

These long Tongue Twisters will not only keep your students smiling, but they will naturally cause students to share some common Tongue Twisters from their own language!

For a similar style lesson, see:

Short Tongue Twisters (See Lesson 16a above).

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Time: 20+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Your students will learn and have fun with the basic English alphabet (A~Z) using sign language. I personally love this lesson because it brings a little physical activity to their learning which, I'm convinced, helps students learn faster.

The worksheet has three parts; 1] pictures of the alphabet, 2] a message written in sign language (for students to decipher) and 3] a place for students to write their own message which they can 'sign' to another student.

Can you read this sentence?

This is also an amazingly simple yet effective way to practice spelling - when students spell out words with their hands, they reinforce their learning physically as well.

For a similar style lesson using "Sign Language," see:

Famous People (See Lesson 17b below).

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Time: 30+
Level: JHS ~ Adul
Mode: Pair Work Activity

A fun (and quiet) activity for students to practice Alphabet Sign Language. Sometimes, non-verbal communication can be as effective if not more effective in encouraging students to pay close attention to each other in terms of grammar, spelling and thinking.

This is a great review lesson after students have finished the sign language lesson Flag Speak.

With this worksheet, students ask each other questions using Alphabet Sign Language. They also give the answers (in case they are not known) and assist with the spelling of the names of eight famous people.

This is also an amazingly simple yet effective way to practice spelling, the use of articles, prepositions, plural nouns and any number of other elements of the English language. When students spell out words with their hands, they reinforce their learning physically as well.

For a similar style lesson using "Sign Language," see:
Sign Language (See Lesson 17a above).

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Time: Varies
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Students can use these alphabet flags to send messages to each other. This gets them physically as well as mentally active. In order to be successful at these messages, students will automatically have to watch their spelling and grammar.

The flags can be used for a wide variety of purposes in which silent or secret messages need to be sent. For example:

Spelling practice

Sentence dictation

Telling a joke or riddle

Keeping secrets from the teacher! (etc.)

This activity is guaranteed to produce interest and enthusiasm.

This can be either a pair-work, tri-work, group-work or whole class activity.

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Tri-work Activity (Three students)

This lesson is another active, interesting and useful form of non-verbal communication. Learning Morse Code can be useful (in case you're ever in a sunken submarine) and it can be a fun and unique way of practicing English, especially spelling, punctuation, simple grammar and word order.

Begin class by tapping out a simple message in Morse Code (for example SOS, Hello, My name is. . . ). The students, of course, probably won't know what you're tapping out, but this will ensure their complete attention.

In groups of three, students are given a worksheet, (Worksheet A, B or C) where they can study the Morse Code symbols at the top.

Once students have the "hang of" Morse Code, one student in each group sends the message (as printed on the worksheet) to the other two partners.

Once done, another student in the group begins tapping out the message printed on the worksheet and finally the third student taps out the message.

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair / Group Activity

This is an easy, yet captivating lesson that concentrates on the correct usage of verbs. Look at the following sentence and identify what's wrong with it:

Once upon a time, there is a great King who loves to listened to stories.

See anything not quite right? Actually, there are three mistakes in the above sentence, all of the verbs are in the wrong tense. It should read:

Once upon a time, there was a great King who loved to listen to stories.

With this two-page lesson, students will be busy correcting the verbs, and that's all that they will need to correct. (Spelling, grammar and punctuation are all OK.) The story is broken into lines and a number to the right off the line tells the students how many errors there are in each.

When finished, students can read the story in unison and discuss the story itself; it's a really fun story.

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Time: Varies
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair / Group Activity

Although this lesson is designed as a pairwork activity, it also works great as a small group discussion starter. The object is not for students to zip through the questions on the worksheets, but to approach each question with a great deal of curiosity.

Students ask each other: Tell me about the BEST or WORST ______ you have ever ______. Immediately, the respondee must make a choice: to relate either the BEST or WORST experience. (For some reason, most students prefer to tell about the WORST experience. That's perfectly OK because they are usually more interesting!)

Some of questions found on the worksheets include:

      Tell me about the BEST or WORST job you have ever had.

      Tell me about the BEST or WORST thing you have ever had to do.

