Can & Can’t Spring Verbs Activities for ESL | EFL Elementary

 This resource is part of Can as an Ability for Elementary ESL at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Can-as-an-Ability-Unit-for-Elementary-ESL-4299251

Make learning “can” and “can’t” fun and hands-on with this engaging resource for young learners! Students practice abilities through puzzles, games, and interactive worksheets that support vocabulary and sentence building. Perfect for centers or small groups, it helps build confidence in a playful way.

These flashcards are a great way to introduce and practice “can” and “can’t” with your students.

The teacher picks up any verb card, in this case, is the verb “fly”. She holds the card. Students will participate by pretending to fly kites. To make the activity more interactive and hands-on, several kite cutouts are provided. Continue with more cards.

The teacher asks the question: “Can you climb a tree?” to individual students, giving each child the opportunity to answer using “Yes, I can” or “No, I can’t.”

In this interactive dialogue-building activity, one student holds the flashcard and asks the question: “Can you swing?” while showing the image for support. The other student listens and responds using a complete sentence, such as “Yes, I can” or “No, I can’t.” Then, students switch roles so both have the opportunity to ask and answer.

These flashcards may include some new vocabulary for your students. Use them to introduce new words in context or to review familiar ones, helping learners connect meaning with clear visuals in a simple and engaging way.

These small cards are perfect for hands-on practice with “can” and “can’t.”

This is a speaking game, where students sit in a circle with the small verb cards placed on the floor. One student tosses a bean bag onto a card and then makes a sentence using the structure: “I can…” or “I can’t…”

Students use the small cards as visual support to write sentences with “can” and “can’t.” They choose a card and write sentences such as “I can water flowers” or “I can’t build a house.” This activity helps students practice sentence structure.

A student places the small cards in order on the desk. This activity helps develop sequencing skills.

The worksheets support comprehension, fine motor skills, and meaningful language use.

Students complete each word by writing the missing vowel. Then, trace the lines to match each picture with the correct verb. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary recognition.

Students look at each picture and complete the sentences using the correct verb. They write the missing word in the blank and match it with the correct image.

This “Can – Word Search” worksheet. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary, improve spelling.

Students first trace the lines to match each question expressing their abilities. Then, they write simple sentences to recap all the personal can and cant’. Perfect for developing reading and writing.

Students first color the pictures to become familiar with the actions. Then, they cut out the images and glue them in the correct boxes to match each word. This hands-on activity helps reinforce vocabulary and sentence comprehension in a fun and meaningful way.

After completing the worksheet, students can use the pictures to make simple sentences orally or in writing (e.g., “I can climb a tree.”).

 “I Have, Who Has?” Game.

Give each student one card. If you have more cards than students, some students can have two cards. Choose the student with the start card. This student reads their card aloud. The student who has the correct answer listens carefully and responds by reading their card. The game continues in a chain until all cards have been read. The last card should finish the loop.

Puzzle Activity

Students complete the puzzle by matching each sentence with the correct picture.

Memory Game with Puzzle Pieces

These puzzle pieces can also be used to play a fun memory game!
Place all the pieces face down on the table. Students take turns turning over two pieces and try to find a matching pair (sentence + picture). If the pieces match, the student keeps the pair. If not, they turn them back over and the next student takes a turn.

Another fun use for the puzzle pieces! Students can sort the pieces into can and can’t using the labeled bags, helping them practice sentence meaning in an interactive way. The can and can’t labels are included in the complete resource for easy setup and use. The link is the beginning of this post.

Students can play with the board game as they move around the board, they will describe the actions using sentences.

Students roll the dice and move their token. When they land on a picture, they must make a sentence using can (e.g., “I can fly a kite.”). For an extra challenge, classmates can decide if the sentence is correct or silly!

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Present Continuous with School Actions –for Elementary ELLs

This resource is found here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Present-Continuous-for-Elementary-ESL-4403402

This resource was designed to help elementary English language learners practice action verbs and build sentences. The variety of materials also makes it easy for teachers to use them for whole-class lessons, centers, pair work, or review activities.

Teachers can use the flashcards for vocabulary introduction, quick review activities, classroom games, and speaking practice.

Action +  write a Sentence Strip with Flashcards. Fold the word from each flashcard if you want and have students write a sentence for each card in Present Continuous.

Wrong Sentence Flashcards. Print the sentence slips. Have a student show the flashcard and you read the sentence slip. If it doesn’t match, have the class say the correct sentence: “No! She is gluing!” Perfect for grammar correction practice.

 “Act It Fast!” Game. Show one flashcard secretly to one student. Student acts the verb. Class says: “He is reading!”

Action Hunt Around the Classroom. Hide flashcards around the room. Students find one and say: “He is writing!” and writes the sentence on a mini whiteboard.

Match Game. Place the flashcards on the board. Hand in the sentence strips for the students to match.

The small cards are perfect for a variety of classroom games and practice activities.

Build the Sentence.  Give students the word cards: Pronouns,Verb cards,Objects.

Students build sentences: He is swinging on the swing.

Listen and Point. Place the small cards on the table. Say a sentence and have the students point to that card and repeat the sentence. You can fold the word to make it more challenging.

ctivity, students practice the spelling rules used when changing verbs to the present continuous (-ing) form. Place the three rule pockets on the table or board. Students take turns choosing a small verb card and placing it in the correct pocket according to the spelling rule.

The pockets should be prepared before the activity. You can use the Envelope method – Glue the printed pocket label onto a small envelope.

