Explore "number" machines.
5 Day Creativity in Language teaching Masterclass sign up
In April PLN celebrate our 10th Birthday!
To celebrate this we want to host a free masterclass for all to join in teaching primary languages creatively.
From 1st-5th April.
There will be daily video demos and ideas shared by Janet and some of the team. And the opportunity to interact and engage with the team via ‘live’ sessions
Explore Number Machines
Explore children’s knowledge of numbers and create a simple physical sequence of activities. A combination of language learning, physical movement and drama.By the end of the lesson, children will have recalled target language numbers ,explored the dynamics of the number sounds and shapes and created group performances of number sequences and potentially number sentences.
Decide which sequence of target language numbers your learners need to explore.
In the classroom:
Introduce or revisit a sequence of numbers in the target language (single digit, two or three digit numbers depending on the stage of the learners and their target language knowledge). Focus on pronunciation,rhythm and recall hooks.
In a large space:
In the hall,on the field or playground organise your class into differentiated ability groups, taking into consideration both language skills,drama/physical skills and confidence.
Explore shape.
Challenge the children to work in pairs within their groups. Ask the pairs to recall the target language numbers and explore the sound of the language and what the number looks like.Can they say the target language numbers in sequence and use their bodies to physically convey the shape of the number.
Explore the sounds
Challenge the pairs to recall the target language numbers and explore the dynamic sound of each number.Is it an explosive sound, a soft sound, a staccato sound, a sliding sound. Ask the children to add an action that conveys the sound of each target language number.
Show and share
Each pair within each group shows and shares to the other members of their own group the shape and sound sequences that they have created.
Group number sequences.
Each group combines the ideas of pairs and generates a “Number Machine”. The “Number Machine” is a dynamic, physical performance of the target language numbers in sequence with each child performing one or more numbers designated to him or her. The machine needs to be a sequence of machine -like / robot like number performances with a start and and an end group shape and sound.
Whole class show and share.
Ask the class to watch each group’s number sequence performance and to compare and contrast the shapes and sounds of each number sequence performance.
Add challenge. Number Sentences
Download the free resource here
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Introduce the notion of “Number Sentences”. Practice and agree on actions for the target language words for “plus”/ “minus”/ “equals”. Challenge the groups to create a physical “Number Sentence” machine.