PROJECTS ART CRAFTS AND DRAMA WITH YOUNG LEARNERS

PROJECTS, ART & CRAFTS AND DRAMA WITH YOUNG LEARNERS Izabela Jaros IES UJK 1

What is a project? „Projects- longer pieces of work which involve investigation and reporting. The end-product is the most important thing here, and all the language use that takes place is directed towards the final version” (Jeremy Harmer) 2

What is a project? „A project is an extended piece of work on a particular topic, where the content and the presentation are determined principally by the learners. The teacher or the textbook provides the topic, but (. . . ) the project writers themselves decide what they write and how they present it. ” (Tom Huthinson) 3

STAGES OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT n n n n Stimulus Definition of the project objective Practice of language skills Design of written materials Group activities Collating information Organization of materials Final presentation (Diana L. Fried-Booth) 4

STAGES OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT n Planning n Research n Presentation (Susan House) 5

Project characteristics n Hard work n Creative n Personal n Adaptable n Encourage co-operation among the learners 6

Merits of project work Motivation - personal - learning through doing: • collecting information n • drawing pictures, maps, diagrams, and charts • cutting out pictures • arranging texts and visuals • colouring • carrying out interviews and surveys • making recordings - sense of achievement 7

Merits of project work n Relevance integration of language with other skills - language and culture - 8

Merits of project work n Educational values - independent investigation - cross-curricular studies (bringing together several disciplines in the classroom: Art, Music, History, Science; extending students’ interest in and knowledge of English) 9

Why use projects? n n n n They allow pupils to work at their own pace. They are suitable for mixed level and mixed ability classes. They are child-centered and increase learner autonomy. They are highly motivating. They improve social skills (working with others, sharing and delegating tasks, appreciating one another’s work). They are effective for developing all four language skills. They develop graphic and artistic skills. 10

Main worries connected with project work n n n Organization (materials and equipment, reference books) Noise Time Use of L 1 Different levels of students Evaluation Not just the language - credit must be given for the overall impact of the project, the level of creativity it displays, the neatness and clarity of presentation, and most of all the effort that has gone into its production Not just mistakes - encourage the students to do a rough draft of their project first. Correct this in your normal way. The students can then incorporate corrections in the final product. 11

Typical themes n n n n COLOUR POSTERS LETTER POSTERS NUMBER POSTERS MY JOURNEY TO SCHOOL MY FAMILY’S HANDS OUR TOWN MADE IN. . . WHAT’S THE TIME? MAKE A HOUSE POSTER COUNTRIES & CAPITALS FESTIVALS IN OUR COUNTRY THINGS WITH WINGS I DON’T LIKE. . . 12

Art and crafts- benefits for children Children learn by doing n They listen to or read instructions on how to do sth n They receive praise and encouragement n They describe, evaluate and express feelings and ideas n 13

Art and crafts - benefits for children Children: n appreciate the world around them n are more aware of the five senses n develop skill in comparing, contrasting, classifying, sequencing, and organizing n acquire awareness of artistic form (shape, colour, texture, length, weight, etc. ) and materials, and skill in handling them n have more manual dexterity n develop a skill in problem-solving n have a positive attitude to working with others 14

Art and crafts -teachers n But I’m not an art and crafts teacher! n But there is already too little time for English! n But the mess! n But I haven’t got the materials! n It means more preparation time! n But we have the coursebook. Isn’t that enough? 15

Why use drama? n n n n n Motivation Familiar activities Confidence Group dynamics Different learning styles Language personalization Laguage in context Cross-curricular content The pace of a lesson 16

Drama n Short poems (finger rhymes) n Sequences (‘The enormous turnip’) n End-of-the-year shows 17