TEACHING INTERACTIVE ENGLISH
T.I.E. RHYMES [pair and groupwork]
ORIGINAL MATERIAL written by PHYLLIS ODED _-
Name:class:date: number:
THE COOK
I opened the refrigerator for something good to eat.
I even pulled up a chair and then I took a seat.
I took out pots; I opened lids, looking for something good.
I even looked in the freezer and took out what I could.
Then I began cooking and made a salad, too.
If you want to make the same, here's all you have to do:
1. Decide what it is that you cooked / prepared: ______
2. Tell how you made it. Give instructions:
a.First______
b.Next ______
c.After that ______
d.Then ______
e.I also ______
f.In the end ______
g.Finally, I threw it out [or gave it to the dog] and then I warmed up something [not the dog] in the microwave oven.
1.The easiest food for me to make is ______.
All I do is ______
______
2.My favorite food is ______
6. Make 10 words [minimum of 3 letters per word] using: microwave oven.
1. ______2. ______
3. ______4. ______
5. ______6. ______
7. ______8. ______
9. ______10. ______
ICE CREAM
Everybody likes ice-cream, everybody except me.
I like fruit and vegetables and water, milk and tea.
"What's the matter?" they ask. "Try it! Don't be hasty!
In summer ice-cream's cool, as well as being tasty!"
I used to like ice-cream, when I was very small
until something happened and now I won't eat any at all.
Mom had bought some ice-cream, enough for all of us,
when I decided I wanted all of it and began to make a fuss.
"All of it!" I said. "I'll eat it all myself!
There will be none left to put back on the freezer shelf!"
Mom tried to reason with me; I refused to hear a word.
"All of it for me!" is what my family heard.
Mom looked at dad and then they gave me a spoon.
"O.K.! Keep eating till it's gone and then you can leave the room!"
Half way through the ice-cream, I knew I didn't want anymore.
Mom sat there smiling. Dad stood by the door.
The spoonfuls of ice-cream were no longer tasty to me.
But I was too proud to say so, or to let anyone see
that I had made a big mistake. I should have listened to what mom said.
I finished it all S-L-O-W-L-Y and then I went to bed.
Well, I've never eaten ice-cream since that fateful day.
And if you try and make me:
Choose your own ending: I'll never say O.K.
I'll just try and delay.
I won't even if you pay!
I'll leave! I'll go away.
1.Who is the narrator, boy / girl? age: ___ Reason:______
2.Explain why s/he won't eat ice-cream today in 3-4 sentences:
______
______
______
______
3.I agree / disagree with the parents who forced their child to eat all the ice-cream because:
______
______
4. The child learned / didn't learn a lesson from this experience. Explain. ______
______
______
______
5. Retell the story in English to your group. YOU are the narrator. Begin: One day I…..
WHO DID IT?
I just finished a mystery book; I read it to see "who did it".
A doctor was killed with a gun. I wondered where the killer had hid it.
There were many clues if you knew where to look
[and if you didn't, you could check the last page in the book.]
The police investigated; four people were suspected.
Two had good alibis, so they were soon rejected.
The other two had motives, but no one had seen them there
until a neighbor's son saw one and said, "What happened to your hair?"
It seems that one of the suspects had worn a wig that day.
The little boy had seen him, when he went out to play.
The motive? It was easy. The man had an operation and lost all his hair,
so he decided to kill his doctor, claiming, "Nothing in life is fair!"
1. According to the narrator, by what two ways can you know the answer / end in a
mystery story?
a.______
b.______
2. Do you think that this narrator read the last page first? Why, or why not?
______
______
______
3.Why are mystery stories so popular? ______
______
______
4.What was the motive for murder in the book that the narrator had read?
______
______
5.How was the murderer apprehended [caught]? ______
______
______
6.What is an eye-witness? ______
7.What was the neighbor's son an eye-witness to? ______
______
______
______
SPEAK SOFTLY
"Speak softly!" said Shoshana. "She's sleeping. Let her be.
If she wakes up, she'll drive us crazy. Watch and you will see!
She always sleeps in the afternoon, so I can rest then too.
Having
Choose one:grandmother
a new puppyliving here, there's so much for me to do."
a new baby
1.Choose your answer.
2.Write 5-6 sentences about your choice, answering the following questions:
a.What does he/she/it look like?
b.How old is he/she/it?
c.Why is there so much to do when he/she/it wakes up?
d.How long has he/she/it been in Shoshana's house?
e.Who is Shoshana to he/she/it?
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
3.Why is Shoshana happy that he/she/it is asleep? ______
______
4.Go on with the story after he/she/it wakes up. Then what happened?
______
______
______
______
FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS
[that I hate to hear]
"I'm so happy to meet you!" [That's what I have to say]
when inside I think to myself, "How can I get away?"
"Would you like to hear another joke?" [His others were so bad]
but you answer "Of course!" politely, while you think that you'll go mad.
How about, "May I borrow ten shekels?" [You know you'll never see the money again.]
And when you ask for the money back, he says 'SOON', but won't say 'WHEN'.
"This food is really tasty. May I please have some more?"
You have to say it to your hostess [whose dog won't eat it off the floor.]
