The Replacement

Individual work

The teacher assigns one or more cards.

The student imagines they can no longer do that habit, ritual, or routine. They come up with:

• one useful and realistic replacement;
• one absurd or impossible replacement.

They explain why they chose each idea. The teacher can model a sample answer first.

Pair / Group work (including breakout rooms)

Students take turns presenting their two replacements. Their partners ask follow-up questions, compare ideas, and decide which replacement is the most practical, funniest, or most creative. Then they swap cards.

Class sharing

Invite students to share their best ideas. As a class, discuss:

• the most practical replacement;
• the funniest replacement;
• the hardest habit to replace;
• the most creative idea.

Tips for varying the activity

• Vote for the funniest, smartest, or most original replacement.
• Set a time limit (e.g. 30 seconds) to encourage quick thinking.
• Ask students to defend their absurd replacement as if it were a serious idea.
• Challenge students to use at least three target words or grammar structures in each answer.