Cake and Pie Idioms
Module
Language Proficiency
Unit
Understanding and Using Idioms
Programme Outline
Do you like eating hot cakes?Come and learn to make hot cakes with Jenny and Hayley. It is a piece of cake!Do you know that “a piece of cake” is an idiom? An idiom is a group of word put together to create a special meaning. Use some imagination and a good dictionary. They help you understand the real meaning of an idiom. Or just watch the programmetogetherto learn some interesting idioms using cakes and pies.
Key Stage 2 Learning Targets
To develop an ever-improving capability to use English
~ to participate with others in making choices and decisions for carrying out events
(I.S.d)
~ to give expression to imaginative ideas through oral, written and performative means such as providing simple oral and written descriptions of a situation, object or character (E.S.c)
Communicative functions
1. Ask for and give explanations of the hidden meanings of some cake and pie idioms
2. Draw others’ attention to people and things, and describe them with idioms, e.g.,
“The tickets are selling like hot cakes.”, “Learning to cook is a piece of cake.”, etc.
Suggested activities
1. Print out the pictures of cakes and pies in COPYMASTER 1. Ask pupils what they see in the pictures.
2. Explain to pupils that in the programme there are some common idiomsusingcakes and pies.Guess the meaning of an idiomin the first place. Then find out the hidden meaning of the idiom in a good dictionary withclear and simple explanation, and example sentences.Encourage pupils to learn more idioms so that they can be more confident in the communication with native English speakers who use many idioms in their daily conversations.
3. Introduce the programme briefly and the presenters, Jenny and Hayley.
4. Watch the programme together.
5. Draw pupils’ attention to the explanation given by the presenters after the introduction of each idiomatic expression.
6. After watching, distribute COPYMASTER 2 Part 1Look and Studyto pupils. Go through the idioms,their meanings and their usage.Ask pupils to practisereading out the idioms in class.The more familiar the pupils are with the expressions, the more likely they will use them in speaking and writing.
a. “It’s a piece of cake!”
Say it when we find something that is very easy to do.
b. “Something selling like hot cakes.”
Use it to describe something that is selling quickly and in great numbers.
c. “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”
Say it to advise people to choose between two things. It is because usually they cannot have both of them.
d. “It’s not as easy as pie.”
Say it when we find something that is difficult to do.
e. “You have your finger in too many pies!”
Say it to warn people that they are doing too many things at a time.
7. To revise the use of the idioms, pupils have to complete the sentencein COPYMASTER 2 Part 2 by filling in the correct idiom. Allow them tolook at the idioms in COPYMASTER2Part 1 if they need help.
Answers:
a. Cooking is very difficult. It’s notas easy as pie./ a piece of cake.
b. I think I got a pass in the driving test. It was a piece of cake!
c. We may not get any seats. The tickets of this 3D movie are selling like hot cakes.
d. You look really tired. You have your finger in too many pies! Cut some activities.
e. You can decide. Either you go to the football match or you go to Thailand.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too!
COPYMASTER 1
Cake and Pie idioms
COPYMASTER 2
Cake and Pie idioms
Part 1. Look and Study
Cake and Pie Idioms
Say it when we find something that is very easy to do.
Use it to describe something that is selling quickly and in great numbers.
Say it to advise people to choose between two things.It is because usually they cannot have both of them.
Say it when we find something that is difficult to do.
Say it to warn people that they are doing too many things at a time.
COPYMASTER 2
Cake and Pie idioms
Part 2. Fill in the blanks.Use the idioms in Part 1.
a. Cooking is very difficult. It is not ______.
b. I think I got a pass in the driving test. It was ______.
c. We may not get any seats. The tickets of this 3D movie are ______
______.
d. You look really tired. ______.
Cut some activities.
e. You have to decide. Either you go to the football match or you go to Thailand with
us.______.
1