10 Cheap, Easy, and Useful Props for the ESL Classroom

It is very easy to fall into predictable patterns when teaching every day and sometimes a few simple props can make the difference between a ho-hum class and an exciting one. Every ESOL class should have these 10 props in the classroom to be grabbed and used as inspiration strikes! Many are dollar store items. Here is a list with a few possible ideas for use after each one:

Puppets! 

Students can make and use for describing, presenting and role-plays. Teachers can use for presenting dialogues and modeling activities.

Masks! 

Provided or students can create to show emotions and for characters for skits and plays and other dramatic activities. Teachers can do so as well.

Hats!

 These are simple props for sorting partners, for presentations, to designate teams, for role- plays and so on.

Colored index cards! 

Students can create many simple games like memory and then play them, they can be used for short writing activities or vocabulary work,’ to sort teams, for making beginning- outlines with different colors representing topic sentences and so on. So many uses!

Post-it notes of different sizes and colors! 

They are useful for practical vocabulary ‘labeling,’ as quick name or information or ‘role’ tags for students to wear, for ‘parking’ new words that come up or questions to be answered later and for grammar closes!

Old magazines! 

Collage work has so many possibilities alone! Students can use to create holiday cards, to present a topic or theme, for vocabulary work or for using grammar wrapped around specific images. The possibilities are endless.

Plastic food! 

Use it for count/non count noun work, ‘buying and selling’ work, describing or asking –about work, ordering practice and more.

Fake money!

 Learning about money vocabulary, money slang, counting, buying/selling and more.

Fly swatters! Use for team competitions to avoid physical jousting and arguments (swatter on the bottom is the winner!) Relay races! Vocabulary games! Phonetic work!

Realia, realia, realia! 

Text book items are simply not real and it makes a difference. Real menus, utensils, tools, cookware, photographs, documents, application forms, sale flyers, junk mail, holiday items and interesting knick-knacks from different cultures all spice up a class in many different ways!

Have fun!