Speaking and singing activities

Many speaking activities based on rhymes and songs can be introduced. Some of them are similar to those introduced in Module 2 – Learning and Teaching of Short Stories, with some modifications. They are listed as follows:

l Predicting the content of the song (esp. in songtales)

l Reading/singing the rhyme/song aloud

l Telling the character(s) what to do

l Role-playing different characters in the song

l Singing while showing pictures or puppets

l Retelling the content of the song

l Commenting on the characters

l Acting out the rhyme/song

l Singing the new song they have composed

l Sharing pupils' related experiences

To stimulate creative and critical response, the teacher can ask pupils some relevant questions related to the song. For lower primary pupils, it is best to conduct a class discussion. Remember to acknowledge and respond to all pupils' answers. For upper primary pupils, questions can be given to pupils and they can be asked to discuss in groups and jointly produce a simple oral report.

Different kinds of questions will elicit different kinds of responses. Some questions function to check pupils' comprehension of the rhyme/song while others serve to stimulate critical thinking and critical responses.

Task 3.10

1) Based on the song "I'm a Little Teapot", can you think of FIVE questions which you can ask your pupils to check their comprehension of the song?

2) Can you now think of FIVE questions which you can ask your pupils to enhance their critical thinking?

You may counter check your last 5 questions against the questions we suggest. If your questions are different from the ones here, then you are already quite a critical person.

Comments:

1) What is the shape of the teapot?

2) What is the teapot for?

3) When will the teapot shout?

4) What does "when I get all steamed up" mean?

5) What are the handle and spout for?

(For suggestions on questions to enhance critical thinking, please refer to the questions in Task 3.11)

Assuming that you are asking your pupils these questions.

What do you think their answers will be?

1) Are all teapots short and stout? If not, how do they look?

2) Why are most teapots short and stout?

3) Have you ever heard a teapot shout? How does it sound?

4) Do you think it is good for a teapot to "shout"? Why?

5) Do you think it's good for you to shout?

6) When should you shout, and when should you not shout?

Suggestions:

1) No. Some are tall and slim.

2) It is because it is safer to use. They are more stable when put on the table and will not fall down so easily.

3) Yes. It has a very high pitch.

4) Yes. People get to know that the water is boiling and can remove the teapot from the stove or unplug it.

5) No. I will disturb others and I may sound rude.

6) Normally we should not shout, unless we (or somebody else) are in danger and we need to seek urgent help.

1) Do you know where the writer of this song is?

2) Is it probable for you to have the same experience in Hong Kong as the speaker/singer? If yes, where? If not, why?

3) What other things may drop from the sky in Hong Kong?

4) What may drop from the sky in other places of the world?

5) What should we do if we wish to have only nice things dropping from the sky?

Possible Answers

1) In a park, in the countryside.

2) Yes, but seldom. This happens when we are in a park, sitting under a tree or when we are in some rural area. But we really have to stay there for a long time to have a chance to experience this. Here in Hong Kong, there is just too little land in the countryside and we have few chances to go there.

3) Rubbish, cans, bottles, paper, pieces of cement, leaves from domestic plants, neon lights, rain.

4) Coconuts, fruits, snow, rain, leaves, branches, droppings of birds, etc.

5) We should not throw any rubbish/unwanted things out of our windows.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 883