Extra Credit Ideas
I have students choose one of these out of a hat each week to do for extra credit. It is optional extra credit. Some of these are difficult and require a bit of work, some are easy and fun, some are just odd. I use this as an attempt to get children interested in English outside of the classroom and also to bring fun and excitement into the classroom.
1. Draw a picture with the theme of a country
- Show and tell with class
2. Meet a foreigner
- Get their name and a photo with them
3. Watch a foreign movie in English
4. Teach the class 3 new English words
5. Make a card for the teacher
6. Tell the class about a country (5-10 fun facts)
7. Sing an English song to your teacher or the class
8. Make a family tree
- Write it and give your family English names next to their Chinese names
9. Find and write a recipe in English
10. Write 10 rules about a foreign sport
11. Tell the class about a Chinese person (5-10 fun facts)
12. Create a new animal
- Draw and write about it
13. Create a new invention
- Draw and write about it
14. Show the class a special talent
15. Make an English riddle
16. Make an English joke
17. Listen to a music album in English
18. Tell the class about a famous foreigner (5-10 fun facts)
19. Say a tongue-twister in English perfectly
20. Look up 20 English words that start with “Z”
- Give the Chinese meanings
21. Show-and-tell (Bring something interesting from home to show the class and talk about)
22. Write a poem in English
23. Recite an English poem for the class
24. Write about your favorite food.
25. Write about your favorite sport.
26. Write about your favorite animal.
27. Write about something you enjoy doing.
28. Write about something you hate.
29. Write about something that makes you happy.
30. Write about something that makes you sad.
31. Make and sing an English song
32. Translate 3 Chinese Idioms
33. Teach the class a new dance
34. Create a game to play in class
35. Teach the class a new song
36. Have a 5-minute conversation with a DD teacher that is not yours, in English
37. Bring in food you made for the class
A.) example: cupcakes
38. Write something you like / dislike about China
39. Write something you like / dislike about the USA
40. Write something you like / dislike about Canada
41. Write something about a country you know nothing about. (5-10 fun facts)
42. Teach the class something you learned about American history. (5-10 fun facts)
43. Teach the class something you learned about Canadian history. (5-10 fun facts)
44. Teach your parents a few English words and their meanings
45. Teach your parents a new English phrase.
46. Draw something to decorate the classroom.
47. Draw a teacher
48. Draw a DD character
49. Teach the teacher something in Chinese and explain the meaning in English
50. Correct your friend’s homework (use a different colored pen)
51. Teach the class something interesting about where your grandparents are from (5-10 fun facts)
52. Create and teach the class a new game
53. Tell the class a ghost story.
54. Tell the class a Christmas story
55. Write about what you want to be when you grow up.
56. Write 5 English quotes with Chinese translations.
57. Watch an English TV show and write what it was about.
58. Write about a famous Westerner. (5-10 fun facts)
59. Hand out money cards at the end of class.
60. Tell the class about your favorite person. (5-10 fun facts)
61. Write to answer the question: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Why?
62. Write to answer the question: If you were trapped on an island, who is the one person you would want with you. Why?
63. Write to answer the question: If you were trapped on an island, what are the 3 things you would want to have with you? Why?
