Holiday language practice bundle-conversation, comparison, WH questions -ESL/ELL

Discussing holidays are a great way to get students talking! Here are 3 featured activities, plus some bonus Thanksgiving practice in the present and past tenses.

1. Holiday partner conversation (partners)

This partner conversation activity has one partner ask about a holiday.  Then, after a simple answer,  is also encouraged to ask follow up questions using WH question words.  This works best if students have had some exposure to the holidays.  There is a blank partner conversation sheet if you need to adjust the holidays to ones students have familiarity with.

2. Comparing and Contrasting holiday traditions (great for whole class)

These charts are great for whole class (projected on the screen) or small group (printed) discussions, especially after reading short texts or watching informational videos about each holiday.  How many holidays can you learn about?  There are lots of ways to use the filled in chart - it can be used to help check answers or as a review or assessment by cutting it up by row or individual cell to see if students can sort correctly.  Be sure to be inclusive and discuss holidays important to all students!

3. Holiday venn diagram sort (independent work, to be followed by discussion)

Students sort holidays into three categories: celebrated in the US, celebrated in their home country, or both!  A blank venn diagram is included if your class will sort into different categories.  If students aren’t familiar with all of the holidays, it’s a great time to learn and explore!  Make sure students compare with each other when they are done!

For other language supports for your students, 

check out these resources:

Writing Supports:

• Elaboration language frames
• Introductions - formats and language frames
• Persuasive Essay - introductions, quotations, elaborations, counterclaims
• Informational Writing language frames
• Build-Your-Own Review
• Build-Your-Own Book Review
• Build-Your-Own Non-Fiction Text - all about a country - language frames
• Reading comprehension writing frames for characters and retelling 
• Past tense irregular verb spelling sort
• Future tense M.A.S.H game!

Activities for Newcomers

• Find someone who for ELLs
• Classroom vocabulary - counting and charting (also in Spanish! contando en el aula!)
• Classroom vocabulary questions/partner conversation
• Preposition game with Dice - two levels (also in Spanish! preposiciones!)
• Preposition true or false?
• Feelings vocabulary - toolbox activity
• WH question word dice (also in Spanish! dado de preguntas)
• Community Jobs I have/who has game
• Monster Glyph with body part vocabulary
• Animal Scattergories game
• Food vocabulary bundle
  • Food opinions magazine sort (also in Spanish! comidas y adjectivos)
  • Supermarket conversation script & activity
  • Weekly meal planning chart
• Holiday  bundle
  • Partner conversation with WH questions
  • Winter Holiday Traditions Compare & Contrast
  • Holiday venn diagram sort