THE NAME OF THE OPTIONAL COURSE: Songs

and Games

FORM: 3rd form

LENGTH OF THE COURSE: 1 year

NUMBER OF HOURS PER WEEK: 1 hour

AUTHOR: Nagy Katalin

THE ABILITY TO RUN THE COURSE: qualified teacher

SCHOOL: coala Gimnazial Mihai Eminescu Zalu

I. ARGUMENT
Students learn words in a variety of ways. Success in learning often depends on the number of
senses which are used in the learning process. (Allen, 1983, p.7) Songs and Games is an
optional course designed to involve a learning type that activates all our senses. The large use
of songs and games involve the five traditional senses: the songs the hearing, while the
games the hearing, taste, smell, touch and sight.
It is well known that learning and memorizing words is not an easy task especially for young
learners. Songs and games are ideal in helping them to look at word acquisition as a desirable
activity.
Children seem to learn new words very quickly, but they will forget quickly, so it is very
important to give them lots of practice of vocabulary to help them remember. Since mere
practicing can be extremely boring and tiring to young learners, teachers should be creative,
they should wrap practicing in games, role plays and in singing songs, activities that seem to
be just fun and play but in fact involve real learning. Just like Mary Poppins method for
unpleasant jobs:
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way.
(A Spoonful Of Sugar is a song from Walt Disney's 1964 film and the musical versions of Mary Poppins,
composed by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman.)

The optional course Songs and Games focuses on teaching, improving and putting
vocabulary into practice. It comes with a collection of songs and games that are meant to add a
patch of colour to the lessons. There is nothing that engages children more than teaching
English through play. A bored class will take in less than half of what a teacher says and retain
none of it. An attentive, involved and interested class on the other hand, learning through fun
English games and songs, will retain most of what they are being taught during the lesson.
Even though it seems time demanding and extra work to prepare the lessons which involve
songs and games (because of the aids, extra materials) if we have in mind the outcome of these
classes happy learners, whose knowledge gets richer with every English class it is worth
every effort.

II. INTERDISCIPLINARY OBJECTIVE

The development of:
language acquisition
the ability of correct and efficient communication in various situations
the ability to receive the musical message

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE INVOLVED DISCIPLINES

1. To develop the ability to receive the oral message
2. To develop the ability to speak
3. To develop the ability to receive the written message
4. To develop the ability to write
5. To develop some cultural representations and the interest for the English language, for
the Anglo-Saxon civilization and music

MAIN OBJECTIVES, SPECIFIC ABILITIES AND EXAMPLES OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1 TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE ORAL MESSAGE

1.1 To recognize sounds that are specific to the English language identification exercises
1.2 To react verbally/nonverbally to a heard message answering to commands, questions;
simple dialogues, role plays
1.3 To understand simple sentences answering control questions; true/false exercises

2. TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO SPEAK

2.1 To pronounce words using the specific English accent and intonation pronunciation
exercises
2.2 To repeat simple sentences or fragments of the sentence repetitive drills, singing songs
2.3 To utter simple sentences related to everyday life situations simple dialogues, role plays

3. TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE WRITTEN MESSAGE

3.1 To read aloud a short text reading exercises (in pairs, in groups)
3.2 To get the general meaning of a read text true/false exercises; multiple choice exercises
3

4. TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO WRITE

4.1 To write words, short sentences games (crosswords, wordsearch), copying exercises
5. TO DEVELOP SOME CULTURAL REPRESENTATIONS AND THE INTEREST FOR
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FOR THE ANGLO-SAXON CIVILIZATION AND MUSIC
5.1 To manifest curiosity about specific customs and traditions of the Anglo-Saxon culture and
civilization learning specific songs (Christmas carols, nursery rhymes)
5.2 To sing individually or in groups songs in English with correct pronunciation singing
songs
III. CONTENTS:
VOCABULARY:

Greetings

Furniture

Body parts

Food

Colours

Jobs

Numbers

School objects

Clothes

Animals

Family

Toys and games

Rooms in a house

STRUCTURES:

The singular/plural of nouns

The article: a/an; the

Personal pronouns

Numeral: numbers from 1 to 12

Verbs: To Be present simple (affirmative, negative, interrogative);

o To have - present simple (affirmative, negative, interrogative);
o Can
o There is/there are

Adverb of time: now, every day

Preposition of place: in, on, near, under, to

Conjunctions: and, but, or

4

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS:

To greet people

To introduce oneself and introduce others

To identify elements from the familiar universe

To ask for and give information

To locate people and objects

To thank for and reply to thanks

To express likes and dislikes

To express abilities

IV. VALUES AND ATTITUDES

Open attitude towards others

Respect for and acceptance of others

Cooperation

Healthy competitiveness

V. ASSESSMENT METHODS

Singing songs

Simple, easy role plays

Mini-project activities

Portfolio

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abbs, B., Worrall, A., Ward, A. Splash!, Longman, 2010
Dootey, Jenny & Evans,Virginia, Fairyland, Express Publishing, 2008
Halliwell, Susan. Teaching English in the Primary Classroom, Longman, 1996
Super Simple Songs a collection of childrens songs
Childrens Spectacular, Musicbank Limited, Norfolk, 2005 a collection of childrens songs
and stories

