Inspired by: Circus - Week 4

Inspired by the grandeur of the circus, students are immersed in the theatrical world of the ringmaster's welcome, a pivotal moment that sets the stage for an evening of wonder. The learning objective for this activity is to enhance students' ability to craft and rehearse sentences orally, enriching their vocabulary and sentence structure variety. The task begins with a hushed audience eagerly anticipating the entrance of Mr McNulty, the charismatic ringmaster, as he prepares to introduce the Great Parade. Students are encouraged to watch videos of ringmasters and hosts to gather 'awe-inspiring' phrases like 'death-defying' and 'sensationally spectacular,' and to explore engaging literary devices such as similes, alliteration, repetition, and superlatives. By using illustrations or videos of circus acts, students work in pairs to create and rehearse Mr McNulty's introductions for various acts, paying close attention to intonation, volume, and gestures to captivate their audience.

Another facet of the circus experience is learning the art of plate spinning. This activity focuses on comprehension, as students read through instructions on how to spin and juggle plates, clarifying their understanding and discussing the meaning of new words such as 'commence,' 'vendor,' and 'destabilize.' The practical element of trying to spin plates in class adds a hands-on dimension to their learning. Additionally, students delve into the use of perfect verb forms to articulate time and cause relationships through a role-play interview with the plate spinners. Questions like "Have you travelled all over the world?" and "Have you ever spun more than 10 plates?" allow students to practice forming questions in the perfect tense, exploring experiences, changes over time, and accomplishments. This interactive session not only teaches them about the life of a plate spinner but also reinforces their grammatical skills in a fun and engaging context.