There are lots of different kinds of homework that we can set our learners and it doesn't have to be something that is hard or boring. Danny's idea in 'Question of the Week' was to get learners to take pictures on their phones over the weekend and then discuss them in class on Monday.
⭐Meme-maker (Digital literacy): Memes are everywhere, and they’re a language in themselves. For homework, have students create their own meme that reflects a concept you’ve covered in class, whether it's a grammar rule, a vocabulary word, or a cultural idea. They can use online meme generators or draw them by hand.
⭐News Detectives (Current Events): Assign students to watch or read a news story relevant to their age group. Then, have them create a short "news report" video or podcast summarizing the key points, adding their own perspective.
⭐Viral Trend Tracker (Social Media): Ask students to choose a current viral trend (a dance, a meme, a challenge) and analyse its popularity. They can research its origins, explore its impact, and even create their own version!
⭐Recipe Reviewers (Cooking & Culture): Food is a window into culture, and everyone loves a good recipe! Ask students to find a recipe from another culture and write about its significance. They should explain the ingredients, steps to make it, and the dish’s cultural importance. For an added bonus, students can try cooking it at home and share their experience with the class—pictures and taste tests are welcome!
⭐Local Landmark Explorers (Local History & Photography): Assign students a local landmark to visit and photograph. They can then research its history and present their findings alongside their photos, creating a mini-documentary project.
⭐Interview an Expert (Research & Communication): Challenge students to interview someone with expertise in a field they're interested in (a family member, a community member, etc.). They can then share their interview findings in a written report or presentation.
⭐DIY Tutorial Creators (Practical Skills & Instruction): Have students create a short video tutorial teaching a practical skill they're good at, like tying a specific knot, drawing a particular object, or solving a Rubik's Cube. This could also relate to a concept that you've covered in class recently.
⭐Song Lyric Analysers (Music & Poetry): Ask students to pick a song they love (as long as the lyrics are appropriate for the classroom) and analyse the lyrics. What is the song about? Are there any interesting metaphors, similes, or other literary devices? They can present their findings in class, make a poster or even create a storyboard for a music video.
⭐Language chasers (Music, social media, tv): Ask students to find examples of language items in songs / tv / tiktoks that you've taught recently and post them to a class padlet or bring the link to class to share with their peers.
⭐Interpretive artists (Reading and AI): Give learners a reading text for homework. Tell them to write a prompt into an AI picture generator (there are loads of these) and then bring in both their prompt and the picture they created. This could be differentiated so that the prompt could be written either in English or in their L1.
