Here are some ideas for starter activities that require little or no preparation. They can be adapted to different subject areas.

A gap fill exercise to practise the question words and a short reading passage with comprehension questions.

A great picture, with activities to practise the present continuous tense.

A great picture, with activities to practise the present continuous tense.

This is a short narrative in the past simple, with language exercises: true or false, cloze, match up and comprehension questions. It will be useful for years 5, 6, 7 and EAL pupils. My thanks to Ravensburger puzzles for permission to use this great picture. Isn't Flame a beaut?

A narrative of the famous county Durham legend, with comprehension questions and language exercises.

This is an EAL newsletter for staff that is fully editable. I have included boxes for a 'student of the month&' feature and an interview with a member of staff. This was very welI received at my school and we had a competition to choose a name for the newsletter. We are undecided between The ReadEMA&'; and 'The Chitchat&'. I will be uploading issue 2 very soon!

These are the NASSEA step levels in language that your students can access.

I have simplified the language of the NASSEA steps, so that students can be involved in their assessments and understand where they are and what their targets are.

Here are some starters/short activities on the language of Maths.

Useful practice on describing a picture for the whole class and particularly for EAL students.

This is a guide on how to describe a picture. It's useful for mainstream teachers to use as an exercise or wall chart and also as a hand out to students. I love the picture! Who are they? What were they doing?

A nice picture, with activities. Will suit beginners and early intermediates.

Some facts are presented to promote discussion about McDonald's. Good for EAL students in Business Studies.

Bernard is great for fun - a sort of animal Mr Bean. Activities based on the youtube clip.

To go with the youtube clip. Pictures and words for Splat! Gap fill, with past simple focus.

Useful in Business Studies - language activities to support EAL students around the process.

Survivors are interviewed and asked, 'What were you doing when the ship hit the iceberg?&'

Who was Richard III? Where and how was he found? Where should he be reburied?

A compilation of fun, mainly kinaesthetic activities, which can be adapted to most subject areas and levels. Why 47? Why not!