How to start a new school year

[Т А Кузнецова]

After Summer Materials

A new school year is round the corner, the teachers usually start a new lesson with asking the students about their summer holidays. Here are some activities you can do with photos the students bring to the classroom after summer holidays.

•What’s on the Menu?

In this case, take a few days to get some snapshots of real meals, anything from a plate of spaghetti to a burger with fries. Print the photos on magnetic paper and presto! They will be ready to create their own menus. Smaller boards are ideal for them to create a menu and practice restaurant role plays.

• Comparatives and Superlatives

Ask students to bring in some family photos, particularly where you can see people standing as a group. Have students compare them by saying who is taller than who, who’s the shortest, etc..but don’t stop at physical descriptions. Have them share with the class who’s the most musical, most artistic, better at sports, etc…

• Photo Album

Try this great worksheet where students use the possessive case to talk about their families, but replace the black and white illustrations with photos of real people, members of your family. Ask students to guess or imagine details about them, who they are, what they do, etc…You may choose to correct them in the end and supply the real facts, or not.

If you are eager to experiment with new activities, go to What You Can Do With Photos: 10 Creative ESL Games/Activities

http://busyteacher.org

You’ll find a lot to jazz your first lesson.