Author: Deb Bullock | Published on 1 February 2024
Read what a teacher says about this activity:
My learners love mingle activities because they can walk around and talk to different classmates. Sentences in a bag is good for reviewing and practising questions and you can practise different verb tenses. You need some space and it’s noisy, so I do it outside if the weather’s okay.
Stage 1: Plan
You need a bag (or a box).
Prepare strips of paper (1 per learner).
Decide what verb tense you will practise, e.g. present simple, present continuous, past simple, present perfect.
Stage 2: Introduce
Say: ‘Today you will write sentences using the present simple.’ Elicit some examples, e.g. My favourite football team is Chelsea; I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters; etc.
Stage 3: Prepare
Give each learner a strip of paper.
Say: 'Write 1 true sentence. Use present simple. Don’t write your name.' Monitor and support. It doesn’t matter if some learners write the same sentence.
Collect the papers in a bag or a box.
Variation
Make 2 mingle groups if you have more than 20 learners.
Stage 4: Model
Take 1 slip of paper out of the bag. Read it to the class. (E.g. My favourite football team is Chelsea.)
Say: ‘I want to know who wrote this. What question should I ask?’ Elicit ‘What’s your favourite football team?’
Walk round the room. Ask different learners the question until one says ‘yes’. Return the paper.
Give each learner a paper. Say: ‘Don’t show your paper to your classmates.’
Say: ‘Think about your question.’ Support if necessary.
Stage 5: Mingle
Say: ‘When I say go, stand up, walk around and ask your question. Find who wrote the sentence. Return the paper. Remember their name.’
Circulate, monitor and support if necessary.
Variation
Learners can ask a follow-up question, e.g. Who’s your favourite Chelsea player?
Stage 6: Extend and share
Ask: ‘Did you find who wrote the sentence? Do you remember their name? Do you remember the sentence?’
Say: ‘Write the sentence again; this time start with the name.’ Elicit an example if necessary. (E.g. Eric’s favourite football team is Chelsea.)
Circulate, monitor and support if necessary. (Sentences will change to 3rd person, e.g. James has 3 brothers and 2 sisters.)
Ask some learners to share their sentences with the class.
Learners may find interesting or surprising information about their classmates. Encourage them to share this with the class. Encourage learners to ask more questions if they want to know more.