Multi-Level Whole-Class Activities
 Pictures
a. “Tell me about this picture”: word – adjective – adverb – prepositional phrase –
sentence – negative – question – change tense
b. Magazine: find – label – sort – story
c. Verb words: abc order – sort – past – use
d. Spot the Differences – mixed groups – words/sentences
e. Every Picture Tells a Story – label (using dict.), classify, discuss
f. Proverbs/Idioms – focus on vocabulary used or meaning or expansion
 Whiteboard – some w/picture dictionary, others limited to multi-syllable answers
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Web or Chart
Boggle© - “big” word based on topic
A-Z – based on topic
Word Association
Word Chain – using sounds
Silly News (http://web.orange.co.uk/p/news/quirkies www.fark.com
http://news.yahoo.com/odd/, http://www.snopes.com/daily/)
g. Clarification Practice
 Games
a. Charades©
b. Pictionary©
c. Scategories©
Using Board Games (Julia Reimer – jreimer@hamline.edu)
d. Candyland© – name the color and an object of that color, name the color and a
rhyme - six different colors indicate instructions on the board (vocabulary,
grammar, phonics)
e. Scrabble© – divide up all tiles and have S make words
f. Go Fish, with multiple sets of word cards - teams come up with sentences, with
multiple sets teams make simple poem
g. Taboo© – use the words on the card to help guess the answer, guess the words
on the card, allow only verbal cues (no gestures)
h. Build a Board Game – use post-it notes or index cards; S write (event in
past + date, dream for future, plan for weekend, name of family member), arrange
cards in loop, each S has marker, roll die and move, S author who gets landed on
must provide additional information, S authors on either side of that card must ask
one question, S who provided details rolls and goes next.
i. Games Students Play - (Mary F. Ray – Fairfax Co. Public Schools, Falls Church, VA)
o Ball Toss – name…from…, I’ve…, I won’t… ABC, 123, 1st2nd3rd, days, months,
Q/A
o Dice rolling – 4, 45, 452, 4526, 45261…
o Uncover the picture – overhead – small paper squares, yes/no
4. Reading/Speaking Activities for Multi-Level (Laurel Pollard: lpollard@dakotacom.net)
a. Different Tasks
 My Job, Your Job – copy new word 5x and write definition/sentence – answer T/F
questions – write general comprehension, timeline, chart: regroup to teach each
other
 Questions Outside the Room – leave room and practice reading questions (with a
cassette or phonetic writing), others read passage silently – regroup for A/Q
 Multi-Level Dictation – 2 different cloze and blank sheet – regroup and compare
b. Same tasks
 One Minute Repeated Reading – stop after a minute and repeat, reading on level
 Mingle – preview, review, ask, share
o Personal Card – again and again (I used to suck my thumb)
o Swap Cards – different each time (Windex is more expensive than gasoline)
o Build a Chain – keep record of ideas (Suggestions for healthy living)
o Tip – “Touch the Wall and Talk” – center of room if you need partner
 Vocabulary Cards – word on one side, definition, translation, sketch, sentence – then
work in groups with the words.
 Quick Write – after reading/listening together write for one minute – picture, words,
phrases, sentences, paragraph – discuss
 Find a Sentence – while T/S reads, choose one sentence to copy and share. –
beautiful, interesting, surprising, main idea, don’t understand, reminds of, understands
well, agree or disagree with, upsetting
 Reconstruct the Story – T tells a story once while S listen – after, all write down 3
things they remember (sketch, word, translation, sentences) – group to share, giving
credit to all participants - re-tell in groups or alone (adv)
5. Using Store Flyers – (Kathleen Olson, Training Specialist Columbus, OH)
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Know student needs and goals. Be sure they know the relevance
 Make menu
▪ Find and calculate price
 Find words, given pictures
▪ Write dictated list
 List in food groups
▪ Coupon activities
 Price is Right
▪ Compare two flyers
 Something you would (not) buy
▪ Best deal
 Guess high/lowest in iron/sugar
▪ Write questions
 Write comparative sentences
▪ Write shopping list for week
 Match word prices with numbers
▪ Write out prices in words
 Record and add dictated costs
▪ X amount of $ to spend
 Grocery list – find total, make change
Bingo (they fill in grid) – bananas, green vegetable, comes from cow, non-food, don’t like,
can cook, buy by weight, healthy, drink it, dairy, on sale, frozen, for cleaning
Expansion – use pharmacy (shampoo on sale, for sore throat, buy 1 get one)
Project - make a flyer to sell items in fridge/pantry/medicine cabinet
Vocabulary – choose spelling/vocabulary words, find and write abbreviations, list
measurement/quantity words, special words (sale/discount/rebate/…off/…per lb)
6. Using Newspapers – (Kathleen Olson, Training Specialist Columbus, OH)
● Know student needs and goals. Be sure they know the relevance
 Cut, mark, clip, paste
▪ Weather
 Everyone gets something
▪ Police Report
 Ads - need, don’t have, like to have, never want
 Ad abbreviations
▪ Advice Column
 Create an ad - Calculate cost
▪ Obituaries
 Find a new car (bluebook.com), house
▪ Movies
 Compare prices
▪ List important people
 Comics – cut up and put in order
▪ Job vacancies
 Horoscope is not true
▪ Index
 Synonyms for win/lose in sports section
● Online news from their country – give mini report in English
● Scavenger Hunt at different levels (cut or answer)
Many of these ideas were gleaned from International TESOL Conferences.
Please contact Dawn Saint at saintd@nacc.edu for further explanation about how
any of these games work.