A Christmas Crossword (A2+)

Objective & content

A Christmas crossword of 14 words, under a strip of real photos: things on the tree, Christmas food, Santa's world and winter. Each clue is a short definition in simple English, with the number of letters ("One of Santa's small helpers. He makes toys. (3)"). Pupils read the definitions, find the words and spell them in the grid. Page 1 is the pupil page; page 2 is the teacher page, with the solved grid and the list of answers.

Pedagogical guide

The definitions do the teaching: pupils read and understand explanations in English, a useful skill in itself. The number of letters helps them choose between close words: the answer is PRESENT, not GIFT, and SLEIGH, not SLED. A few words name the subject and are above the level on purpose (stocking, cracker, chimney, tinsel, sleigh): pupils read and write them here, but they are not asked to use them in a sentence. The crossword works alone or in pairs, and it is a calm activity after a noisier game.

Suggested procedure

1. (2 min) Look at the photos together. Pupils say any Christmas words they already know.
2. (12 to 15 min) Pupils complete the crossword alone or in pairs.
3. (3 min) Check: say a clue number; a pupil says the word and spells it.

Adaptations

[S] Write the 14 answers on the board in a random order, as a word bank.

[A] Pupils write their own definition of a Christmas word that is not in the grid, and a partner guesses the word.

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of page 1 per pupil, in colour or in black and white; keep page 2 for yourself. Pencils.