Lights, Camera, Action!You are the director of your classroom.
Students enter the classroom.
Welcoming music is playing in the background.
Tips from Bob’s Frog
The students are relaxed and looking forward the days lesson.
Your transition songs, Hello Hello!
yo Sit Down, Clean Up!
and See You Later Alligator are all in place.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Can you imagine your favorite movie without a soundtrack?
Using music in the classroom is just as important.
Here are some examples how a soundtrack can be added to an activity to make it more exciting.
Look CloselyLook closely from theSuper Simple ABCs Support Pack CD-romis a popular game with my students.
Before class, print out the small phonic pictures on some sticker paper.
Cut and hide them by sticking them around the room.
Take out a magnifying glass.
Look at each student through the magnifying glass and ham it up a bit and look surprised.
Hand each student a magnifying glass and take out a set of flashcards matching the hidden stickers.
The music sets a mysterious mood so slowly tiptoe around the room looking for the sticker.
Circus Time!Place a line of masking tape on the floor running the length of the room.
Play some circus music (I recommend Einzug de Gladiatoren[Entry of the Gladiators] Op.
- and announce, Its circus time!
Demonstrate to the students your great skill at walking the masking tape tightrope.
Take a bow while the children clap.
Now its the childrens turn.
Have a student identify a flashcard.
Hand the flashcard to the student.
They must walk the tightrope to the other side holding the flashcard without falling.
After each student has crossed the tightrope one time, its challenge time!
Take out a Hula Hoop and hold it slightly above the middle of the tightrope.
Have the students walk across and though the Hula Hoop holding a flashcard.
Be creative and have your students use their imaginations.
Bob Pensak has been living and teaching English in Okazaki, Japan, for ten years.
He has been entertaining children with magic since he was 13 years old.
Check out his blog,Bobs Frog, for more teaching tips.
