A few years ago, I retired from my position as head of Modern Languages, a bit fearful of the "R" word. But to date, it has been nothing but fun! Canadian law requires school-aged actors to study with a qualified teacher when they’re off-camera. Many of our young actors are in immersion French so I've found a happy little niche, teaching a few days a week as an on-set tutor and moving in inspiring and creative circles! Furthermore, I get to share resources here! Vive la retraite!
A few years ago, I retired from my position as head of Modern Languages, a bit fearful of the "R" word. But to date, it has been nothing but fun! Canadian law requires school-aged actors to study with a qualified teacher when they’re off-camera. Many of our young actors are in immersion French so I've found a happy little niche, teaching a few days a week as an on-set tutor and moving in inspiring and creative circles! Furthermore, I get to share resources here! Vive la retraite!
This is a co-operative activity designed for readers who have studied The Little Prince in English. Students are asked to match the text on the edges of the 11 triangles to answer and complete the following Q and A and quotes from the text. I have included a second version of the puzzle based on a freer translation of the original work.
What does the narrator of The Little Prince do for a living?
• He’s a pilot.
When one wishes to play the wit,
• he sometimes wanders a little from the truth.
According to the fox, it is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
• what is essential is invisible to the eye.
But I have made him my friend, and now he is…
• unique in all the world.
My Drawing Number One. It looked like this:
• (illustration of a hat)
You become responsible, forever, for
• what you tame
If you tame me, then…
we shall need each other.
Who helps the Little Prince return to his planet?
The snake
A Turkish astronomer had presented his discovery to the International Astronomical Congress. • But he was in Turkish costume so nobody would believe what he said.
Draw me…
• a sheep!
How did the Little Prince leave his planet?
• With the help of a flock of wild birds.
Originally designed for Modern Language classes, “Where are my Christmas gifts?” is a virtual scavenger hunt that encourages even reluctant students to participate enthusiastically in class. It works well as a full class and as a small group activity. You’ll be astonished to experience the phenomenon of an entire class listening “actively” because no one wants to waste a guess choosing a square from which the gift has already been claimed. After the oral treasure hunt, you can create an instant written assignment by assigning a handful of co-ordinates.
I’ve included answer keys for the present and the future tenses but “Where are my Christmas gifts?” works well for almost all verb tenses.
Please note that there are two versions of the game to accommodate those who know that the name of the one and only jolly old elf is “Father Christmas” . . . or “Santa Claus”.
If you’d like more resources on this theme, just type “Christmas” into the search window of my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Carlav
In this co-operative review activity, students who have studied Hamlet are asked to match the text on the edges of sixteen triangles to reconstitute the following quotes:
- This above all: to thine own self be true.
- There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
- Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.
- To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream . . .
- There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt
of in your philosophy.
- Brevity is the soul of wit.
- I must be cruel only to be kind; thus bad begins, and worse remains behind
- Get thee to a nunnery.
- The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
- O that this too too solid flesh would melt …
- Good night, sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
- When sorrows come, they come not single spies but in battalions.
- Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.
- One may smile and smile and be a villain
- Happy in that we are not overhappy; on Fortune's cap we are not the very button.
- Neither a borrower nor a lender be: for loan oft loses both itself and friend.
In this co-operative review activity, students who have studied TWELFTH NIGHT match the texts on the edges of sixteen triangles to reconstitute the following quotes:
Oh Time, thou must untangle this, not I. It is too hard a knot for me t'untie!
She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg, being cross-gartered.
O, had I but followed the arts!
Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage.
If music be the food of love, play on.
Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.
This fellow is wise enough to play the fool and to do that well craves a kind of wit.
Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better.
If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.
This youth that you see here I snatch'd one half out of the jaws of death.
Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.
I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun, it shines everywhere.
One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons, a natural perspective that is and is not!
In this co-operative review activity, students who have studied ROMEO AND JULIET are asked to match the text on the edges of sixteen triangles to reconstitute the following quotes:
Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
A plague o’ both your houses.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Young baggage, disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, or never after look me in the face.
For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone till Holy Church incorporate two in one.
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life…
Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.
Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.
Your lady mother is coming to your chamber: the day is broke; be wary…
O true apothecary, thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
Tempt not a desperate man
My only love sprung from my only hate!
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
O happy dagger, this is thy sheath. There rust and let me die.
For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
In this co-operative review activity, students who have studied THE TEMPEST match the texts on the edges of sixteen triangles to reconstitute the following quotes:
Good wombs have borne bad sons.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
You taught me language, and my profit on't is, I know how to curse.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
But this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning make the prize light. (Act 1, Scene 2)
The wills above be done but I would fain die a dry death.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
I’ll rack thee with old cramps, fill all thy bones with aches.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
My library was dukedom large enough.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
Misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows.
(Act 2, Scene 2)
It was mine art, when I arrived and heard thee, that made gape the pine and let thee out.
(Act 1, Scene 2)
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
(Act 4, Scene 1)
How beauteous mankind is!
O brave new world, that has such people in’t!
(Act 5, Scene 1)
The strongest oaths are straw to the fire i' the blood.
(Act 4, Scene 1)
He that dies pays all debts.
( Act 3, Scene 2)
Now I will believe that there are unicorns.
( Act 3, Scene 3)
What have we here? A man or a fish?
(Act 2, Scene 2)
In this co-operative review activity, students who have studied A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM match the texts on the edges of sixteen triangles to reconstitute the following quotes:
Sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye, seal me awhile from mine own company.
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear.
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity.
Never harm, nor spell nor charm, come our lovely lady nigh.
The best in this kind are but shadows, and the worst are no worse, if imagination amend them.
Thus have I, Wall, my part dischargèd so. And, being done, thus Wall away doth go.