64. Write to answer the question: If you were something in a refrigerator, what would you be? Why?
65. Write to answer the question: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
66. Write to answer the question: If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why?
67. Write to answer the question: What is your favorite holiday? Why?
68. Write to answer the question: What is your favorite movie? Why?
69. Come to class dressed as a famous person or your English teacher
- see if the class can guess who you are
70. Draw a treasure map
71. Draw a map from DD Dragon to your home
72. Write directions from DD Dragon to your home
73. Write 5 things you would bring to a secret island
- one person
-one pet
74. Create a board game and rules
75. Show the class a card trick
76. Take 5 pictures of English signs
77. Translate the road you live on into English
78. Look up your Zodiac sign and read about it
- tell the class about it
79. Make an animal out of household items
80. Make a crossword puzzle
81. Make a word search puzzle
82. Find 5 flowers that are 5 different colors
- give their English names
83. Take pictures of 5 different animals and find out their English names
84. Plant 10 seeds somewhere in your neighborhood
85. Interview a neighbor
- Ask 10 questions and translate into English
86. Write an English letter to a famous foreigner
87. Make a song
- English words or music notes
88. Make a short movie scene with a friend or family member
89. Find an incorrect English sign and correct it
90. Clean your street or neighborhood
- fill one bag of trash
91. Help the elderly
- Write about what you did
92. Write about a dream you had
93. Find 5 foreign food brands. Write the names of the brands and what country they come from.
94. Translate 5 Chinese dish names into English
95. Translate your favorite Chinese song
96. Translate an English song into Chinese
97. Interview an English teacher that is not yours
- 10 questions
98. Tell the class or write about an embarrassing moment in your life
99. Choose a category and write 20 different items starting with 20 different letters of the alphabet
100. Write 20 clues about a person, place, or thing
- See if the class can guess what it is
101. Interview a grandparent on what their life was like when they were your age.
- write down the 5 most interesting things they said
102. Tell your Chinese school English teacher and class an English joke
- write down how many people got it and laughed
103. Make an English-speaking country’s flag for the classroom
104. Research one of the most famous foreigners you know and write about why they are famous
105. Teach the class 5 slang words or phrases in English
106. Write your 5 favorite foreign movie names
107. Make a funny English sign for the classroom
108. Cook a foreign dish with your Mom/Dad and take a picture
109. Do a prank to a teacher at DD Dragon
110. Write a family tree of names, dates, and places lived as far back as possible
111. Make an English code for the class to figure out
- #’s = letters
- make a key
112. Learn to make something in origami and show it to the class
113. Try to make rock candy for the class
114. Draw a tattoo on someone and take a picture of it
115. Translate a restaurant’s menu into English and make a nice copy for the restaurant
116. Find the exchange rate of Chinese money to 5 other English-speaking countries
117. Draw a picture with an ocean theme
- Show and tell with class
118. Draw a picture with a jungle theme
- Show and tell with class
119. Draw a picture of your family
- Show and tell with class
120. Look up 20 English words that start with “P”
- Give the Chinese meaning
121. Look up 20 English words that start with “Q”
- Give the Chinese meaning
122. Look up 20 English words that start with “V”
- Give the Chinese meaning
123. Research one of the most notorious foreigners you know and write about why they are notorious
- Show and tell with class
2. Meet a foreigner
- Get their name and a photo with them
3. Watch a foreign movie in English
4. Teach the class 3 new English words
5. Make a card for the teacher
6. Tell the class about a country (5-10 fun facts)
7. Sing an English song to your teacher or the class
8. Make a family tree
- Write it and give your family English names next to their Chinese names
9. Find and write a recipe in English
10. Write 10 rules about a foreign sport
11. Tell the class about a Chinese person (5-10 fun facts)
12. Create a new animal
- Draw and write about it
13. Create a new invention
- Draw and write about it
14. Show the class a special talent
15. Make an English riddle
16. Make an English joke
17. Listen to a music album in English
18. Tell the class about a famous foreigner (5-10 fun facts)
19. Say a tongue-twister in English perfectly
20. Look up 20 English words that start with “Z”
- Give the Chinese meanings
21. Show-and-tell (Bring something interesting from home to show the class and talk about)
22. Write a poem in English
23. Recite an English poem for the class
24. Write about your favorite food.
25. Write about your favorite sport.
26. Write about your favorite animal.
27. Write about something you enjoy doing.
28. Write about something you hate.
29. Write about something that makes you happy.
30. Write about something that makes you sad.
31. Make and sing an English song
32. Translate 3 Chinese Idioms
33. Teach the class a new dance
34. Create a game to play in class
35. Teach the class a new song
36. Have a 5-minute conversation with a DD teacher that is not yours, in English
