Foolproof Fun Lesson Activities for April Fool's Day

Celebrated on 1 April every year, April Fool's Day is a tradition enjoyed by many around the world. And nothing helps an ESL class relax more than some good old-fashioned laughter. And isn't that what April Fool's Day is all about? On this day when so many take the time to play pranks, stage hoaxes, or execute practical jokes, give your ESL students the chance to join in the fun, and who knows? Maybe you’ll inspire them to play some pranks of their own. Remember, whatever you or your students come up with, the aim of a successful April Fool's inspired class is to encourage speaking, reading, vocabulary, and comprehension. With this in mind, here are some ideas for April Fool’s activities for your ESL class. Just remember to check whether your country plays pranks all day or until noon so that you're not the fool! Before launching into your lesson, a good place to start can be with comprehension mixed with a little information and history. With this resource, your students can learn more about April Fool's Day. Alternatively, build in some cultural exchange with this warm up activity asking whether there's something similar in your students' cultures, followed by expression opinions about different prank scenarios.

Fun April Fool's Day Activities

• For the phone smash prank, you'll need an accomplice and an old phone with a smashed screen. Catch your accomplice texting in class and take away their phone. Smash it on the floor in a rage and watch other students' looks of horror and shock.
• Stage a surprise spelling test, but all the words are nonsense
• As a variation on the spelling test, give genuine words but then spell them wrong when marking. Try keep a straight face as students start looking confused and question you while you try and convince them you're right.
• Call the Loof Lirpa Bird. This is great for young students. Spin them a story about a beautiful bird that comes to visit your class. Its favorite treat is a marshmallow. Students will hold out the treat and call "Loof Lirpa! Loof Lirpa!" Then, have them spell the bird's name backwards.

• Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
• A fool and his money are soon parted.
• Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
• A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.

Introduce these, or others, to your students and ask them to explain the message the phrase is trying to convey and to which situations these phrases may apply. Recommended for upper-intermediate to advanced students; however, there are plenty of other shorter expressions that you may use with students in lower levels, like “a fool’s paradise” or “fool’s gold”. You will find these and more at PhraseFinder.com.

On the topic of fool, try out this fun quiz that tests students' reading and attention to detail.

So, if you’ve been focusing too much on grammar lately, or giving your students way too much homework, lighten up! Laughter is the best medicine, right? Forget about reported speech for one day and try these fun April Fool's activities instead. If you want more inspiration, head over to this Article.

At BusyTeacher.org we've got colorful jokes and plenty of April Fool’s worksheets to guarantee a class full of nothing but good, old-fashioned fun.

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