INTERNET RESOURCES

1. http://www.vocabulary.co.il/
2. http://www.english-4kids.com/articles/gameslearningsyles.html
3. http://www.DreamEnglish.com
4. http://www.kididdles.com/
5. http://edition.tefl.net/category/ideas/vocab/
6. http://englishvocabularylists.blogspot.ro/2011/06/action-verbs.html
7. http://www.esl-galaxy.com/music.htm

IV.3. The planning for the optional course

Optional course: Songs and Games
Grade: 3rd
Number of classes/week: 1
FIRST SEMESTER
No.
1.

MODULE
HELLO, HELLO, HOW ARE
YOU?

2.

Hello! How Are You?

Tell Me, Please

Happy Birthday to You!

MY UNIVERS

Ten Little Indian: Boys

CONTENTS

SPECIFIC
ABILITIES

NO.
OF
HOU
RS

Vocabulary: greetings, names, numbers, adjectives

expressing feelings and moods
Communicative functions:
To greet people
To introduce yourself and to introduce
people to each other
To ask for and give personal information

I Love Mommy!

OBS.
The
number

1.1, 1.2,

of hours

2.1, 2.2,

and

3.1, 3.2,

weeks has

5.1

to be
adjusted

Structures:
Present Simple of the verb to be
Cardinal numeral: 1 12
Adjectives
Vocabulary: family members, jobs, food, body
parts, everyday activities, action verbs, colours

according
to the
current
1

school
year

and Girls!

WEEK

Communicative functions:
To give instructions
7

1.1, 1.2,

planning.

My Daddy Is A
Mechanic!

I Like Apples! Give Me

Some, Please!

3.

Look at My Umbrella!

Touch Your Nose!

Smiley, Wash Your Face!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

All I Want For

Christmas

We Wish You a Merry

Christmas!

4.

BODY BUILDING Revision

To identify elements from the familiar

universe
To describe people
To ask for and give personal information
Structures:
Demonstrative adjectives
Plurals of regular nouns
Have got/has got

2.1, 2.2,

3.1, 3.2,
4.1

5.1
1
1
2

Vocabulary: Christmas related vocabulary,

different objects (toys, presents)
Communicative functions:
To express wishes
To thank for and reply for thanks
To express likes and dislikes
Structures:
Prepositions of place (under, next to)
Possessive adjectives
Revision of the previous content - Competition

1.1, 1.2,
2.1, 2.2,
5.1, 5.3

2.3

5.3

SECOND SEMESTER
No.
1.

2.

MODULE
TIME FOR SCHOOL!

My Schoolbag

Robby, The Robot

Vocabulary: school objects, shapes, school

subjects, daily routine, action verbs

Communicative functions:
To identify elements from the familiar
English Is Fun!
universe
Lets Do It!
To locate objects
To give instructions
Tick, Tack, Goes The
Structures:
Clock!
The imperative
Possessive adjectives
HOME, SWEET HOME!
Vocabulary: rooms in the house, furniture,
Welcome To My House clothes, pets, food

3.

CONTENTS

Where Is Little Smiley? Communicative functions:

To greet people
I Cant Find My
To identify elements from the familiar
Socks!
universe

To locate objects
Pounce! Pounce!
To describe places and animals
Pounce!
Structures:
Demonstrative adjectives
Mommy, this Is
Present Simple affirmative, negative,
Yummy!
interrogative
Prepositions of place

A DAY OUT

Vocabulary: weather, transportation, buildings,

9

SPECIFIC
ABILITIES

NO. OF
HOURS

WEEK

OBS.
The

1.1, 1.2,

number

2.1, 2.2,

of hours

3.1, 3.2,

and

4.1

weeks has

5.1

to be
adjusted
according
to the

current

1.1, 1.2,

school

2.1, 2.2,

year

3.1, 3.2,

planning.

4.1
5.1

4.

Whats The Weather

Like Today?
The Wheels On The
Bus
Pizza Hut (buildings)
I Dont Like Spiders!
Old McDonald Has A
Farm
Rainbow Food
(vegetables)
Were Going To The
Zoo Tomorrow!

SUMMERS AT THE
CORNER!

My Favourite Season

Lets Go To The

1
1

Communicative functions:
To identify elements from the familiar
universe
To express likes and dislikes
To describe animals
Structures:
Adjectives

1.1, 1.2,

2.1, 2.2,

3.1, 3.2,

4.1
1

Plurals of nouns

Present Simple affirmative, negative,

interrogative
Vocabulary: seasons and months, holiday related
vocabulary

LETS GO FISHING!

Communicative functions:
To express likes and dislikes
To describe places
Structures:
Adjectives
The model verb can
Revision of the previous content board game,

Revision

competition

Beach!

5.

animals, food

1.1, 1.2,
2.1, 2.2,

3.1, 3.2,

5.1, 5.3

1
2.3, 5.3

10

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