Complete the following template with appropriate key words, symbols or definitions for a topic. Copy the handout onto card and cut around the dotted lines. You may wish to laminate the cards for future use:

Template: Card Sort

Students can divide the key words into two groups, using the following grid:

Template: Card Sort Grid

Complete the following template with appropriate sentences, or parts of sentences, relevant to a topic. Copy the handout onto card and cut around the dotted lines. You may wish to laminate the cards for future use:

Template: Sentence Sort

Display the task for the starter on an interactive whiteboard or an overhead projector (OHP), or provide guidance on the slides, for students to refer to throughout the activity:

Template: Presentation

It is often useful to display flashcards as part of a starter. These can be part of a presentation (eg using some of the symbols from the file below), or the slides in the presentation can be printed out, enlarged to A3 size, and copied onto card. You could laminate them for future use:

Template: Flashcards

Display the following slide on an interactive whiteboard or an overhead projector. Alternatively, print the slide onto an overhead transparency, or print it out for each group of students. The key word can be placed in the middle of the circle, as a prompt to stimulate ideas on the topic.

Template: Brainstorm

For these activities, you will need a card for every student in the class:

• Give every student a card at random. Choose one student to read out what is on their card. Ask students who have a card with the same word or the corresponding definition to raise a hand or stand up. Repeat until all words and definitions have been used.
• Shuffle the cards and then distribute one card to every student in the class. Ask students to walk around the classroom until they find someone with a corresponding word or definition. This pair then has to find other pairs with a different key word and definition. The winning group is the first to be made up of ten students, each with a different word or definition. You may wish to distribute the full sheet at the end for them to check their answers.

For this activity, you will need a set of cards for every group/pair. You may wish to ensure they are copied onto thicker card so that it is not possible to see the writing through the back of the card when turned face down.

The groups/pairs place their set of cards face down on a table. The first student turns one card over, and then a second card; if the second card belongs with the first, the student picks the cards up and keeps them as a pair. If not, both cards are replaced where they were, face down. The student who collects the most pairs is the winner.

For this activity, every student will need a set of cards.

Students should arrange the cards into two columns: the key words in the left column, and the corresponding definitions on the right. They may wish to fit them into a grid, as provided above.