Gods of Ancient Egypt

23rd February 2023

A revised blog, aimed at younger learners. The original blog may be accessed here: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2022/05/12/young-learners-ancient-egyptian-gods/

An activity where you have to listen, read and collect information. Also you will learn about different cultures and legends.

Today we are going to learn about some of the gods of ancient Egypt. First, where is Egypt ?

Egypt is in Africa. The adjective is Egyptian.

What ancient buildings can you see in Egypt ?

The Pyramids: the largest one was built about 2,500 BC (about 4,500 years ago).

The creature in front is called the Sphinx. What kind of animal is the Sphinx ?

The Sphinx has the face of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird (maybe a falcon or eagle).

Animals were very important. What animals can you see in this picture ?

We are going to focus on four Gods:

Thoth // Bastet // Ra // Anubis

Vocabulary

Pharaoh / ibis / jackal / Nile River / beak

Pyramids

Sphinx

Tomb

Funeral mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. He lived 1341 – 1323 BC

Hieroglyphs

Write your name (English or Viet) using hieroglyphs.

Look at your handout and follow the instructions. You have to identify the four Gods and colour them.

The British Council ‘LearnEnglishKids’ page has some excellent resources and free print-outs.

Now, some music for ambience:

Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.

Young Learners, Levels 3 & 4: putting words into practice.

7th February 2023

We learnt some new adjectives before Tet Holiday; now let’s use them. First, what are the words ?

Let’s have some new words, too.

furious // intelligent // genius // calm // peaceful //

Answers

traditional // lucky // fun // funny

delicious // beautiful // colourful

loud // terrible //

Now, time to use the words

At Tet, Daddy sings karaoke. The music is very l____ and t______ and Mummy was f_______ .

At Tet, I visit my grandparents. They gave me l_____ money, and we all had f___ .

Mummy makes a lot of tr________, d________ food.

Many families walk at Tet holiday. The women wear the tr_______ dress called an a__ d____ . The dress is very c_______ and they look b________ .

My uncle comes to visit. He is a doctor, so he is very i___________ . However, he tells jokes and is f______ .

Our class captain is called Lily. She is very i______ so she is a Top Cat. She tells the boys to be quiet when they are l_____ . Lily shouts at t_____ students.

Now … let’s test your grammar.

Change these sentences from present tense (verb 1) to the past tense (verb 2).

EXAMPLE: I (go) to visit my best friend.

I went to visit my best friend.

My family (visit) my grandparents and we (eat) a lot of d_______ food.

My Mummy and my aunts (wear) the tr_______ ao dai. They all (look) so b________ .

Daddy (have) his friends to our house. They (sing) songs for many hours. I (think) it (is) t________ .

Wit my l___ money, I (buy) some c_______ and b_____ flowers for my Mummy. She was so happy, she (cry).

My brother is very in_____________ , he (read) books every day. My sister (play) video games. They had a lot of f___ at Tet.

Last night I (see) a very f____ film, I (laugh) so much. This morning I (go) to school but I (forget) my books. My teacher (is) fu______ .

Top Cats … time for creative writing

Write a short story about your Tet Holiday. Use new adjectives and the past tense (Verb 2).

At Tet I …

Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.

Grammarians of the Galaxy for Young Learners, levels 1 & 2.

28th December 2022

A version of the Grammarians game but this time aimed at younger students.

The teacher could give points for individual answers or use the Monopoly board template. Place students in teams, and make sure every member takes part, writing and speaking.

Without further ado … the game:

Grammar:

What is the correct grammar ?

EXAMPLE:

I to be sad … NO !

I am sad.

I to be hungry

You am happy

He to be tired

She are angry

ms huong am beautiful

WE is to be quiet

They to be loud

Adjectives: What is the opposite ?

EXAMPLE: hot and cold

fast and ______

young and _______

big and ______

tall and ______

beautiful and ______

Animals:

Tell me two animals that are fast

Tell me two animals that are slow

Tell me two animals that are big

Tell me two animals that are small

Tell me three animals that can fly

Tell me three animals that can swim

Sentences

EXAMPLE:

I like dogs but I don’t like cats.

I like cats but I __________________

I like dolphins but I __________________

I like birds but I __________________

I like cats but I __________________

I like cake but I __________________

I like pizza but I __________________

I like chicken but I __________________

I like tomatoes but I __________________

Dancing

Who can dance like Starlord ?

Happy New Year one and all

Young Learners, levels 2 & 3: Grammarians of the Galaxy.

21st December 2022

You have to use your English grammar to save the Galaxy from evil … can you do it ? Of course !

Game 1: correct these sentences

1: I is happy (1 point)

2: You am sadd (1 point)

3: He am is angree (2 points)

4: She is is beautifulll (2 points)

5: they is brave verry (3 points)

6: We are to watching a film good (3 points)

7: He am strong and liking to dance (3 points)

8: He am Groot and are cute very. Also he friendly (4 points)

9: Hiss name are rocket and she to be very small and angry (4 points)

10: the joker am in the Guardian film no. He am in film battmann ( 10 points)

Game 2: write 3 sentences using helping verbs

Subject // helping verb // verb 1 or infinite verb // object // adverb

An infinite verb is to + verb 1

EXAMPLE: to eat // to watch // to go // to buy // to learn.

We NEVER use to + verbing:

to swimming // to drinking // to writing X

Subject // helping verb // verb 1 or infinite verb // object // adverb

I // can // play // piano // very well

I // like // to watch // TV // sometimes

I // want // to visit // Thailand // soon

What is different about helping verbs can and like & want ?

Can uses verb 1, but like & want use infinite (to + verb 1)

Now … Your turn

Write 3 sentences using can, like & want.

Remember:

can + verb 1 // like + infinite // want + infinite

Only good grammar can defeat Thanos …

Good Luck !

Young Learners, Levels 3 & 4. Monopoly: Christmas Market

12th December 2022

For this game, you will need the Monopoly board template from this blog: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2022/12/12/young-learners-all-levels-board-game-template/.

You will therefore be able to freeze that image on the screen while reading these (or your own) questions.

The aim is to move around the board, answering questions and collecting Christmas items.

The winning team will be the first to collect:

Christmas pudding // Christmas crackers //

A visit from carol singers // A Christmas tree and decorations //

Classic film on TV // A snowman (snowperson) // Sleeping uncle // Massive box of chocolates

Hideous jumper // Slade singing ‘Merry Christmas Everybody.’

Now … let’s start !

Arrange class into small teams. Each team can roll the die, highest number goes first. Start on the top left square.

Every time a team completes a turn around the board, they collect £200. However, the top right space is the jail. If they land on the bottom left space, the team goes to jail and misses a turn.

A correct answer means the team can choose a Christmas item, or they can buy one for £300

The red stops are vocabulary

Stop 1: Give me three words for food

Stop 2: Give me three words for family

Stop 3: Give me five words for Christmas

The yellow stops are speaking

Stop 1: Tell me a sport you like and why

Stop 2: Tell me a film or TV show you like and why

Stop 3: Tell me why you like learning English. I want TWO reasons.

The green stops are writing

Stop 1: Write a sentence about a present you would like.

Stop 2: Write a sentence about a present you would not like.

Stop 3: Write about a present you would give to your English teacher !

The dark blue stops are listening. Repeat what I say

Stop 1: Apples, oranges, chocolate, mince pies and Christmas log.

Stop 2: Turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, cranberry sauce and thick gravy.

The brown stops are forfeits

Stop 1: Loose 1 present or £50

Stop 2: Loose 1 present and £100

The sky blue stops are grammar. Conjugate these sentences

Stop 1: I am having a wonderful Christmas time.

Stop 2: I am eating too much food.

Stop 3: I don’t want to wear this awful jumper !

The pink stops are singing. Sing these Christmas songs

Stop 1: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way

Stop 2: Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright

Stop 3:

So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody’s having fun
Look to the future now
It’s only just begun

Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell ya
That the old songs are the best?
Then she’s up and rock ‘n’ rolling with the rest

So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody’s having fun
Look to the future now
It’s only just begun

The Orange spaces are free speaking. Remember to speak for as long as possible.

Stop 1: Tell me things you like and don’t like about your city

Stop 2: Tell me what you like to do in your free time

Stop 3: tell me what job you would like to do when you are older.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, HAPPY HANUKKAH

Enter the Matrix: Young learners, levels 2 – 4

6th December 2022

The mission is to use all your English skills to find Neo, meet Morpheus, learn English, beat Mr Smith and save Morpheus, then come back to the classroom safely.

First, we need two teams RED & BLUE. Next we need to find Neo and his friends.

Task 1 describe these people. Use lots of adjectives.

Task 2 You will need grammar to enter the Matrix. Conjugate these sentences. All team members must speak.

I like to eat oranges

I don’t want to do homework

I have a new laptop

Task 3 Time to meet Morpheus. Tell me about his house.

Next tell me about three favourite things in your house and why you like them.

EXAMPLE: I love my sofa because I can watch TV and play games on it. Also I can sit or sleep because it is very comfortable.