Come, blade, my breast imbrue. And, farewell, friends. Thus Thisbe ends. Adieu.
Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, let loose.
In the temple, by and by, with us, these couples shall eternally be knit.
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact.
Never anything can be amiss when simpleness and duty tender it.
We cannot fight for love, as men may do;
we should be wooed and were not made to woo.
When in that moment, so it came to pass, Titania waked and straightway loved an ass.
Sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye, seal me awhile from mine own company.
Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander? I am as fair now as I was erewhile.
In this small-group activity, Fate (the dice) will determine which Christmas character or icon your students will describe. A relaxed way to encourage students to use their best descriptive skills. If you'd like to extend the lesson to written work, just assign any dice coordinates (ie: •• x •••• or •••• x •)
To see if “Express Yourself! (Christmas)” is right for your students, download the free resource, “Express Yourself! (Clothing):
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/express-yourself-clothing-11459227
I've included PDF and PPT formats.
Designed to help beginners master their ”clothes” vocabulary, this game is for independent work and study buddy activity. Once players have finished matching each vocabulary card with its corresponding picture card, they flip over all the pairs to check their own work. Matching icons on the back of flipped pairs confirm that the task has been well done. Icons that don’t match tell players that it’s time to try again.
This file includes two 28-card decks.
To get an idea of "GET THE PICTURE?” cards work, download the free resource, “GET THE PICTURE? (multiplication game)” at:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/taming-the-6-times-tables-without-tears-get-the-picture-multiplication-game-11309613
If you are a fan of Taboo®, YOU DON’T SAY! might just be the game for you. It can be played in two very different ways.
If your students are confident and articulate, have them play YOU DON’T SAY! like traditional Taboo®. If, however, you have students who are uncomfortable speaking in public, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use some or all of the words beneath the orange and black banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is.
This file includes 32 Hallowe’en-themed cards and a template for students to make their own YOU DON’T SAY! deck.
YOU DON’T SAY! is a themed variation of Taboo® that can be played in two very different ways.
If your students are confident and articulate, they can play YOU DON’T SAY! following traditional Taboo® rules. If, however, you have students who are uncomfortable giving clues, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use some or all of the words beneath the pink and white banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is.
This file includes 40 “Valentine” cards about friendship, relationships and love. I’ve also appended a template for students to make their own YOU DON’T SAY! deck.
Originally designed as a Modern Language tool, this virtual scavenger hunt encourages even students who are usually reluctant to participate in class to jump right in and to speak in full sentences. You’ll experience the phenomenon of an entire class listening “actively” because no one wants to waste a guess choosing a square from which the gift has already been claimed.
After the oral treasure hunt, assign a handful of co-ordinates for an instant written assignment that will reinforce verb conjugations and vocabulary acquisition.
“Where are my Valentine’s gifts?” has been designed to review virtually any tense. I have appended answer keys for four of them: the present, the simple past, the simple future and the conditional perfect.
When students match the sentence fragments printed on the edges of the triangles, they will reconstitute the 25 Easter facts and “sculpt” the Easter Bunny’s head.
Although designed as a co-operative activity, the EASTER TRIANGLE puzzle also works well as an enrichment task for individual students.
Here are 7 of the 25 Easter facts embedded in this puzzle:
• Monks made the first pretzels for Lent. They shaped them like arms crossed in prayer!
• A baby rabbit is a “kitten” or a “kit”.
• This is a moai: (image) a giant Easter Island sculpture.
• The Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny are imaginary characters.
• In the movie, HOP, the Easter Bunny’s son wants to leave the family business to drum in a rock band.
• North Americans eat 90 million chocolate bunnies every year!
• A Ukrainian Easter egg decorated with intricate traditional folk designs is called a “pysanka”.
Here are 12 more rebus puzzles for students who enjoyed the free rebus “A little Christmas Rebus to decipher! (The Little Drummer Boy)”:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/another-little-christmas-rebus-to-decipher-6454697
Thanks to their texting skills, today’s kids “get” the principle behind rebus puzzles intuitively.
The “Twelve Christmas Rebus Puzzles” start with simple thematic phrases like “baking gingerbread cookies” and builds to a 3-page invitation to students to make their own rebus. The invitation is, of course, in rebus format!
An activity tailored for the run-up to the holidays.
FOUND IT! is a game inspired by Spot it™ or Dobble™. There is always one matching expression on any two cards. FOUND IT! encourages students to concentrate, to read attentively and to pronounce the thematic vocabulary carefully.
This deck comprises 31 cards with 6 expressions or pictures per card.
Here is the vocabulary featured in FOUND IT! (The Hallowe’en deck):
autumn leaves
bat
black cat
broom
cauldron
cemetery
coffin
danger
devil
disguise
frightened
ghost
goosebumps
hat
haunted house
horror film
jack o’lantern
makeup
mask
owl
party
scar
scarecrow
scream
shiver
spider
sweets
toilet paper
trick or treat
vampire
witch
This set of twelve illustrated bingo cards - I know, I know, I should have made thirteen - is designed for language arts and ESL students. One of the two tiny bonuses is a DIY bingo card that disguises writing and spelling practice as a game.
Here is the vocabulary featured on these cards:
afraid
bat
black cat
broom
candles
cauldron
cemetery
costume
creepy
excitement
goosebumps
haunted house
incantation
jack o’lantern
little monsters
magic potion
makeup
mask
moonlight
night
owl
party
phantom
prank
pumpkin
scarecrow
scream
skeleton
spiderweb
to cast a spell
trick or treat
vampire
witch
wizard
Your students will review pivotal ideas as they reconstitute sixteen key quotations from each of these three tragedies. Use as a co-operative activities or as independent enrichment work.