Teaching tips and ideas

Resources created in this area by English Language Partners New Zealand are freely available.
Please acknowledge the source when using our resources.

Moving an item (eg. stick figure, household item, car, etc) in a PowerPoint or Word doc

ELP teacher Anna Abbey shares her useful tip for online teaching. Many thanks for your idea Anna!

First view the video demonstrating how Anna delivered the class activity

How to move a stick figure

  1. Open a new Powerpoint or Word document
  2. Copy and paste in a house image or any image that suits your topic (stock images available online, you may encounter a download fee)
  3. Drop in your stick figure (Find the stick figure online)
  4. Right mouse click on your stick figure and select the Wrap text option from the dropdown menu
  5. Select Through as your text wrapping option
  6. Then click on your stick figure to move him around during the online lesson

Homework activity

Anna’s notes

  • Use powerpoint. I find this much easier (than Word), as you can switch between slides. For example, one slide has the names of the rooms. The next slide with the stick figure doesn’t, so students have to remember the names.
  • Text wrapping is also important because it’s much easier to change the size and move it around properly. With text wrapping as Through any background automatically cuts out so you don’t need to do any further editing.  And you may want to select Through as the text wrapping option for the house/image you choose as well. This makes it easier to resize.

Internet resource suggestions: Using YouTube
Suggestions for using YouTube clips such as Mr Bean, recipes and adverts to teach

Short films on YouTube
A list of useful short films with a brief description of each film. Also ideas for activities for using film to teach English.

Recipes: A sample lesson plan for using YouTube recipe clips (PDF)
A lesson plan for using video clips about two recipes; Banana Bread and Beef Osso bucco.

Interacting with the internet
Ideas for using websites to teach English, google maps, google translate, Pinterest, supermarket and job sites etc. Also a list of useful websites.

Legend: Lesson plan for using TV advert about drink-driving in New Zealand.
Includes discussion activities, a cloze worksheet, and activities with a focus on Kiwi slang.

20 resources you already have
Tips for using everyday resources, e.g. the phone book, junk mail, food etc.

Design a worksheet using WORD
Useful tips for desiging, layout, inserting pictures etc using Microsoft WORD.