When we are in a “dull” grammar lesson, I try to add some excitement though the arts, poetry, or music. I usually start the lesson off very slowly, then introduce a song or poem. I find that this prompts the students to be more engaged (as they know the alternative is a grammar worksheet). This is a format for a poem that I have used in my intermediate/advanced classes. I have students write their own poem individually, then have them work in pairs and practice reading the poem. Finally, I allow students to read their poem in front of the class or have them create a collage with the vocabulary from thier poem.

 

Also, I have attached a cloze test to “If I Had a Milion Dollars” which is great song to use for pointing out Second Conditional Sentences using would or the contraction I’d.

Warm up: I start the lesson by showing you tube videos of people winning a million dollars.

Pre-listening: Go over any difficult vocabulary in the lyrics – ottoman, reliant, Kraft dinner, tree fort, Emu, limousine, llama, fur coat

Listen to the song with the cloze test. Sing the song if students are feeling inspired.

Production activity: Sit in a horse shoe. Ask students what would they do if they won a million dollars? You could then have them write a paragraph about their ideas. 

 

If I had a million dollars

I Have Never…

Fill in the missing information with the correct past participle.  Create your own poem.

 

Example:

I have never been to Spain.

I have never written a book.

I have never been married.

I have never eaten alligator.

But I have sailed to Puerto Rico.

 

I have never ( past participle of a verb) ……………………

I have never ( past participle of a verb) ……………………

I have never ( past participle of a verb) ……………………

I have never ( past participle of a verb) ……………………

But I have ____________________________