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Posted on June 11, 2020 by karolasenglishblog

Before and after

Introduction:

This is a Before and After board game to practise/revise past perfect and past simple in an entertaining way. Students create sentences in the past perfect and past simple tense depending on the sentence they start with. The idea is to create a character and relate the sentences to each other which can later be used as a foundation for a short writing task.

Level: B2+

Time: 50 minutes

Objectives:

To revise the past perfect and past simple tense.
To come up with sentences related to each other which can be used as an inspiration for a writing task.

Materials (Click on the worksheet below to download the PDF file):

Before and after board game, one per team.

Procedure:

Hand out Before and after board game to each team or simply display it on the screen if you are using Zoom or any other online platform.
The teacher or a student throws the dice twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the sentence.
If a player lands on a square with a sentence in the past simple tense they have to try and predict what happened BEFORE e.g. After he had managed to finally save some money, he bought a new car. If they land on a square with a sentence in the past perfect tense, they predict what happened AFTER e.g. He had set up a successful company by the time he was 20. Since the students are working together or in small groups they discuss their ideas first, make their predictions and later write down their examples. Before the activity tell students that all these sentences are about one character and they should try and connect the sentences. This way it is more engaging and the students get more invested in the task.
Monitor at all times and go through some of the most problematic sentences together. At home ask students to write a short story about the character they have created in class, using some of the sentences they came up with.

Related posts:

Simply perfect

A trip down memory lane

Posted on June 7, 2020 by karolasenglishblog

A trip down memory lane

Introduction:

This is a fun board game to practise asking and answering questions in the past simple tense. Students ask and answer questions about a variety of topics and get points for each correct question.

Level: B1+

Time: 45 minutes

Objectives:

To practise asking questions.
To answer other students’ questions.

Materials:

A trip down memory lane board game and an online dice roller if you are teaching online 😉

Procedure:

Display the game on the screen and put students in pairs or small groups of 3 or 4.
Students take it in turns to throw the dice and move the numbers thrown.
To obtain a verb for the speaking activity students throw the dice twice. The first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw which row they should use to obtain the verb.
Next students write down as many questions as possible related to the expression in the square making sure they use the actual verb in some of the questions. You can set the time limit and tell students they will be racing against other teams/students. If the students land on 2:1 (To argue with a friend) they could think of the following questions: When was the last time you argued with a friend? What did you argue about? Did you reach an agreement? Did you cry/get upset/ shout at each other etc.? How long did you argue for? Who started it? etc. Encourage them to start with Who, What, Where, When, Why and How and not just an auxiliary verb. You could take this opportunity to also revise subject and object questions. A quick reminder: Subject questions (Question word + verb in simple past in this case +object e.g. Who started the argument?). Object questions (Question word +auxiliary verb + subject + main verb e.g. What did you argue about?).
Go through the questions together and award a point for each correct question.
In their groups, the students then answer the questions in as much detail as possible.
The game continues until you run out of steam or are saved by the bell 😉 Just kidding.
At the end, ask students to write down 4 additional questions for their classmates about a topic that sparked their interest the most.

Related posts:

Simply perfect

What’s with all the questions?

How well do you really know your place of work?

Also have a look at one of my activities that has been published on onestopenglish where students practise forming questions and affirmative or negative sentences whilst using the time expressions typically used with the past simple and present perfect tenses:

http://www.onestopenglish.com/community/lesson-share/winning-lessons/grammar-and-vocabulary/time-expressions/556365.article

P.S. Happy birthday dad 😉

Posted on June 8, 2018 by karolasenglishblog

So, what brings you here?

Introduction:

This is a board game that could be used to assess your learners’ needs or to simply do a review of tenses. Students answer questions in pairs or small groups of three and the teacher closely monitors to determine what the learners are struggling with. I have deliberately chosen the questions that hopefully only evoke positive 🙂 emotions from learners to make them feel good throughout the activity especially if is their first class and they don’t know the teacher and/or the classmates.