"May I use your phone a minute?" is another phrase I hate.
He dials half the country, while you just sit and wait.
"May I borrow a cup of sugar?" your nosy neighbor wants to know.
Then she sits down to gossip and doesn't want to go.
But the expression I hate the most is, "Help me on the test!"
The teacher will catch only me, and forget about the rest.
1. Which of the above expressions happened to you? Explain.
______
______
______
______
2. Write at least one of your least favorite expressions:
______
3. Why do people say things they don't mean? ______
______
______
4. What would happen if you told the truth [how you really felt]? ______
______
______
5.How could you politely avoid or get out of each of the above situations?
a. ______
b. ______
c. ______
d. ______
e. ______
f. ______
g. ______
6.ACT OUT the above dialogues.
HEAT
It's hot today, cold tomorrow; rain the day after that.
Should I carry an umbrella, or should I wear a hat?
The temperature will rise and the humidity will get higher.
If I go outside today, it's like being in a fire!
The more I sweat, the more I drink; this weather makes me tired.
I'd like to know if the weatherman and the ozone layer have conspired
to make me feel uncomfortable, to make me stay away
from all the sales being offered at the shopping mall today!
1.Who is the narrator? ______
______
2.What are three of the narrator's complaints?
[1] ______
[2] ______
[3] ______
3.Which is the main complaint? ______
4.How does hot weather/the heat affect you?
1.in general: ______
2.in the classroom: ______
3.at the beach/pool:______
4.in a shopping mall: ______
5.in a bus:______
6.when the humidity is very high:______
5.What can be done to make ourselves more comfortable during hot weather?
1.eat: ______
2.drink:______
3.wear:______
4.______
5.______
6. Explain what global warming is and what you think has caused it.
______
______
______
______
______
______
LIVING IN A TOWN
I live in a town that isn't very big,
but it's very nice here and where I want to live.
Almost everybody here knows who I am
and I know everybody, or at least most of them.
Our school isn't a big one and our classes are fairly small.
As for 'problem children', we have few or none at all.
The neighborhoods are all the same and the neighbors get along.
Who needs the big city? In a small town you can't go wrong.
There aren't any drug parties; we have no 'wild places' to go,
so we dance in each other's houses. [To you that may seem 'slow'.]
But the quality of life is good here. We're happy as we are.
We don't need discos or nightclubs or wild parties or a bar.
We're average Israelis, who will be soldiers in the next few years.
We'll be proud to serve in combat units, equal among our peers.
1.Who is the narrator?
Reason: ______
2.Who is the narrator speaking to? ______
Reason: ______
3.Where does the narrator live? [Which part of the country?]______
Reason: ______
4.Write four things the narrator tells you about his/her town:
1.2.
3.
4.
Are they positive or negative things? ______
5.How does the narrator compare living in a small town with living in a big city?
SMALL TOWN / BIG CITY1.
2.
3.
4.
I AM GOING TO DO IT…
I am going to do it; honestly I will.
I'll soon get round to it; there's time to do it still.
There are so many other things, more interesting to do
like talking on the phone or watching T.V., just to name a few.
See! I've written it on my list. [I think it's somewhere there.]
I'll do it [get off my back]; it really isn't fair
for you keep reminding me that it still isn't done.
Don't worry!
Choose your own answer: I'll get it done by one!
Can't you see I'm having fun?
It weighs more than a ton!
It can't be done in the sun.
But don't expect me to run!
1.Who is the narrator? ______
2.Who is the narrator talking to? ______
3.What is the 'it'? ______
4.Name four steps the narrator will have to take in order to do 'it':
1.2.
3.
4.
5.Tell about something that you kept putting off until it was too late to do it, and what
happened as a result. [Answer the questions: what/when/where/why.] [100+ words]
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
NON-STOP
* The ceiling fan went 'round and 'round and hypnotized my eyes
until I felt them closing, among my gentle sighs.
* The teacher's voice went on and on, as she told us what to think.
Her voice was so soporific, that I found it hard to blink.
1.Rephrase in your own words [in English] each part of the poem:
* ______
* ______
2.Compare the ceiling fan with the teacher's voice.
ceiling fan / teacher's voice1.
2.
3.
3.You are the ceiling fan in the poem. Describe yourself, your location, and the person in the room:
* ______
* ______
* ______
4.You are the teacher in the poem. Explain why you chose to lecture rather than to allow
your students to participate and/or think. Describe your student in this poem.
* ______
* ______
* ______
5.Explain the line "she told us what to think": ______
______
6.Explain the title: ______
______
7.What things are good non-stop?
non-stop: / reason:8. What things need to have a break in the middle?
needs a stop: / reason:THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED!
We started out studying, seven of us from one class.
We all sat in my small bedroom, desperate to pass.
One of the boys got up; he had to use the phone.
After he had made his call, he left; he just went home.
Six of us were left, gathered 'round the table,
studying for the test, as hard as we were able.
My younger sister walked by and as she looked in at us,
said one, "Go on without me!" and left without a fuss.
Five of us sat studying; the work wasn't easy at all.
One girl went out to buy a paper and read it in the hall.
