How to use this activity?

Share the PDF or print a copy for your students. Each card contains 5 words or phrases. One of them doesn’t fit the rest. Students must find the odd one out and explain why. Simple!

For example: “Engineer doesn’t fit because all the other words finish with the sound ‘-cian’!”

Play as a group or let your students try to find all 9 answers individually. Then, check the answers as a class. Give a point for each correct answer (the odd one out and the explanation).

Here is a list of answers for you, just in case:

1:  Teacher – the other professions all work outdoors;

2:  Engineer – the others end in “cian”’

3:  Photographer – the others deal with health;

4:  Mechanic – the others end in “ant”;

5:  Driver – the others are dangerous / protect people; 

6:  Accountant – the others end in “ist”;

7:  Plumber – the others are “creative” professions;

8:  Waiter – the others end in “or”;

9:  Lawyer – the others follow the verb + /er/ construction to denote the person who does that verb. 

Ideas to take it further:

1. Set a time limit!
2. Have students add elements to each box after the mystery has been solved.
3. Students make their own odd one out boxes and challenge the class.