Wonderful Winter Activities for your ESL Class

There is so much to be learned from the world around us. The seasons alone offer considerable scope for lessons and make them the perfect themes for ESL teaching. Here we share five wonderful winter activities for you to use with your students.

1-Roll and Tell

Roll and tell is an excellent game to inspire children to speak and listen in the target language. It can be used for paired or small group work. Learning key vocabulary linked to winter, the students can practice this through playing this fun game. They simply roll a die and say what the corresponding picture is. You could even use this with a whole class on your interactive board. Display it and then roll a giant die. Children can then give the word to their partner or use it within a sentence. To stretch your kids’ learning even further, get them to use the words within a sentence. Alternatively, pupils could work in pairs.

2-Acrostic Poems

Acrostic poems are an excellent way for children to practice their use of the English language. Use the winter cards from this flashcards pack. Choose a winter-related word, such as snowman or icicle. Write each letter on a new line. Children should then pick words starting with those particular letters. For learners whose English is more advanced, encourage them to write phrases or statements beginning with those specific letters. Children will also enjoy decorating their poems with glitter, sequins and all things sparkly, replicating the winter ice.

3-Winter Animals Life Cycles

Think of winter animals, and mostly, polar bears spring to mind. Mixing language learning with science is a fantastic way to teach pupils new vocabulary in English. This polar bear life cycle activities pack is perfect. With three sequencing mats, a life cycle wheel, and a cut and paste activity sheet, you have enough in here to keep you going for a few lessons. Movies like Arctic Tale and Norm of the North can be used alongside this.

4-Winter Bingo

Continuing on with the winter theme, why not introduce your kids to new words using bingo games? . Simply ask children to choose a card and some beans or buttons.  Pull a picture at random from the pile of cards and say its name in English. Give children a couple of listens to the word. If the children have it, they should add a bean or button to his/her card. Repeat until someone has all words and calls Bingo!

5-Questions and Answers

Some children adore being in the limelight and having the opportunity to stand out. One way of doing this is through the medium of interviewing. Using these winter-themed question prompts, children can pretend to be roving reporters asking questions to the rich and famous. Use inflatable microphones and use reporter notebooks to make the experience more exciting. This activity really challenges kids to listen well and speak in full sentences, asking and answering questions.

Free Pom Poms Cards

Get ready for some frosty fun with our Winter Pom Poms Cards - the perfect blend of learning and play! This free, delightful resource is designed to ignite fine motor skills in young learners. Children will dive into a world of winter wonder as they use their fingers to place colorful pom poms onto charming winter-themed cards. This engaging activity not only strengthens their hand muscles but also enhances coordination and dexterity while exploring the magic of the season. Download now for an exciting way to develop essential skills while embracing the chilly charm of winter!"

grab your free copy here

What are your favourite activities for Winter?