All You Need is Paper (and a little love) ESL/EFL activities

 So, here we go again! It’s another first day of school with new students, and the butterflies in our stomachs have once again come alive. For me, the first day of class is about building connections. We want to get to know our students’ likes and dislikes, not only to have them practice the English language, but also so that we can show them that we care about who they are. The first day leaves an impression on them. I want to let them know that they are seen, remind them that I’m on their side, and show them that I want them to come back the next day. With my younger students, I’m going to have them write their names and draw, inside their names, things they like. Then, we’ll sit in a circle, and they’ll each share what they drew with the class. I want to use the information they give me on this first day to test their memory on the second day of class. For example, I might ask, “Who has a dog named Jack?” and they will have to tell me the name of that student. Here’s what I wi...

 Last days of class and everything is Christmasy! I used paint and markers to liven up my students' paper portfolio envelopes with a holly ribbon. The kids loved them! They then added their own Christmas theme decorations to their portfolios. We also made holiday bookmarks which were pretty easy to make with leftover craft paper from the year. And look who I got to take a picture with at the mall! 🎄

  To practice using GOING TO, my 4th-graders have been talking about plans for the future. It's the end of the school year here in Brazil and everyone is somewhat tired and having more difficulty focusing. My class had to write about a place they were going to go to in the future and what they were going to take and instead of just having them write, I thought that making a little paper suitcase using craft paper would get them a little bit more engaged in the activity. Luckily, it worked. We folded half of a sheet of paper in half so that they could write inside the suitcase. Some students even drew what they would be taking with them. We made the handle out of craft foam. It was all pretty easy and the kids could finish the activity in one class. I still want them to share with their classmates what they wrote.

  My fourth-graders have been talking and thinking about what we need to reach our goals. This hasn't been an easy topic for them to discuss so I decided to make it more hands-on. I drew some tools and wrote the driving question for us to brainstorm together. I wrote all their ideas on the board, and then they had to choose 4 words to write on their tools. I got copies of my drawing for them. Maybe if you have more time, they can draw their own tools. Next, they colored, cut out, and glued their tools in their "toolbox". Today, each student will share their work with the class.

No matter how old my students are, we always start the class by me asking them how they are, or sometimes them asking each other. To help with this opening routine, I made this feelings wheel and now when I ask my fourth-graders how they are, they use a clothespin to attach to the image of how they are feeling. Recently, I've been choosing a mini-teacher and they have to choose 3 students and ask them how they are. They then show the class the student's answer on the feelings wheel and ask the class how he or she is. The class has to give a complete answer, he or she is excited, for example. In a classroom where I can't use screens, this wheel has been a great helper.  

Based on a story my fourth-graders read in class about a girl who wanted a garden in her small apartment, I had the class think about what a garden needs. Students first wrote what a garden needs to grow strong and glued this paper with their answer on the back of a green paper. They then made flowers and stems to create their garden. We folded 2 slips of paper to make the stem so the flowers would pop off the page. It was facinating to see how each garden, despite having the same elements, was so diferent.