1st session of Carnival through English

Today I have been working with 30 pupils of 1st and 2nd grade. Some of them have chosen the costume of "Squirrels", and the others are wearing a costume of "Elves". My first task has been to introduce these two new words for them.

Then, I have created some posters to help them during the costumes creations. I have expained how to do the first accessory of the costume of each group. When they have finished, I have followed my guide and I have explained them the next step.

The class have been really successful. At first, I have thought that probably it would be quite difficult to understand the process that was explained in English, but I wanted to do my best and work hard to achieve the understanding of each step. Finally I have realised that they were following the steps as I had explained. During the process of the accessories, I have been talking in English with the students. I have shown the materials that we were going to use before starting, and I also have remembered them some colours using the materials that were needed in the costume. Finally, I have been congratulating them with phrases like: "Good job!" "Amazing!" "Keep working, you are doing it really well". They have felt really happy with my reactions.

The other two teachers, who were working with me to help the pupils during the elaboration of the costumes, have congratulated me. What's more, they have proposed me to follow the same methodology for the next sessions of costumes. I have felt really proud of my work and I am looking forward to start the next session tomorrow. 

Here there are the materials that I have used during this session:

COSTUME OF ELVES                                               COSTUME OF SQUIRRELS

 (Next Wednesday we will keep on the creation of the costumes, some of the steps have not been explained yet because it has not been enough time to complete the whole costume).

With this work, I have also realised that we can do whatever using English, but if we want a successful result, we have to work hard to plan it properly, and also to believe that our students are able to understand it. If not, we can try to do our best to make them understand what we want, by using mimics, examples, synonymous and these kind of strategies.

I would like to end this post with a sentence that summarizes what I have felt after this session. Students have been able to understand the process of the construction of their costumes in English, and it has been amazing.

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."

(Lady Bird Johnson)

Pictures: