I am writing a lesson plan for adult elementary.
Short questions and answers in simple pasts.
Any ideas which verbs would be most appropriate to illicit responses from a non-professional, primarily middle-Eastern class?
I want to make sure the topics are appropriate for them...
Thanks:)

If they are non-specialists / professionals stick to every day activities:

Elicit everyday activities using pics / realia

Watch TV / go to the cinema / eat out / cook dinner / go shopping / go by car,bus, train.

Then get sts to make questions with a time adverbial:

Did you watch TV last night?
Did you go to the cinema last weekend?
Did you eat out last week or did you cook at home?
Did you go shopping yesterday?
Did you come by car / on foot / by bus this evening?

Focus on pron of 'did you?' ('didger' - sorry, no phonetic script available to me)

Draw attention to short answers:

Yes, I did / No I didn't

Demo pron - stress on yes / no / did /didn't, intonation falls on auxilliary.

I'd say keep it simple- Things everyone can relate to:
Eat
Play
Sleep
Catch
Travel
Work
Study
Watch
Run
Walk
Cook
Go
Do
Read
Listen

HI
i am not professional but i think you have a good answer from vilgessu .
nice weekend for every body