S1E03 - George's Empty Bag

Objective & content

On the first morning back at school, George's bag is empty and his mum Kate hurries to fill it. She hands him an apple instead of a pencil, then cannot find the pencil case that is already in her hand. The episode teaches the articles: a before a consonant sound (I have a pen.), an before a vowel sound (that's an apple) and the for a thing both speakers know (Where is the pencil case?). The vocabulary is school supplies. Learners listen, then check their understanding with the in-app quiz.

Pedagogical guide

The mix-ups make each article matter: a pencil becomes an apple in one line. Learners whose language marks gender (French un/une, German ein/eine) expect the article to change with the noun's gender, but English chooses by the sound that follows, so say each word aloud.

Suggested procedure

1. (3 min) Warm-up: hold up your bag, ask what is in it and list five or six words on the board.
2. (2 min) Preview pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, notebook and pencil case with real objects.
3. (4 min) First listen: what is the problem at the start?
4. (8 min) Second listen: pause at the apple and at the pencil case, and ask what went wrong.
5. (7 min) Sort objects into a and an by sound, then explain the pencil case.
6. (6 min) Each pupil packs a bag aloud for a partner, who hands over each item.

Materials & prerequisites

The episode in the PLAY app (audio, slideshow, text and quiz), a student sheet and a teacher sheet with the answer key. Learners need the alphabet and the phrases I have and I need.

Curriculum alignment

Cycle 3 (6e), axis "The child and their close environment": school things.