Help around the house (a survey)

We spent a few lessons in November talking about different chores and activities around the house. I asked my pupils to do a survey among their classmates to find out how much they help around the house. It was an interesting way for everyone to say something about him/herself, let alone practise the present simple tense and adverbs of frequency. 

We've also compared the lives of Serbian teenagers with those of British teens. Here is how a pupil of mine, Filip Ivetić from class VI3, sees the former:

Teenage Life in Serbia

Families in Serbia are usually big, but sometimes small. The parents are very busy, but most teenagers do not help around the house, so the parents have to do the chores. In the evenings, they often watch some films on TV.

Here in Serbia we go to school in shifts. In the morning, school starts at 8.00 and finishes at 13.10, and in the afternoon, it begins at 13.00 and ends at 18.10. The teenagers in Serbia do not really like going to school, and find it quite boring.

Like all teenagers, Serbian teens love watching TV, playing computer games and surfing the Net in their free time. Most teens have their Facebook accounts. In Serbia, it is the most popular messager programme on the Internet. On Saturdays, a lot of teens invite their friends to come over and they have lots of fun!

Emails

Hi, Mary!
What are you doing? I’m at home now. It’s raining cats and dogs outside. I’m eating a cheeseburger. Mum’s teaching Qurel, my teacher, the flipebdo charm. My dad’s showing my brother how to play quidich in the field. I hope the blogers won’t hurt them... We’re all busy. My sister Jinny has a herbiology exam. Her teacher, Miss Sprout was pretty disappointed with her last exam.
Mum’s bought Jene an owl. She was happy. Now she can send letters to her friends. Lucky her!
Thanks, I’m fine. How about you?
No, I don’t have any plans for Sunday. Do you want to go to the village of Hogsmith on Sunday with me?
Love,
Sue
P.S. I think your owl’s dead or something.

Rastko Zamurović, VI2, September 2009

Hi Mary,
How are you? I’m at home now. It’s sunny outside, so I’m playing football. Mum’s cooking lunch. My dad and my brother are playing computer games. We’re all busy. My sister’s playing games with her friend. Lucky her!
Hope you’re OK.
Milan

Milan Reljin, VI3, September 2009

My favourite character is... (notes)

My favorite character is Eric Cartman. He is short and fat. He is not clever. He can eat so much, but he doesn't like to work.

Mihailo Kozomara, VI1

My favorite character is Courage the Cowardly Dog. He is short. Courage is very clever. He likes his owner Muriel and to solve mysteries. But he doesn't like his other owner Eustace at all, because he is cruel to him. Courage can do the tricks, solve big mysteries and save his owners. He does things for love! He doesn't like monsters and other villains cause he gets really scared and then panics a lot.

Anđela Kovljenić, VI1

My favourite character is Harry Potter. He is thin. He is very clever. He can do magic and he doesn't like EVIL!!!...

Denis Nastovski, VI2

My favourite character is Ash Ketchum. He is an adventurer. He is of average height. He likes to catch pokemons. He doesn t like to lose. He is very cunning. His best friends are his Pokemons, Dawn and Brock.

Aleksandar Petrović, VI1

Incey Wincey Spider (kids singing)

This is a popular finger nursery rhyme, greatly enjoyed by my younger pupils. Here are the lyrics to sing along with my class II5:

Incey Wincey Spider climbed up the spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Incey out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
Incey Wincey Spider climbed the spout again.

Hallowe'en 2009

In our English lessons, we also celebrate Hallowe'en. We talk about the holiday, sing songs, make masks, play games, eat sweets and things like that.

II4

Now, try to match the words with their definitions:
1. Jack o’ lantern
2. pumpkin
3. treat
4. autumn
5. Hallowe’en
6. mask
7. Apple Bobbing

a. the season which comes after summer and before winter
b. a false face
c. a large, round, orange vegetable
d. an autumn holiday for children
e. a game with apples and water
f. a gift such as money or sweets
g. a pumpkin with a face cut in it

Time for school (kids singing)

Here's one of the catchy songs about school, this time sung by class VI1. The lyrics are, as follows:

Bring your notepad, bring your pens
Bring your schoolbag, too
Bring your books, call your friends
Bring them all with you

It's time for school, hooray, hooray
Hurry up, it's my first day
It's time for school, it's lots of fun
School is great for everyone
 

English, Maths and History
Art and Science, too
Music and Geography
Are fun for me and you

Time 4 Poetry

All Seasons Are Amazing

The year is full of seasons,

Some are hot and sunny,

Some are cold and freezing,

Some are rainy and windy.

All seasons are amazing,

I like them just like you,

Let's protect the flowers

This is their ground, too!

Seasons are wonderful,

Flowers are nice to see,

The pool is hot for swimming,

The ice is great for skating.

Ratko Stanković, VI1, September 2009,
inspired by a song called 'All Creatures Are Amazing' from our coursebooks

Summer

I like summer best

When the sun shines

And you have a rest.

You may swim in the river the whole day

And nobody asks you

How long you will stay.

Ana Šogorov, VI2, September 2009

Greece

Ancient temples,

Beautiful sea,

Wonderful music,

Which sets me free.

Lying in the sun,

Playing at the beach,

Buying souvenirs,

And eating a peach.

Vladimir Jakšić, VI2, September 2009

My friend

My friend's name is Lina

And she is from China.

She never gets mad,

But sometimes she is sad.

She is so pretty,

Like a little kitty.

Milica Marić, VI2, September 2009

Fairies

Fairies are like girls with wings

I have many of these things.

They live with Mother Nature

Fairies can see in the future.

They have magic powers, too

Fairies can help you.

Dunja David, VI2, October 2009

A girl and a flower

A little girl playing in the park,

Saw a yellow flower before the dark.

She picked up the flower,

Kissed it for hello,

And took it with her

Wherever she had to go.

Doroteja Čikić, VI2, October 2009

Love

What is love?

It's when you cry,

And when you want to die

Without any reason why.

It's hard to love,

Harder than to hate.

The best thing of all is

To arrange for a date.

Vladimir Jakšić, VI2, October 2009

We love

We love chocolate cakes,

Especially when mum bakes.

We love a lot of toys

For all the girls and boys.

We love lots of things,

But most of all pretty wings.

We love flowers

And four - leaf clovers.

We love a lot of stuff

We never have enough.

Milica Marić, VI2, October 2009

Cats

We love cats,

They are good pets.

Cats can be happy and playful,

They can be like a little girl.

They play with different toys

And give us lots of joys.

Vladimir Jakšić, VI2, October 2009

Ireland

The 'Emerald Isle',

A beautiful place,

You may go there

If you have a good taste.

Cheerful music,

Tasty beer,

Happy dancers

All the year.

Doroteja Čikić, VI2, October 2009

London

That beautiful city

On the River Thames,

With lots of people

And places to see.

You may go there,

To work or play.

You may spend a lot of money

Every day.

Ana Šogorov, VI2, October 2009