Teaching Pack

Age: over 8 years

Superheroes

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Introduction
For one week, you will be responsible for running a stage or a holiday language
program for children over 8 years old. The aim of this week is for children to learn
English in a fun, relaxed and creative environment.
The following booklet has been produced in order to support the teaching and learning
of English during the holiday language program. A hardcopy of this booklet has also
been sent to the family.

First Day Tips

Welcoming the Children
Smile and welcome each child. Introduce yourself and learn their names and few things
about the child to help create a connection and to help the child to feel comfortable with
you. Be friendly but identify yourself as a person of authority so that the child knows
that they have to listen to you.
First Activity of the Day
Have an ice-breaker or warm up activity prepared for the first session to help the child
to settle into the session. Short, simple games like throwing a ball, dancing to music,
making a name tag, etc. can be very effective.
Behaviour Management
With the child create a list of rules together for example, no shouting, listen to the
language ambassador, only speak English, etc. When you are finished you and the child
will sign the rules and agree to follow them. Then stick the rules up somewhere in the
room and if the child is misbehaving bring their attention back to the rules that they
signed. Praise good behaviour and address bad behaviour firmly. Discuss bad

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Teaching Tips
Semi-Circle Learning
If you have more than one child then in order to get the full attention of children, place
their chairs in a semi-circle. Your chair should be in the centre of the circle and you
should be able to see each face clearly. Semi-Circle Learning is good for introducing new
language/showing flashcards/singing songs. It can be used for any age group. It is a
good way of controlling the group as they do not have any distractions (tables to push,
pens to play with, paper to rustle etc).
Examples of Activities
Have an example of the activity/craft already completed (or almost completed) before
explaining the task. This will help children understand what they need to do.
Flashcards and Pictures
Keep the flashcards or pictures that you use to teach language, you will need them on
the final day in order to revise all language. It is a nice idea to attach the pictures to the
walls so that children are reminded constantly of new language taught and learnt.
Repetition
Repeat language constantly, this is the only way children will learn. If for example, one
of your language aims for the day is to teach the word pirate ensure that you are
repeating the word as much as possible in many different ways. Use phrases such as A
pirate for Roman, a pirate for Pierre, Colour the pirate Wheres your pirate Pierre?
What colour is the pirate Roman? Ask questions even if you know the answers, it will
help children to become familiar with the vocabulary and basic language structures.
How to Teach Songs to Children
Dont expect children to start singing the song straight away. Children learn first by
listening. It is a good idea to show some pictures related to the song before they listen
to allow the children to have an idea of what the song is about before it begins. Follow
these steps when introducing a new song:

Show flashcards/teach actions before you listen to the song.

Listen to the song entirely on the CD (do not sing or encourage the children to
sing). This is a chance for them to listen.
The pace of songs on CD/internet is often too fast for children when they are
learning. Try and sing the song at a slower tempo. Stop after each line or after
half a line and encourage the children to repeat. If there are actions, you can do
the actions at the same time, children learn better with actions to help them.
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Repeat until the children are confident and then introduce a little more.
When you have completed the song, sing it from the beginning again.
The song can be played on the CD throughout the day as background music.
Start each morning and afternoon by singing that days song and songs you have
previously learnt together.

Preparing for the last day

Parents and family members will want to see what they child has learnt during the week
and how they have progressed. It is a good idea to sing the songs you have learnt
together, to play some of the games you know the children enjoy and to try and get the
children to use as much of the language as possible. You can also display some of the
craft/work you have done together throughout the week.

Other Useful Tips

Praise, praise, praise!
The power of constructive encouragement cannot be underestimated. Build confidence
and motivation by responding positively to good behaviour, effort and progress.
Reward, reward, reward!
Distribute stickers, stars and certificates for positive achievements. Ensure that rewards
are displayed in a central place in the classroom for all to see.
Process, not product
When working with very young children, keep in mind that it is the process and not the
product which is important.
Shy children
Do not be discouraged by children reluctant to participate due to shyness. Children will
often listen to songs being sung and performed, remaining silent and then sing the
songs at a later stage. A child listening is a child learning.
Poor Behaviour
Remember at all times that you are in charge and not the child with whom you are
working. It is natural that children test boundaries and one way they do this is by
challenging behaviour. Be prepared!

