There are a variety of group activities appropriate for an English class.
In classrooms across the United States, the average English class delves into a variety of different topics. Lesson plans range from those about literature to grammar and punctuation as well as days focused solely on discussion and use of the English language. There are many ways to incorporate group activities into these lesson plans.
Newspaper Assignment
This group activity is a great combination of a variety of English skills. In an English class where students have recently read a novel, have the class divide into groups to create their own newspaper page from the events in the novel. This will help students not only develop their writing skills and presentation skills, but also encourage them to think critically about a piece of literature and to analyze its contents.
Letter Writing
Another aspect often included in English courses is the art of letter writing. Students must learn compose a professional letter, and one way to help them do this is to have them create a letter in a group setting. It is important for teachers to keep students interested, and group activities should often have an element of fun and creativity to them. In order to do this, have the students divide into groups and have them write a letter nominating their favorite singer or songwriter for a Grammy Award.
News Reporting Analysis
One of the best ways for students to enhance their knowledge of the English language --- including grammar and punctuation --- is to have them read the newspaper. Students can divide into groups and each analyze a current event news article. Have the students discuss the wording of the article, why the reporter wrote it the way he did and even have the students go one step further to discuss news values and bias in the media.
Poem Analysis
For an English class that is studying poetry as well, having the students work in groups to analyze a poem is a great way to introduce them to the art of critical thinking. Have the students form groups and break down a classic poem, deciding in their own groups what they think the poem means. At the end of the group analysis session, have each group present their findings and explain how they came to their conclusions.
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