      Tell me about the BEST or WORST date you have ever had.

      Tell me about the BEST or WORST teacher you have ever had.

When a student begins the answer, the partner(s) ask all kinds of follow-up questions. (Actually, students will do this naturally because the experience is interesting!) The teacher, meanwhile, can roam around the classroom and listen in or offer suggestions to help improve students' fluency.

This lesson can also be done with the class as a whole, perhaps as the first ten minute opening to the class. The teacher asks the class: Who can tell me the BEST or WORST _______. One volunteer student answers the question while the others listen and ask questions. This lesson really is a riot!

For a similar lesson:

Strangest Things (see Lesson 23 below).

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Time: 30+
Level: HS~Adult
Mode: Group / Whole Class Activity

As the title implies, this lesson is a simulation activity in which students first "check in and register" at a business conference, then mingle among themselves. During the mingling, they introduce themselves, exchange business cards, ask questions about their respective companies and finally introduce another person.

To be as realistic as possible, students will prepare name tags and business cards (from Worksheet #1). Then they follow a step-by-step process of introduction (Worksheet #2). This kind of exchange exists everyday in the real world of business.

During the introductions, students are encouraged to shake hands; this in itself, depending on the culture, can be terrifically interesting. Students from cultures unfamiliar with hand shaking may need to practice the "fine art of shaking hands" a few times before they get it right. And once they learn, they will be able to shake hands with confidence in the real world.

Note: Although the title is The Business Conference, this lesson is more about introducing oneself and others. Younger learners can also enjoy this activity.

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Time: Varies
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

A guaranteed discussion activity, students ask each other about some of their strangest experiences. Usually, one student tells a story and others suddenly remember additional strange or unusual experiences.

It's common for a class to spend the entire time talking (and laughing) about only one or two of the items listed on the worksheet. That's because the students become interested in the stories that they can't help but ask all kinds of follow-up questions.

Some of the items printed on the worksheet include:

      What's the strangest thing you have ever eaten?

      What's the strangest thing you have ever bought?

      Who is your strangest relative?

      What's the strangest dream you have ever had?

This lesson tends to be contagious - once a student begins telling the others about strange people or experiences, others jump in with additional questions and experiences of their own. Sometimes it's hard to get a class to move on to anything else!

For a similar lesson:

Best Or Worst (see Lesson 21 above).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

    Lots of people love doing crossword puzzles. This lesson adds to the fun by requiring two students to work together to solve the whole puzzle. Each student has half the answers printed on the worksheet along with given hints below the puzzle to help partners solve the missing letters.

    This puzzle's theme is Fictional Characters. All of the answers on the puzzle are characters from books, movies, comics, folklore, etc. Answers include Hamlet, Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse, James Bond, Snow White and a host of others.

    While students busily work at solving the puzzle, they will also be working with regular numbers (What's number seven across?) and ordinals (What's the second letter?).

    This is also a simple yet effective way to practice the use of articles (It's an R. It's a K. It's an L, etc.)

    For similar style lessons, see:
      Words with "PH" (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24b)
      Compound Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24c)
      Words with Silent Letters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24d)
      Same First & Last Letter Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24e) - and
      Anagrams (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24f).

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Time: 45+
Level: JHS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Who doesn't love a good crossword puzzle? Students will have a lot of fun working in pairs to solve the puzzle. Each student has half the answers printed on the worksheet along with given hints below the puzzle to help partners solve the missing letters.

    This puzzle's theme is Words containing the letters "PH". All of the answers on the puzzle contain those two letters including Trophy, Microphone, Orphan, Atmosphere, Sapphire and a host of others.

    While students busily work at filling in the answers, they will also be working with regular numbers (What's number seven across?) and ordinals (What's the second letter?).

    This is also a simple yet effective way to practice the use of articles (It's an R. It's a K. It's an L, etc.)

    For similar style lessons, see:
      Fictional Characters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24a)
      Compound Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24c)
      Words with Silent Letters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24d)
      Same First & Last Letter Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24e) - and
      Anagrams (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24f).

