INFORMATION

ESOL Student Level: High Beginner+

Purpose:

• To develop trust between class members so they can more easily share some of their other creative work.
• To provide a creative activity that is linked to writing; to help students get their "creative juices flowing".
• To develop writing fluency in a fun way.

MATERIALS

• One roll of strong two-ply toilet paper or adding machine paper per group of students (usually 2-3 students works best).
  
  
• A variety of pens/writing materials.
  
  
• A large, flat, dry surface (eg. many long tables, a gym floor, hallway, etc.).
  
  

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Brainstorm vocabulary / phrases / topics pertaining to a certain area of interest or a recent class experience or .....?
   
   
2. Divide students into small groups. Each group of students receives one roll of paper with access to whatever writing implements are available.
   
   
3. The class gets a set amount of time (5, 10, 15 minutes) and told to fill up as much of the paper as they possibly can with writing. Encourage students to develop creative strategies for filling in maximal writing space. (Optional: give a few minutes for strategizing / discussion before the writing begins.)
   
   
4. And the winner is... the group with the most "yardage", of course! (Blank squares are subtracted.)
   
   
5. Debrief with students exchanging ideas on successful strategies for working in a group toward a common goal.
   
   
6. Award prizes or certificates for various humorous categories (optional, but fun!).