Friday, March 29, 2013

ESL/ELL Lesson Resource: African Animal Unit

Do you use The Oxford Picture Dictionary for Kids with your ESL/ELL students?

I recently found a great companion book to go with the "I'm in Africa" African animals unit. It is the picture book What the Animals Were Waiting For by Jonathan London.





The illustrations are beautiful, and this picture book is the perfect complement to an African animal unit.

To give a little more insight into the value of these resources, here is a target vocabulary comparison:
 
 
The Oxford Picture Dictionary for Kids
African animals vocabulary:
gazelle
hippopotamus
zebra
giraffe
gorilla
chimpanzee
baboon
flamingo
leopard
jaws
spots
stripes

What the Animals Were Waiting For
African animals vocabulary:
cows
goats
gazelles
zebras
elephants
hippos
crocodiles
wildebeest
giraffes
lion
zebras

I hope you find this book helpful too!


 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

New Book: Perfect for an ESL Clothing Lesson!

I recently stumbled across this book at our local library. What a find for an ESL teacher! I was just starting a clothing unit with my newcomers, and this book was the perfect addition.

 
This picture book (Get Dressed! by Seymour Chwast) shows clearly labeled vocabulary words such as belt, long-sleeved shirt, socks, umbrella and sunglasses. However, it is not your ordinary clothing book. The whimsical illustrations highlight the imaginations of the children depicted in the books--and I must say that the pictures delighted my newcomers! The kids in the book get dressed for different activities (to read about dragons, to hide, to keep warm, etc.); the author shows ordinary wardrobe items in addition to a few unique items.
 
All in all, this book is a great one for your young ELL learners!