What and Why?
Students in the early secondary years need physical activity. In school, they may often spend many hours confined to a desk as they have one lesson then another. This can lead to boredom and restlessness (with its effect on discipline). Physical movement can also be important for other reasons. If students can be physically involved with English, it can lead to deeper, more long lasting learning as the language becomes more `concrete' to them and involves them as whole persons.
Practical ideas
- 'Simon Says' games, in which students have to carry out actions upon the orders of the teacher/a student can be fun. Students must only do the action if the teacher/student says `Simon says' first (For example: "Simon says sit down". "Simon says clap your hands".)
- Basic verbs can be taught in this way, with the teacher first saying the verb and the students following the action and then the students doing the actions as the teacher says verb again.
- Students can also represent something in a group. For example, they might together form the shape of their country. They can then move to where they would like to be in their country and talk about why they want to go there. They could ask each other across the map: "Peter, where are you?" "I'm in Barcelona in the North East". Students can similarly form maps of their town, maps of a jungle, and maps of their school.
- Mime is also useful. Students act out a word and the others have to guess what it is.
- You could have various items of clothing available such as hats, gloves, etc. to make roleplays, acting out, mime, etc. more fun.
- Physical activity doesn't have to be related to language learning. You might start a lesson or break up a long lesson by getting the students do something. For example shake their arms, change the shape of their face, or stand up and turn round a few times. You could combine this with music.
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