Can Grammar Lessons be Creative?

Ever had one of those classes where your students look like they’ve just washed up on a desert island - lost, and in desperate need of rescue? Well, here’s an activity that will liven things up, get their creativity flowing, and sneak in some language practice too. Interested? Keep watching.

I’m Jo Gakonga, I’ve been in the classroom for 35 years, and I’m a teacher educator, a CELTA and MA TESOL tutor. I also have a website at ELT-Training.com, where I create video-based materials to support teachers at all stages of their careers. If you like this kind of content, don’t forget to like and subscribe – I make a new video every week.

This gem of an activity comes from Grammar Practice Activities by Penny Ur: one of my favourite resource books. It’s a great way to get your learners using can, could, and might for possibility while embracing their inner survival expert.

Here’s the deal. Put your learners into small groups- up to four people. You can do this in breakout rooms if you’re teaching online. Now, show them a picture of a wrecked ship or a deserted island and hit them with this scenario: ‘You’ve been washed up here! You’ve got 10 things to help you survive so you need to use them in as many creative ways as possible.’

Give them an example to get the ball rolling: ‘A tablecloth could be used as a flag to signal passing ships. It might also work as a makeshift tent for shelter or you can even use it as a towel – because, let’s be honest, no one likes a damp castaway.’

Now it’s their turn. Each group has to come up with inventive uses for all 10 items and write them down – on a shared Google Doc if you’re online, or on a piece of paper in class. Tell them you want correct sentences, but that you’re also looking for ingenuity - the more creative, the better!

Show them pictures of the 10 items – everyday objects like a spoon, a shoelace, a plastic bottle – or if you’re in a physical classroom, add some drama by pulling them out of a bag like a magician revealing their next trick.

Give them a time limit and monitor to help with language. If you’re online, you can get each group writing on a google doc tab so that you can make comments and help with corrections between groups really easily.

When they’ve finished, get them to share their ideas, especially the most brilliant or ridiculous solutions. Wrap up with some feedback and delayed error correction (because yes, this is still technically a grammar lesson!).

So there you go – a useful, creative, problem-solving activity that hopefully should raise a bit of fun and laughter. Try it out and let me know in the comments if your students made it off the island!

If you like this, there’s lots more like this in Communication Activities on my site- completely free.

See you on the inside.