Animals

Objective & content

This sheet on animals teaches about 35 words: pets and farm animals (dog, hamster, cow), wild animals (lion, giraffe, penguin), the parts of an animal's body (fur, wings, beak) and what animals can do (swim, fly, climb). Pupils name pictures, read Mia's text about a visit to the Central Park Zoo in New York, then use the words. By the end, they can name animals, say what an animal can or can't do and label its body.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 names twelve pets and farm animals and six wild animals; each word box holds two extra words, so pupils must choose. Page 2 is Mia's text, with eight multiple-choice questions, then ten sentences where pupils unscramble the word in brackets (ZEBRA, CLIMB, VET). Page 3 labels a tiger and a parrot from a word box with two extra words, then pupils invent an animal that is half one animal and half another, draw it and label it with the words they have just used. Every task tests words only; the grammar stays on the present simple, can / can't and there is / there are. The facts about the zoo are true: it has sea lions, penguins and a snow leopard, and New York's giraffes live at the Bronx Zoo.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Ask pupils which pets they have; write the names on the board in English.
2. (8 min) Page 1: pupils write the words under the pictures alone, then compare in pairs.
3. (10 min) Read Mia's text aloud; pupils answer the questions.
4. (7 min) Pupils unscramble the words and complete the ten sentences.
5. (5 min) Page 3: pupils label the tiger and the parrot.
6. (5 min) Check activities 1 to 5 with the answer key on page 4.
7. (10 min) Pupils invent, draw and label their animal.

Adaptations

[S] Before page 1, mime a few animals for the class to guess, and write their names on the board.

[A] Pupils present their animal: "This is a tigerot. It has wings and a long tail. It can fly."

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil, and coloured pencils for the drawing. Page 4 is the answer key and teacher notes: keep it. Pupils need can and the present simple of be and have. To take it further, make a class "new zoo" display of the invented animals.