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Time: 45+
Level: JhS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

    This puzzle, like all the others in this series, is unique because it requires two students to solve the whole puzzle. Each worksheet has half the answers printed along with hints. Students ask their partners for those hints to complete the missing answers.

    This puzzle's theme is Compound Words. All of the answers on the puzzle are two-word combinations that result in a single word. Answers include Breakfast, Armchair, Honeymoon, Pancake, Raincoat and a host of others.

    While students busily work at solving the puzzle, they will also be working with regular numbers (What's number seven across?) and ordinals (What's the second letter?).

    This is also a simple yet effective way to practice the use of articles (It's an R. It's a K. It's an L, etc.)

    For similar style lessons, see:
      Fictional Characters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24a)
      Words with "PH" (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24b)
      Words with Silent Letters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24d)
      Same First & Last Letter Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24e) - and
      Anagrams (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24f).

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Time: 45+
Level: JhS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

What do all of the following words have in common: Catalogue, Island, Knife, Lamb, Ghost and Thumb? Answer - they all have a silent letter(s).

    This crossword puzzle, unlike the one you can find n your newspaper, requires two students to work together to solve the whole puzzle. Each student has half the answers printed on the worksheet along with given hints below the puzzle to help partners solve the missing letters.

    While students busily work at solving the puzzle, they will also be working with regular numbers (What's number seven across?) and ordinals (What's the second letter?).

    This is also a simple yet effective way to practice the use of articles (It's an R. It's a K. It's an L, etc.)

    For similar style lessons, see:
      Fictional Characters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24a)
      Words with "PH" (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24b)
      Compound Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24c)
      Same First & Last Letter Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24e) - and
      Anagrams (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24f).

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Time: 45+
Level: JhS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Pair work crossword puzzles are a great way to keep all students busy, learning and talking at the same time. This lesson adds to the fun by requiring two students to work together to solve the whole puzzle. Half of the answers are printed on each worksheet (along with hints) to help partners solve the missing words.

    This puzzle's theme is Same First & Last Letters. All of the answers on the puzzle begin and end with the same letter including Window, Escape, Nylon, Thought, Yesterday and a host of others.

    While students busily work at solving the puzzle, they will also be working with regular numbers (What's number seven across?) and ordinals (What's the second letter?).

    This is also a simple yet effective way to practice the use of articles (It's an R. It's a K. It's an L, etc.)

    For similar style lessons, see:
      Fictional Characters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24a)
      Words with "PH" (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24b)
      Compound Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24c)
      Words with Silent Letters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24d) - and
      Anagrams (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24f).

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Time: 45+
Level: JhS~Adult
Mode: Pair Work Activity

Anagrams are different words made from the exact same letters. For example eat, tea and ate. All three words use the same letters but each has a different meaning. As do dear and read.Students will have fun working on this crossword puzzle because it requires pairs to solve it. Each student has half the answers printed on the worksheet along with given hints below the puzzle to help partners solve the missing words.

    This puzzle's theme is Anagrams. All of the answers on the puzzle are pairs of words including Salt & Last, Desert & Rested, Earth & Heart, Garden & Danger, Listen & Silent and a host of others.

    While students busily work at solving the puzzle, they will also be working with regular numbers (What's number seven across?) and ordinals (What's the second letter?).

    This is also a simple yet effective way to practice the use of articles (It's an R. It's a K. It's an L, etc.)

    For similar style lessons, see:
      Fictional Characters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24a)
      Words with "PH" (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24b)
      Compound Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24c)
      Words with Silent Letters (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24d) - and
      Same First & Last Letter Words (Lesson Collection Set #5 - Lesson 24e).

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Time: Varies
Level: SHS~Adult
Mode: Small Group Activity

This is a fantastic activity for students to become actively involved in the discussion of a variety of topics. Printed on each of the six worksheets is a large "pizza." The pizza is then divided into six "slices," each with a different discussion topic.


In small groups, one student becomes the discussion leader and encourages everyone to offer comments, ask questions and relate experiences according to the chosen topic.


When the discussion begins to peter out (after about 10 minutes), the topic is retired and another student becomes the discussion leader, choses a different slice of pizza and the students begin a discussion of their new topic.


This lesson works very well with lower-intermediate up to advanced students. Back to Top