Just For Fun

Teacher's Guide

Overview

Here are some activities that your students can do just for the fun of using and learning English.

Students can access all the Internet sites for the Interactive Activities by going to the ECB On-line homepage, clicking on Students' Centre and again on Interactive Activities links. The links to the Internet sites are listed under the names of the activities.

Level

Intermediate and Proficiency (Grades 7-11)

Time

One 45-minute lesson

Group Size

Individual or pairs

Procedure

  • Brainboosters - Read a brain twister and see if you can find the answer.
  • Top of the Charts - Find out what the most popular songs and musical artists are in the UK right now.
  • Internet Shopping - If you're looking to buy something on the Internet where do you shop? Is the online shop reliable and cheaper? Look at a few online shops and compare.
  • Unexplained Mysteries - Read about an unexplained mystery and report it to the class. Do you believe it?
  • Be Safe in a Cyber Romance - Read about cyberspace romance and decide what is the right thing to do when you meet someone in Cyberspace.
  • Crime and Teenagers - Read an article about teenagers who committed a crime. What was their punishment? Was it just?

Just for Fun – Activity 1: Brainbooster

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Just for Fun
  • Use the Internet sites to help you.

Go to the Internet siteBrainboosters.

  1. Choose Word and Letter Play. Click on - Animals in hiding

Find the animal names in each sentence.

Write them here.

______

  1. Choose Reasoning. Click on The Barbershop Puzzle.

Where did the traveler go for his haircut and why?

______

  1. Choose Reasoning. Click on Puzzling Relations.

How were George and Dan related?

______

  1. Choose Logic. Click on Line Up

In what order were the people standing in line to buy ice cream?

______

Read some more Brainboosters. Select your favorite and share it with the class. Can anyone in your class answer it?

Just for Fun – Activity 2: Top of the Charts

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Just for Fun
  • Use the Internet sites to help you.

Go to the Internet siteBBC - Radio 1.Fill in the missing information.

Today's date is:
The number one song this week (TW) is:
The name of the band or singer is:
Last week (LW) this song was number ______on the chart.
How many weeks (Wks) has this song been on the chart?
List first three songs and their artists on the chart this week. / Song / Artist

Do you know any of the songs above? ______

If yes, do you like it? ______

How many people in your class know this song and artist too? ______

How many like the song? ______

Just for Fun – Activity 3: Internet Shopping

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Just for Fun
  • Use the Internet sites to help you.

You can find anything online, but where? Go to Internet site: Shopsafe.co.uk.

Choose the categories below and complete the chart. You may need to scroll the screen.

Which shop do you think is the most reliable? ______

Have you every bought anything online? Yes / No

If yes, describe what you bought, from which site was it much cheaper than buying it from a regular shop?

Just for Fun – Activity 4: Unexplained Mysteries

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Just for Fun
  • Use the Internet sites to help you.

Go to the Internet site The Why? Files

Choose one of the unexplained mysteries and write a summary of the report. Use the following questions to guide you.

  1. Where was the article published?
  1. When was the article published?
  1. Who saw the mysterious object?
  1. How did the people who saw the strange object describe it?
  1. What are the opinions about the mysterious objects?
  1. Do you believe it happened?

Just for Fun – Activity 5: Be Safe in a Cyber Romance

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Just for Fun
  • Use the Internet sites to help you.

Go to the Internet site Cyberdating How to have fun, but stay safeto find out how to cyber date safely.

1. Read the sub-headings. (the bolded text).

Put a () tick next to the statements below that are true about safe cyberdating.

____ All people are truthful. Believe everything you read online.

____ Do not give out personal information online, such as your full name, where you live or phone number.

____ If you like the person after your first email, meet him/her. Don't take your time - rush into things.

____ Describe yourself as who you would like to be. Honesty isn't always the best policy.

____ When you do meet, do it with a friend and in a very public place.

____ Tell a friend when and where you are going to meet your cyber date.

2. Pick one statement above that is true. Why this is an important rule to follow?

3. Pick one statement above that is false. Why this is a dangerous?

Just for Fun – Activity 6: Crime and Teenagers

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Just for Fun
  • Use the Internet sites to help you.

Choose one of the articles from the CBBC:

  • Terror teens named and shamed
  • 'Terror triplets' walk free from court
  • Mobile phone thief gets four years

Answer the questions.

The article I read was: ______

  1. What are the names and ages of the crimimal(s)?
  1. What was the crime?
  1. Where did the crime take place? ______
  1. Did he/she/they go to jail? Yes / No
  1. If yes, how long did he/she/they go to jail for? ______
  1. If no, what punishment did he/she/they get? ______
  1. Do you believe these criminal(s) should go to jail for this crime? Yes/No
  1. Why do you think this?