Assembling puzzles is a great hands-on activity which always automatically
captures the interest of young learners. Perhaps this has something to do
with their sense of curiosity in wanting to put things in order, along with
the suspense of seeing who can find and assemble what. Since puzzles need no
explanation, talented English teachers can use them to their advantage.
Also because puzzles are generally assembled with the participants gathered
in a circle, they are a great vehicle to promote group cooperation and
camaraderie.
I would like to introduce to you an item called "Parts of the Body Puzzle."
The sturdy and colorful puzzle is a healthy 92 by 61 centimeters, which
means it takes up a good amount of space, which enables all the students to
touch and assemble it. It consists of 24 large and easy-to-manage pieces.
It portrays and has the English to coincide with 21 body parts, which is a
pretty hefty vocabulary for young learners. The body parts focused on from
head to toes are: eye, ear, nose, mouth, hair, head, neck, shoulder, chest,
waist, arm, elbow, wrist, hand, fingers, thigh, knee, leg, ankle foot and
toes. In addition to the puzzle, a FREE, large, color poster is included.
This poster also measures 92 by 61 centimeters.
I would suggest first displaying the poster to the students and pointing
out the body parts you would like to teach with a pointer or ruler. Focusing
on one part of the body for one lesson, like the head, which contains six
classifications, is a good policy. The students can repeat after the
teacher. And the teacher can ask the students to point to that body part on
a class doll or on their own bodies. Next, the teacher can assemble the
students around a big table or a tatami mat and have them put the puzzle
together. The teacher should encourage the students to visually depend on
the poster as a base.
After the students have assembled the puzzle, the teacher can ask them to
point to the (head) parts taught earlier in the lesson. In conclusion, the
class can sing "Head and Shoulders" together following the teacher's lead.
Puzzles are a superlative teaching tool because young learners are attracted
to the tactile appeal of the pieces. A wonderful sense of intimacy is
promoted as the participants huddle in a circle around the item. And of
course, children are fascinated seeing the puzzle take shape, as well as
satisfied in seeing it completed.
Helene Jarmol Uchida
Helene Jarmol Uchida is a veteran teacher with teaching, curriculum
development and teacher training experience in the U.S., Greece and Japan.
She is the director of the Fukuoka-based
Little America English Schools
and lectures at Fukuoka Kyoiku Daigaku. She holds the LATEM seminars every year
in cities throughout Japan and is also the author of 'The Challenge Book',
an interactive English book and CD especially created for Japanese elementary school students.
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