Small cards are perfect for partner work, learning
centers, and quick review activities. Because every student can handle and
manipulate the cards, they encourage active participation instead of passive
observation. Students repeatedly sort, compare, classify, and use the
adjectives in meaningful sentences, helping them internalize both the grammar
and the spelling patterns. Their compact size also makes them ideal for games,
allowing teachers to reuse the same set in dozens of engaging activities throughout
the unit.
Perfect for ESL, EFL, and English Language Learners (ELLs) in elementary
classrooms.
Opposites
Adjectives Matching Activity with Small Cards
Display
all the small adjective cards on the table and have students work individually
or with a partner to find pairs of opposite adjectives, such as strong – weak,
hot – cold, fast – slow, or happy – sad.
After
finding a matching pair, students hold up the cards and make comparative
sentences using both adjectives. For example: He is stronger. He is
weaker.
Because students manipulate the cards and
produce their own sentences, they stay actively engaged while strengthening
both grammar and oral communication skills.
Three-Card
Challenge
Students
draw three adjective cards and create/write three comparative or superlative
sentences using the words.
Feed
the Monster Grammar Boxes: Sorting by Spelling Rule
Place
the adjective small cards on the table and display the five Feed the Monster
boxes: Add -er/-est, Double the Consonant, Change y to i, Use more/most,
and Irregular.Students pick an adjective card, identify the correct
spelling rule, and "feed" the card to the matching monster box.
As students sort the cards, encourage them to
say the comparative and superlative forms aloud and create complete sentences
using the adjectives.
How to
Make the Feed Me Boxes
Print
the five Feed Me Box covers on cardstock for extra durability. Use empty tissue
boxes or small cardboard boxes. Make sure the front side is large enough to
display the monster template. Carefully cut out the mouth area on each monster
template. This opening will become the slot where students feed the adjective
cards. Glue or tape the monster covers onto the front of the boxes. Align the
mouth opening with a hole cut in the box.
Comparative
and Superlative Race
The
teacher shows an adjective card, and students race to say the correct
comparative and superlative forms. For example, when the teacher shows the card
fat, students respond with fatter
and fattest. Teams earn points for correct answers, making
this activity a fun way to reinforce grammar skills, vocabulary development,
and speaking fluency.
I've
gathered interactive games, worksheets, and creative ideas for this unit both
educational and exciting!
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.
Also included the Circus Popcorn Numbers 1–20 pack that features colorful, circus-themed flashcards and interactive games to help kids recognize numerals, read number words, and build one-to-one correspondence with quantities. It works well for whole-class lessons, small-group centres, or independent practice — perfect for math / number units in elementary ESL classrooms.Check the blog post: https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/07/this-resource-is-also-included-here.html
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!
Using Birthday Monsters to review birthday vocabulary is an engaging and
effective way to strengthen language skills in young English language learners.
The colorful monsters holding or interacting with birthday items give students
clear visual cues to supports comprehension.This pack is ready-to-print.
As children look at each monster flashcard,
they can point and say, “This monster is yellow and so on.
The teacher can hold a card and ask questions:Who is he?
Students: He is yellow Monster. Teacher: What does he have? Students: He has a blue candle and a pink party hat.
Guess the Birthday Item! Envelope Game. Place the birthday small cards inside an envelope,
leaving only the top part of each card showing. Students look at the small
visible section and try to guess what birthday item it is. Students can respond
using simple sentences, such as:
“Yes! It’s a present!”
or
“Oh, no, it isn’t a candle. It’s a cupcake!”
Identify the colors of the party objects. Place
several monsters on the board and say a color: Yellow Monster! Students name what he has: a blue candle. Name a birthday object: party hat! Students name which ones have that object: blue Monster, Purple Monster,
Pink Monster, yellow Monster.
Matching Game on the Board. Play a matching game using the small cards included in
this resource. Write several simple sentences on the board, such as “The
monster has a present,” “The monster is yellow,” or “The monster has
balloons.”
Students read each sentence and place the correct
small card under the matching sentence.
Color & Read Worksheet.Students read simple sentences and color the correct monster.
Match the Sentence to the Monster. Students draw lines to connect
sentences to the correct monster image.
Write the Missing Word. Mini sentences with a blank space.
Draw the Birthday Items.
Color the Correct Birthday Items and answer the questions.
Birthday Monsters Board Game. Students take turns moving their party hat token along
the path of Birthday Monsters until they reach the finish balloon. On each
turn, students draw a question card and answer it before moving. Cards ask
about monster colors, birthday items, body parts, and more!
Students each receive a Bingo strip with 8 images. The
teacher uses the calling mat to call out items. Students mark the pictures they
hear. The first to cover all 8 pictures says “Bingo!”.
Feed-Me Cupcake Box Activity
Use the bingo strips as cut-apart picture cards for
this fun speaking activity! Students cut out their small cards and “feed” them
to the Cupcake Box one at a time while describing each picture. Students choose
a card, hold it up, and say a complete sentence before feeding it into the
cupcake’s mouth.
Help your elementary English Language Learners (ELLs) build communication skills with Birthday Unit invitations and cards! These engaging printables combine real-world writing, vocabulary practice, and creativity, making them perfect for early readers and writers in ESL/EFL classrooms.Go to the blog post: https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2024/09/birthday-unit-invitations-and-cards-for.html
Discover engaging, creative,
and effective resources designed specifically for English Language Learners!
The resources are ready-to-use lesson plans and activities, just here:
