Students rarely fall in love with grammar. So here in Prague, we asked: can they? And this city solved it for us — it is full of art practically begging to be used. The result: grammar turned into a blend of art and creativity.

The Activity: The Present Continuous Through Sculpture

Take pictures of statues in your town or city — a statue mid-gesture, a fountain figure caught in motion, anything with a clear sense of action. Print and hang them around the classroom. Students walk from image to image and add post-it notes describing what they see: "She is reaching," "They are dancing." or even"He is feeling scared.” No worksheets — just movement, observation, and imagination.

Why It Works

You’ll quickly see the benefits. Students read each other's notes as they move around the room, which encourages peer learning. This format also includes movement, especially helpful to learners who hate traditional grammar work. And since they're describing real art from a town they know and love, the language point gets used the way it's actually meant to be used — in the moment, in context, not as an abstract rule.

Beyond Tenses

This concept isn't limited to the present continuous, or even tenses. Swap in different art forms — paintings, photographs, even classroom objects — and the same format can be repeated or adapted to practice almost any grammar point. And here’s the best thing, for more outdoor time, you can turn this into an actual walk (or a treasure hunt)!

Why Prague?

We could teach this lesson with any photos, really — but Prague keeps making the case for itself. Picture this: early morning mist rising off the Vltava as the first tram crosses the bridge. Charles Bridge nearly empty before the crowds arrive, its baroque statues catching the first light. The view from the castle at sunset, red rooftops stretching toward the neighborhoods across the river. We all have something to learn from a city like this.

Why It Works

Tactile Learning Supports Focus

Many students focus better with something to hold. The cards become part of the lesson — hands stay busy, so the mind doesn't wander.

Cards Create Agency

Drawing a card means a student has to act, not wait to be called on. Even reluctant students join in, because the activity calls on them — not the teacher.

Friendly Competition Increases Motivation

A little friendly competition goes a long way. Low stakes, but just enough to matter — often enough to pull in the one student who's always zoning out.

Activities to Try

Question Cards

Display a set of questions on your smartboard and assign each one to a card. Students draw a card and answer the corresponding question. This creates an element of chance that keeps everyone engaged - you might know this dopamine kick from your social media algorithms.

Feedback Cards

Do you ever find it difficult to make students listen proactively and give each other meaningful peer feedback? Try this. Give students roles and corresponding cards representing agreement, disagreement, praise, or a request for more explanation. These can be used during discussions and presentations to encourage active listening and meaningful peer feedback.

Language Learning and Error Correction

Cards can help students give immediate feedback to one another. For example, learners might use specific cards to identify mistakes and suggest extensions. For example, give one student an ace and make them raise it every time their partner makes a slip - it is a fun, low-stress way to consolidate the rules of whatever you are trying to teach them

Review and Test Prep

Turn revision into a game by allowing students to keep cards when they answer questions correctly. As the lesson progresses, students build their collection,

Also, for you as the teacher, it is quite easy to see how every particular learning is doing. Lastly, have a look at the cards that didn’t get picked up - those are probably the topics they (or you) should review one more time.

A deck of cards is inexpensive, easy to prepare, and adaptable to almost any subject. Try it once. Even your most checked out student might end up asking for one more round.