STORY CHAIN

-Give one sentence from the story to each student on a piece of paper. (not in the correct order)
-Then, each student reads out their sentence in turn.
-The students need to put the sentences into the correct order by listening and understanding.
-At the next step, they sit or stand beside the student who has the preceding sentence and complete the story chain.
-When all the sentences are done, they read out the complete story.
 
             Take it easy and have it your way :)      McD...

OSS! MASTER!

        We're looking for the WORD MASTER :) It's an enjoyable way to test vocabulary knowledge. I've been working on vocabulary for a very long time and been fed up with classical vocab testing ways. I was in search of new methods and this activity suddenly sprang to my mind last week and I tried it.
    
         How to do:

• The pupils are gonna work as individuals. According to their levels, you can demand them mother tongue meanings of the words (do it if you have to pls), visualize them (for objects, action verbs... etc.) or to use the words in a sentence with the right meaning, usage and form.
• Each student has many pieces of paper to draw or write the meanings and sentences.
• The instructor is the referee and writes each student's name on one side of  board.
• The other side of the board is used to write the words to be guessed during the game.
• The pupils have got three "Plead the 5th" rights. They get  (+) for the right answers,  (-) for the wrong ones and  (0) for "Plead the 5th"s.
• When the instructor writes the word on the board. they've got fifteen seconds to write or draw. (The instructor should determine beforehand if the students are going to write meanings, draw or use the word in a sentence.)
• When the time's up, the pupils put their papers up at the same time. According to their guesses they get (+)s, (-)s or (0)s.  The one getting the most (+)s becomes the WORD MASTER of the week and is announced on the class corner till the next one is chosen.

        It worked in my class. I wonder your results and comments. too. :) Take it easy and have it your way...    Mcd :)

STOP TALKIN' THE TALK, WALK THE WALK ;)

 

        Hi again colleagues! It's really been a long time since the last one :) I've been tied up with a great deal of school stuff... But they're all gone now and I'm free and with you!! :D

        Let's begin the activity. As you can see from the title, it's pretty flamboyant and challenging. The pupils are going to make their own music video for famous songs.

• Divide the students into groups of six. (You may change the number according to your conditions and needs.)
• You should pick some English songs. According to the age and level of the students, they could be children songs or easy adult songs such as Lenka's "Everything At Once".
• Assign a song to each group. Before getting started; make them listen to their own song, help them understand and pronounce it. Then, keep your hands off and let them move as one body and one mind.
• They cowork, decide, design, choreograph, perform altogether and try to their best.
• The hardest part of the job is the instructor's. The best performance has to be chosen... I think, you'd better pick up a few colleagues (music, physical education teachers... etc.) with you as a jury and make your decision together.
• The winner group deserves a good prize :) Mine was recording the best performance and publishing it on our custom event which is going to happen at the end of the term.

        Take it easy... See you soon...
                                                    Mcd :)

MI-MI-MI-MI MICROPHONE SHOW

            We have got only one basic rule for this activity: "SHOW MUST GO ON..." under all circumstances :).
             Everyone taking part in the activity should be able to memorize the lyrics of an English song and sing it from the beginning to the end... (Or you can determine the song/s to be sung)
             The instructor chooses the singer who is going to come on the stage. One by one, all the attendants sing their own song, but how?
             The audience (other pupils) take their place in front of the stage. They have the remote control of the singer. As their turn comes, they instruct the one who is singing like "volume up, volume down, fast, slow... etc". You can also use feelings and emotions. Whatever you say or write, the singer has to sing his/her song in that way, non-stop :)
           

             It's a great warm-up idea. We had great time doing it. I hope that it will work with you, too. Have it your way :) Take it easy...

CRAZY DANCE

    

        It's a pretty good and enjoyable idea for teaching feelings and emotions. We (both "me" and my pupils :) ) had a great time doing it.

        If  the pupils already have a background of these words, you can directly apply it. However if they don't, you'd better make them ready yourself. Before getting started; determine the words, prepare the worksheets and give them a couple of minutes to work on. This is the most boring part :) The rest will be so funny that you won't even remember the first step...

        How was mine?
        My worksheets were visually supported ( no translation). There were only the words and the smileys showing them and only one word with its smiley on each page.

        Now, find an energetic music (I know, I don't need to say but in English please :)). You can get started then...

        At the beginning you can use some easy instructions like "dance, jump, stop... etc. as a warm up :) Then, show the feeling or emotion you want them to act while dancing. For instance, when you show "happy", they dance happily or sadly for "sad". If you show "tired", they act like they feel tired. Bored, surprised, shocked, scared,..etc. as many as you wish... The activity goes on till you feel dead tired :D..

         Take it easy... See you soon...