Task 4 Now it’s time to fight Agent Smith. He knows so many words … can you beat him ?

Write down 7 colours

Write down 10 animals

Write down 5 healthy food items

Tell me your favourite sport and why

EXAMPLE: I really love football because it is exciting and fun.

TASK 5 At the board correct these sentences:

I very loves to going fish

You is goes to homes

Hes having a coat red

Seh don’t liking to red boooks

It are rain twoday

Neo are a hundsame men

We is happy wen we win the games

They is drink any milk

Task 6 You can rescue Morpheus if you can tell me about your home.

How many rooms do you have ?

What do you have in the rooms ?

What are the colours ?

What is your favourite room and why ?

Task 7 Time to return to the class. Choose the best actor in your team; they have to say this:

“Unfortunately no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.”

(The clip starts at 1:00 – 1:13)

Now you have entered the Matrix. Keep learning English or Agent Smith will chase you.

Young Learners, level 4 and Top Cats. Snakes & ladders review game.

30th November 2022

Continuing from yesterday’s blog, which was aimed at younger learners, a review lesson focusing more on listening and pronunciation skills.

Warm up

Quick writing: You have 10 seconds to write down as many words as you can beginning with the letters:

s / p / t

Tell me something you like and something you don’t like.

EXAMPLE: I really like English because it is fun, however I don’t like maths because it is so difficult.

Tell me four things you can have in a:

kitchen / bedroom / living room

Tell me about your family. Try to speak for as long as possible.

Example: I have a mummy, a daddy and two brothers. My mummy is friendly. She is small and has black hair. My daddy is tall. My older brother likes to play video games. My young brother likes to read books.

Write a sentence with these adverbs. One sentence each:

always / usually / sometimes / never

Screen test. Watch this Christmas advert, then answer the questions.

The Questions:

What colour was the girl’s umbrella ?

How many buttons (not eyes) did the snowman have ?

Name three shops that you saw.

How many snow people were on the street ?

What was on the wall in the man’s kitchen ?

What toy did the old man have in the bath ?

What was the old man’s job ?

How many pigeons were standing on the street ?

What fruit was the man on the subway (Tube train) holding ?

What was the number of the bus ?

Complete the slogans: Give a little _______ Together we can make a big ____________

Pronunciation, intonation and stress

Thay Paul loves coffee and so does his friend Agent Cooper: Students can act out the scene. Not only does it require stress and emotion, but also pacing.

Tell me the story of Theseus and the Minotaur

The Answers

Red // 5 // Scarf Hut, Pharmacy, Opticians, Florist // 8 (one in the window doesn’t count) // a fish, a picture of the family, a shelf // a toy duck // a barber or haircutter // 4 // an apple // 222 // ‘love’ & ‘difference’

Young Learners, levels 2 & 3. Snakes & ladders review games

29th November 2011

Team games are a great way to motivate younger students, as well as reinforcing their knowledge of English. Ideally, games should test all learning skills; reading, writing, speaking and listening, not to mention focusing on pronunciation and grammar.

Here’s a familiar game which can be used in the classroom together with an online dice. Put the students into small teams, and give them mini boards and markers.

First, some questions for level 2

Give me a sentence with these verbs:

dance / drink / eat / take / hold / listen

some or any ?

Is there ____ milk ?

There are ________ eggs.

Are there _____ fries ?

There are _____ carrots.

Would you like ____ ice cream ?

There aren’t ___ sausages.

Grammar: conjugate these verbs

I like watching football (you / he / she / it / Mr John / we / they).

I don’t like taking photos (you / he / she / it / Mr John / we / they).

I can float in space (you / he / she / it / Mr John / we / they).

Adjectives. Write two adjectives for:

a tiger / a dolphin / a puppy / a vampire / a frog

Time

What do you do at 7.00 in the morning ?

What do you do at 1.00 in the afternoon ?

What do you do at 9.00 in the evening ?

Quick writing: You have 10 seconds to write down as many words as you can beginning with the letter:

s / p / t

Tell me something you like and something you don’t like. EXAMPLE: I really like English however, I don’t like maths.

Tell me three things you can have in a:

kitchen / bedroom / living room

Tell me about your family. Try to speak for as long as possible.

Write a sentence with these adverbs. One sentence each:

always / usually / sometimes / never

Tell me what children can do in Sai Gon

Image from Pinterest from teacherspayteachers.com

Young Learners, level 2: Greek heroes to help you learn.

14th November 2022

Divide the class into small teams. Each team is given paper, crayons, markers and a board.

