Active learning - Use of rhyme and song

Children learn in many different ways and have different learning styles. Opportunities for children to experience language through song and rhyme, storytelling and games offer children ways to interact with the new language and with one another in a dynamic and social environment.

Through active methods and physical response children feel safe to explore and experiment with the new sounds. For those who prefer to listen and observe, they absorb the new language by watching others and gradually increase in confidence, until they too are joining in, responding to what they hear and see and engaging with others in short conversations and role-play.

Action song

A Year 4 class teacher practises a song with actions, Mein Hut. Children perform actions for most of the words of the song. When singing a second time they omit some of the words replacing them only with actions and humming.