​Aliens and Outlanders: There is/are

Age: ten plus/adults

Level: pre-intermediate

Concerns: physical geography, describing locations, there is/are

Procedure:

Students work in pairs or in groups. From the list of the fictitious names of different planets students choose the one of their favourite and tell each other what there is on their planet. The proposed list of the thought-provoking names of fictitious planets prompts a lot of ideas for there is/are + (not) to be used. Though there might be students needing also a list of pivot words for this activity.

Planets: 

Silveria, Goldia, Cleverland, Lazyland, Animality, Saltland, Tropicania, Grassonia, Bushland, any name of your choice. 

Pivot words for There is+(not)/ There are+(not): 

mainland, dry land, soil, prairie, valley, grassland, meadow, marsh, salt marsh, desert, gold dust, mountain, canyon, river, river bank, lake, pond, loch, lowlands, plains, bushes, forests, sands, hills, slopes, rock, stream, sea, sea shore, harbour, ocean, minerals, oil and gas areas, gold, gold mines, salt mines,etc.

Adding some adjectives will make the description brighter. 

The task might need preliminary preparation for students to understand and choose the words. Let students also include the words from their own before-learned vocabulary.

Moreover, you may use a plan based on categorisation of ideas. 

For example:

Say what things there are on your planet/land

a) made by people;

b) created by nature;

c) ruined by people;

d) comfortable for living;

e) scary for people;

f) dangerous for living;

g) costly for creation;

Any ideas of yours.