Grade:K-1
Skill:POE
Theme:Survival around the school
Key Vocabulary:schoolpencil
busmarkers
bathroomscissors
watereraser
sick/hurtcrayons
nurse
lunch
cafeteria
playground
I
need
Materials: Classroom items (pencil, crayons, marker, scissors, eraser)
Resources: Prior to this lesson, take pictures of places and people around the school. Laminate if possible. This is also a good activity for older ESL students to do. They can take the pictures, transfer them to the computer, type the name of the places, print everything out and assemble the cards.
Lesson Objective: Identify places around the school; identify objects in the classroom; follow oral directions
Procedure:Activity 1
Explain to the student that you are going to take a walk around the school to learn about the places in the school.
The first stop should be the bathroom. Demonstrate how to flush the toilet and turn on the water in the sink (this varies in different countries).
Practice saying bathroom and have the student repeat after you. Then practice raising your hand and say, “I need the bathroom.” The student should practice this several times until they can say it clearly.
Next you can visit the water fountain, the office, nurse’s office, principal, art room, music room, and the gym.
Try to introduce the student to the teachers in each area so the teachers know there is a new ELL student and the student is familiar with the teacher.
After you walk around the school, go back to the ESL room and review the places you visited by showing the student pictures of each place. Practice saying the names of the places in the school. Practice saying, “I need the bathroom.” This is very important! [Many young, new ELL have had accidents because they don’t know where to go to the bathroom or how to tell the teacher they need the bathroom.]
Activity 2
Introduce classroom items such as pencil, crayons, markers, scissors and eraser.
Demonstrate how to use each item.
Once the student has repeated the name of each item lay 3 or 4 items out on the table in a row.
Review the names of each item.
Ask the student to close their eyes (you may need to demonstrate this).
Take one item away and hide it in your lap or under the table. When the student opens their eyes they have to guess which item is missing.
Reward each correct guess with a sticker or another positive reinforcement.
Evaluation:Teacher Observation; memory game
Modifications and Extension Activities:
* More proficient ESL students may enjoy taking the new student for a tour of the school with you (especially if they speak the same native language).
* Once you have toured the school and introduced the pictures, make the pictures a part of your daily routine until the student knows all the places in the school.
* You or the student should also label everything in the classroom. This can be done prior to the student’s arrival or after they have learned some English. In either case, this can also be a part of the daily routine. Ask the student to find the pencil, the teacher’s desk, the door, etc. Or- ask them “What’s this?” and point to the computer etc.