Grab Bag

Here is a fun and easy activity to help your language learning students practice using describing words or adjectives.

1. Gather several bags of many sizes. The bags should be opaque so students cannot see through them. I usually can find fun bags in the dollar section of Target or you might check at your local dollar store.
2. Gather items from around your classroom, school, or home. Be sure the items can fit comfortably inside a bag. You will need one item per bag. Try to find items that have interesting textures.
   Here are the items I used: teddy bear, keys, plastic fork, roll of toliet paper, toy car
3. Label each bag with a number for easy identification.
4. Prepare a simple T chart. I like to create a digital version like this one or you can use an online version like this one. One side should be labeled "It is" and the other side should be labeled "It has."
5. I like to lay some basic ground rules for this activity because students get excited and can get silly. Here are my rules that we go over before starting.
6. Now it is time for the fun! Pick a bag to start with. One at a time, students will reach their hand into the bag to feel the object inside. They will think of one adjective to describe the object. Students will need to decide which side of the T chart their adjectives belongs. You could do this part several ways. I like to have students come up to the computer and type their adjectives in the appropriate box. You could also have them write their adjectives on sticky notes and add to a paper chart or digital chart projected on a screen. The student then has to read their sentence. Examples: It is furry. It has a tail. I also like to have students make the T chart on paper or on white boards to help keep track of ideas.
7. After all students have had a turn, as a group you should review all the adjectives. Tell students that these are all clues to help them figure out what is inside. Students will then write a sentence telling what they think is inside the bag. Ex: I think there is a bear inside the bag.
8. Finally, we open the bag and see who guessed correctly! The class goes wild and we have a good five minute chat about what we thought it was and why, if we were wrong or right and why, and the importance of adjectives to give us information.
9. If time, repeat with a new bag!

The students always have a great time with this lesson and it takes hardly any time at all to put together. This is one of my most requested activities. It is so simple to switch out the bags for new items. I thought for next time to have students bring in a secret object to share. How fun would that be! :D