A Favorite Xmas Lesson
Gift giving, even the "imaginary" kind can work wonders in the language classroom
There are many ways to celebrate the holidays with your students: face to face lessons or online. But one I’ve always turned to involves gift giving.
[See our Gift of the Magi Lesson Resources »>]
This time of year is a great opportunity to celebrate your class and togetherness. One way I’ve always done that is to get students giving “make believe” gifts to each other and showing appreciation. Here’s how I do it (but you certainly can do it in many other ways!).
Cut up some typical gifts from a paper flyer or catalog. Bring them to class. Write on the board a typical holiday greeting like, “Hey ________! Merry Christmas! Here is a little gift I got you. Thank you for …..!”
Go around, following this general script and give the paper gifts to students. Or if teaching online - show the picture, so all can see. Have fun with this!
Next, give students this template (or see these prepared pictures). Students choose a classmate and write out what they’ll say and draw the item they want to give.
Monitor students, correction, encouraging as necessary. Check that all students are getting presents! If not, prepare some yourself for students left out or ask other students to make a gift for them.
Gift Giving. Everyone gets up and mingles, using their English, saying thanks and giving each other “imaginary” gifts.
Wrapping up. Ask Ss what they got and discuss, laugh and ask follow up questions about their gifts. How will you use the gift? What do you think about it? Etc …
It’s a great holiday lesson!
Happy holidays to everyone! The present IS the present.
