Based on the last 130 years, students are given 4 pieces of information on strips about each of the last 13 decades. The objective is to put them in the correct order. This is a speaking exercise in which they discuss, debate, evaluate and cooperate to come to the solution. The activity can be modified to take account of the knowledge of the students but the nice twist at the end is that by sequencing the decades in the correct order, a message is revealed. It should give pupils a broad background of historical knowledge - though they can be encouraged to research the events in more details afterwards.

One-page stories with gaps. Teachers asks pupils for 'an adjective' 'a part of the body' etc and then read out the hilarious story. A great way to stretch your pupils' vocabulary, improve their awareness of parts of speech and to encourage story writing. Stories range from primary to teenage and are also suitable for EFL and ESL classes. You can get the students to fill in the story themselves - which the younger learners enjoy. They are also a fun activity for family gatherings at xmas.