Reading+Activities+to+Practice+Language+(Let's+Go+3)



Reading is a practice activity in Let's Go. We don't use reading to teach new language; we use it to reinforce language students have already learned. This example is from Let's Go 3 unit 2. While text is introduced in Let's Begin, Let's Read begins in level 3 (so this is only the second reading passage students have worked with). Here, all new vocabulary is supported by pictures. There is no new grammar. Students read patterns that they've already learned orally.

Unit 2 is where students encounter //was// for the first time. They've had two lessons talking about where children were earlier in the day and where they are now. They've also had a Let's Build lesson where they recycle weather vocabulary to talk about changes in the weather. This reading passage is the third lesson.

Even at this basic level, we want students to see that they can use English as a tool to learn about things that interest them, rather than something limited to their English class time.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =One way to teach the reading passage= (from Let's Go Teacher's Book 3)


 * Prepare to Read**

1. Have students look at the pictures for the reading, and predict what the story will be about based on what they see. 2. Have students look at the sentences and identify the words they know.


 * Reading**

1. Teach the new vocabulary: //butterfly, catepillar, frog, tadpole.// Have students point to the picture to show they understand. 2. Have students look at the reading passage. Let them read silently for a couple of minutes so they can familiarize themselves with it. 3. Play the audio track for the reading and have students listen. 4. Play the audio once more, and have students read along with the narrator, as they hear the story.
 * A. Read**

1. Talk about the story with students. Point to one of the pictures and have student volunteers say anything they can about what is happening in that picture, even it is just words they remember, e.g., //now, black, butterfly.//
 * B. Answer the questions**

2. Ask the questions on the Student Book page. Play the audio track if a pronunciation model is desired.

3. Ask comprehension questions, such as //What is it now? What was it?// and have students answer them.

4. In pairs, have students ask each other additional questions about the reading passage. (//Is the frog big? What color is the butterfly?//). Brainstorm questions as a class, if necessary. Circulate, helping students as necessary.

1. Play the audio track again, and have students practice reading each line at the same speed and intonation as the audio. 2. Then divide the class into two groups and alternate reading the sentences. 3. Have students get into pairs and read the passage and comprehension questions to each other. Students take turns reading and answer questions.
 * Practice Reading**

--Use the reading passage as a writing model. Most of the reading passages in Let's Go are designed to work as writing models as well. Have students write //before// and //after// statements, and illustrate them. You can use them to play guessing games in class. Here are a few examples of //before// statements written by 3rd and 4th grade students (about 8 or 9 years old). Can you guess what these are now?
 * Variation to make the activity more challenging:**

--Bring in small objects (like plastic ice, eggs. silk flower, ketchup, juice) and play a guessing game. Hold up the object and ask for ideas about what it was before. If desired, write the ideas on the board and let students decide which is the most likely answer. --Have students listen to the reading passage and point to the pictures as they hear the vocabulary items mentioned.
 * Variations to make the activity easier:**