Giving kids stickers that they can put into a class passport – and then claim a prize when it is full – is a fantastic motivation resource. I used to use it on some of my straight-after-lunch, tougher-to-motivate classes!
Ninja Tip: Have a bag at the front with cool prizes they can win when they complete the passport. And give each person a new – empty – passport when they fill theirs. This gives everyone a chance to win a prize. Also keep adding a few new prizes during the year, presents from your travels are great!
Immigration Game!
You can also use them for this very cool review game ….
1. Before the class all kids line up *outside*
2. The teacher is the “immigration officer”
3. The kids have to try and gain access to the class by showing their passport to the “immigration officer” and answering their questions. Questions could be “What’s you name?” “How are you?” “Where are you from?” “Where are you going?” “When is your birthday?” “How old are you?” “What do you do?” or any questions you’ve studied before.
4. When the Officer is satisfied you let the kid into the country (the classroom!). Either stamping their passport, signing it or giving them a sticker!
5. If have you have several teachers, you can have them in a row. The kids have to go round and gain entry to all the different places e.g. one teacher is England, one is America etc. for extra practice.
Ninja Tip: This is great for school events where parents can join in too!
The kids really get into this and it gives them a “real life” scenario to deal with. It also gives them direct conversation practice with the teacher. You should also vary the questions. Accusing someone of concealing guns or money is also quite amusing! 🙂
Spot checks!
Some teachers occasionally do “spot checks.” They throw all the kids out of the class part way through and only allow them back in if they pass through “Immigration”. The kids seem to like this!
Be genki,
Richard
P.S. You can of course make up your own passports. Or if you are a VIP Member I’ve made one up for you. If you’re not a VIP member yet, order your Teacher’s Set today and you’ll be a VIP too! 🙂
P.P.S. I’m also doing *personalised* versions for Genki Business course or Homework Program customers. Just add a request to the Genki Business Facebook Group with your logo or add a message with your next homework payment and I’ll be happy to make you up a personalised version like this:
P.P.P.S. No, I’m not doing it over the comments or emails, it’s a bribe to get more of you onto the amazing Genki Business course and Homework Program 🙂
Earn More From Your Passion For Teaching English!
It’s wonderful!
I’ve been using the old versions for many years now (10???)
and when my sixth graders graduated last week, they took out ALL their old pages (yes they carried them all in their bag)! With the foot of them when they were 5 and all the cute different stickers, favorite foods, etc etc. My tears just ran when I saw it, and everyone was really impressed. So it is NOT ONLY a sticker and present action!
And now the colored personalized ones are amazing. My kids love them.
Looks great! I would like one with Genki-Dino logo on it! Thank you very much!
Very cool idea! The new school I’m at uses stickers as rewards throughout class. Kids love stickers and the stickers also translate to a certain number of stars (depending on the activity) and the stars then translate to a certain number of DD Dragon points that are collected to use towards the purchase of toys. I’ve noticed that a number of the kids (especially the girls) put the stickers in the cover sections of their various books (main book, workbook, homework communication book, etc). Would be cool to have something a little more uniform and collectible and then useful for an activity like the passport thing. I really can’t wait until I can set up my own class and school structure and implement all these cool things.
They are so fun! I´ve been using these for a few years now too and the kids love them. I use them a little different. I do “checks” every month or so and pull one student into a room with me to go through “customs”. I ask them all the questions we´ve reviewed up to that point in time. I only can speak in english and if they respond correctly in english I give them a sticker. As the months go by they can win more and more stickers and if they fill up all the squares with stickers by the end of the year they get a prize! This helps them to keep motivated when we do reviews in class and also helps me to see how each kid is doing personally and what subjects we need to revisit with more emphasis. Needless to say both the kids and I love the passports!! The update is great! Thanks Richard 🙂
Hello Richard,
May I know how to access this passport card? I tried by original genki username and password in the forum page but it was denied.
Thank you
Love the idea! I haven’t used it yet, but I’m definitely going to give it a try 🙂
It’s wonderful, as all your great innovative ideas and teaching practices, Richard! Congrats for all these beneficial and practical motivating practices, they are very welcome from our students and parents!
You could take this to a whole new level. Passports for each unit and each until could have a different name, in addition to regular stickers, could add a sort of visa to travel to say…. planet “make up a name here” signifying the end of a significant unit or level in the course.
I’m not teaching at the moment but when I go back next year this will definitely be on my things to do with kids and even adults !! thanks for a great idea
As usual yet another brilliant idea, Richard! All teachers know that classroom management starts before class and implementing this passport entry instantly sets the tone. I’m astounded by the return on my Teachers set investment – absolutely without a shred of doubt the best investment I have ever made. Richard, once again THANK YOU!!! Raising the bar for all other teaching programmes out there and simplifying grammar to intuitive learner friendly bite sized chunks is nothing short of genius!
Hello Richard! I did this passport and immigration two years ago, with my 2nd year junior high and special needs class, and they loved it!!! Thank you!
Awesome, thanks for letting us know! 🙂