Lesson plan

Dinosaur dig
Topic
Story: Dinosaur dig

Aims
To practise: vocab: vocabulary connected with computer games and dinosaurs structure: past simple skills: integrated skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing)

Age group
Primary

Level
A1/A2

Time
90 minutes approximately

Materials
1. Story: Dinosaur dig http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories/dinosaur-dig 2. Activity sheet, answers and transcript for the story (log-in to LearnEnglish Kids to access) http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/sites/kids/files/attachment/stories-dinosaur-digworksheet-final-2012-11-01.pdf http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/sites/kids/files/attachment/stories-dinosaur-digworksheet-answers-final-2012-12-04.pdf http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/sites/kids/files/attachment/stories-dinosaur-digtranscript-final-2012-07-13.pdf 3. Dinosaur flashcards (log-in to LearnEnglish Kids to access) http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/worksheets/dinosaur-factsheets 4. Song: Dinosaur 1-10 http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/songs/dinosaur-1-10 5. Game: Quiz-o-saurus http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/fun-games/quiz-o-saurus

Lesson plan
Introduction
In this lesson, Ss will be introduced to the popular story Dinosaur dig. Ss will watch the story, complete comprehension activities, look at some lexis for computer games and dinosaurs, and review the story. Finally Ss can do some extension work based on the story, finding out about dinosaurs, inventing their own, and presenting it to the class.

Procedure
1. Introduce the topic (5 mins) Load the Dinosaur dig story and make the pre-story puzzle with the Ss. Alternatively, show a screenshot from the game. Ask Ss to tell you where the picture comes from (a computer game) and how they know (3 lives left). Ask Ss if they think they would like this computer game, and what their favourite is. Ask Ss to predict what they think the story will be about and what might happen in the story. Brainstorm ideas as a class and write them on the board. Play the story. Ss should listen and say which of the ideas on the board were correct. Ask Ss to complete as much as they can of part 1 of the activity sheet: put the sentences in order and match the sentences to the pictures. Play the story again to help Ss finish. Then give the Ss the transcript of the story to check their own answers. Ask Ss if they liked the story, and if they would play the game again if they were Sonia. Play the story all the way through. After each page of the story, ask questions about it, and ask Ss to tell you what happens next. You could give points for correct answers. Review some vocabulary to describe dinosaurs. Use this game http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/word-games/label-the-picture/dinosaur or print one of the dinosaur flashcards to use. Elicit or teach other language from the flashcards to describe dinosaurs, such as planteater/meateater, x metres long, etc. Choose one of the dinosaur flashcards and display it as large as possible, so that the Ss can see. Ask Ss questions about the dinosaur and encourage them to read the answers from the flashcard. The questions could be: 1. What does Velociraptor mean? 2. When did the Velociraptor live? 3. Where did the Velociraptor live? 4. What did the Velociraptor eat? 5. How big was the Velociraptor? 6. What was special about the Velociraptor? Choose another flashcard and display only the picture and name. Encourage Ss to ask you questions to find out the information. As they ask each question, or to help them if they find it difficult, reveal or write each question on the board.

2. Focus on the story: gist (5-10 mins)

3. Focus on the story: comprehension (10 mins) 4. Reviewing the story (5 mins)

5. Focus on vocabulary: dinosaurs (5-10 mins)

6. Focus on structure: group interviews (10-15 mins)

Lesson plan
Now explain to the Ss that they are going to have their own dinosaur flashcard, and then they are going to interview 3 or 4 other members of the class to find out about each others dinosaurs. Give Ss one dinoasaur flashcard each and put them in small groups to conduct the interviews. Ss should make notes in their notebooks, or you might like to produce a table that they can complete. Drill the questions before Ss start. After the activity, ask Ss what was their favourite dinosaur they found out about, and why. 7. Written extension: invent a dinosaur (10-15 mins) Tell Ss that they are going to invent a dinosaur and that they are going to produce something similar to the flashcards with the name of their dinosaur, a picture, and the information. First brainstorm ideas as a class, especially for the special features category, and write some on the board. Encourage creativity! Now ask Ss to write in their notebooks. Monitor to praise and help. Give Ss paper to produce their flashcard. Put Ss into pairs. Ask them to test each other by swapping their flashcards and asking questions about each others dinosaurs to see how much they can remember about their own dinosaur. Allow Ss time to prepare/memorise in advance! Invite volunteers to present their dinosaur to the class. Afterwards, display their work around the classroom. Put Ss into pairs. They play the game in part 2 of the activity sheet. If there is time and interest, you might like to listen to or sing the Dinosaur 1-10 song with your Ss. For homework, Ss could write about their favourite computer game (part 3 of the activity sheet) or alternatively they could invent their own computer game. If Ss have internet access at home, they can watch the story again, or listen to the song. They could also try this Quiz-o-saurus game where they learn about more dinosaurs and print a dinosaur expert certificate at the end. http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-kids/tips-using-stories

8. Oral extension: pairwork and presentation (1015 mins) 9. Game (5-10 mins) 10. Song (5-10 mins) 11. Setting homework (5 mins)

Further reading

Contributed by
Rachael Ro