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Preparing for Poor Behaviour

Set boundaries be clear, stating what you expect from the child right from the start.
Use the behaviour chart regularly throughout the day. Allow them to earn stars/stickers
each time they demonstrate good behaviour.
Consistent Consequences
Good behaviour results in positive consequences (stickers, praise etc) and bad
behaviour results in negative consequences (no stickers, informing parents etc). Be
consistent with this, if you are not consistent it wont work.
Power of Positivity
Aim to remain POSITIVE throughout the holiday language program. If you are working
with a particularly challenging child it is very easy to start feeling negative. Punish poor
behaviour quickly, quietly and firmly, before moving on. When a challenging child does
something positive, give plenty of positive attention and praise. Children mirror
behaviour, so set firm boundaries and remain positive. Both you and the child become
much happier.

Emergency Ideas
This booklet has been created to support your teaching during the holiday program.
There is a wide range of activities which will keep both you and the children very busy.
If you find however that an activity doesnt work, maybe because it is too difficult or too
easy, or maybe the children arent enjoying it, dont panic! There is nothing wrong with
stopping an activity and starting a new one. There are no time guidelines given because
some individuals will finish a task in 5 minutes and others may take 15 minutes. If you
find that some children finish their work before others, always have something ready for
them to do. Here are some ideas for such emergencies:
1. Fold a piece of paper into 8 and ask the children to draw 8 pictures of new words
they have learnt during the holiday program.
2. Distribute a piece of paper to each child, call out a topic e.g. colours and give the
children 30 seconds to write as many colours in English as possible. After the 30
seconds change the topic. Dont worry too much if the spelling isnt perfect.
3. Pictionary ask the child to draw a picture from the vocabulary that they have
learnt.

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4. Throw a ball have the children stand up around the classroom. Throw a ball
randomly and ask the children to call out a colour or an animal they know in
English. With the more advanced they can create sentences.
5. Sing a song you have learnt together
6. If you have internet access in the classroom, find one of the songs you have
learnt on youtube and watch it together.
7. Bingo
8. Hangman (use words you have learnt together)
9. Finish work that was previously started but remains unfinished
10. Design their own a) secret hide-away b) amusement park c) island

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d) flag

Summary of all the activities

Age: up to 8 years
Theme: Superheros
Session

Sub-Theme

Introducing the
weeks concept and
create a superhero

Activities
-

Introductions: Yourself and the

child/children, authority, rules,
ice-breaker game, etc.
Introduce the overall theme for
the week
Design your own superhero
* Song
Short story
Word search

Targets
Phrases: Hello, my name is I
am __ years old I like I dont
like One interesting thing
about me is My favorite
superhero isbecause etc.
Vocabulary: body parts, clothes,
adjectives
Song: Introduction of the song
listening only.

Designing a villain /
your arch-enemy

Create a villain include his

name, special power, secret
identity, most memorable
adventure
Emotions
Create a secret hide-away
* Song
Short Story
Crossword

Phrases: Three words to

describe good people are
Three words to describe bad
people are If I had a superpower it would be
Vocabulary: emotions,
adjectives, locations, types of
rooms
Song: The child will start singing
some sentences along with you.

Gadgets and
transport

Design special gadgets of your

superhero to use and describe
their special abilities
Create a unique vehicle for your
superhero
Build a story
* song
Board game

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Phrases: My superhero vehicle

can This gadget has lots of
secret uses, such as
Vocabulary: transport,
adjectives, colors, creative
English.
Song: The child will be
expected to repeat all sentences
after you.

Superhero comic
strip

Create a comic strip about an

adventure between your
superhero and villain.
* song
Board game

Phrases: younger children with

an intermediate level of English
can use short phrases, older
children with a more advanced
level of English should write full
sentences.
Vocabulary: Use the vocabulary
learnt during the week.
Song: The child will sing the
lyrics with you, maybe with the
CD.

Revision

Revise all of the weeks targets

through games.
Finish off any work that was not
completed during the week
Practice and perform the song of
the week.
Presentation to parents and child

Phrases: Revision
Vocabulary: Revision
Song: The child will sing the
song along with the CD.

*Song:
Over the course of the week the children will learn a new song that is related to the
vocabulary or topic of the week. The song is a fun idea for the children to perform to the
parents on the last day of the week. There is more than one song from you to choose
from based on the age and level of English of the children you are working with. There is
a link to each of the songs below. You will also find a copy of the lyrics for each song in
this pack.

Song one:
(for younger or less advanced students)
Superhero Childrens Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWI6P62TvfU

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Song two:
(for older more advanced students)
Teen Titan Theme Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClCSm6yqZe8

Song three:
(song about girl superheroes)
Get Your Cape On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfEwx0JDyB8

This pack was developed by Sarah Finegan.

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