Level: B1+

Time: 45 minutes

Objectives:

To assess the learners’ needs.
To review past, present and future tenses etc.
To answer questions containing the target language whilst playing a board game.

Materials (Click on the worksheet below to download the PDF file):

So, what brings you here board game and one die per group of 3.

Procedure:

Put the students in groups of 2 or 3, and give them a copy of So, what brings you here? board game and a die.
Players take it in turns to throw the die twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the question.
When a player lands on a square all three players must answer the question from that square in as much detail as possible. Encourage students to ask each other additional questions to obtain more information.
The game continues in the circle going left.
At the end, write down the mistakes students made during the activity and ask them to correct them in their teams.
Check together as a class.
Ask students what they found out about their classmates.

Recommended reading:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amberjohnson-jimludema/2018/03/29/for-a-high-performing-team-ask-positive-questions/#46af16781ddf

Related posts:

Do you believe in ghosts?

What would you do if…?

Brace yourselves. Phrasal verbs r bk

Posted on May 13, 2018 by karolasenglishblog

Simply perfect

Introduction:

This is a board game for B2 students to review past simple and present perfect. Students complete the board game with their own examples and then answer question in pairs or small groups of three.

Level: B2

Time: 45 minutes

Objectives:

To review past simple and present perfect.
To write examples on the board using the target language.
To answer questions containing the target language whilst playing a board game.

Materials (Click on the worksheet below to download the PDF file):

Simply perfect board game and one die per group of 3.

Procedure:

Put the students in groups of 2 or 3, and give them a copy of Simply perfect board game.
Students first underline the verbs in all the questions on the board.
Next, students use the underlined verbs to write a new question in the empty square provided below, changing all questions in the past simple tense into questions in the present perfect tense and all the questions in the present perfect tense into questions in the past simple tense, e.g. Change the question in Square 1:1 What did you eat for dinner last night? into What have you eaten today? for Square 2:1. Change the question in Square 4:1 Have you ever ridden an animal? into Did you ride a horse when you were little? for Square 4:2. The only requirement is for students to use the same verb in their new question.
When the students have finished they pass their board game to the team/ group on their right.
Students now go over ALL the examples written by their classmates to make sure they are grammatically correct.
Check together as a class.
Hand each group a die.
Players take it in turns to throw the die twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the question.
When a player lands on a square all three players must answer the question from that square in as much detail as possible. Encourage students to ask each other additional questions to obtain more information.
The game continues in the circle going left.
At the end, ask the students to choose three questions they didn’t answer during the game and answer them in writing.

Posted on October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 by karolasenglishblog · 2 Comments

Double Decker

Introduction:

These are two board game activities to answer funny questions using past simple and present perfect. The games can be used together, or separately, depending on the objectives of the lesson.

Level: B1 +

Objectives:

To practise answering When was the last time you…? and Have you ever…? questions.
To develop speaking fluency, whilst revising regular and irregular verbs.
To draw students’ attention to the difference between past simple and present perfect if two games are played in the same lesson.

Materials:

2 PDF Double Decker board games, one per pair or group of 3; a die per pair or group of 3.

Procedure:

Put the students in pairs, or groups of 3, and give them a copy of one of the board games and a die. Aim to have two board games in use at the same time if you want to concentrate on explaining the differences between the tenses.
Ask the students to look at the infinitives on their board games e.g. To hold a new born baby and in their groups ask them to change each verb into past simple and past participle e.g. to hold, held, held.
Check as a class.
Now players take it in turns to throw the die twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the expression.
The player must then ask their classmate a question using the expression on the given square e.g. When was the last time you held a newborn baby? Or Have you ever called someone by the wrong name? The other players answer the question and provide their partner, or other two group members, with as much detail as possible.
The game continues in a circle going left.
Swap the board games after sufficient time to allow two games to be played by each pair or group.
At the end, ask the students to name some surprising and unexpected things they have learnt about their classmates.

