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vol.9 Halloween Activity

Halloween Items & Activities!

Simple 5-minute Activity for little children

Slide the bars to reveal the pictures of Halloween objects (Jack-o’-lantern, black cat, ghost, and skeleton)!

What’s this??? … It’s a Jack-o’-lantern!

Halloween Activity for children ”Find Your Partner”(Halloween version)

 

  1. Prepare two cards of bat, ghost, jack-o’-lantern, black cat, monster, and haunted house.

  2. Shuffle and deal the cards, one card per student.
  3. Let your students find their partners by finding a student who has the same card.
  4. Once all the students have found their pair, sit down and read the Halloween poem together!
  5. Shh… Shh… Shh…
    Scary, scary, scary
    Dark in the house.
    Ghosts, monsters, witches and bats,
    Black cats and jack-o’lanterns Hiding in the house.
    Sh… Shh… Shh…

 

POEM:「Jack-o’-Lantern」
I am a pumpkin, big and round.
Once upon a time, I grew on the ground.
Now I have a mouth, two eyes, and a nose.
What are they for, do you suppose?
With a candle inside, shining bright,
I’ll be a jack-o’-lantern on Halloween night.
WELCOME to Learning World BLUE Student Book (p.36)

Halloween night (Elementary school level)

Look at the picture carefully…. there is a ghost, a monster, a witch…. how many Halloween characters did you find?


Learning World 1 (p.65) *This audio is available only in Teacher’s book.

HALLOWEEN MAZE (Elementary school level)

Suitable for any students who have learned colors.
Vocabulary list: cat, bat, pumpkin, ghost, monster, jack-o’-lantern, witch, broom

Learning World 1 WORKBOOK ”HALLOWEEN MAZE” (p.45)

 

Vol.8 Springboard Series & CD

(Release date: July 2010)

4 levels, 4 colors
800JPY + tax

  • Level 1~4……Green
  • Level 5~8……Blue
  • Level 9~12……Purple
  • Level 13~16..… Pink

♪ Audio Contents

●Easy to find and repeat the audio – each track contains 2 pages!

●Audio with Sound Effects to enjoy the listening practice ♪

●Sound of a chime helps students when to turn the page over!

♪ How to use
Listen to the audio CD, and practice reading with audio. The goal is to read at the same speed as the audio, as well as the pronunciation. Once your students achieve reading a story / 1 short book, mark the chart and let them choose the next book to read.
> Springboard Reading Chart
 

Springboard is an Australian-built program that is used in elementary schools. Level 1 is used in the first grade (5 years old, native). Short stories encourage children to finish reading a book.

Purchase Springboard Audio CD

Vol. 7 Springboard Series Teaching Guides for ALL 16 Levels!

