Hey guys, hope all is well. I just got done doing a lesson that I thought up and it went amazingly well, not one student was sleeping. Even better it requires ZERO technology/computer help. Here is what you do

Cut out cards with the alphabet on them, 1 letter = 1 card

I put them in a bag and had each group select 2 cards. (I have 6 tables with about 6-7 students each...so basically 12 letters...sometimes they need an extra vowel or 2 to help so I give them an A, E etc if necessary.)

Write all the letters down on the board, then tell them they have X amount of time to make as many words as possible from ALL the letters not just the ones they picked. I have them pick letters at the beginning so that they essentially choose which letters they all will use; just a fun little game to get them interested. I usually give some candy to the team that creates the most words.

Then have them pick 1 word from their list and use that word as the subject for a dialouge. Have them start a dialouge for 2 people BUT for now only write 1 sentence.

When they finish their 1 sentence tell them to pass their papers clockwise to the next group, this group will write the next piece of dialouge. (they usually get surprised at this part depending on what their sentence was haha. Also I suggest waiting for ALL groups to finish then telling them to pass at the same time. Much easier to keep on eye on everything and to keep things organized)

Continue having them pass their papers clockwise until each group receives their original paper back. By this time for me that = 6 sentences. I then let the group add a 7th sentence and end the dialouge any way they please.

I tell them "Ok now 2 people from each group, come up and act out your script!" This illicits A LOT of laughter and groaning which is quite fun. Then I offer the brave 2 students from each group some candy or something to reward them.

The students had TONS of fun with this so far, and they tell me how much they love it. This takes an entire class period easily.

You know your students so if you need to tell them " no bad words, no insulting other students etc be sure to do that. I have 2 classes where I had to give a warning about that and they shaped up after it

Try it and let me know how it works for you! 

I'm sorry for some stupid questions, I am a little confused.

You give a group of 6 students, 2 letters, and they have to come up with as many words as possible with those 2 letters? OR, all groups work together, combining letters?

Sadly my high schoolers can not write sentences, but I can see me modifying the first part.

Ehhhh sorry my bad I should have specified ill go back and change it. After each group picks their letters write all of the letters on the board, so for me it's 12 plus me adding a few extra vowels in case they were unlucky and didn't pick more than 1. Then every group makes as many words as they can out of all the letters on the board; not just the ones they picked. I allow them to reuse the same letter in 1 word, Dad for example has 2 D's and I tell them using the same letter twice is fine.

Nice idea

this looks really fun, great idea! 

my HS students have mid-terms coming up around the end of the month, will most likely do it around then as something fun for them to do 

Ditto! That's next week's classes sorted!
Thanks for that! Really nice idea.

wonderful indeed; thank you.

Tried it out yesterday with second grade HS and they really liked it. It also took a lot longer than I had initially expected it to!

Thanks again for the idea.

So the whole idea is to create X dialogues where X = number of groups u make in class?

And the sentences in the dialogues they make will all have the same vocabulary words?
i.e. If I make 5 groups then -
group 1 make the word dog
group 2 make the word heat
group 3 make the word option
group 4 make the word want
group 5 make the word jump

Sentence 1 in every dialogue will have the word dog in it? Sentence 2 will have the word heat and so on?

This activity seems great! From the pool of letters they picked from, how many total were there in? Did you repeat the alphabet twice and make 52 letters. If they picked the same letter twice did you have them keep it or pick another one since they can use any letter twice and having two of the same letters is redundant?

Looks great. I am a HUGE fan of non powerpoint lesson. thanks