This programme's topic is 'introducing new language' - introducing a grammar structure, a new tense or some vocabulary that the students haven’t been taught before. When we teach, we might do it in three stages: first we present, then we get our students to practise, and then to use the new language confidently and accurately. This is of course just one approach to introducing new language, but it’s one that many teachers find is a useful framework.
Show a picture of a cake and present on the board. Elicit what special day it is (birthday). Get Ss to tell you about presents they got or would like for their last/next birthday.
Load the Monster shopping trip story. If using the flash version, do the pre-story puzzle together and introduce the monsters. Play the story. Give the Ss part 1 of the activity sheet, and they tick the presents which were bought.
Give the Ss part 2 of the activity sheet. Get them to circle the answers they know, and leave the answers they don't know. Play the story again - Ss check/complete their answers.
Give the Ss, in pairs or small groups, the text of the story cut up into paragraphs. Ss read and order the paragraphs. Then they can stick the paragraphs onto paper and draw a picture to illustrate each one.
Give the Ss part 3 of the activity sheet. They draw and label a present, encourage them to say why they chose that present.
Re-tell then re-enact the story. As a class, encourage the Ss to retell what they remember of the story, to a degree of detail or simplicity as appropriate to level. Then, get stronger, more out-going Ss to volunteer for key roles, and re-enact the story, with help and suggestions from the teacher and other Ss as to what to say, where to stand, etc. Finally, put Ss in groups to re-enact the story based on the model re-enactment created by the whole class. Some groups may like to volunteer to re-enact the story as a play for the class. The teacher might like to video these, depending on equipment available.
Role-play a shopping trip. Set up role play situation, e.g. it's your teacher's birthday and you need to buy her a present, and put the Ss in groups of three (two friends, one shopkeeper for all the different shops). Demonstrate a role play with the TA and/or stronger Ss, role plays could focus on language for suggestions (Let's buy her some chocolates, etc), and/or functional shopping language (Can I have, here you are, etc). Depending on how much support the Ss need, provide a written example on board, and/or get the Ss to write their role play down before acting out. Some groups may like to volunteer to re-enact the story as a play for the class. The teacher might like to video these, depending on equipment available.
Using part 4 of the activity sheet, Ss write a paragraph describing their ideal birthday party. Ss should describe where it is, who's there, what presents they get, what theme it is, what games and activities they do, etc. They can use present simple or would as appropriate to level. Then they can illustrate their writing and display it in the classroom if possible.
