The fastest animal

Level: elementary +

Aim: To revise superlative adjectives and names of animals.

Resources: a whiteboard and sheets of paper

Time: 30 45 minutes

Note: This activity works best if the students are already familiar with various
names of animals and know the rules of forming superlatives.

Stage 1

1. Ask the students to provide examples of adjectives. You can ask each
student who gave a proper example to come to the whiteboard and
provide their answers. Ensure that by the end of this stage there are
plenty of adjectives that can describe animals (e.g. long, big,
dangerous). If your students dont produce the right adjectives you
can help them by miming the necessary words.
2. Next, tell the students to form the superlative forms of the given
adjectives. Ask them which of the words could be used to describe
animals.

Stage 2

1. Divide the students into small groups and ask them to write down as
many examples of animals as they can. Give each group a certain
area of research e.g. jungle, home or on a farm. Give the students a
limited amount of time to do this.
2. Next ask one person from each group to read their ideas; other
students can add their examples.
3. Now, ask the students individually to write four questions concerning
animals by using the adjectives from the board e.g.

What is the fastest animal?

What is the longest animal?
What is the most dangerous animal?
What is the smallest animal?

Provide examples to ensure the students understand what is required.

4. Next, tell the students that they are going to find out the answers to
their questions and find out some information about animals. The
students should move around the classroom and ask four people to
answer their questions. They should write the answers on their sheets
of paper. While theyre doing this, monitor their speaking and correct
errors.

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2005

Taken from the Lesson Share section in www.onestopenglish.com
Stage 3

1. Draw the chart below on the board and include the superlatives elicited
in stage 1. Ask the students to read their questions and the answers
theyve been given.
2. Compare the answers for the same questions if three students asked
about the biggest animal, what were the answers? What animal was
mentioned most frequently? T
3. Ask students to complete the chart on the board by writing the name of
animal that won.

the biggest animal

the fastest animal
the longest animal
the smallest animal

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2005

Taken from the Lesson Share section in www.onestopenglish.com