Circus Ringmaster and Platform Prepositions Activities | ESL

 This resource is also included here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Circus-Unit-for-Elementary-ESL-3759017

Step right into the circus and make learning prepositions fun and meaningful! This Circus Prepositions resource uses the Ringmaster and colorful platforms to help students understand and practice key prepositions such as in, on, under, behind, next to, between, and in front of through engaging, hands-on activities.

It can be used as a stand-alone resource to teach or review prepositions or as a complement to your Circus Unit, helping students strengthen reading, speaking, and sentence-building skills in a fun and visual way.

Use the flashcards to introduce or review the prepositions with your students.

True or False Show. Show flashcard and say sentence: The ringmaster is under the platform.

Students show: 👍 Correct or 👎 Incorrect.

Circus Director Game. One student becomes the "Circus Director or Ringmaster". Print the hat template, add a strip of paper and create the hat for the student or yourself.

They say: "The ringmaster is under the platform."

Other student points to that flashcard, which should be placed on the board.

Match the Sentence to the Flashcard. In this activity, students read the sentence strips and place them under the correct circus flashcards on the board. Each sentence describes the position of the ringmaster in relation to the platform.

The sentence strips are included in this resource and are designed to match the flashcards.

Act It Out: The Ringmaster and the Stool. In this interactive activity, one student wears the ringmaster hat and uses any stool and glues the stool prop, that you have previously prepared using the printable in the resource. Another student gives directions, suing the flashcards as a guide, the position using a complete sentence, such as: “The ringmaster is on the stool.”

The student acting as the ringmaster listens and places himself in the correct position.

Listen and Draw Activity. The teacher secretly chooses a flashcard and describes it without showing the picture. For example: “The ringmaster is behind the platform.”

Students listen carefully and draw what they hear. Afterward, the teacher shows the flashcard so students can compare their drawings. This activity develops listening comprehension.

The small cards are included to provide more opportunities for practice.

Read and Match to the Picture. Students receive the printable small picture cards and the sentence strips. Students read and match.

Write the Sentence. Students pick a small card and write the sentence.

Why Small Cards Are Powerful for Literacy

They help students:

read independently
 manipulate language
build sentences
practice writing meaningfully
develop confidence

Cutouts are included so students can physically place the Ringmaster in different positions relative to the platform, helping them practice prepositions through hands-on learning.

Listen and Place the Ringmaster. Print and cut the  platform + ringmaster cutout. It comes in colored and b/w version.
Teacher says: "The ringmaster is under the platform."

Students place the ringmaster correctly.

Worksheets are included to help students practice prepositions through reading, writing, matching, drawing, and coloring activities.

Students roll the printable dice and color the matching picture on their worksheet. Each time the dice lands, students identify the preposition and find the correct image to color. This activity reinforces preposition vocabulary.

Students complete the worksheet by reading each sentence and writing the correct preposition to describe the position of the ringmaster.

Students read each sentence and trace the line to match it with the correct picture.

Have the learners write the correct preposition to describe the position of the ringmaster.

This worksheet is for drawing and coloring the platforms in the correct position around the ringmaster. Students carefully follow the instructions.

Games are included to help students practice prepositions in a fun, interactive, and engaging way.

Feed Me Circus Ring activity

Students take turns choosing a small circus card and feeding it into the Feed Me Circus Ring Box that you have ready. As they feed the card, students say a complete sentence

Matching Mat Activity

Students take turns rolling the preposition dice. They say the preposition they rolled, for example, “behind.” Then they find the correct Ringmaster picture card and place it on the matching word on the mat. Finally, they say a full sentence: “The Ringmaster is behind the platform.”This adds movement and speaking practice

Puzzle “Build and Read”
After completing the puzzle, students read the full sentence aloud to a partner. Then, they use a small card or flashcard to recreate the same position of the Ringmaster and say the sentence again. This reinforces reading, speaking, and comprehension of prepositions.

Spinner Activity

Students spin the spinner and look at the picture where the pointer lands. They say a complete sentence to describe the Ringmaster’s position using the correct preposition. This activity helps students practice speaking.

 Flap Book Activity Text:

Students create a flap book to practice circus prepositions. Under each flap, they write and complete a sentence to describe the Ringmaster’s position.

 

 Find creative ideas and engaging resources for teaching young learners, visit my blog for preschool teachers here: EFL Preschool Teachers Blog. You'll find practical activities, tips, and resources designed to make learning fun and effective for little ones!

Why Memory Matters in Language Learning for Kindergarten and Early Elementary English Language Learners

 Kindergarten and early elementary English language learners depend heavily on memory to acquire and use new vocabulary successfully. Without strong memory support, students may forget words quickly, feel frustrated, and hesitate to participate. This is why using visual, hands-on, and engaging ESL resources is essential. The right materials can dramatically improve vocabulary retention, confidence, and long-term language success.

