I have a red and black marker system for class management: the red is a happy face, awarded for leading the students in repeating class rules, for interesting and imaginative answers, for exceptional work.
The black is for breaking the class rules, disrespect, noise etc. Two or three Black Stars result in the student being sent to Student Care.
Today I will introduce a new star:
the Blue Star
which will be given to students who speak too much, too loudly, or for interrupting the teacher.
Should a student get three Blue Stars, they will have to conjugate ten verbs during breaktime or for homework.
To kick off, conjugate these verbs:
allow // become // believe // change // create //
decide // follow // grow // help // leave // make
pass // provide // remember // return // show
spend // suggest // tell // think // walk // work
To everything, there is a season.
A time to play, and a time to work.
A time to talk, and a time to listen.
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year one and all. Here is what we shall be studying this block, and what I expect from you:
Students will have a large vocabulary, and speak in long, interesting sentences.
Students can tell if a word is a noun, adjective, verb, pronoun etc.
Students will be able to use Simple Present & Simple Past (Verb 1 & Verb 2)
Students will come to class on time, and will be prepared; that means having pens, pencils and a notebook.
Class rules will be followed. I demand that MY students
DO NOT RUN in the halls
DO NOT SHOUT.
If you do, you shall receive a …
Additionally, you will have to sing a David Bowie song in front of the whole class !
Our classes will kick off (start) with a song
‘Love Me Do’ by the Beatles.
Next we shall have speaking time.
I will write a subject and you will talk to your partner for as long as possible. Remember, English is never finished – you can always improve (get better). Today the question is:
What do you want in 2024 ?
You can say want you want to have, where you want to go, and why, what you want to study (and why), what new skill you want, maybe some new food or drink.
Let’s break it down.
First, what do you want to have ?
A new toy // a baby sister or brother // Lucky Money // A+ in your tests // an iPhone 15 !
Next, where do you want to go, and why ?
Da Nang because it is beautiful and cool. Also I can eat fresh fruit.
London because I want to see Mr Paul’s hometown 🙂 Also I can visit many famous places like Tower Bridge.
Thailand because the people are friendly and the temples are amazing and peaceful.
Next, what you want to study (and why)
I really want to study English because …
What new food do you want to eat ?
I want to try British Christmas food because …
EXAMPLE:
In 2024 I want to go to Thailand because the food is spicy and delicious. Also, it is quieter because I don’t hear karaoke.
I want to have great classes with super students who are respectful !
Maybe I will learn some more Vietnamese so I can talk to people.
Finally, I really want to learn this music on guitar. However it is very difficult and very fast. I will have to practise every day.
Happy New Year everybody. Peace and Love.
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.
The young Asian woman has long, straight, black hair. She is wearing a blue coat and holding a large, pink book. I think she is very intelligent and hard-working. She looks very happy. In my opinion she is waiting for a friend and they will go for a coffee.
Now … your turn
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7
Picture 8
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.
One of the purposes of teachers asking questions is to give students an opportunity to practise their speaking skills; vocabulary, syntax, intonation etc.
However, many times students, of all levels, will merely answer the question in as few words as possible, and they need to be encouraged to elaborate on their responses.
Teachers are taught to refrain from asking ‘Yes,’ or ‘No,’ answers:
“Did you have a good weekend ?”
“Yes.”
A better option would be:
“What did you do on Saturday ?”
Hopefully this will elicit a more suitable reply.
(Yes, teachers should be prepared for, “Nothing,” “Sleep,” etc … some students simply do not want to learn or work. Teachers have a limited supply of energy and enthusiasm; it should not be wasted.)
And so to work … my young learners have speaking tests soon. Here are some exercises to help boost their scores.
First we need our vocabulary toolbox. Let’s start with some adjectives:
amazing, angry / beautiful, big /clean, clever, cute / dangerous / easy, electric / fantastic, funny / greedy, great, / happy, healthy, huge / important, intelligent / Japanese / kind / lazy / messy / nervous / old, outgoing / popular / quick / rude / sad, selfish, shy, small / talkative, tiny / ugly, unusual / valuable / wealthy / year-long, young
Now some linking words:
also, as well as / because / furthermore / however
Finally, a smattering of expressions and idioms:
in my opinion / it costs an arm and a leg / let’s dive in / more than likely / over the moon.
Let’s dive in ! Work in pairs and ask each other the following questions:
Tell me about your house or apartment
(where is it, how many rooms, what does their room look like, what colour is it, what toys do they have, do they have pets ?etc)
Does this look like your room ?
