THEATRE GAME
Improves cognitive skills
"Yes I can!"
The whole class
Divide the class into two lines (Line A and Line B) facing each other.
If there is one student left s/he will be the "leader".
The first students in each line take two large steps forward. A says, "I can fly!" B says, "No, you can't!" A says, "Yes, I can!" They walk on either side of the line to the back, repeating "Yes I can" and "No you can't" but go to the opposite line (A goes to the end of Line B, while B goes to the end of Line A).
Meanwhile, without waiting for the first two to get to the back, the next two, who are now at the front of the lines, immediately go through the same routine: A says "I can fly", B says "No you can't", A says "Yes I can" .
When the first two are back in the front (on opposite sides), A says "I can't fly!" B says "Yes you can!" A says "No I can't!"
The second time around make everyone go faster, and have them add movements, waving arms, stomping feet... It will get rowdy as students can mix things up, but it's okay, let them goof off at the end.
For ESL students you can add words to make a short sentence. "I can fly over that tree!" Have vocabulary ready, over the house, pond, road... Repeat the exercise a few time by replacing the word "Can't" with "Cannot".
PHONICS, VOCABULARY and IRREGULAR VERBS
(Please refer to the Sample Lesson Plan for the exercises)
Crane, Crest, Cringe, Chrome, Crumb - Flap, Fled, Flip, Flop, Flute
Can, Clam, Ban, Gram, Fan, Pram, Jam, Slam, Man, Tram, Pan, Bran, Tan
CONJUGATE: To feel, To fall, to bite
IMPROVISATION
"Pull the Rope"
Have the whole class do this in mime before the improvisation
Reach high up with one hand as if reaching for a rope with the fingertips, then the other hand goes up, reach as high as possible, moving one side then the other up in the air. "Catch" the rope. Pull down. Give the impression the rope is hard to pull down.
Make sure there is a space in your hand where the rope is supposed to be - in other words don't just clutch the hand! Finally pull the rope to the ground, hold it down with your foot, but it pops back up again. Follow the trajectory up with your face (so the audience can get the idea of the rope flying back up).
________________________
You can go over a simple dialogue with the students before the actual skit, and write it on the blackboard,
especially for ESL
Actor A walks across the stage, almost walks off the stage when his/her mind registers there's a rope hanging center stage. S/he walks backward to the (imaginary) rope. Looks around to see if anyone is watching, reaches up and pulls. Lightly at first, then with more gusto until s/he is almost hanging from it. A pulls harder and harder, and does not see Actor B walk up and stop to stare.
Finally A, still hanging onto the rope, sees B and freezes.
B - What are you doing?
A - Nothing,
B - Why are you pulling the rope?
A - I'm not pulling the rope.
B - Yes you are.
A - No I'm not! I'm...just testing.
B - What are you testing?
A - Things always need to be tested.
B - Is that so?
A - Oh yes. Come and see.
B goes up to A, A hands him/her the rope. While B is busy looking up, testing, A and sneaks off.
B - Wait a minute! Wait...!
TONGUE TWISTER
Barry the bird baked blueberry bread. Why did Barry bake blueberry bread? To bring to Bobby Baker!
The blue bird bit Billy's bottom. Why did the blue bird bite Billy's bottom? Billy's bottom had a bright blue button!
POEM
"Two Little Blackbirds"
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill
One named Jack, and one named Jill.
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill.
Separate the class into two, then change sides so each side says one line.
– Two little blackbirds
– Sitting on a hill – One named Jack
– One named Jill – Fly away Jack
– Fly away Jill
– Come back Jack
– Come back Jill
SONG
"Can you Fly?"
Lesson Plan
Origami Butterfly
ORIGAMI BIRDS
SOCK PUPPETS
SCULPTURE - I love this bird!
Click on the image for the template
Little bird, little bird, can you clap? No, I can’t. No, I can’t. I can’t clap.
Little bird, little bird, can you fly? Yes, I can. Yes, I can. I can fly.
Elephant, elephant, can you fly? No, I can’t. No, I can’t. I can’t fly.
Elephant, elephant, can you stomp? Yes, I can. Yes, I can. I can stomp.
Little fish, little fish, can you stomp? No, I can’t. No, I can’t. I can’t stomp.
Little fish, little fish, can you swim? Yes, I can. Yes, I can. I can swim.
Gorilla, gorilla, can you swim? No, I can’t. No, I can’t. I can’t swim.
Gorilla, gorilla, can you climb? Yes, I can. Yes, I can. I can climb.
Buffalo, buffalo, can you climb? No, I can’t. No, I can’t. I can’t climb.
Buffalo, buffalo, can you run? Yes, I can. Yes, I can. I can run.
Boy and girls, boys and girls, can you sing? Yes, we can. Yes, we can. We can sing.
Boys and girls, boys and girls, can you dance? Yes, we can. Yes, we can. We can dance.
We can sing. We can dance. Yes, we can. We can sing. We can dance. Yes, we can.
BIRD FACTS
There are approximately 10,000 species of birds worldwide.
Birds have hollow bones which help them fly.
Some bird species make and use tools.
Owls can turn their heads a complete circle, but they cannot move their eyes.
The ostrich is the largest bird in the world.
The bee hummingbird is 2 inches, the smallest bird in the world.
Hummingbirds can fly backwards.