Related posts:

Time to keep up with the times

worksheet-a-best-birthday-ever-crossword

Posted on March 5, 2017March 7, 2017 by karolasenglishblog · 1 Comment

Best birthday ever

Introduction:

This is a crossword puzzle you can do with intermediate + students to review past simple irregular verbs. All the clues together form a description of my own birthday a few years ago, which makes the activity more personal. Students solve the puzzle individually, compare with their classmates and describe their own birthday or any other special event in their lives.

Level: B1+

Time: 40 minutes

Objectives:

To review irregular verbs.
To complete a crossword puzzle with past simple irregular verbs.
To describe a special occasion using the verbs from the crossword puzzle.

Procedure:

Elicit examples of special occasions from the students, e.g. graduation, Christmas, wedding anniversary, birthday, etc.
Explain that you are going to give them a description of your best birthday but they will have to complete the story with the missing verbs.
Give students worksheet A and ask them to first read all of the clues (1 to 20) to give them context and to help them with completing the sentences.
Students work individually to complete the crossword using the clues.
In pairs, ask them to compare their answers.
If the students are struggling at this stage, give them a list of all 20 infinitive verbs (on the answer worksheet) in random order and encourage them to keep trying. The students I have done this crossword with became very engaged and loved the challenge.
Check and provide feedback.

Fast finishers / homework idea:

Students choose ten irregular verbs from the crossword and describe their best birthday ever.

best-birthday-ever-answer-sheet

Related posts:

Time to keep up with the times

time-to-keep-up-with-the-times-board-game-cards

Posted on March 1, 2017March 7, 2017 by karolasenglishblog

Time to keep up with the times

Introduction:

This is a fun, competitive board game for small groups of 3 or 4 players to review the time expressions used with past simple and present perfect tenses.

Level: B1

Time: 45 minutes

Objectives:

To reach the end of the board with the highest number of points by forming questions or affirmative and negative sentences whilst using the time expressions written on the cards.

Materials:

48 printable cards, one per group of 3 or 4.
1 board, 1 die and 3 or 4 checkers per group of 3 or 4.

How to play:

Print and cut out the cards, one set per group of 3 or 4, and place in three piles (Qs, As & Ns) face down on the table.
The players take it in turns to throw the die and move the number thrown.
When a player lands on a Q, A or N square they take the top card from the corresponding pile and create a Question or Affirmative or Negative sentence using the time expression on that card. For example, Q: Have you ever ridden an elephant before? A: I’ve ridden a donkey twice. N: I haven’t ridden a camel this week. If the player uses the correct tense with the expression given they receive a point. The card is then placed at the bottom of the pile.
Play continues in a circle going left.
Monitor and write down the mistakes the players make and offer them an opportunity at the end of the game to correct them. They receive additional points for each mistake they correct.
The winner is the player with the highest number of points for correct sentences.

P.S. Thank you for your helpful feedback Kate. I really appreciate it.

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Posted on January 11, 2017March 8, 2017 by karolasenglishblog

Summary of past or recent events

Introduction:

This is a speaking activity which allows students to describe the most important things that happened to them in 2016, over the holidays, the last school year etc.

Objectives:

To describe past events using past tenses or recent events using present perfect tenses.
To practise asking wh-questions in authentic communication.

Procedure:

Ask students to write down ten important or memorable things that happened to them in the chosen time period. Make sure they know the events will be discussed in class and are not too personal. You can decrease or increase that number depending on how talkative your class is (I found teenagers usually struggle with ten).
Put students in pairs (student A and student B) or groups of three.
Student A briefly describes the first event on the list. Once student A has finished student B asks additional questions starting with who, whose, what, when, where, why, which, how, how long and how many.
Encourage students to show pictures of the events, if they have any on their phones, to make the activity more relevant.
Students continue until they have each described all the events from their lists.

Alternative ideas:

You could also ask students to come up with a recent summary of events in politics, art, science, etc.
You could use it as a getting- to- know- you activity with students writing a list of “Ten things to know about me “.

Related posts:

Time to keep up with the times