Thanks to https://tefltastic.wordpress.com/ for the inspiration for this activity.
In this lesson plan students reform a jumbled story using dependent prepositions and other collocations as clues. Download the handout below:
Procedure
- Print enough copies for each group of students.
- Cut the text up and give a set to each group.
- If you’re working online, show the jumbled version below instead.
- Students work together to reform the story with the help of the dependent prepositions and collocations.
| My wife and I had been planning our trip to Japan for ages. Endless nights fantasising |
| about spending our honeymoon in one of the most spectacular countries on earth. We opted |
| for a small apartment in downtown Tokyo to get the authentic experience. When you’re weighing |
| up the different options, it’s worth bearing |
| in mind just how small the apartments in Japan are and the proximity to the other people around you can really catch you |
| off guard. We spent the first 5 days seeing the sights and experiencing everything the city had |
| to offer. However, we soon realised that we were running low |
| on funds and that we couldn’t afford |
| to spend any more time in such a pricey place. So we decided to head |
| for the hills and experience rural Japan. This turned out to be the by far the best decision we |
| made. We went on one hike to a hidden temple, it was so tranquil and was an unforgettable experience. |
Jumbled Version
| My wife and I had been planning our trip to Japan for ages. Endless nights fantasising |
| on funds and that we couldn’t afford |
| about spending our honeymoon in one of the most spectacular countries on earth. We opted |
| for the hills and experience rural Japan. This turned out to be the by far the best decision we |
| to offer. However, we soon realised that we were running low |
| off guard. We spent the first 5 days seeing the sights and experiencing everything the city had |
| for a small apartment in downtown Tokyo to get the authentic experience. When you’re weighing |
| in mind just how small the apartments in Japan are and the proximity to the other people around you can really catch you |
| to spend any more time in such a pricey place. So we decided to head |
| made. We went on one hike to a hidden temple, it was so tranquil and was an unforgettable experience. |
| up the different options, it’s worth bearing |
Recall Exercises
Use version 1 as immediate follow-up practice, then use version 2 in the next class or a week later to see how much they have retained.
Version 1
My wife and I had been planning our trip to Japan ….. ages. Endless nights fantasising ……. spending our honeymoon in one of the most spectacular countries on earth. We opted ….. a small apartment in downtown Tokyo to get the authentic experience. When you’re weighing ….. the different options, it’s worth bearing ….. mind just how small the apartments in Japan are and the proximity ……. the other people around you can really catch you …… guard. We spent the first 5 days seeing the sights and experiencing everything the city had …… offer. However, we soon realised that we were running low …… funds and that we couldn’t afford ….. spend any more time in such a pricey place. So we decided to head …… the hills and experience rural Japan. This turned …… to be the by far the best decision we …….. We went on one hike to a hidden temple, it was so tranquil and was an unforgettable experience.
Version 2
My wife and I had been planning our trip to Japan for …… Endless nights ………… about spending our honeymoon in one of the most spectacular countries on earth. We …… for a small apartment in downtown Tokyo to get the authentic experience. When you’re ……… up the different options, it’s worth ……… in mind just how small the apartments in Japan are and the ………. to the other people around you can really catch you off …….. We spent the first 5 days seeing the sights and experiencing everything the city …… to offer. However, we soon realised that we were running …… on funds and that we couldn’t ……. to spend any more time in such a pricey place. So we decided to ……. for the hills and experience rural Japan. This ……. out to be the by far the best ……… we made. We went on one hike to a hidden temple, it was so tranquil and was an unforgettable experience.
