Glue, cards with pictures, a sheet of paper and an English textbook. Is it crafts or English lesson? Let`s see…

When I was a student I observe many English lessons when I attended primary and secondary classes. The thing is that there was little difference between the methods teachers use with these groups of students despite of the fact that the age group of students is different. I do agree that teachers play and sing the songs with primary students more but it depends on the situation. When I started work with primary students I realized that a lot of methods which I used with secondary students did not work with kids.  

I decided to include some tasks that can be done with primary students only. And I tried crafts. I decided to do a hand-made vocabulary list for a particular topic. I pasted a number of cards with pictures and prepare a sheet of paper (A4) where squares with typed words were placed. Students glued pictures to the words.  

Students enjoy this activity because:

1) it is hand-made,

2) it is product-oriented,

3) they get a collection of lists (vocabulary portfolio).

I find it useful because:

1) students combine form and the meaning,

2) they develop visual thinking,

3) I can use this worksheets for revision and in other tasks.

But it is only one example of the power of crafts in the English classroom environment. The thing is to find methods which corresponds with the age group of students most of all and the results will come.

More Crafts ideas for you

http://www.kidsparkz.com/cutandpaste.html

http://www.eslsouthkorea.net/free-esl-worksheets.html