Answer:  An appropriate activity would be a "poem"[1] for Christmas, which could become the learner's Christmas card to his/her parents. Of course, it could also turn into a kind of a "tableau vivant" for the learners' class show.  The activity we describe below can be used with learners from ASenior+.

A Christmas Poem

Level: Elementary - Advanced

Age:  10+

Language & Skills focus: Sentence writing; proofreading and editing; answering Wh-questions; recitation; fostering imagination; emotional intelligence; intrapersonal intelligence.

Materials: writing paper and pen

If the poem is used as a Christmas card, A4 construction paper will be needed (various colours).

Procedure:

1. Ask learners to inhale and exhale two to three times so they can feel more relaxed. Then, ask them to close their eyes and to think of Christmas and of objects which represent Christmas, e.g., stars, trees, angels, etc. (Older learners (14+), can be asked to think of the metaphorical symbolism of Christmas (e. g. peace, love, rebirth, etc.).  

2. Then,  ask learners to choose one of the Christmas objects they thought of and to write a sentence like  the following one on the top of their notebook paper, e.g.,  I'm an angel  (the learners will write their own Christmas object in the underlined part of the example sentence.)

3. Now, tell the learners to answer, in writing, each one

of the questions you will be asking them. Ask the

learners to answer, using a complete sentence. Tell

them to avoid long and complex sentences ("prosy"),

and to write each answer underneath the one above.

First, however, make sure each learner has written

his/her first line.  

3. Ask the following questions, pausing after each one, so the learners  have the time to respond:

*Where are you?

*Are you alone?

*Why are you there?

*How do you feel?

4. Use the paper of one of the learners so you can demonstrate the editing/writing of the "poem". In most cases, learners have followed instructions and have answered with a complete sentence. 

        Example:

         Where are you?                       I'm up in the sky. 

         What are you doing?            I'm singing and dancing.

         Are you alone?                   I'm with the silver moon.

         Why are you there?           Because it's Christmas.

         How do you feel?              I'm happy.               

5. Tell learners to strike out the repetitve  "I/I'm" or any "prosy" words or phrases like "because," wherever possible and to use a comma instead of a full stop. Then, to re-read their poem and to give it a title. Demonstrate by editing the example above:

 "A Christmas Angel"

I'm an angel,

up in the sky,

singing and dancing

with the silver moon,

It's Christmas and

I'm happy. . .

6. Ask the learners to recite their poems when they have finished editing. Remember to applaud after each recitation.

7.  Give the A4 pieces of construction paper to each learner. Ask them to fold them in half. Then, tell them to re-write carefully their poem on a small piece of white paper and to decorate it as they wish. Then to glue it in the front of the folded construction paper and to write a simple Christmas wish inside so they can give it to their parents or friends.

N.B.: If you decide to use the poem for a "tableau vivant", you will need a larger piece of construction paper for each learner. Ask the learners to draw an enlarged version of their Christmas object, to decorate it as they wish, using silver/gold markers or glue and silver dust and to wear it as a sandwich board or to attach it on their clothes (at chest height) with paper tape on the back.

Tableau Vivant Procedure: If there are 12 learners, seven should be standing and five should be sitting, 3-4 do not face the "audience".  All stand or sit absolutely still.

Start with Christmas music in the background. Then, one at a time,  each learner "comes to life" and recites his/her poem and then stands or sits still again. Those sitting, should stand up when they recite and then sit again. Those with their back to the audience, turn around to recite their poem and remain facing the audience once they have finished. 

Joy and Health for Christmas and the New Year,

Suzanne and Lilika