These worksheets allow students to practice grammar in a clear and meaningful context.

Write the Number.  Each picture shows an action in the present continuous. Students find the matching picture and write the correct number on the line.

Write the Verb Ending Match. First, complete the verbs by writing the correct –ing ending.

Then, draw a line to match each verb with the correct picture.

Present Continuous Word Search. Students find the words that can be horizontal, or vertical. When found a word, highlight or circle it in the word search.

What Are You Doing? Worksheet. Students read the sentences and answer.

Write the Question.

Students practice forming sentences in the present continuous tense.

Spelling Sorting – Present Continuous form of the verb. Students practice the spelling rules used to form verbs in the present continuous tense. They write each verb in the correct pocket according to the spelling pattern.

Write the Verbs. Students write the correct action verb in the space below.

These games encourage students to read, speak, match, and build sentences while reinforcing the vocabulary and actions presented in the unit.

Spin and Cover Game

Students play in pairs. One student spins the spinner using a paper clip and a brass fastener placed at the center of the wheel. The spinner will land on a picture that shows an action.

The student says the verb aloud. The other student looks at the verb list and covers the correct word with a small piece of paper. Students continue spinning and covering the verbs until all the actions are covered.

Sentence Association Matching Game

Print the classroom scene mat and the sentence strips. Students place each sentence on the correct part of the mat to match the action in the picture.

Students can work individually, in pairs, or in small groups.

Flap Book – Present Continuous

To wrap up the unit, students complete a fun interactive flap book. After coloring and assembling the booklet, they lift each flap to reveal a sentence written by them in the present continuous tense that describes the picture.

There is a Halloween section in the complete pack of the resource. Here is the blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/10/halloween-witch-actions-present.html

If you’re looking for more 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!

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How I Use Thematic Units to Teach Elementary ESL Students

 Teaching English Language Learners in elementary school can  feel overwhelming to plan meaningful, language-rich lessons every week. That’s exactly why I use thematic units in my classroom with all you need to write your lesson plan.

 You can explore the 10 thematic units here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elementary-ESL-Teaching-Units-EXPLORE-Bundle-10-Thematic-Units-14383276

My Elementary ESL Teaching Units- EXPLORE- Bundle, which includes 10 ready-to-use with minimal prep thematic units are designed specifically for elementary-age ELLs (typically grades 2–5).  These units are: transportation, town,farm, beach, routine verbs, weather, seasons, time,community helpers, adjectives.

This Bundle Supports Mixed Ability Levels. In one class, you might have newcomers alongside students who are ready for richer tasks. Thematic units allow you to differentiate easily—with visual supports, simple worksheets, and extension activities all in one place.

 Each unit includes:

Flashcards vocabulary cards for visuals and frequent review to introduce vocabulary. They are included in every unit to give students clear visual support, and make language practice interactive, hands-on, and easy to reuse throughout the lesson.

Transportation unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2024/12/transportation-flashcards-for.html

Small cards are included in each unit for hands-on practice, games, sorting, and sentence-building activities that encourage active student participation.

 town unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/03/town-small-cards-for-elementary-esl.html

Cutouts are included to promote hands-on learning through matching, sorting, and interactive language activities. Adjectives blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/06/adjectives-craft-stick-puppets-sorting.html

Worksheets help students reinforce vocabulary and language structures through guided, independent practice and review. Farm Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/04/hands-on-farm-vocabulary-activities.html

Engaging games for production in group or partner interaction.They are important in this resource because they keep students motivated while providing meaningful, repeated practice of language skills in a low-stress, engaging way.

Beach Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/05/beach-unit-games.html

Spelling activities are important because they help students connect sounds to letters, reinforce vocabulary, and build confidence in reading and writing English words.

Seasons Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2020/03/seasons-and-nature.html

Printable books to support thematic literacy. They give students a meaningful way to practice reading, vocabulary, and sentence structure while creating a take-home product they feel proud of. 

Transportation Unit Blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/02/transportation-layered-book-for.html

Holidays: Christmas.  The bundle includes themed units for popular holidays, helping students practice language through familiar, engaging celebrations and seasonal vocabulary.

Weather Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/12/christmas-snowglobes-numbers-120.html

Use the unit materials in centers where students can practice vocabulary through:

Matching games.  Telling the time blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2019/04/telling-time-for-esl-learners.html

Memory cards. Community helpers Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/07/community-helpers-jobs-and-occupations.html

Sentence Association. Routine Verbs unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/07/routine-verbs-small-cards-for-eslefl.html

Students rotate through activities.

There are add ons:

Activities focusing on numbers 1–20 help students develop counting skills, number recognition, and number vocabulary through visual, hands-on, and engaging practice that supports early math and language development. Farm Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/10/counting-120-cows-numbers-activities.html

Prepositions of location is also found in several units. It will help students understand how objects relate to each other in space (in, on, under, next to, etc.) through visual and hands-on practice. This is especially important for ELLs, as prepositions are challenging to learn and are best taught in context, supporting clearer sentence building, better comprehension, and more confident oral language use.

Beach Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/09/beach-prepositions-activities-with.html

Finally, Teaching tips to make planning easier and more effective. The 3ps lesson plans are ready to follow.

Follow me on Instagram for creative activities, classroom tips, and exclusive sneak peeks of my teaching resources! There Hands-on games and activities for young learners, freebies and more:   https://www.instagram.com/rosamelia_eslteacher/