One of my favorite ways to start a new English class for young learners (ESL, EFL) is to sing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. The song is fun, simple, and active. After this song, the class can sit down and settle down for a fun class.
Recommended Ages: 3-7 Years old Target Vocabulary: Body Parts
I review numbers every class with my young learners, and this video is a fun and simple way to count from 1 to 100 by 1s in your young learner English classes! More below the video!
You can also review numbers in class using flashcards, or object, or fingers. After reviewing the numbers, I always like to do a quick quiz with my students. I show a few numbers and ask, “What number?” Children can learn numbers quickly and a numbers quiz is a fun activity to give children confidence in their English learning adventure!
You can download the audio only for this chant for free! Click here to go to the webpage with the chant! You will also see an action version of this chant on that page. Try it when your students need some excercise!
When I teach young learners English (ESL, EFL) I always spend a bit of time on the letters of the alphabet. In class I use flashcards with a letter and an image on it (A, apple, B, bird), or a video. More below the video:
Teaching the Alphabet without Phonics Sounds
When I first started teaching, all of the teachers around me were teaching letters with phonics sounds. In general, I see no problem with this. However, there are many different sounds for each letter. For example, say out loud “orange, owl, otter, orangutan” same letter “o” with different sounds.
I did some research, and found that teaching just the letter name, and a word that it begins with is also excellent for learning. The students start to recognize that letters have different sounds. They also learn letter recognition, and vocabulary.
I recommend doing your own research and finding the best way to teach your students. I use a bit of phonics, and a bit of letter recognition, and so far I have had great results in getting my young students to learn to read in English. Happy teaching!
The Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes song is a basic song I use a lot when teaching children English (ESL, EFL). It is simple, active, and teaches useful vocabulary.
How to Teach
I start with the students by touching my head and saying, “head.” To add a little fun you can then shake your head with your hands and say, “wiggle, wiggle” kids love this. Repeat the same for all body parts: head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
If you know the song, sing it once a cappella (without background music) then press play on the CD or video and sing with your students!
Free Head, Shoulders MP3 Download
You can download a free MP3 of the Head, Shoulders song, and watch a video with the actions by clicking here. Make this song a regular in your classes!
The new Wheels On The Bus What Do You See? Song is a fun way to teach vocabulary within the framework of a familiar song. In this song we learn five animals. More below the video:
The Wheels On The Bus
The Wheels on The Bus is a fun traditional song that many young learners of English might already know. I took the fun actions of this song, and added another verse to teach vocabulary. In this song we learn dog, cat, bird, horse, and cow.
Your students will have fun doing all of the actions of the song, and pretending to look through the window to see different animals.
Target Vocabulary
Animals: dog, cat, bird, horse, cow
Vehicle Vocabulary: bus, wheels, wipers, horn, doors, people
Action vocabulary: round and round, swish, beep, up and down, open and shut
Give the song a try!
Try this fun Wheels on The Bus What Do You See? Song in your classes, and watch how your young learners (ESL, EFL) learn vocabulary in a fun way.
Click here to watch the video on YouTube.
I made the Where Is The Lion? Song to teach animal names, asking and answering “Where?” questions and to practice drawing with shapes and writing. How to teach below the video:
How To Teach
There are three main parts to this video: The song, the drawing, and writing the word lion.
Song
You can start by showing the thumbnail of the video (as seen above) and asking the students what animals they see. If they can not say all of the animals names you can teach them. Then, watch the video. The students will learn the animal names by watching, and if possible singing along. It could take awhile for them to sing along, but try to encourage your students to try.
Drawing
After watching the video one time, go back to the drawing section. Either have your students imitate the drawing in the video, or you can draw on the board and have them copy you. If you draw on the board it can be slower to your student’s pace.
Writing
Next, you can go back to the writing section and have your students write the word “lion.” In the video it is lower case, but if you like you can also teach upper case letters.
At the end of the class the students will have a lion picture, and the word “lion” written to show their friends and family! They should also be able to identify the animals in the video.
End of video question
At the end of the video I ask, “What was your favorite animal from today?” Ask your students and encourage them to answer.
