Chalk and cheese

This activity looks at ways of making comparative forms by asking learners to

compare things that are usually thought of as opposites. It can be used to revise

structures or to present them as part of an inductive approach. It also encourages

learners to be creative. The activity would be suitable for an elementary to

intermediate level.

Procedure

Dictate the complete word pairs on the handout (pairs 1 – 5) to

learners. If they are low level give them time to check their spelling in

groups before moving on. Draw the learners’ attention to the opposites in

the pairs.

Give the handout to the learners, giving them time to check their

spelling again. Ask them to complete the next three pairs (numbers 6 – 8)

with their own ideas. Emphasise that there are many possible ways to

complete them. Discuss answers.

Ask learners to add one more pair of their own (number 9), and then

share that with the class. Other learners can choose one they like and add it

as number 10.

Use the first pair as an example. Write it on the board and ask

learners what the difference is between men and women . Elicit answers that

use comparative forms, for example:

o Men are stronger than women

o Women are more sensitive than men

Try to get at least one examples of –er than and one using

more_____ than.

Ask learners in groups to write sentences comparing the other things

in the pairs. Monitor for accuracy if this is one of your aims for the class.

Share ideas together. Ask learners to choose the best comparisons.

Chalk and cheese – Try - Activities © BBC | British Council 2007

As different as chalk and cheese

Here are the pairs your teacher dictated

1. Men and women

2. Love and hate

3. Love and money

4. Black and white

5. Whisky and water

Complete the word pairs below with your ideas

6. Fire and ________________

7. Seas and _______________

8. Mountains and ___________

Invent one more pair and also write down one you like from the class

9. __________ and __________

10. __________ and __________

Now write sentences comparing the things in each pair, for example:

Comparatives and superlatives through pictures

A short but fun way to revise comparatives and superlatives is to give students a

blank piece of paper and ask them to draw an easy to draw object, such as a star, a

tree, a flower or a house on it.

Once students have finished drawing their pictures ask the students

either as a class, or in small groups if the class is very large, to line up

according to the size of the object that they drew.

The student with the biggest star stands on the right and the student

with the smallest star stands on the left. Once the students are lined up

according to the size of their picture you can then ask them questions such

as;

o Who has got the biggest star?

o Who has got the smallest star?

o Is student X's star bigger or smaller than student Y's star?

o etc.

Variations on the same activity

If you get the students to line up in small groups, you can then get them to re-

group, with all the students with the smallest stars on one side of the classroom and

all the students with the biggest stars on another side of the classroom and all the

students with the second smallest stars on another side of the classroom etc.

If you ask students to draw a house you can ask them to draw a house with a front

door, two windows, a roof, a chimney etc, and after students have lined up

according to who has the biggest / smallest house, you can then get students to

work in pairs and compare their pictures to see who has the biggest or smallest

front doors etc.

With young learners you can get them to colour their stars and then pin them on

the wall according to the size of the stars and then get students to write sentences

on a piece of paper about their stars which they will pin on the wall under their

picture.

My star is the biggest star.

My start is bigger than John's star but smaller than Mary's star

etc.

This creates a nice display for all the class to read.

I heard about this activity on the first teacher training course I attended and have

used it repeatedly and have found that it is always popular with students and that

the activity works well with young learners, teens and adults.