Jai Tiberius Hefflin Jai Tiberius Hefflin

Autumn Lesson for Childcare: Autumn Fun with Children (USA and Scotland)
Senior High School, Childcare course - lower intermediate (CEFR A2 to B1) level

Description

Childcare students learn six words for autumn activities with young children (craft, gentle, careful, rub, acorn, pile) and meet six simple autumn activities for children - three from the USA and three from Scotland - as ideas. The activities use only easy words, so students can focus on the six target words. They play "Teacher Says Please!" (a movement game where children only act when the teacher says "please"), learn useful English phrases to use with children, and practice giving instructions in English for a simple craft idea: **Leaf Rubbing Pictures**. In pairs, one student is the "teacher" and one is the "child."

Materials

Abc Autumn childcare slides
Abc autumn childcare worksheet
Abc crayons
Abc blank paper
Abc dried leaves

Main Aims

  • Students will learn six words and use short, clear instructions in English for a simple craft idea ("Please put the paper on the leaf. Rub gently. Well done!").

Subsidiary Aims

  • Students will see six autumn activities for children from the USA and Scotland (recognition only - they do not need to learn all the names). Students will learn and share useful English phrases to use with children.

Procedure

Warmer/lead in (3-4 minutes) • get students curious

Show the "What is in the bag?" slide. If you have a bag, let students touch the things inside without looking and guess ("It is a leaf." "It is an acorn."). If you have no bag, show pictures. Say: "Today we learn how to talk to children about autumn."

Presentation 1 - 6 new words (6-8 minutes) • Expand vocabulary

For each word: (1) show the picture, (2) say the word, students repeat twice (choral drilling means saying it together as a class), (3) give the simple meaning and do the action together, (4) ask the yes/no CCQs, (5) write the word on the board. Order: craft, gentle, careful, rub, acorn, pile.

Presentation 2 - Autumn activities in the USA and Scotland (4-5 minutes)

Show the two activity slides (USA and Scotland, three pictures each). Keep it quick - about 2-3 minutes per slide. For each picture: say the name (students repeat), read the one line, and ask one yes/no question (for example: "Do children in the USA jump in leaf piles?" (Yes) "Are there fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night?" (Yes) "Do children cut the lantern?" (No - adults cut)). Then ask once: "What would you do with children?" Let students share ideas in Japanese or English and help them say them in English

Controlled Practice 1 - "Teacher Says Please! (5-6 minutes)

Like "Simon says." Students are the children. Give instructions: "Please stand up." "Please rub your hands." "Please be gentle." "Please walk slowly." "Please pick up a leaf." Students do the action only if you say "please." If you do not say "please" ("Sit down."), they stay still. A student who moves by mistake sits for one round. In round 2, a student volunteer is the teacher.

Controlled Practice 2 - Worksheet Parts A to D (7-8 minutes)

Students match the words (Part A), fill in the blanks (Part B), put the craft steps in order (Part C), and match five situations to English phrases (Part D). They work alone, then check with a partner. Check answers as a class. For "Your turn" in Part D, ask students what they say to children in Japanese, and help them say it in English. Write their phrases on the board.

Production - Role-play: practice the English (14-16 minutes)

**Phrases (2 min):** show the "Useful English for children" slide and read it together. Ask students for their own phrases and add them to the board. (b) **Model (2 min):** with a student or another teacher, show the Leaf Rubbing Picture steps as one example. You are the "teacher," the student is the "child." (c) **Role-play (9 min):** pairs. Student A is the "teacher"; Student B is the "child" (age 4). A gives instructions for the Leaf Rubbing Picture (or a craft idea of their own); B follows and asks one question ("Why?" or "I can't do it."). The partner uses the English checklist in Part E. After about 4 minutes, swap roles. Walk around and listen for English: "please," short sentences, and praise phrases. (d) **Show (3 min):** 2-3 pairs show their role-play to the class. | Pairs, then whole class |

Wrap-up - autumn chant and delayed error correction (2-3 minutes)

Say the autumn chant on the slide line by line (students repeat), then together with actions. Delayed error correction means correcting mistakes after the activity, not during it: write 2-3 common mistakes you heard on the board (for example "She like it" instead of "She likes it") without names, and ask the class to correct them. Review the six words. Hand out the take-home craft card.

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