These are my ideas for using this video to make a whole class. You can also use flashcards to teach the vocabulary, and play flashcard games. Be creative and come up with your own ways to make a great class for your students. Happy teaching!
The Hot Cold Song is a fun song to teach young English learners (ESL, EFL) about opposites. Watch the video and see below for how to teach.
How to Teach:
I teach this song by first doing the actions of feeling hot, and feeling cold. You can watch how I do it in the video, or make up your own gestures.
Next, I show pictures of hot things like the sun, soup and say, “hot sun, hot soup” Then, I show pictures of cold things like ice cubes and snow and teach that they are cold. Flashcards work well for this.
Next, I teach the vocabulary of the song.
Hot Cold Song Lyrics:
Hot, hot, hot, hot (repeat)
cold, cold, cold (repeat)
The soup is hot.
hot, hot, hot
The sun is hot.
hot, hot, hot
hot soup
hot sun
The ice is cold.
cold, cold, cold
The snow is cold.
cold, cold, cold
cold ice
cold snow
hot, hot, hot,
hot, hot, hot
cold, cold, cold
cold, cold, cold
Is it hot or cold?
After the song quiz the students by holding up flashcards of hot and cold things and ask them, “Is it hot or cold?”
Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday, and that you are ready to get started with the New Year! This week I will be doing the New Year’s Chant song and review in all my classes. Check it out here:
You can download the chant to use the song in your classes. Click here to get a free download MP3 of the Happy New Year Chant!
Today’s Topic: Choose a review topic and teach the vocabulary. For example, animals, colors, or transportation.
Vocabulary review game- Play a simple touch game to get your students active. Place the flashcards on the floor and ask each student to touch one. For example, “Bobby, touch the dog card.”
ABC Practice Time- Practice the ABCs and sing the ABC Song.
These are some ideas to get you started with your classes. You can also do crafts, coloring, or use a textbook. The main idea is to give the students a lot of comprehensible input in English.
Let’s make it a great year and be the best teachers we can be!
I am having a great time teaching Christmas lessons to young learners (ESL, EFL). We have been counting Santas, jumping like reindeer and more. Here is my idea for a fun class. Recommended ages 3-7 Years old:
Warm Up With Actions– Do the actions and have your students repeat and do after you: clap your hands, clap, clap, clap. Shake your hands, shake, shake, shake. Wash your hands, wash, wash wash. Come up with your own!
Christmas Vocabulary Practice- Introduce 6-8 words about Christmas. For example, Santa, reindeer, elf, Christmas tree, presents, toys. MES English has some great free printable flashcards for this vocabulary.
Book Time- Read a simple picture book about Christmas. Find something in your local library or bookstore. There is a free downloadable Christmas Book here.
ABC Practice-Show the students that Santa is spelled S-A-N-T-A. Then practice saying the letters A to Z and sing the ABC Song.
Review Time-Quiz the Christmas words. Show a flashcard to your students and see if they can remember. If they are young, you will have to help them and give them little hints. It is ok if you have to say the word for them as they are just learning.
Goodbye Song-Sing the Dream English Goodbye Song and wish your students a Merry Christmas!
Update: Listen to a Podcast about this blog:
These are my ideas to get you started. Feel free to add, expand and make this into the best lesson for your students. Keep it fun and relaxed! Merry Christmas! For more Christmas resources, click here.
Learning English through actions is a great and tested way to get the most out of your classes. The Santa is Coming Christmas song is full of useful actions and phrases for your young learner class. Lyrics and more below the video:
Lyrics:
Merry, Merry Christmas
Merry, Merry Christmas
Decorate the Christmas tree.
Put out milk.
Put out cookies.
Santa is coming, Santa is coming here
Put on your pajamas.
Brush your teeth.
Go to bed early.
Santa is coming, Santa is coming here
Wake up.
Go to the living room.
Find your present.
Open your present.
Santa is coming, Santa is coming here
Merry, Merry Christmas
Merry, Merry Christmas
The great thing about using actions is that children learn at different paces. Some students might get the actions right away, and others might get the words first. You do not have to pressure your students to sing the song. Encourage them, and teach the actions to start. You can also make up your own actions to fit your class.
I hope this song brings a lot of fun and learning to your Christmas classes!