Push the envelope!

Push the envelope in terms of sentence structures with your students.  Do they always give you sentences that are 4-5 words in length?

The roll of the dice will soon change that! 

My students know that when a pair of dice is put on the table that there will be some serious thinking involved!!  and some fun too!  :)   All students must create a sentence with the number of words that is shown for the number on the dice when rolled. I set my cell phone timer and they must write, write, write.  Just when they think they are getting the hang of it all, I throw an additional dice onto the table, and another the next round and another and another.   Soon, the students are combining long sentences together in order to reach the number thrown on the dice.  If the group is lucky the student throwing the dice throws low numbers, if not, the students are trying to make crazy sentences!!  Today, one group had to try to make a sentence with 40 words.  Yes, that's not very practical, nor is it good French, but it gets the students to pull words out of their heads that they had forgotten were in there!  

Afterwards, each student shared their favourite sentence (not the shortest one, nor the longest) aloud with the class.  This was my opportunity to help with pronunciation and correction of sentence structures and vocabulary usage.  I am always amazed at what they can put together.  :) Give it a try!