Gardening Idioms

 If you’re an English teacher, language learner, or conversation club leader looking to bring some fun and idiomatic expressions into your lessons, you're in the right place!

I've created 20 conversation questions using gardening idioms—perfect for building vocabulary, encouraging thoughtful discussion, and adding some greenery to your classroom or study group.

Below, you’ll find all 20 questions. Each card features a question with an idiom and a simple explanation in brackets to help learners understand and use the idiom correctly.

Feel free to copy, print, or share these! Gardening cards

   

Tips for Using These Cards

• In the classroom: Use them for warm-ups, pair work, or group discussions.

• In conversation clubs: Perfect for sparking engaging dialogue and idiom practice.

The “Third Favourite” Game – Inspired by a Student

  

This idea came from one of my students who said she enjoys spending time with children because “they ask the most unusual questions.” One example she gave:
“What’s your third favourite thing?”

I loved the creativity and randomness of it so much that I turned it into a full set of questions! 

Why third favourite?
Because it skips the obvious answers and gets people thinking more deeply or unexpectedly. It’s fun, surprising, and often hilarious.

      

🎲 How to use this set:

• Great as an icebreaker with students, friends, or in team-building sessions

• Use it as a warm-up in language lessons or drama workshops

• Play it during road trips, family dinners, or game nights

• Try it in journaling or creative writing prompts

👥 How to play:

1. One person asks a “What’s your third favourite…” question.

2. The other has to answer without saying their first or second favourite.

3. Bonus: Ask why it’s their third – the reasoning is often the best part!

I've prepared 50 ready-to-use questions to get you started – from “What’s your third favourite pizza topping?” to “What’s your third favourite weird fact?” 

Help yourself to the set: 3rd fav

“Kind Words Kaleidoscope” – A Heartwarming Way to End the School Year

 

As another school year comes to a close, it’s important to create moments that leave lasting impressions—experiences that go beyond exams and textbooks, and remind students of the value of connection, kindness, and community. One of our favourite end-of-course traditions is an activity we lovingly call “Kind Words Kaleidoscope.”

What is “Kind Words Kaleidoscope”?

This simple yet powerful activity turns colourful sheets of paper into treasured keepsakes. At the start, each student receives a brightly coloured paper where they write their name and—if they like—decorate it with a frame or doodles that reflect their personality. The teacher also joins in, participating just like the students.

Then begins the main part: the papers are passed around, and every student writes something kind on everyone else's sheet. It could be a compliment, a shared memory, or a simple note about something they admire or appreciate in the person. Not sure what to say? A cheerful "Have a great summer!" works just fine too.

Once all the papers are complete, students get to read the collection of kind thoughts written just for them. The room quickly fills with smiles, laughter, and sometimes even a few happy tears.

Why It Matters

“Kind Words Kaleidoscope” isn't just a fun exercise—it's a celebration of the relationships that were built throughout the course. In a world that moves fast and often focuses on performance, pausing to recognize each other’s qualities helps reinforce self-esteem, empathy, and gratitude.

It also:

• Fosters a positive classroom atmosphere
  Students end the year feeling appreciated and included. It strengthens the sense of belonging and helps students part ways on a high note.

• Builds emotional awareness
  Writing kind words requires students to reflect on their classmates as individuals, noticing and valuing their unique qualities.

• Creates a lasting memory
  Many students keep their papers for years as reminders of the good times and kind words shared.

A Meaningful Conclusion

Ending a course with “Kind Words Kaleidoscope” reminds us all that learning isn't just about what’s in the books—it’s also about the people we learn with. As students head off into their summer holidays, they take with them not only knowledge, but a small paper full of warmth, kindness, and connection.

Because sometimes, the kindest words are the ones we didn't expect to read—but needed the most.

🎲 Roll & Speak: Turning Dice Into Dynamic Discussions

 Ever wish your speaking activities could spark more energy and creativity—with less prep time? Meet the Roll & Speak method: a low-tech, high-impact classroom strategy that transforms ordinary discussions into spontaneous, laughter-filled speaking marathons.

   

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🔧 How It Works

This activity blends structured spontaneity (yes, that's a thing) with student choice, critical thinking, and just enough silliness to break the ice.

1. Students get a topic — It could be light (“Pineapple on pizza?”), deep (“Can money buy happiness?”), or imaginative (“What if animals could talk?”).

2. They roll a six-sided die — And whatever number they get determines how they must talk about the topic.

For example:

🎲 Roll                               Task
1	Explain your opinion clearly
2	Give 3 reasons in favour
3	Give 3 reasons against
4	What would your grandma say?
5	Make a comparison
6	Tell a story

Suddenly, “Should students wear uniforms?” becomes a platform for debate, drama, and even impersonations (depending on your dice tasks).

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🧠 Why It Works

This isn’t just fun—it’s smart pedagogy in disguise. Here's why:

• Cognitive Flexibility: Changing the speaking mode with each roll helps students think from different perspectives.

• Spoken Fluency: Students produce extended language output under playful pressure, which boosts fluency.

• Critical Thinking: They analyze, argue, and reflect—not just talk.

• Social Skills: Polite disagreement? Active listening? Empathy? It's all baked in.

• Motivation: Add the unpredictability of dice, and you've gamified speaking without sacrificing substance.

