Grass skirt - a practice activity for any grammar point

This is an endlessly adaptable grammar practice activity for any level of ESL learners from pre-intermediate upwards. Just make up some prompts that lend themselves to the grammar structure that you want to practice. Print them up on some brightly-coloured paper and make cuts in the paper so that each prompt can be pulled off separately.

For example, here I wanted to practice modal verbs of deduction (could have, might have, must have, can't have):

The louder the colours, the more fun it is.

Model an example on the board and specify how many sentences you want them to write. For example:

My manager looks very tired.

• He must have been working all day.
• He might not have slept very well.
• He can't have had a break today.

Give each group of 3-4 students a grass skirt. You can blu-tack it to the edge of a desk, onto the wall near each group, or on the wall on the other side of the classroom if you want them to be running backwards and forwards. Instruct the students that you have to OK their sentences before they can get the next prompt. You can have each group appoint a writer, or require every student in the group to write one sentence.

This one is for past perfect.

The first group to get through all the prompts wins the game. You can adapt this for almost any grammar structure and it works with both young learners and adults.

Do you use any variations on this or have another favourite grammar practice activity?