Substitution Drill

Purpose: To verbally reinforce vocabulary and sentence structures.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Materials Needed: Pictures and/or appropriate props

Procedure:

1. Tutor repeats the same sentence several times. For example, “The sugar is on the top shelf.”
2. Tutor then substitutes one word in the sentence for another. For example: “The sugar is on the bottom shelf.”
3. Tutor then uses gestures to indicate student’s turn to produce the new sentence.
4. This pattern continues with each new vocabulary word.
   • Tutor: “The sugar is on the top shelf.”
   • Student: “The sugar is on the top shelf.”
   • Tutor: “Bottom”
   • Student: “The sugar is on the bottom shelf.”
   • Tutor: “Middle”
   • Student: “The sugar is on the middle shelf.”

Suggestion: The tutor may continue to lead the drill, or students may take turns leading.

Watch a video of this activity and print a PDF of the instructions.