37. Bring in food you made for the class
A.) example: cupcakes
38. Write something you like / dislike about China
39. Write something you like / dislike about the USA
40. Write something you like / dislike about Canada
41. Write something about a country you know nothing about. (5-10 fun facts)
42. Teach the class something you learned about American history. (5-10 fun facts)
43. Teach the class something you learned about Canadian history. (5-10 fun facts)
44. Teach your parents a few English words and their meanings
45. Teach your parents a new English phrase.
46. Draw something to decorate the classroom.
47. Draw a teacher
48. Draw a DD character
49. Teach the teacher something in Chinese and explain the meaning in English
50. Correct your friend’s homework (use a different colored pen)
51. Teach the class something interesting about where your grandparents are from (5-10 fun facts)
52. Create and teach the class a new game
53. Tell the class a ghost story.
54. Tell the class a Christmas story
55. Write about what you want to be when you grow up.
56. Write 5 English quotes with Chinese translations.
57. Watch an English TV show and write what it was about.
58. Write about a famous Westerner. (5-10 fun facts)
59. Hand out money cards at the end of class.
60. Tell the class about your favorite person. (5-10 fun facts)
61. Write to answer the question: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Why?
62. Write to answer the question: If you were trapped on an island, who is the one person you would want with you. Why?
63. Write to answer the question: If you were trapped on an island, what are the 3 things you would want to have with you? Why?
64. Write to answer the question: If you were something in a refrigerator, what would you be? Why?
65. Write to answer the question: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
66. Write to answer the question: If you could be any animal, what would it be? Why?
67. Write to answer the question: What is your favorite holiday? Why?
68. Write to answer the question: What is your favorite movie? Why?
69. Come to class dressed as a famous person or your English teacher
- see if the class can guess who you are
70. Draw a treasure map
71. Draw a map from DD Dragon to your home
72. Write directions from DD Dragon to your home
73. Write 5 things you would bring to a secret island
- one person
-one pet
74. Create a board game and rules
75. Show the class a card trick
76. Take 5 pictures of English signs
77. Translate the road you live on into English
78. Look up your Zodiac sign and read about it
- tell the class about it
79. Make an animal out of household items
80. Make a crossword puzzle
81. Make a word search puzzle
82. Find 5 flowers that are 5 different colors
- give their English names
83. Take pictures of 5 different animals and find out their English names
84. Plant 10 seeds somewhere in your neighborhood
85. Interview a neighbor
- Ask 10 questions and translate into English
86. Write an English letter to a famous foreigner
87. Make a song
- English words or music notes
88. Make a short movie scene with a friend or family member
89. Find an incorrect English sign and correct it
90. Clean your street or neighborhood
- fill one bag of trash
91. Help the elderly
- Write about what you did
92. Write about a dream you had
93. Find 5 foreign food brands. Write the names of the brands and what country they come from.
94. Translate 5 Chinese dish names into English
95. Translate your favorite Chinese song
96. Translate an English song into Chinese
97. Interview an English teacher that is not yours
- 10 questions
98. Tell the class or write about an embarrassing moment in your life
99. Choose a category and write 20 different items starting with 20 different letters of the alphabet
100. Write 20 clues about a person, place, or thing
- See if the class can guess what it is
101. Interview a grandparent on what their life was like when they were your age.
- write down the 5 most interesting things they said
102. Tell your Chinese school English teacher and class an English joke
- write down how many people got it and laughed
103. Make an English-speaking country’s flag for the classroom
104. Research one of the most famous foreigners you know and write about why they are famous
105. Teach the class 5 slang words or phrases in English
106. Write your 5 favorite foreign movie names
107. Make a funny English sign for the classroom
108. Cook a foreign dish with your Mom/Dad and take a picture
109. Do a prank to a teacher at DD Dragon
110. Write a family tree of names, dates, and places lived as far back as possible
111. Make an English code for the class to figure out
- #’s = letters
- make a key
112. Learn to make something in origami and show it to the class
113. Try to make rock candy for the class
114. Draw a tattoo on someone and take a picture of it
115. Translate a restaurant’s menu into English and make a nice copy for the restaurant
116. Find the exchange rate of Chinese money to 5 other English-speaking countries
117. Draw a picture with an ocean theme
- Show and tell with class
118. Draw a picture with a jungle theme
- Show and tell with class
119. Draw a picture of your family
- Show and tell with class
120. Look up 20 English words that start with “P”
- Give the Chinese meaning
121. Look up 20 English words that start with “Q”
- Give the Chinese meaning
122. Look up 20 English words that start with “V”
- Give the Chinese meaning
123. Research one of the most notorious foreigners you know and write about why they are notorious