Classroom transformations are one my favorite ways to get students engaged with their learning. Not only do students not feel like they are actually working, but it creates memories for them that last a lifetime and increases their retention of the skills being taught. This year, I implemented an Idiom Fashion Show classroom transformation as an extension to our Idiom T-Shirt Activity. It was a very engaging way to have students present their idiom t-shirt projects in a non-traditional way, and the best part was that it was extremely “thrifty” and quick to set up.
Idiom Fashion Show Classroom Transformation Setup
- To create the fashion show feel for this classroom transformation, I displayed an image on the projection board which I found by searching “fashion show backdrop” online.
- I created four spotlights to place at the top of the board. To create them I used 11 x 11 black cardstock and the corners so they would look a little rounded. Then, I cut four circles from 8 1/2 x 11 yellow cardstock and glued them onto the black paper.
- For the red runway, I used red banner paper provided by my school and taped the corners down to the floor using packing tape. This made a very thrifty and easy to remove runway for our fashion show classroom transformation.
- I placed our classroom desks into four rows of six. Two rows on the left facing the two rows on the right. (You could also push the desks aside and just have chairs out, but honestly, I didn’t have anywhere to place them.)
- Lastly, I searched “fashion show music” and played it in the background.
Running the Idiom Fashion Show
To run the fashion show, students were given a number. (To make it easy, I just assigned them their class number.) Students were called one at a time to walk the runway to display their idiom shirts. To keep everyone engaged, students wore a jacket over their shirts, so only the front of their shirt was visible. As they walked down the runway, I would describe what the illustration on the front of the shirt looked like.
Ex. “Our first model, (inserted name here), is wearing a couture shirt displaying a yellow bag with a perky orange cat poking out of it.”
The “fashion show spectators” would write down the idiom they thought it was and its meaning on a makeshift dry erase board. (We use page protectors with card stock inserted inside.) When told, they would hold them up.
The model would then remove their jacket, turn around, and walk off the runway displaying the figurative illustration and idiom meaning.
If spectators got the idiom and its meaning correct, they would place a checkmark on their recording sheet next to the number that represented the ‘model.’ If they got it wrong, they would write the idiom on the sheet, so they could review the idiom at a later time.
The students enjoyed themselves and were all very engaged. If you are interested in having the resource we used during this activity sent to your inbox, you can sign up below and it will be on its way.
The “fashion show spectators” would write down the idiom they thought it was and its meaning on a makeshift dry erase board. (We use page protectors with card stock inserted inside.) When told, they would hold them up.
The model would then remove their jacket, turn around, and walk off the runway displaying the figurative illustration and idiom meaning.
If spectators got the idiom and its meaning correct, they would place a checkmark on their recording sheet next to the number that represented the ‘model.’ If they got it wrong, they would write the idiom on the sheet, so they could review the idiom at a later time.
The students enjoyed themselves and were all very engaged. If you are interested in having the resource we used during this activity sent to your inbox, you can sign up below and it will be on its way.
Another Idiom Fashion Show Option
If you’d prefer to use the Idiom Fashion Show classroom transformation as a lesson to introduce idioms instead of as a review, exclude the portion where the spectators guess the meaning of the idioms.
- Have students write their own script for their idiom t-shirt prior to the fashion show day. They can describe the illustration, state the idiom, and describe the idiom’s meaning.
- They can then turn them into you (the teacher), and you can then read their scripts as they walk down the runway.
- Spectators can just sit, watch, and enjoy the show, or you could create a list prior to the show, and students could write the meaning of the idiom once it is stated during the show.
As you can see, there are several ways to implement an Idiom Fashion Show classroom transformation in your classroom. You can use it as an introductory lesson, a review, or as an engaging assessment.
Hopefully, these options offer you an engaging and thrifty way to get students learning about idioms in your classroom. If you implement any of these ideas, please feel free to let us know below. Your Co-Teacher community would love to hear about it.
More Idiom Resource You May Like:
Happy teaching!
