Vegetables and Stone Soup!

This week in my elementary ESL classroom, we are learning about folktales--and vegetables!

I found out that some of my students need to learn basic food vocabulary in English. So we are combining vegetable vocabulary lessons as we learn the story Stone Soup!

I found some great Stone Soup resources on the web, and I posted them on my Pinterest page. Check out my Stone Soup board!

Stone Soup Pinterest Board! Google+

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!

Get the conversation started with these story sticks!

I love this idea for more proficient ELL kids that need extra practice with conversation and story telling skills!  Today's Pinterest pin of the day:

Source: Uploaded by user via Laurie on Pinterest

Children pick one stick from each pile: a place, a problem, and a person.  Then they write or tell a story from the sticks. 

What a great idea!

Descriptive Words/Synonyms Activity!

"French fries" have made their way around the world, and many kids love them.  That also means that they will love this activity that I found today on Pinterest!

Source: Uploaded by user via Laurie on Pinterest

Help your ELL kids expand their vocabulary with these "french fry words!"

Pin of the Day: Angry Verbs Grammar Lesson!

I just love this idea, a take on the popular game "Angry Birds."

Source: pvroom121.blogspot.com.au via Laurie on Pinterest

For "Angry Verbs," every bird has a sentence, and kids need to identify the verb in each sentence.  What a great way to make grammar fun!

Pin of the Day: Springtime Compound Word Activity!

I love hands-on vocabulary learning.  Here is a great one for kids!

Source: lessonplandiva.blogspot.com via Lahia on Pinterest



Teaching compound words will suddenly become fun!  Can't wait to try this one.