Write the following sentences on the board, with all words in one color:
I have lived in California.
I have eaten sushi.
Yes, I have.
No, I haven't.
Have you lived in California?
Have you eaten sushi?
Ask students to read the sentences out loud to each other in groups.
Students working in groups of two or three copy the sentences onto their whiteboards. Ask students to use the same color for words that are the same or similar. Ask each group to share their color-coding scheme and, as a class, determine a color-coding scheme that will be the new standard for the whole class. You might end up with something like this:
nouns = green
pronouns = blue
verbs = red
prepositions = orange
and so on.
Point out to students that in statements, green or blue comes first, whereas in questions, red comes first. Invite students to create their own statements and questions with the same tense.
Write the student-generated questions on the board. Ask students to copy these questions onto index cards, using the color-coding convention. Invite students to circulate around the classroom, asking each other these questions. Instruct students to write the name of anyone who answers yes onto the appropriate index card.
Ask students to write a few sentences about their classmates, preserving the class's color-coding scheme.