For teachers using the Springboard Reading series,
you can download all of the Teaching Guides here for FREE!
One file contains the Teaching Guides for all 8 books (a~h) in that level.
Each Teaching Guide has detailed directions with reduced pages from the book and 2 worksheets!
You can choose to just print out the worksheets!
Worksheets are a fun way to check comprehension and work on phonics after completing a book!
LEVEL 1
Download
PDF here
  • a:During the Day  日中のこと
  • b:The Pesky Fly  わんぱくなハエくん
  • c:At the Supermarket  スーパーでお買い物
  • d:Where is Sam?  サムがいない
  • e:The Rescue  水浸しレスキュー
  • f:Hair  髪の毛いろいろ
  • g:Who is Asleep?  動物のお昼寝
  • h:The Kangaroo   カンガルーの学校
LEVEL 2
Download
PDF here
  • a: I Can, Can You? できるよ!
  • b: Fast and Slow ノロノロとスピーディ
  • c;A Rainbow of Parrots きれいなオウム
  • d: spot 穴掘り大好き犬
  • e;The Grasshopper and the Flea バッタとノミ
  • f: At School お絵かきの時間
  • g: Going to Town 町へ行こう
  • h: This is Fish 動物の得意なこと
LEVEL 3
Download
PDF here
  • a: At the Fair 楽しい遊園地
  • b: Going to the Moon 月へ行く
  • c: Funny the Fish おもしろい魚たち
  • d: Where Is My Bear? テディベアはどこ?
  • e: Animal Babies 動物赤ちゃん
  • f: Where is Patch? ネコのパッチはどこ?
  • g: Carla Crocodile Goes Shoe Shopping ワニのカーラさん靴屋へ行く
  • h: Truck and Other Big Machines いろいろな大きい車
LEVEL 4
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Park Train 公園電車
  • b: At the Zoo 動物園
  • c: Molly Monster’s Party お化けのモリィ、パーティーの準備をする
  • d: Big Things 世界の大きなもの
  • e: The Tennis Match ゾウとキリンのテニス
  • f: Santana サンタナくんの遊び
  • g: Lucy’s Loose Tooth ルーシーのぐらぐら歯
  • h: The Fishing Trip 魚釣り
LEVEL 5
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Thirsty Cats のどが渇いたネコたち
  • b: Pet Dogs and Working Dogs ペットの犬・働く犬
  • c: This Little Critter ちっちゃな生き物
  • d: To the Space Station 宇宙ステーションに行きたいゾウさん
  • e: Big Greg the Firefighter 消防隊のグレッグ
  • f: Trent and Grace Make a Home トレントとグレースの家づくり
  • g: Wally Wombat Goes to the City ウォンバットのウォリー 町へ行く
  • h: Look in the Tree 木にいる動物
LEVEL 6
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Surprise  おばあちゃんからのサプライズ
  • b: Animals That Live in the City  都会の動物
  • c: Escape from the Zoo  動物園から脱走
  • d: The Moon Car Race  月のカーレース
  • e: After School  学校が終わったら
  • f: Giraffe Goes Skating  キリンのスケート
  • g: Make a Fruit Salad  フルーツサラダを作ろう
  • h: Lunch in the Park  小鳥のランチ
LEVEL 7
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Kite Day  たこあげ大会
  • b: The Bike Ride  自転車を乗りに公園へ
  • c: June’s New Car  車の買い替え
  • d: Kangaroos  カンガルーについて
  • e: Beaver’s Photo  ビーバー君サーカスで写真を撮る
  • f: The Zoo Trip  お母さんと動物園へ
  • g: Pete and Katy go skiing  ピートとケイティのスキー
  • h: Hot-Air Balloon Day  熱気球大会
LEVEL 8
Download
PDF here
  • a: Thumper’s Sore Paw  犬のサンバー怪我をする
  • b: Life in the Trees  木に住む動物
  • c: Walter, the Walter Taxi  小さな水上タクシーのウォルターの話
  • d: A New Place to Live  動物達の新しい場所探し
  • e: Dad’s Phone  お父さんの携帯電話
  • f: A Visit to the Library  みんなで図書館
  • g: Zippy Zebra Finds a Friend  シマウマのジッピーのお友達探し
  • h: Trains  世界の電車
LEVEL 9
Download
PDF here
  • a: String Things ひもで工作
  • b: The Ski Race スキー大会
  • c: The Playhouse 裏庭でお家遊び
  • d: Where Does Mrs Brown Live? お家の場所を説明しよう
  • e: Who Took the Teacher’s Scissors? フクロウ先生のハサミがない
  • f: Hide and Seek With Carla Crocodile ワニのカーラさんとかくれんぼ
  • g: Pizza Day ピザを作ろう
  • h: Operation Elephant Foot ゾウのシャーマの手術
LEVEL 10
Download
PDF here
  • a: What Time is it?  時計の見方
  • b: Mrs Popinpop’s Ghost  ポピンポップ夫人とゴースト
  • c: Dinosaur Dan  恐竜のダンより大きい動物
  • d: Bad Weather Good Weather  良い天気・悪い天気
  • e: Sonny Gets Lost  犬のソニー迷子になる
  • f: The Nosey Spder  知りたがりやのクモの話
  • g: Places Where People Live  人間が住む場所
  • h: The Moon Landing  月面着陸ごっこ
LEVEL 11
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Snail Race カタツムリのサムとサラのレース
  • b: Outside Games 外遊びゲーム
  • c: The Queen’s New Seat わがままな女王様
  • d: Geena’s Project ジーナちゃんの紙作り
  • e: Joe’s Letter ジョー君からおばあちゃんへの手紙
  • f: When I Looked Out of My Window 窓の外に見えるもの
  • g: Big Cats Little Cats ネコ科の動物
  • h: Carlos’s Big Yawn カルロ君の大きなあくび
LEVEL 12
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Flying Doctor  ドクター・コアラと赤い飛行機
  • b: Joseph, the Greedy Octopus  よくばりタコのジョセフ
  • c: Snake Gets Lost  ヘビとトカゲのかくれんぼ
  • d: Rubbish  ゴミのその後
  • e: The Bus Driver’s Birthday  バスの運転手さんの誕生日
  • f: Animals That Live in the Sea  海の生物
  • g: Carmelita’s Cabbage  カメリタちゃんのキャベツ
  • h: Balloon Fun  風船で工作
LEVEL 13
Download
PDF here
  • a: Maggie Magpie’s Pie  カササギのマギーのパイ
  • b: Wendy Worm’s Adventure  ミミズのウェンディの冒険
  • c: Peter’s Treasure Hunt  ピーターがお母さんに用意した宝探しゲーム
  • d: Fur  いろいろな毛皮
  • e: The Clowns with Frowns Parade  しかめっ面のピエロ
  • f: Alligators to Zebras  野生動物たち
  • g: Grizzy Bear Finds a Friend  ヒグマの友達探しの旅
  • h: Australian State Plants  オーストラリアの州花
LEVEL 14
Download
PDF here
  • a: Listen to me  ママの言うことは聞かないと
  • b: Brian Fixit  修理が大好きなブライアン
  • c: This Little Boy  難聴の男の子の日常
  • d: A Hot Day at the Farm  ある暑い日の動物のお話
  • e: Ringo the Dingo  羊と仲良くなった野生犬リンゴの話
  • f: People and Gorillas 人間とゴリラ
  • g: Bessie Bunyip 高いところが好きなベッシー
  • h: Who Works at the Supermarket? スーパーで働く人たち
LEVEL 15
Download
PDF here
  • a: The Lucy Whale  浜に打ち上げられたクジラ
  • b: Carla Crocodile’s Knitting  ワニのカーラさんの編み物
  • c: The Giant’s Fire  山の上の巨人
  • d: Bronto’s New House  恐竜のブロント、新しい家を買う
  • e: Saving Tigers  絶滅危機のトラ
  • f: What is a Frog?  カエルの生態
  • g: Ruby and the Whote Rat  檻から助け出された白ねずみ
  • h: Don’t Throw It Away  ゴミについて考えよう
LEVEL 16
Download
PDF here
  • a: A Garden in a Bottle  ペットボトルで鉢づくり
  • b: Three Naughty Ostriches  やんちゃな3匹のダチョウ
  • c: Kakadu  カカドゥ国立公園
  • d: The Blank Sheet of Paper  ジョセフと作文の時間
  • e: Fat Snake-Thin Snake  食べ過すぎたヘビ
  • f: Harry’s Great Big Burp  カリー君の大きなゲップ
  • g: Polly Perkin’s Pictures  ポーリーの絵画
  • h: All About Meat  お肉屋さん

