Quick Guide
- Keywords: Giving reasons, listening, note-taking, persuasive speaking, presenting
- Learner English level: Intermediate and above
- Learner maturity: High school or university
- Preparation time: 5 minutes
- Activity time: 30–60 minutes depending on class size
- Materials: Adjective Cards (Appendix A), Character Cards (Appendix B), worksheet (Appendix C), students’ notebooks/paper, board, chalk
This creative speaking activity is set in two imaginary locations: a space station and a rocket travelling to the Moon. Half of the class will be the “Workers” travelling on the rocket, while the other half stay on the space station as the “Bosses.” When the rocket malfunctions, two Workers must be sacrificed to save the remainder. Each Worker will try to persuade the Bosses that they should live. This activity improves students’ listening, note-taking, and speaking skills. It can also help students feel more comfortable presenting in front of their peers and build class rapport through the surreal setting and the students’ own creativity.
Preparation
Step 1: Using an image software such as Canva, create enough adjective cards for half of your class. Each should feature an adjective (e.g., old, strong, naughty) and an illustration. For examples of adjective cards, see Appendix A.
Step 2: Do the same for the character cards. Each should feature a character for the Workers to role play as (e.g., a pregnant lady, a grandfather, a politician) and an illustration. Examples can be found in Appendix B.
Step 3: Print out and cut up enough cards for half of the class to have one adjective card and one character card each. Keep the adjective and character cards in two separate piles.
Step 4: Print out enough worksheets for half of the class (Appendix C). These are designed for the Bosses to write down who the Workers are and make notes on what the Workers say.
Procedure
Step 1: Draw the moon, a space station and a rocket on the board. Elicit what they are from the class. Tell students that they have been selected to live on the moon.
Step 2: Explain that living on the moon will be difficult, so some students will go to the moon as Workers while others will stay on the space station as Bosses.
Step 3: Divide the class into two groups, Workers and Bosses.
Step 4: Allocate each Worker a random character card and a random adjective card. Explain that these two cards combine to make their identity. Give an example using yourself: “My name is Mark and I am a lazy child.”
Step 5: Give the worksheet (Appendix C) to the Bosses. Explain that they should listen to Workers introduce themselves and write down the name, adjective and character of each Worker.
Step 6: Instruct the Workers to introduce themselves, using the allocated cards, and the model:
“My name is (name) and I am a/an (adjective) (character).”
Step 7: Tell the Bosses to compare their notes with a partner. They can ask a Worker to repeat their introduction if needed.
Step 8: Explain that while the Workers were travelling to the moon an explosion occurred, and the only way to save the rocket is to sacrifice two workers.
Step 9: Tell the Workers that they must present why they should live, giving two reasons based on their identity. Explain to the Bosses that they must listen carefully and take notes on their worksheet (Appendix C, Task 2), then decide which Workers should be sacrificed.
Step 10: Provide a model answer for the Workers. For example: “I think I should live because I am just a child. All children are lazy but with help from the teacher I can become more diligent. Also, I could grow up to become a doctor and help the other Workers when they get old. With my help, they will keep working for you for many more years!”
Step 11: Give the Workers five minutes to prepare their reasons individually and then ask them to present.
Step 12: Once the Workers have presented, tell each Boss to nominate a Worker who they think should be sacrificed, giving two reasons for their decision based on the Workers’ identity and what they said in Step 11.
Step 13: Give the Bosses five minutes to prepare their reasons.
Step 14: Ask each of the Bosses to present their nominations. Tally the results and explain that the two Workers nominated the most will be sacrificed, while the rest will land on the moon safely.
Conclusion
This activity is suitable for any class that has some speaking component. Students find the activity enjoyable and it helps to build rapport in the classroom and confidence in speaking due to the random characters, surreal setting and creative freedom to persuade their peers to save them.
References
Canva. (2026). Canva [graphic design platform]. https://www.canva.com
Appendices
The appendices are available below:
