When teaching grammar to young learners online, drills can get dull fast. These activities turn sentence structure practice into something fun, interactive, and memorable — perfect for Zoom or other video platforms.

1. Role-Play Switch — Turn the Tables on Grammar Practice

Let the student play both roles in a Q&A exchange. You start by asking the target question, they answer. Then swap so they ask and you answer — with a twist.

Example:

• Teacher: “What’s this?”

• Student: “It’s a ruler.”

• Student: “What’s this?”

• Teacher: “It’s a banana with sunglasses.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Use humor or surprising answers to boost engagement.

• If the student struggles to ask the question, write it in the chat for reference.

• Vary the props or images you show to keep the game fresh.

2. Picture Prompt Stories — From Images to Sentences

Show an image that fits your grammar target and have students describe it using the correct structure. You can build the scene complexity over time.

Example:
(Show a picture of a boy wearing a red shirt and blue pants)

• Student: “He’s wearing a red shirt and blue pants.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Choose images with multiple details so you can ask follow-up questions.

• Use online tools like Google Slides to quickly swap pictures.

• Encourage students to add “and” or “but” for longer sentences once they are confident.

3. Find Someone Who (1-on-1 Edition) — Interview and Report Back

Adapt the classic classroom game for online learning. The student “interviews” you, their toys, or imaginary characters, using the target sentence starter. They then “report” their findings.

Example:

• Student: “Do you have a dog?”

• Teacher: “Yes, I do.” / “No, I don’t.”

• Student: “My teddy has a dog. You don’t have a dog.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Let students use toys or objects around them to make it more playful.

• Keep answers short and simple at first, then gradually expand.

• Encourage them to report using full sentences to reinforce grammar.

4. Sentence Transformation Game — Change and Create

Give a simple base sentence. The student changes one word or phrase each time to make a new, correct sentence.

Example:

• Teacher: “It’s a red pen.”

• Student: “It’s a green pen.”

• Teacher: “It’s a green pencil.”

• Student: “It’s a blue book.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Start with one variable (e.g., only change the color) before adding more complexity.

• Use real objects or pictures to make it concrete.

• Keep the pace quick to build fluency.

5. Zoom Background Q&A — Immersive Virtual Scenes

Change your Zoom background to a relevant scene (farm, classroom, park). Students ask questions about what they see using the target structure.

Example: (Farm scene background)

• Student: “Where’s the cow?”

• Teacher: “It’s in the field.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Choose backgrounds that are not too cluttered so students can focus on the target items.

• Zoom’s virtual background works best with good lighting and a plain wall.

• Prepare a few questions in advance to model the activity.

6. Correct the Teacher — Make Mistakes on Purpose

Say an incorrect sentence about a picture or object. The student must correct you using the correct structure.

Example: (Show a picture of a dog)

• Teacher: “It’s a cat.”

• Student: “No, it’s a dog.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Exaggerate your mistakes to make it more fun.

• Occasionally make a correct statement to keep students on their toes.

• Use funny voices or silly expressions to hold attention.

7. Action Camera — Act It Out in Real Time

Act out an action live on camera, and have the student describe it using the target structure. Then let them act while you guess.

Example:

• Teacher pretends to eat.

• Student: “You’re eating.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Use big, clear gestures so students can see them easily on screen.

• Choose actions that match your unit vocabulary (e.g., farm animals → “The cow is jumping”).

• Switch roles often to keep them active.

8. Mystery Sentence — Guess the Missing Word

Write a target sentence on the board but hide one word. The student asks yes/no questions until they guess it.

Example:

• Teacher writes: “He’s wearing a ___ hat.”

• Student: “Is it red?”

• Teacher: “Yes, it is.”

Tips for Teachers:

• Use the Zoom whiteboard or hold a small whiteboard up to the camera.

• Give clues if the student gets stuck to keep the game moving.

• Turn it into a points game for extra motivation.