In the Text Scramble ESL activity, students have to organise the sentences of a text into the correct order.
Setup
You will need to find a suitable text to scramble. The level of your class and your target language should influence this choice.
If you have an Internet connection and a projector, use our online Text Scrambler. Otherwise, print/photocopy multiple copies of the text, one for each student or pair of students. Then, cut each text into sentences and shuffle the sentences.
Alternatively, get your students to write a text beforehand. They can then cut their text up themselves and swap their sentences with a partner- no preparation required!
Activity
- Project the sentences using our online Text Scrambler, or give the students the shuffled sentences.
- The students organise the sentences into what they think is the correct order.
- When they have finished, go through the text with them, asking for their order and justifications, and encouraging discussion.
Note: If your students created their own text and swapped it with a partner, the students work with that partner to check the order. If the texts don’t match, students should offer feedback and explain why they think their order makes more sense.
Target Language
Use the Text Scramble ESL activity to review any type of grammar, simply by selecting an appropriate text. The same applies for student level. For more advanced students, why not try pasting in a current news story to our Text Scrambler?
Many students have problems organising their thoughts and structuring their writing, and this will help them develop those skills. One specific example is letter-writing, and this activity is commonly used to practise the organisation and formatting of a formal letter (such as a cover letter).
Got a picture or video of this activity in action? How about snapping one next time you use it? We'd love to showcase your submissions- find out more here.