 

Vol. 6 A Picture Dictionary with Appeal to ALL AGES!!

“Do I really need a picture dictionary?”
“I’d like to use a picture dictionary, but I’m not sure how…”
Well, let us give you some ideas for how you can use AJ’s Picture Dictionary with your class!

Key Points When Choosing a Picture Dictionary

  1. It is essential that the pictures be fun, so that students want to spend time looking at them.
    (You don’t want your picture dictionary to just “decorate” your shelves.
  2. You should not buy a picture dictionary with fewer words for younger learners. You should buy a picture dictionary with at least 1,200 words, so that students can easily find the words they want.
    (They should be able to use the same picture dictionary all the way up through upper elementary school.)
    (From Matthew-sensei’s presentation at Nellie’s Seminar on 10/16/2013)

AJ’s PICTURE DICTIONARY has conversations, so you can use as a textbook!

The conversations can be found at the bottom of every page of AJ’s.
At ‘A Barbecue Party’, the key conversations are “Do you like~?” and “Would you like~?”. Students can use the words for different foods from the picture to complete and answer the questions.

AJ’s PICTURE DICTIONARY pp.14-15

AJ’s Vocabulary CD goes with AJ’s Picture Dictionary. It has all of the 1300 words from the 25 scenes and the conversations between the main characters, found at the bottom of the page.

Audio tracks for “A Barbecue Party”:
>>♪ Basic Vocabulary (black)
>>♪ Supplementary Vocabulary (blue)
>>♪ Conversation Between Main Characters

Look very carefully at the pictures… there are lots of funny things going on!

Look at the sushi…
No fish!?!
Uh, oh. The gray cat
is reaching for it…
What’s the gray cat eating?
(The tuna slice from the sushi on the table.)

 

Can you find all the
fruits in the picture?
Point to the fruit.
(on the table,
in the cake,
on some women’s earrings)

 

Main vocabulary is in black; secondary vocabulary is in blue! Easy to see and understand!

In “Wild Animals on Safari” the animals are in black, and lots of action verbs using the present continuous are introduced in blue.

