End of Year Projects

With less than a month left of teaching left in the school year, my English classes have begun their end of year projects. I wanted to take this opportunity for my students to use the English they've learned during the year and actually put it into practice in an activity.

In 8th grade, we're reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. While not at the level where they can geniunely read the entire book, we're reading passages and learning vocabulary using the story as a frame work. I've been trying to focus on reading and understanding using content: the idea that they don't have to understand every word in order to understand what's happening!

We've just finished studying vocabulary from the first Sorting Hat Song. Here are some of the kids choosing houses to be in:

In 7th grade, we're learning how to write letters and are going to use our vocabulary to write letters to next year's 8th grade class at my home high school.

In 6th grade, we're learning about questions (starting off with the basic seven question words) and will use our vocabulary and our new knowledge to write and take part in interviews!

In 5th grade, we're reading a English Berenstein Bears book, Catch The Bus. It focuses on time and school language, so we're both using our old knowledge and learning new words.



In 4th grade, we're learning school vocabulary and using that to make a final end of year map of the school, with labels and pretty drawings. Here's an example of some of the vocabulary we're learning and examples of the kids' draft maps.




So far, it's been really enjoyable to be able to see the kids use their English and to see themselves suceeding at communication.

One more month to summer!