Why Memory Is Important for Language Learning

1. Memory Helps Students Build Vocabulary

Young learners need repeated exposure to words before they can remember and use them. Memory allows students to connect the sound of a word with its meaning and image.

2. Memory Supports Understanding and Comprehension

Students use memory to understand instructions, stories, and classroom routines. When students remember common phrases like: Sit down, Listen, Color.

3. Memory Helps Students Use Language Actively

Language learning is not only about recognizing words but also using them. Memory allows students to recall vocabulary when speaking, answering questions, or playing games.

4. Memory Builds Confidence and Reduces Anxiety

When students remember words and understand classroom language, they feel successful. This confidence encourages participation, reduces frustration, and increases motivation to learn English.

How Teachers Can Support Memory in Young English Language Learners

1. Use Visual Supports

Pictures help the brain store and retrieve information faster than words alone.

Flashcards, posters, and picture cards allow students to connect: the image, the sound, and the meaning.

This is exactly why I include flashcards in all my resources. My flashcards provide strong visual anchors that help students store vocabulary more effectively. Teachers can use them for daily review, games, pocket charts, and speaking practice, allowing students to revisit vocabulary multiple times. This repeated visual exposure helps students remember words faster and recall them with confidence.

2. Provide Repetition in Different Ways

Repetition is essential, but it must be engaging and varied. Instead of repeating words in only one way, use: flashcards, small cards, matching games, board games, worksheets, pocket chart activities.

Each of my resources includes a variety of printable activities. This allows students to review vocabulary naturally through play, which strengthens memory without feeling repetitive.

3. Include Hands-On Activities

Young learners remember best when they physically interact with materials.

Hands-on activities such as: matching cards, moving pieces on a board game, cutting and pasting worksheets, using pocket charts, manipulating flashcards, help activate motor memory.

All my resources include these activities to help students actively engage with vocabulary, which significantly improves memory retention.

4. Connect Language to Emotion and Fun

Emotion strengthens memory. When students feel happy, engaged, and relaxed, their brain stores information more effectively.

Games, colorful materials, and interactive activities create positive emotional experiences that help students remember vocabulary longer.

I have many themed resources (holidays, animals, food, weather, and classroom topics) to help create meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences.

5. Provide Opportunities for Active Recall

Memory strengthens when students retrieve information, not just see it.

Activities such as: matching picture to Word, sentence association games, puzzles, asking students to say the word, require students to actively use their memory.

My resources are specifically designed to promote active recall through sentence-building activities, puzzles, and speaking tasks. These activities help students retrieve vocabulary from memory, which is essential for long-term learning.

How My Resources Support Memory Development

My resources combine visual support, hands-on interaction, and meaningful repetition.

The repeated and varied experiences strengthen memory by allowing students to review vocabulary in enjoyable and meaningful ways. As learners see, say, and use the words multiple times, they gradually move the language from short-term memory into long-term memory.

If you want to help your students retain vocabulary more effectively while making your lessons more engaging, you can explore my ESL resources in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Holistic-English-Resources-By-Rosa-Amelia

Providing memory-focused activities is one of the most powerful ways to support young English language learners — and having ready-to-use resources makes this process easier and more effective for teachers.

Follow me on Instagram for creative activities, classroom tips, and exclusive sneak peeks of my teaching resources!

 Let’s make learning exciting! Follow me here: @rosamelia_eslteacher

Hamburger Ingredients Unit for ESL | Food Vocabulary Games, Worksheets & Speaking Activities

 This resource is part of the Food Unit for Elementary English Language Starters.

LINK: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Food-unit-for-Elementary-English-Language-Learners-Starters-11035412

Teachers and students benefit from this resource because it offers hands-on, visual, and engaging activities that help students recognize and use hamburger vocabulary in meaningful ways. By practicing ingredients through games, puzzles, and writing, students build confidence to order a hamburger in real-life situations, while teachers enjoy easy-to-use materials that promote participation, communication, and practical language use.

Core Flashcard Activities (whole class)

Point & Say: Hamburger Ingredients

The teacher holds up a hamburger flashcard while students point to the ingredients and say the words aloud. The ingredient board (provided in the resource) is displayed in the classroom to give visual support and help students match each ingredient to the hamburger.

Add sentence frame:
 It has bread, cheese, ketchup, meat, and egg.

This activity supports listening, speaking, and vocabulary development and works well for whole-class instruction with kindergarten and early elementary English language learners.

Yes / No Listening. Show a card. Say a sentence: This hamburger has an egg.

Students respond: 👍 Yes / 👎 No by using their thumbs up or down.