Tell me about your school
(Name of the school and address, their favourite subjects and teachers, why do they like them, their friends, what do they do at break time, do they play sports or music ? etc)
Does this look like your school ?
Tell me about food you love and food that you hate
Tell me about a film you love
Where would you most like to visit ?
What job would you like to do. What job would you hate ?
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.
1) Landscape 2) the men 3) the birds 4) the cheeky bird
1) Landscape
Where is this ? What can you see ? Describe the scene
(China, mountains, river, lake, trees, rocks. The sun is rising with a golden light. The scene is peaceful and tranquil.)
2) The Men
What do they look like ? What do they do ?
(The men are old, with lines on their faces. They smoke and have disgusting teeth, yellow and black. They dance and chant. They feed the birds tiddler fish.)
3) The Birds
Describe them
(The birds are intelligent and talented. They are expert hunters and can swim well. Also, they can count, up to 7. After 7, they refuse to work unless they get some tiddlers to swallow.)
4) Cheeky bird
What does the cheeky bird do ?
Now, write your short story about fishing with birds. Advanced students can practise writing in the simple past, using verb 2.
Good luck !
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.
A couple of games to help review recent lessons. First up, ‘Runaround‘.
A game based on a TV show. The teacher asks a question and then gives three possible answers.
EXAMPLE:
What animal is small, green and can jump ?
A – a dog B – a frog C – a hedgehog
The students – just one from each team – run to a letter. They are allowed 3 seconds to change their mind – then give the answer.
The following questions are based on our textbook, so adapt as you see fit.
What colour is a banana ?
A – purple B – white C – yellow
What is correct ?
A – 2 red marbles B – 2 red marble C – 2 marbles red
What animal is big ?
A – a mouse B – an elephant C – an ant
How much is 3 and 4 (3 + 4 =) ?
A – 6 B – 7 C – 8
What is in your bag ?
A – a pen B – a chair C – a classroom
Is this a book ?
A – Yes, it isn’t B – No, it is C – Yes, it is
What toy can fly ?
A – a train B – a plane C – a doll
What shape is this ?
A – a rectangle B – a circle C – a triangle
What animal has rectangle pupils in the eye ?
A – an elephant B – a goat C – Ms Huong (haha)
You play with a bat and
A – an egg B – a desk C – a ball
If you want to drink water, raise your
A – hand B – toes C – hair
Next, good old Snakes and ladders. In the same teams, hand out writing boards. Use an online die or dice, and this template:
1: Make a sentence I have a colour + toy
2: A rainbow is very (adjective)
3: Write 3 colours that begin with the letter ‘b’
4: What is your favourite toy ?
5: What can you see in this classroom. Write 2 things
6: What colour is your bag ?
7: A puppy is (2 adjectives)
8: Write a question starting with ‘Can …’
9: Tell me what is in your bag
10: Draw an elephant and then tell me about the animal.
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.
Task 3: Write a short story using as many new adjectives as you can. Try these pictures to help:
One day, I was in a …
Task 4: Write your own story. I want at least 6 amazing adjectives. Good luck !
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.
Worksheets for this lesson may be found at the end of the blog
TASK 1:
Draw the Amazon River. Where can you find this information ? Also, write the names of the countries.
TASK 2:
In teams, write the many animals you would find in the Amazon Rainforest.
Giant ant-eater
Let’s delve deeper (let’s learn more)
Use comparatives and superlatives:
A jaguar is a big cat BUT not as big as a lion. A lion is not as big as a tiger.
A lion is bigger than a jaguar but a tiger is the biggest.
A capybara is a rodent (like a mouse or rat).
A Capybara
A rat is _______________ than a mouse but a capybara is the ____________ rodent.
What is wrong with this sentence ?
A caiman – a type of alligator.
A caiman is big but an alligator is more big and a crocodile is most big.
A caiman is a reptile – it is _______________ dangerous reptile in the Amazon. Reptiles have thick or scaly skin. They can live in hot weather and salt water.
A frog is amphibian – amphibians need water to live and only have soft delicate skin. They cannot live in saltwater (like the sea). If you see frogs or toads, it can mean that the water is good.
TASK 3:
Next put these animals in order of danger, first, second and third then write a sentence using a comparative and the superlative
poison dart frogbullet antjaguar
The answers
Number 3: bullet ant
Number 2: jaguar
Number 1: poison dart frog
Did you know ?