The teams are names after Greek heroes:

Heracles

Theseus

Perseus

The heroes need to fight evil monsters.

Heracles must beat Cerberus, an angry dog with three heads.

Theseus must beat the Minotaur, an animal half man, half bull. The Minotaur is very, very strong.

Perseus must beat Medusa, a woman with dangerous snakes in her hair. Anyone who looks at Medusa will turn to stone.

The task is not easy, it is a task for heroes. The heroes must answer questions, write, draw and conjugate verbs.

The first team to get 10 points will win. Let’s get started.

1) Write down an animal that is black and white

2) Write down 2 animals that can fly

3) Write 3 animals that can swim

4) A _________ can _____ a house

5) A _________ can ____ fruit and vegetables

6) A ________ can ____ people who are not well.

7) A football player scoring / scores goals.

8) A teacher teach / teaches students.

9) I play / plays guitar.

10) Chose one person to draw. On the board, draw your monster (Cerberus, Minotaur or Medusa). You have three minutes each.

11) Complete the sentences with adjectives.

A dog is very ____ and _____ .

A crocodile is very ______ and ______ .

A panda is very ______ and ________ .

12) Write 2 things you do in the morning

13) Write 2 things you do in the afternoon

14) Write 2 things you do in the evening

15) Draw a clock on your board

Show me five o’clock

Show me seven o’clock

Show me twelve o’clock

16) Write 2 words that begin with bl, cl, pl.

17) Conjugate these verbs

Heracles:

I am scared of lions / you / he / she / it / Mr John / we / they

Theseus:

I am very strong / you / he / she / it / Mr John / we / they

Perseus:

I am not scared of snakes / you / he / she / it / Mr John / we / they

18) Answer ‘Sure, that sounds fun,’ ‘Good idea,’ or ‘Not really.’

Do you want to fight a lion ?

Do you want to do homework all day ?

Do you want to play tennis ?

19) Team Heracles suggest something to Team Theseus and get a response. Team Theseus ask Team Perseus, and Team Perseus ask Team Heracles.

EXAMPLE: Do you want to drink water ?

20) Some or any.

There is ____ milk.

There isn’t ____ chicken.

There are _____ grapes.

Are there ______ eggs ?

Is there ____ juice ?

_____ there _____ water ?

21) You have 10 seconds. Write food that is healthy. Write food that is unhealthy. Write some drinks.

22) Write 2 fun places for children in Sai Gon

23) Write a sentence using

exciting / dangerous / happy

24) Sing the finish work song (“Dear teacher, I am finished.”)

25) How can you kill a skeleton. Watch the hero Jason.

Young learners, levels 1 & 2: what to do in Sai Gon

8th November 2022

An activity for lower-level students, to help develop listening skills as well as creative thinking. Students should be encouraged to speak in sentences as opposed to shouting out single-word answers.

Putting students into teams, creating a competitive atmosphere is very beneficial. Therefore split the class into groups of four or so students. Each group is given a marker and board, paper and crayons.

The video is about activities for children to do in Sai Gon (the actual video starts around 0:30, and the subtitles are not always correct):

Tell the class to watch very carefully; they will be asked questions about the video.

After the first viewing, ask some basic questions, such as what activities did they see, have they been or done any of these, did the children have fun etc.

Then play the video again and ask more detailed questions

Question 1: What was the first activity ?

2: Name 5 animals you saw 3: What can you do there ?

4: What was activity 2 ? 5: how high is the wall ? 6: do you think this is dangerous ? 7: how much does it cost ?

8: what was activity 3 ? 9: what can you hear ? 10: is the show in English or Vietnamese ?

11: what was activity 4 ? 12: what day is it closed ? 13: what is the cost for adults and children

Part 2: what activity do you like best. Tell me why. Try to use these adjectives:

fun / exciting / healthy / dangerous / happy

Part 3: draw a day out in Sai Gon and write about your day. You may have 1 activity or many.

Example:

I go to Dam Sen Water Park with my family.

It is fun and we are happy.

We can swim and play in the water. The Water Park is exciting.

It is a great day.

Part 4: Grammar

I am very happy // You … very happy // He … // She … // It … // Ms Huong // We … // They …

Answers 1: Artinus 3-D Museum 2: cheetah, lizard, gorilla, butterfly, unicorn, frog, dinosaur, birds, bears, fish, octopus, lion 3: take photos 4: X-rock climbing 5: 20 metres 6: yes, it can be dangerous 7: $6 an hour 8: water-puppet show 9: you can hear singing and traditional music 10: in Vietnamese 11: Dam Sen Water Park 12: Tuesdays 13: $6 adult, $3 child