Use this with a new class, to give students an insight into the nature of memory and learning. Have the students sit in a line, and ask the first student to say his name, followed by a piece of personal information. The next student repeats these, adding her own name and information; continue around the class. Laughter ensues as the list gets longer and facts get muddled--however, it's best for the smaller class, as the repetition can get monotonous.
Again, useful for a new class, and to practice tenses and question forms. Give each student a piece of paper with the words "Find someone who...," followed by a list: can play the piano; has been to Rome; likes spiders; has met a famous person; etc.. The students mingle and try to find people who fit their list. When they've finished they tell the class what they found out. Students in a higher level class could write their own lists and interview each other.
Introduce an adjective lesson with this one. Fill a soft bag with a variety of items which have distinctive shapes and textures. As students pass the bag around the class, each student reaches into it and, without looking at it, grasps one of the objects and describes its size, shape and texture, while the others try to guess what it is. Finally, the student takes out the object to see who was right.
Use this activity to introduce lessons on describing people, on tense and on question forms. Stick a Post-it note with the name of a famous person on each student's back. They mustn't look at their own labels, but have to mingle and question their classmates to find out which famous person they are (they aren't allowed to ask, "Who am I?" but can ask such questions as, "Am I dead or alive?" "What am I famous for?"
Students tell each other what to do in this one, so use it to introduce a lesson on imperatives. It usually causes much hilarity, but be careful no one gets injured. Split the class, sending half of them into the next room. Tell those in the first room that they're going to become human sculptures, and demonstrate by contorting yourself into a strange shape. They take turns to do the same, while their classmates watch and take turns instructing the students in the other room how to make the same shapes.