Integrating language instruction into individual year level planning can be tricky, but if achieved this best practice can lead to relevant learning for students. The ELC had been doing an author study on Julia Donaldson, the author of ‘The Gruffallo’. The illustrator is Axel Scheffler who, coincidentally is German. We discussed this lovely segue with gusto and then jumped right into the story.
I read the story in both German and English, focussing on key vocabulary. We then retold the story entirely in German utilising story stones. The class was very engaged, excited to use the stones. I made the stones by simply sticking images from the twinkl website to rocks and covering them in glue.
We then discussed the features of the Gruffalo, naming them in German. To cement this vocabulary the students created their own Gruffallo using a variety of materials. I consciously decided not to print off a Gruffalo image for the children to colour, rather they created their own version with the Gruffallo features. This encouraged creativity and brought the focus back to the vocabulary. To complete students scribed which features their creation included.
FromtheForest 