Look closely at the picture… there are also lots of chances to use language that is not on the page! ・How many mice are there? (Ten)
・Where is the pink heart? (Above the flamingoes) ・What does it mean? (Love)

“How do you say this in English?” ~Using “The Aquarium”~

When kids do not know a word in English, we teach them to say, “How do you say (カニ、イルカ、ナマコ) in English?” Based on the pictures, they understand what the word is. Sometimes, though, kids do not know the word in Japanese! Especially for the aquarium page, it would be realistic to also ask kids, “How do you say this in Japanese?” Get them to think about both languages!

This is also a chance to elicit other language the students know. For example, AJ is looking at the angler fish.
This is especially good for upper level elementary school students to try and show what they know!

Dreams: learning occupations. Use “I want to be ~” to make a presentation!

Lots of pictures so that children can find something they are interested in!
Have students look at the right page…Who do you know on this page?

Teacher Notes for AJ’s Songs & Chants CD! (only available at events

Teacher Notes will help you use AJ’s Songs & Chants CD even more effectively.

One song or chant per 1 photocopiable page (28 pages total)
・Fill in the missing lyrics for the songs and chants
・Put the phrases in the correct order
These are just a couple of the types of activities!

Recommended for teachers dealing with upper level elementary students who are getting shy about singing!
 

Introducing one of the photocopiable worksheets!
After studying the words for “Beautiful Safari”, have students listen to ♪ Beautiful Safari on AJ’s Songs & Chants CD and fill in the blanks.
They will have to listen a few times to catch all the words. While listening, those phrases will become naturally
established in students’ minds.

Vol. 5 Springboard Series and Audio CDs

Based on teachers’ requests, we started selling the audio CD in 2010.
You can use Springboard for in class storytime, or have students read the books for homework.

The 16 levels are divided into 4 colors (4 levels per color) for easy visibility.

  • Level 1~4……Green
  • Level 5~8……Blue
  • Level 9~12……Purple
  • Level 13~16……Pink

♪ Audio Contents:

● Every 2 pages is one track.
→ It’s easy to go back and listen to a certain page again. (Track numbers are on the CD insert.)
● Good sound effects ♪
→ Makes the audio more fun for the kids!
● Easy to understand when to turn the page!
→ Turn the page when the chime sounds.

♪ How can the CD be used? Examples:

  • Have students listen to the CD while reading the book. They can pause the CD and repeat. They can also try to shadow the audio and say it at the same speed with the same intonation.
  • You can have one CD and book for each student. They can do the reading for homework or during class time. You can set up a library for students to borrow the books and CDs. (Some schools have set up borrowing systems like a library, where they keep track of the student’s name, the date borrowed, and the due date for the materials. Some have also made library cards for their students.)
  • During the next lesson, the students can read the story to the teacher and/or the entire class. If they read the story well, they can get the teacher’s signature for that book on a reading chart. The reading chart has three levels per page. Once students completely read through three levels, you can staple a new reading sheet in front of the completed one. Great for students to keep track of their own reading progress!

> Springboard Reading Chart is here!
How to use the level chart: Challenge students to read all of the books in each level. Write the name of the level they are working on at the top of that section. Each of the 8 books in a level is labeled with a letter from ‘a’ to ‘h’. So, for example, if a student reads book ‘d’ well, sign the square for book ‘d’. Once they have your signature in all eight squares, they are ready to move up to the next level! You can also use stickers or stamps or write the date in place of a signature, if you’d like.

This chart was first introduced by Matthew-sensei during APRICOT Plaza in 2009. Other teachers who started using the chart with their students gave the following feedback. “Using this chart really improved my students’ motivation! They are completely different!” Please try it out!

Springboard is the fantastic literacy program from Macmillan Education Australia, the PRIMARY PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR 3 years in a row. It is designed for children who are considered “at risk” for reading. In order to engage children who may not like to read, the content is varied and interesting, and the language starts very simple, gradually getting harder. A strength of the series is that it builds students’ reading confidence. Being able to read a book, and then complete an entire level makes students think, “Yay! I could read!” This feeling of accomplishment makes them want to keep reading.

Springboard is sold in level packs; each level pack has 8 books: 3 factual and 5 fiction.

Ways you can use Springboard:
▶ Every lesson I have 15 minutes of Reading Time. Students do not worry about words that they do not know, but keep practicing reading. They’ve been getting better and better as they get used to reading. Now, the 5th grade students can read one Level 15 book in 15 minutes! (N-sensei, Osaka)


▶ I use Springboard as a text. We check on words that the students do not know and read the books slowly. Springboard is a series of picture books, so when students take the books home, it is easy for their parents to understand what we are doing. Now students are studying Level 5, preparing for Step Test (Eiken) level 4. (K-sensei, Aichi)

Buy the Springboard CDs here! >>

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