Many of our contributing teachers have turned their attention to their projects from the English textbooks they are using as a way to implement arts-based techniques and ideas to language learning.
Mr. Đỗ Lê Huy from Quảng Ninh province has engaged his Grade 3 students in creating posters of their favourite toys. This is part of a 35-minute lesson, included in the English Discovery 3 textbook, which led to the assembly of the “Toy Museum” that students built together individually and in groups. Before starting the project, Mr. Huy helped the students to learn supporting vocabulary and to build up sentences that they can use in their posters. The teacher also asked students to think about the project and prepare any necessary materials before starting the project, such as deciding on a toy, thinking of how they wanted to draw it, etc. During the lesson, students worked in groups to assemble a “Toy Museum” to which everyone contributed with their unique toys. In this way, students used drawing techniques, the vocabulary taught, and collaborative skills to demonstrate their abilities and to showcase objects that are meaningful to them.
An alternative project could ask students to bring their favourite toys to class and to put together a physical display. The students could then prepare short presentations and they could exchange their ideas with peers in other groups. Having the actual toys in the class could open up opportunities for more language use as students may be able to touch and feel the fabric, shape, and weight of their toys and these elements could add richness to their descriptions. If students are unable to use English, then they can develop multilingual descriptions where they can use both Vietnamese and English to communicate their ideas fully.
Instead of toys, another adaptation of the museum idea could be built on creating models (e.g., cars of the future), puppets, and masks to convey emotions. The important aspect of this project is that it strongly encourages students’ production and decision-making around the language forms that matter to them.