In short, it's where gamification meets communication strategy training.

Here you have some 7 cards: SAMPLE
The whole set of 30 (soon there will be more) is available for 25zl. 

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Story Dice – A Fun and Creative Writing Activity for Any Classroom

Looking for a way to spark your students’ imagination and make writing exciting? Try using story dice – simple picture dice (or cards) that inspire spontaneous storytelling. This engaging method works well across age groups and can be adapted for language arts, ESL classes, or even as a warm-up for creative writing.

How does it work?

The activity is flexible, collaborative, and full of surprises. Here's one classroom-friendly approach:

1. Introduction
   Display a random set of story dice (or visual prompt cards) on the board. Students work in pairs or small groups.

2. The Beginning
   Each group selects two images and writes the beginning of a story based on them.

3. The Middle
   After a few minutes, students pass their stories to another group. A new set of three images is shown, and the new group continues the story using those prompts.

4. The Ending
   After another swap, the final group adds a conclusion, inspired by a final selection of images.

5. Sharing
   All stories are read aloud to the class. Expect plenty of laughter, surprises, and unique twists!

To make the experience even more engaging, you can bring students’ stories to life with AI-generated images.

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Why is this activity worth trying?

Here are just a few benefits of writing with story dice:

• ✍️ Boosts creativity – Students explore unusual combinations and ideas freely.

• 🧩 Encourages logical storytelling – They must connect unrelated prompts into a cohesive narrative.

• 🤝 Fosters teamwork – Group writing builds communication and collaboration.

• 🧱 Reinforces story structure – Beginning, middle, and end are naturally practiced.

• 🎤 Improves oral expression – Reading stories aloud builds confidence and speaking fluency.

• 📖 Makes writing fun – Students see writing as a game rather than a chore.

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This low-prep, high-energy activity brings joy, imagination, and a sense of play into the writing process. All you need is a set of picture prompts and a classroom full of curious minds!

Saying Goodbye to Summer — and Building Stronger Connections

 As the school year draws to a close and summer stretches out ahead of us, it's the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with our students. This year, I created a simple but meaningful worksheet titled "Bye Summer, Hello School" to guide our last lesson together.

It’s more than just a fun activity — it’s a bridge between seasons, a way to celebrate growth, and a gentle reminder of the importance of relationships in education.

Why Focusing on Relationships Matters

In the rush of curriculum goals and end-of-year testing, it’s easy to overlook the heart of teaching: relationships. Research consistently shows that when students feel connected to their teachers and peers, they are more motivated, resilient, and successful.
The end of the year is a powerful moment to show students that they are seen, valued, and heard — not just for their academic achievements, but for who they are becoming as people.

By asking students to reflect on their best memories, their growth, and their gratitude, we encourage them to see themselves as active participants in their own learning journey. It’s an opportunity to celebrate progress over perfection, effort over outcomes.

A Conversation Worth Having

One of the most meaningful parts of the worksheet invites students to write about:

• Their best memories

• What they’re proud of

• Their summer plans and goals

• Thank-you notes to their teachers

Taking the time to sit with students and talk through these reflections can be incredibly impactful. It reminds them that their voice matters — and it reminds us why we do what we do.

Even a five-minute conversation can affirm a student's sense of belonging and hope for the future. And that might be the most important lesson they carry into summer break.

More Ideas to End the Year with Heart

If you want to extend the spirit of reflection and celebration, here are a few more ideas:
🌟 Memory Jar: Have each student write a favorite memory from the year on a slip of paper, then read them aloud together.
🌟 Gratitude Circle: Sit in a circle and take turns sharing one thing you're grateful for this school year.
🌟 Future Letters: Let students write a letter to their future selves about their dreams for the next year — seal them up and return them on the first day back.
🌟 Class Awards: Create fun, personalised awards celebrating each student's unique strengths (e.g., "Most Creative Thinker," "Kindness Champion").

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In the end, it’s not just about saying goodbye to school and hello to summer — it’s about pausing to say, "You mattered. Your year mattered. You matter."

Because strong relationships don’t end when the school year does — they build a foundation for everything to come.

Here's the worksheet: Bye school, hello summer

Let’s Talk Negotiation! 30 Free Idioms to Boost Speaking Skills

 

As many of you know — I absolutely love idioms, and I love getting my students talking even more! That’s why I’ve put together a set of 30 idiom cards all related to the topic of negotiation. These cards are perfect for speaking activities, pair work, or even role-plays. And yes — they’re completely free to download as a PDF!

   

Why teach idioms through speaking?

🧠 Because idioms bring language t

o life!
💬 Because speaking builds confidence and fluency.
🎯 And because learners remember more when they use the language, not just study it.

Tips for using the idiom cards:

• Ask students to explain idioms in their own words.

• Encourage them to give real-life examples.

• Use the discussion questions to spark debate and storytelling.

• Mix the idioms into role-plays, business scenarios, or mock negotiations.

Idioms are everywhere in English — especially in business and negotiation contexts. By teaching them in a fun, conversational way, we’re helping learners sound more natural, understand more, and express themselves more clearly.

👉 Click below to download your free PDF of 30 negotiation idiom cards – ready to print or share digitally.
Free cards