A jaguar has ___ _____ powerful bite. A jaguar bite is _____ powerful than a lion.
A bullet ant has _____ _____ painful insect sting. The sting is 30 times ______ painful than a bee sting.
The poison dart frog has different colours. The golden poison dart frog is ____ _____ poisonous.
NOW … time to learn more:
QUIZ
Where is the Amazon Rain Forest ?
How many countries does it spread across ?
It is known as the lungs of the planet … why ?
How many different types of fish are there ?
Name 3 deadly creatures.
What is the loudest creature ?
The Salto Angel waterfall is the ___________________ in the world
Answers:
South America // 9 // it produces 20% of the world’s oxygen // 3 000 // poison dart frogs, jaguars, snakes, spiders, piranhas // a toucan // largest at 979 metres.
TASK 4: Cut and and glue onto your Amazon chart some of the animals that can be found in the Rainforest.
Make a fact chart – write down any information that you find fascinating
Worksheets
Amazing Amazon Rainforest facts
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.
I will show you a card trick. Do you know how it is done ?
J = Jack // Q = Queen // K = King // A = Ace
Now, watch the British magician Dynamo. How does he do his tricks ? Choose one and let the students guess.
Task 6: General Knowledge
Ask the following questions either team by team, or first to raise hands
Which big cat is the strongest ?
How can you make the colour green ?
Who was the first man to walk on the moon ?
What is the capital city of France ?
Which is the fastest animal on the land ?
How many people are there in the world ?
Who painted the Mona Lisa ?
Who helped to cure smallpox by making the first successful vaccine ?
How many planets are there in our solar system ?
How many stars are there in the American flag ?
How many stars are there in the Vietnamese flag ?
Name four countries where English is the first language.
How many types of penguins are there ?
Global warming is caused by the excess of which type of gas ?
Which is the biggest desert in the world ?
How can you kill a vampire ?
What shape is the pupil of a sheep and goat eye ?
How do you say ‘Hello’ in French, German and Italian ?
Can you act like this man and say, “You know this is, excuse me, a damn fine cup of coffee.”
Can you dance like Starlord ?
(clip can start at 0:29 and end around 1:23)
Answers
1 – Tiger 2 – Mix blue and yellow 3 – Neil Armstrong 4 – Paris 5 – Cheetah 6 – Over 7 billion 7 – Leonardo da Vinci 8 – Edward Jenner 9 – 8 10 – 50 11 – 1 12 – UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa 13 – 18 14 – CO2 Carbon Dioxide 15 – Sahara Desert 16 – a steak through the heart or burning but NOT a silver bullet 17 – rectangle or square
18 – Bonjour, Guten Tag, Buongiorno or Ciao !
Ciao, Federico !
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.
Students are put into small teams and given this questionnaire.
The teacher will place information cards around the room, possibly even outside the classroom depending on school layout.
One student from each group will look for the answer, then report back to the group. The answer is written down.
Repeat with a new student each time, then return to the original student.
Pedagogic benefits:
Reading questions and finding the correct answer.
Reporting back to the team.
Writing the answer.
Presenting the answer to the whole class, speaking clearly and loudly.
The Perfect Penguin Quiz
1) We say a herd of sheep and a pride of lions – but what is the collective nouns for penguins ?
2) Why are penguins black and white ?
3) Why do penguins huddle together ?
4) Penguins have solid, heavy bones but other birds have hollow, light bones … why ?
5) How does a penguin keep warm ?
6) Apart from Antarctica, where do penguins live ?
7) How many types of penguins are there ?
8) Why will you never see a penguin with a polar bear in the wild ?
9) Are penguins good walkers ?
10) What does a man penguin give to a lady penguin if he likes her ?
The Answers
1) A group of penguins is called a raft (in water) or a waddle (on land).
2) The black and white is camouflage – they look like waves from above, and sunlight from underneath.
3) Penguins huddle together for protection and to keep warm
4) Penguins don’t fly. Heavy bones are better for swimming.
5) Penguins make oil. They cover their feathers to keep warm.
6) Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand & Australia.
7) There are 18 types of penguin.
8) Polar bears live in the Arctic, in the northern hemisphere.
9) Some penguins can walk 60 miles on ice.
10) A man penguin gives a lady penguin a rock if he likes her. The man shows he wants to build a nest together and start a family. The stones will protect eggs.
NOW … write and draw a story
A penguin goes on holiday to the Arctic and meets a polar bear for the first time. What happens ?
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.
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Thay Paul's Notes 