How to teach Kids | from a Prague kindergarten, part 1 | English for Children

Key Concepts

• Following instructions (stand up, sit down)
• Physical activities (walking, swimming, flying, jumping, hopping)
• Spatial awareness (walking around the room, forming a circle, getting smaller/bigger)
• Color recognition (blue, red, yellow)
• Social interaction (saying hello, asking names, happy dance, saying goodbye)
• Counting (fingers, jumps)
• Object identification (balloon, towel, bag)
• Requesting (saying "bigger, please," "open, please")

Following Instructions and Physical Activities

The video begins with simple instructions like "stand up" and "sit down" to engage the audience and test their ability to follow directions. The instructor then leads the children through various physical activities, including:

• Walking: Demonstrating and practicing walking with "chest out," moving "left, right, left" around the room.
• Swimming: Mimicking swimming motions and "swimming around the room," then swimming "quickly."
• Flying: Imitating flying actions.
• Jumping: Performing six jumps, then five jumps.
• Hopping: Hopping eight times on one leg.
• Little Jumps: Doing ten little jumps, repeated twice.

These activities are designed to encourage physical movement and coordination.

Spatial Awareness and Group Activities

The video incorporates activities that promote spatial awareness and group interaction:

• Forming a Circle: Holding hands to create a circle, then getting "smaller and smaller" and "bigger and bigger."
• Happy Dance: Performing a "happy dance" to express happiness.
• Standing in Line: Arranging the children in a line and practicing marching "left, right, left."

These activities help children understand spatial relationships and work together as a group.

Object Identification and Interaction

The instructor uses various objects to engage the children:

• Balloon: Introducing a balloon and asking the children what to do with it (blow it up). The process of blowing up the balloon is interactive, with the instructor asking if it's big enough and encouraging the children to say "bigger, please."
• Bag: Showing a bag and asking if they should open it, prompting them to say "open, please." The instructor pretends to hurt their nose and ears while opening the bag for comedic effect.
• Towel: Revealing a towel from the bag and asking if the children are hot.

These interactions help children identify objects and learn how to request actions.

Color Recognition

The video includes a segment on color recognition:

• Blue: Identifying a blue object and asking the children to find something blue.
• Red: Identifying a red object and asking the children to find something red.
• Yellow: Identifying a yellow object and asking the children to find something yellow.

The instructor uses the phrase "I don't know" to prompt the children to identify the colors.

Social Interaction and Introductions

The instructor interacts with individual children, asking their names and engaging them in simple conversations:

• Samik: Introducing Samik, asking him to show his muscles, and leading the group in saying "hello, Samik."
• Sinka: Introducing Sinka, asking if she's happy or sad, and having her perform a "happy dance."
• Hanek: Introducing Hanek and noting that he is sad.
• Sanka: Introducing Sanka and saying "Nice to meet you."

These interactions help children practice social skills and learn how to introduce themselves.

Conclusion

The video is a structured activity session designed to engage children through physical movement, object interaction, color recognition, and social interaction. The instructor uses repetition, simple instructions, and positive reinforcement to create a fun and educational experience. The activities are designed to promote coordination, spatial awareness, and social skills. The video concludes with a goodbye and instructions to stand in line, reinforcing the importance of following directions and group participation.