At my new school, BIG BOW English Lab , I teach unique cross-curricular lessons where other subjects such as history, geography or science are taught in English. Here are two great science lessons inspired by Pearson Longman readers, just in time for summer.
Don't Bite the Bottom Off Your Ice Cream Cone
This is a humorous reader that explains why it is okay to bite the bottom off your ice cream cone in winter, but not okay in summer because it will make a big mess.
Materials: Worksheet, ice cube, clear bowl, clock
Target: Older elementary school students with basic reading skills
Click and download Lesley's Worksheet for this activity!
Things_that_melt.pdf
1. After reading the book to the class, point out the word "melt" in the glossary on page 16. Place a small ice cube in a clear bowl in the center of the table and ask, "What time is it?" Write the time on the board.
2. Give each student a copy of the worksheet. Have the students take turns reading the words. After each word is read, decide together if it melts or not. If it melts, circle the word.
3. Ask, "What time is it?" Elicit the current time and how many minutes have passed since you first put out the ice cube. Have the students observe how much the ice cube has melted. Say, "It's melting."
4. Teach the word, "degrees". Show the thermometers on pages 3 and 4 and have the students read the thermometers. (For example,)
5. Review the words: cold, cool, warm and hot. Have the students use their red pencils to draw the mercury in the thermometers and say how many degrees they think it needs to be cold, cool, warm or hot. Have the students take turns telling you what they wrote. (For example, "It's 23 degrees. It's cool.")
6. Repeat step 3. By now, the ice cube should be almost completely melted. Watch the final moments before it melts completely as a class!
This is a cute story about a little boy named Tim who finds out what plants need to grow.
Materials: Downloadable worksheet, construction paper, scissors, tape, 2 straws, glue
Target: Four to seven year olds
Click and download Lesley's Worksheet for this activity!
Tims_Little_Seed.pdf
1. Before class, cut out a sun and a watering can from the construction paper and tape one to the end of each straw.
2. After reading the story, give each student a copy of the worksheet. Have them cut out the cards and say what is on each card. Decide as a class if the item on the card is something plants need or not and glue the card in the correct box.
3. Act out how plants grow. Have the students crouch down. Hold up your sun (see #1) and say, "Here's the sun!" Hold up your watering can and pretend you are pouring water over the students. Say, "Here's the water!" Now say, "Grow!" and have the students stand up slowly and spread out their arms as if they were a plant growing. If you have time, give the sun and watering can to student volunteers, crouch down with the rest of the students and repeat the activity.
Click here to download MORE activity sheets for Tim's Little Seed!
Lesley Ito is the owner of BIG BOW English Lab in Nagoya and has been a school owner and EFL teacher in Japan for over 15 years. She has written numerous articles about teaching and managing schools and has made teaching presentations all over Japan.
