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[jotto]

I am currently teaching at a primary school grades one to three. The book the school has given me is Longman Science. I teach book 1A to grades one and two and 2A to grade three. This has proven to be very difficult because of the student�s low level of English. While they are learning "What is this? or "Point to the window." I have to teach "What animals give birth to their babies?". I've tried to simplify the lessons as much as possible but the students still do not understand. It seems useless for them just to memorize new vocabulary week after week that isn�t really helping them speak English. Besides, they forget most of it anyways. The Longman website doesn't have any materials for this book since its a few years old. I haven't found much help on other websites either.
I don't know where to begin with them. Feels like I'm wasting their time and they aren't learning much. I can't take them outside for any science activities or to play some games/get some exercise. I only see each class once a week (22 classes) and they aren't being graded for this class so discipline can be a problem at times too. I enjoy my job and the children. Should I just throw out the book and teach them what I want? Has anyone used this book before? I�m at a loss for what to do and needed to vent a little. I don't have a background in primary school education but really want to get these kids and myself on the right path. Thanks for your advice.

[vikdk]

if possible throw the book away - I once ripped a book in half infront of other teachers to get my point through

Try using basic ESL methods - kindergarten stuff with the small kinder element removed. When I have taught kids of 6 and over I've found story telling to be a powerful teaching tool - the promoting change in Chinese classroom thread, has some good leads in this direction - if you can cut through the krap. It actually doesn't take long before you learn how to tell a story with the most minimal of translation. Beware of telling classics (3 pigs kind of stuff) - they've heard most of them before - we make our own up to suite the topic and vocab of our (kindergarten) kids - but often get our story plots from existing stories we find here on the web. Since you only have to tell 1 story a week � by the time you get to class 22 you should be shiit hot. Hey! by the way the story shouldn't last more than 20 mins - gets tiring for both you an them if it's longer. You could introduce some words, phrases or simple concepts, that are used in the story, in the opening part of lesson - the carrot of a story should eventually (when routine of good behavior gets good story sinks in) get them to hold their high spirits in check.

If you can't get away with throwing that book away remember there are plenty of other jobs out there - where you don't need waste your time - I believe, such an action is a good message to employers who perceiver with mindless teaching methods - making both ours and our students lives a small hell!

[kev7161]

I too was teaching Science to my first graders. I had an American textbook plus workbooks for all the kids. Plus, I ordered some overhead transparencies that go along with the workbook. However, the problem I had was the same as yours - - the terms and concepts were just a little too advanced when it came to English comprehension. I asked my FAO what the Chinese teachers were doing for Science in their classes and was told the other 1st graders don't have Science! As a matter of fact, Science doesn't begin here until the 3rd grade. We are a "speciaL' program, so that is the reason they wanted Science 2X a week. So, I suggested we scuttle it for now and pick it up when their English levels get a little better and they agreed. Probably 2nd grade.

However, in your case, let me offer you some suggestions (which, admittedly, I've done some of these and plan to do more in the future - I use "New Parade" for some of my English lessons and they have elements of Science in some of their units - we are on body parts now):

1. Cover such topics as: The five senses, body parts, names of animals, classify animals (not by which are born and which come from eggs or which nurse and which don't) such as mammals and birds - - no need at the first grade level to go into amphibians and stuff. More topics: health and hygiene, the solar system, types of plants, sun and rain and rainbows.

2. The kids don't need to know intricate details. They mostly need to be able to identify animals and objects and such. You can find some simple experiments on the web (I'll list a couple of sites below) and modify them how you see fit to fit your students.

3. Blend art work with Science - for example, make a color wheel or even a rainbow to emphasis the primary and secondary colors. Use a hanger, some yarn or thread and construction paper to make solar system mobiles. Have the students lay down on a big piece of paper and outline their bodies. Then they color in their bodies and label the parts. Dedicate one lesson each for the five senses (see below).

4. Learn songs that go along with body parts (such as "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes").

This is just the tip. If they can't go outside, then bring in leaves and rocks and twigs and stuff. Make a biosphere and find some insects or a frog or a turtle to live in it. Know anyone with a small dog or kitten or rabbit? See if you can borrow it for a day. Do a Venn diagram - - how is this puppy different than us? How is it the same?

The Five Senses:

Touch: Put a variety of objects in a bag (pencils, cds, books, stuffed animal, clothing, etc.). Blindfold a child and pull an object out. Can they guess what it is by the shape and feel? I pulled out a pair of (clean) socks when I did this activity and all the other kids just about died laughing. Don't know why, but they get a kick out of it.

Taste: Again, blindfold and have a variety of foods for them to taste. Can they tell you which foods are sweet? salty? sour? Then have these 3 items in little containers (film containers work well): honey, lemon juice, salt water. Give each child 3 cotton swabs. Also, draw a diagram of the tongue and have places for them to label: front, back, and sides. Have them dip the swabs into each item individually and have them touch the different parts of their tongue. They label which part detected which taste the strongest. If they are able, have them guess first (hypothesize), write their guess down, then do the tasting.

Smell: I just took more of the film containers and put in some vanilla, chocolate, coffee and other strong smelling items and passed them around the room and let the kids smell them. Punch a hole in the top of each lid. Then try to explain how smell and taste go hand-in-hand.

Sound: Once more, use those film canisters and put some different items in each container: coins, paper clips, M&Ms or Skittles - - about 10 different things. Show the kids each item but don't show them which container each item is in. Have the containers numbered 1 to 10. Have the students make a chart (or make it for them) and write "a" to "j" down the side of the page. Each item should be assigned a letter. Let's say paper clips are "a" but they are in container number 5. Once you shake #5, the kids have to guess which letter it belongs to and write 5 on their chart beside the proper letter. It doesn't even matter if they guess any of them right. The idea is to get them to have fun playing the Science "game".

Sight: I mostly talked about rainbows and prisms and white light, etc. And then we colored rainbows. I'm sure there's something MUCH more creative on the net, but that was my first Science lesson of the year.

Here are a couple of sites for you:

http://lessonplanz.com/Lesson_Plans/Science/_Grades_K-2/index.shtml

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/

Okay . . . good luck!

[jotto]

Thanks for your replies! Yes I can throw the book out. Like I said, I really do like my school and the children so I'm not ready to leave just yet. Hey, I signed the contract so... Just trying to make my classes more enjoyable/productive for the students and myself. I will try some of your ideas this week and let you know the results.