Four of us sat studying; it was nearly time for lunch.
One said he was hungry and wanted something to munch.
Three remained in the room; two guys and there was me.
We decided to keep on studying; on this we'd all agree.
Then one said that he had had enough; his head was going 'round.
He took his books and left us, without another sound.
So there we stayed, he and I, the only two still there.
We finished all the material and really didn't care
that the hour was late, 'cause the work was done and now we both were free.
We went out to celebrate: our first date, just him and me.
Oh, the test? It was easy; our grades, of course, were high.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ENDING:
- But he never asked me out again, and I never found out why!
- He became my boyfriend and I'll love him till I die!
- Then he started dating my younger sister and I knew that I would cry!
1.How old is the narrator? __ Reason:______
2.Why were only two left studying?
1.2
3.
4.
5.
6.Explain the title. What is the IT? ______
7.How are first dates arranged? ______
______
8.After you've chosen your ending, go on and finish the story [50+ words]. What happened? Use your
imagination.
MY MOM
My mom tried to learn to swim; she got into the pool
and sank right to the bottom. [That's one way of keeping cool!]
Then she tried to drive a car. She had lessons without end.
The instructor quit when she closed her eyes while driving round a bend.
The next thing was a computer: her mouse went 'drunk' and 'wild'.
She never learned the basic things [that are known to every child.]
But when you put her in the kitchen, her chocolate cake's divine.
You're welcome to come over for a piece today at any time.
1. Is the narrator a boy or a girl? Explain: ______
______
2. What is the narrator's opinion of his/her mom, positive or negative?
Reason: ______
______
3.Which of the four things told about this mother seemed the important to the narrator
and why? ______
______
I agree/disagree because______
______
4.Should she have been able to learn all of the above? Explain.
______
______
5.Rate the 4 in order of importance to you and explain why each is important:
skill / reason1.
2.
3.
4.
6.Name one thing your mom [aunt, someone else's mom] tried to do many times and
never succeeded in doing. Explain why not.
______
______
______
______
TELL ME WHAT YOU HEARD
If you tell me what was said, I'll tell you if it's true.
You can't just leave after saying, "I heard a strange rumor about you."
What did you hear and by whom it was said?
Why are you embarrassed? Why is your face so red?
If you're really a good friend of mine, why leave me in the dark?
And if you have changed your mind, why did you ever start?
On second thought, I bet you think what you heard is true,
or else you wouldn't be here now and act the way you do!
What is it you think I've done? Could it really be so bad
for you to act the way you do and lose the best friend you've ever had?
1.Do you 'owe' it to your good friends to tell them any rumors you've heard about
them? Explain. ______
______
______
2.Explain the expression: "My mind is made up! Don't confuse me with the facts!"
______
______
Do you think it applies here? Explain. ______
______
______
3.Explain the expression: "Where there's smoke, there's fire" in connection to this
story. ______
______
______
______
4. Who are the two people in the above story? ______
Reason: ______
______
5. What could the rumor be? Why do you think so? ______
______
______
6. How do rumors get started? ______
______
How do they grow? ______
______
______
THERE HAS TO BE AN ANSWER
There has to be an answer [although I haven't found it yet]
and if I don't find it soon, I know what grade I'll get!
Math seemed to get harder with every passing year.
"It's the teachers who aren't teaching well," is what I'd often hear.
Personally, it's neither. It's me, the student, who's to blame.
I didn't do all the homework; I thought it's just a game
until my last year, when I 'woke up' fast one day
only to discover two years had wasted away.
Then I sat to study; then I tried so hard.
I want to graduate so now I'm on my guard.
And if I had studied, like I should a year ago,
today you wouldn't be listening to my tale of woe.
There has to be an answer [although I haven't found it yet]
and if I don't find it soon, I know what grade I'll get!
1.Is the narrator a boy or a girl? Reason: ______
______
2. When did the narrator 'wake up'? ______
Why? ______
3. Where is the narrator telling the story? ______
4. What is the narrator's specific problem? ______
5. Whom does s/he blame for this problem and why? ______
______
6. What is the tale of woe? ______
7.
[ ] agree [ ] disagree 1. Math does get harder with every passing year!Reason:
[ ] agree [ ] disagree 2. It is the math teacher's fault if the student fails to learn math!
Reason:
[ ] agree [ ] disagree 3. Math students expect their students to go for private lessons!
Reason:
[ ] agree [ ] disagree 4. The responsibility for learning any subject is on the student's shoulders.
Reason:
ADJECTIVES
1.Was it a short story? No, it was ______.
Did you read a poem? No, we sang a song.
2.Are you happy? No, I'm very ______.
Was he a good boy? No, he was very ______.
3.Is she still fat? No, now she is quite ______.
Did you lose the game? Yes, but we tried to win.
4.Is it hot outside? No, it's very ______.
Is she young? No, she's very ______.
5.Is the dog large? No, it's ______.
Is Tom short? No, he's quite ______.
6.Is the bus stop near? It's very ______.
Did you walk here? No, I came by car.
7.Are these old shoes? No, they are ______.
That's all the work there now is for you!
GOOD MORNING, CLASS.