All singing, all dancing KG lesson plan

1. (Optional) Quick revision of language and setting up of props needed for first song.

For example, drill colours from colour word prompts and then get the students to tell you where you should put the flashcards around the class (‘Under the door’ etc), to run and touch during songs like ‘Red, Yellow, Blue’ or ‘I can sing a rainbow’. 

2. Revision of actions to get them moving

Get the students to ‘Stand up’/ ‘sit down’ as quickly as possible, then make the two actions random to make them listen more carefully and try to catch them out. Continue with all the actions done in the course so far (ski quickly; touch colours and classroom objects; mime animals and transport, etc). 

3. Song 1: Warmer action song.

Students sit down and then get straight back up again for an easy-to-organise action song like ‘Red Yellow Blue’, ‘Musical Statues’ , ‘YMCA’, ‘the Wheels on the Bus’ etc. If possible, this should be a song they have done at least once before- introducing new stuff is better left until they are more warmed up. 

4. New language

Introduce the new language for the day, e.g. introduce a new lexical set such as toys; add more vocabulary to a topic you’ve introduced before, such as adding new colours;  teach new phonics; teach word recognition of words they already know 

5. Revision

Revision of previous weeks' language, preferably through a fun game  

6. Song 2: New song

This is a good point to introduce any new songs- while they still have some concentration power left! This might be, for example, a song that you want to use as the first song of next week’s class, a song that practices the new or revised language above, or a song that sets you up for the language you are going to introduce next week. This and the ‘revision’ stage above can be switched around if you want to use a song at the next stage.  

7. (Optional) Song 3: Settling down

Use a quieter song to settle the kids down for bookwork, e.g. alphabet and counting songs. I tend to get the students moved to the table with their books and pencils ready on the table and do one of these songs before they open the books. The first thing we talk about in the book is then the thing connected to the song, e.g. ‘What number page?’ after a counting song.  

8. Bookwork

You can use a chant or song for opening books and closing books if you know or can make up a suitable one, or just have some quiet music in the background if you like. 

9. Song 4: Re-energiser

Do a physical activity or a physical song they already know well to get ready of restlessness built up during bookwork. 

10. Quieter activity

For example, jigsaws, crafts or storytime.  

11. Song 5: Grand finale

Finally, a rousing action song to send them off on a high. This should be a fun, physical song, but one where you are all standing round together such as ‘Head Shoulders Knees and Toes’, ‘Hokey Cokey’ or ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ rather than a tearing round the class one like ‘Tables and Chairs’ This being the last thing in the class, it’s best if you use a song you can easily extend or cut short to match the available time, such as one with plenty of verses or one that can be repeated with variations.   

The plan above is for a 55 minute lesson with up to about 14 students, but even with half that number of songs your class should be like an Andrew Lloyd Webber production (but without the boring bits!) 

© Alex Case 2007- www.tefl.net/alexcase, alexcase@hotmail.com

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MORE GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR ESL KIDS

Speaking,Pronunciation & Listening Games.

1. Hot-seat : A lifetime favorite for most language teachers, this game has long been the cornerstone of most ESL classroom speaking activities and games. It is quite easy to play yet it gets a lot of language out of students if well thought out.

2. Freeze!or Stop! Ball Game: This game can practice any language point and it is very easy to set up. How to play. Read more...

3. Hop and Say + Rocks, Paper & Scissors : Perfect and exciting game with cards lined up on the floor. Learn how to play

4. Talking Volleyball: A high-energy game; talking volleyball will practice vocabulary and simple sentences in a communicative way. How to play. Read more...

5. Mallet Mallet: A fun game for practicing vocabulary and sentences. How to play

. 6. Chinese whispers: A fun game for listening and getting correct pronunciation of words. How to play.

7. Miming games: Excellent game for eliciting description of actions and adjectives.How to play

8.Fly swatting: A vocabulary practice game with speaking and pronunciation practice. How to play. Read more...

9. Musical chairs: How to play- Bring some nice kids music to class. Put chairs in circle and make it short by one chair. Students listen to music and when you stop it they sit down. The one person who remains standing answers a few questions. Game continues.

Reading, writing/spelling games

1. Running Dictation: Skills:  Reading, writing ; Requirements: pen and paper and text excerpts. How to play. 1(b) Running Dictation for Large classes and Young Learners' Classes- This is excellent for beginners to elementary levels. Also adapted for large classes

2. I spy something…  Skills- Vocabulary, speaking, reading and listening  How to play  

3. Memory or Concentration game : Great game for many language skills practice.Skills: Ideal for teaching words that have a close relationship. How to play- Sample

4. Spelling relay: Skills: Spelling and reading of words. How to play.

5. Word searching games: Reading and spelling game. How to play

6. Mallet Mallet for spelling. How to play. This is a variation of Mallet Mallet described above. But this time students take turns spelling a word.

7. Chopstick relay : This is a variation of Spelling relay but this time using chopsticks and alphabet cards.

8. Spelling Bee: Teacher says a word and student spells. Any mistake not allowed.

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