Ages 11 to 18

Here’s an exercise to help pupils enrich their vocabulary: give each pair of pupils a page from a quality newspaper.

Each pair chooses a word or a phrase from the page that they think would be useful. The pairs then take it in turns to write their chosen words on the board.

Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes it in turn to choose one of the expressions on the board and to try and explain or use the words.

Award points for their responses.

At the end of the game the teacher uses the list to reinforce previous learning. For instance, teams could be asked to change a noun into a verb.

This makes sure that the new words are meaningful and appropriate for the pupils and that their new words may become part of their writing or speaking in an enjoyable and developmental way

Rosemary Westwell is a teacher in Cambridgeshire.