Burger Swap.  Students work in pairs. One student looks at a hamburger flashcard and names the ingredients without showing the card. The other student listens carefully and ticks the matching ingredients on the worksheet. This activity practices listening, speaking, and vocabulary recognition.

 Write & Wipe: Hamburger Ingredients. Students place the hamburger flashcard inside a clear plastic sleeve and use a dry-erase marker to write the name of each ingredient directly on the card. This reusable activity builds vocabulary, spelling, and writing confidence while keeping students engaged.

🗣️ Speaking Activities

Show & Tell: Hamburger Ingredients. A student stands at the front of the classroom, holds a hamburger flashcard, and describes the ingredients using words or short sentences. This activity builds speaking confidence, reinforces food vocabulary, and encourages students to listen and participate.

Label the Hamburger (Whole-Class). The teacher displays the hamburger on the board and, with student help, labels each ingredient. Students point, say the word, and help write the correct label, reinforcing food vocabulary, listening, and speaking through active participation.

Guess My Burger. One student secretly chooses a hamburger flashcard and describes the ingredients without showing it. The class listens and guesses which burger it is on the grid by calling out the correct row and number.

 
🧠 Sorting & Thinking Skills

Sort the Burgers. By ingredients. Students work together to sort the hamburger flashcards on the board by ingredient. They place each card under the correct label, practicing food vocabulary, visual discrimination, and speaking in an engaging whole-class activity.

Sort by Number of Ingredients. They count the layers, compare the cards, and place them in the correct column, practicing vocabulary, counting, and speaking at the same time.

With or Without? Sorting. Students sort the hamburger flashcards on the board into “with” or “without” a specific ingredient (for example, tomato). They look closely at each burger and place it in the correct group.

Small Flashcard Activity Ideas

 Burger Match Writing. Students use a small hamburger flashcard and the ingredient checklist to review which items are in their burger. After ticking the ingredients, they write a short paragraph describing what their hamburger has. This activity combines vocabulary, reading, and writing.

What’s Missing? Students use the small cards to write about which items are missing from the ingredients worksheet.

like / don’t like. Students pick from the 20 different hamburgers small cards, one hamburger that the learners likes and one that they don’t like. Then, prepares to talk about the preferences.

Worksheets

Hamburger Ingredients – Write About It. Students look at the hamburger picture, check the ingredients it has, and then write simple sentences describing the hamburger. This worksheet supports early writing skills.

Listen and Color – Hamburger Ingredients. Give each student the hamburger worksheet and a set of crayons.

Tell students they must listen carefully and color the ingredients as you say: “Color the ketchup red.”
Students color the correct part of the hamburger as they listen.
Also, allow students to say what to color.

When students finish, ask simple questions about their hamburger, such as: What color is the ketchup? Students answer orally or point to the ingredient while saying the color.

Draw and Color – My Hamburger
Students draw and color their own hamburger, choosing the ingredients they like. Then they write a simple sentence to describe it (e.g., I like cheese and lettuce). Students can share their worksheet with the class to practice speaking, vocabulary, and confidence.

Hamburger Sorting – Cut and Paste. Students cut out the hamburger cards and sort them into the correct sections on the worksheet. They look carefully at each hamburger and decide where it belongs (for example: with tomato, without lettuce, with onions, or without cheese). Students glue the cards in the correct space.

Games

Hamburger Ingredients Board Game

Students play this fun hamburger-themed board game in small groups. Each player has an ingredients worksheet and a counter.

Students take turns rolling the die and moving along the path. When they land on a square, they identify the ingredient shown and tick it on their ingredients worksheet. If they can name the ingredient, they simply say the word aloud and tick on the worksheet.

As students move around the board, they collect ingredients to build their own hamburger. The game continues until all players reach FINISH.

At the end of the game, students use their worksheet to write about the hamburger they managed to gather the ingredients on the board path, for example:
“My hamburger has bread, meat, cheese, and tomato.”

🎉 The winner is the student who could collect and ticks the most ingredients.

Hamburger Puzzle – Match and Build

Students work in pairs to put together hamburger puzzles by matching each picture with the correct ingredient list. They carefully read the words, find the matching hamburger, and connect the puzzle pieces.

Exit Ticket – Hamburger Ingredients
Before lining up, each student receives a mini hamburger card at their desk. The teacher names one ingredient, and students whose hamburger has that ingredient stand up. As they leave the classroom, they hand in the card and say the ingredient aloud, reinforcing vocabulary and listening skills.

I invite you to visit my Pinterest board where I share hands-on ESL activities, games, worksheets, flashcards, and thematic units designed especially for elementary English language learners.

👉 Explore, save, and get inspired:
https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl/esl-elementary-teachers-materials/