Our home - our world

Introductory Information

Author
Marie HOFMANNOVÁ & Radek VÍT
E-mail
Institute
Charles University, Prague, Faculty of Education, Czech Republic
Target Group
  • End of Primary School (pupils aged 10-12)
  • Czech Republic - 5th grade or 6th grade
Subjects
  • Homeland Studies (social studies and natural science), Mathematics
  • English as a foreign language
Aims
  1. Introducing the concept of migration in the context of the country - the Czech Republic.
  2. Learning about minorities (foreigners in the Czech Republic, Czech minorities abroad).
  3. Presenting the place where we live to new classmates from abroad.
  4. Exploring multicultural aspects of the town / region. (Can be adapted for different places.)

Key Competences

Communication in language(s)
  • improving reading comprehension skills
  • discussing the new concepts and findings
Communication in foreign languages
  • learning the basic vocabulary for social and natural studies (English)
  • improving reading comprehension skills (English)
  • enhancing fluency in English (introducing new classmates from abroad to the class)
  • including the languages of the pupils present in the classroom (e.g. Vietnamese, Ukrainian; Roma dialects etc.)
Learning to learn
  • looking up information in a dictionary /encyclopedia / on the Internet
  • exploring the town, preparing group presentations in speaking and writing
Digital competences
  • looking for relevant information on the Internet
  • using a calculator
Social and civic Competences
  • learning to cooperate in pairs and groups
  • learning about the cultures of the pupils present in the classroom
  • raising tolerance towards minorities
Timing of the overall activities
3 lessons at school + out-of-school project work in groups + 1 concluding lesson at school Suggested timing is indicated in the description of individual activities.

Worksheets

1. Exploring diversity -The place where we live

Room
A computer lab
Material required
  • 4 worksheets; wall map of the world; wall map of Europe; L1/L2 dictionaries, a copy of Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English; an encyclopedia (optional)
  • Optional: Print out the map of your country for each pair. The Internet address for the Czech Republic: http://commons.wikimedia.org
Grouping
indicated in the description of each activity
Focus on content
Geography (continents, countries); Social studies (migration, immigration, emigration). Technology (basic skills);
Focus on languages
Vocabulary: subject specific terminology; synonyms, opposites; names of languages and nationalities; spelling. Pronunciation. Grammar: prepositions.
Worksheet 1
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 2
Continents
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 3
Countries
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 4
My country
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 5
Looking for information
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 6
Human migration
Material for Teachers
Material for Students

2. Changing the place where we live

Timing
45 minutes (detailed timing for each activity is indicated in the Notes for the teacher)
Material required
  • A copy of the worksheet for each group (2-3 pupils). Each group will be given a different text (for Worksheets 2.2.1 - 2.2.7 in Czech, see the attachment). The worksheets are graded according to the level of difficulty of questions:
    • from the easiest (W2.2.4) - (W 2.2.6) - (W 2.2.5) - (W 2.2.1) - (W 2.2.3) - (W 2.2.2)
    • to the most difficult (W 2.2.7)
  • Calculators
Grouping
indicated in the description of each activity in the Notes for the teacher
Focus on content
Social studies (migration, immigration, emigration); Mathematics (word problems);
Focus on languages
Vocabulary (subject specific terminology; family members). Reading comprehension in L2 or L1. Short oral presentations in L2.
References
Worksheet 1
Migration - Family Perspective
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 2
Migration - Czech perspective
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 3
Mathematics
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 4
Migration and our town
Material for Teachers
Material for Students

3. Meeting new friends in our town

Timing
45 minutes (detailed timing for each activity indicated in the Notes for the teacher)
Material required
  • Four sets of role-cards (for pupils A, B, C, D). The activity is meant for 16 participants. If there are more pupils in the class, each of them gets an extra role-card for pupil D.
  • A map of the town / region. The teacher should get a copy of a tourist map for the class.
Grouping
indicated in the description of each activity in the Notes for the teacher;
Focus on content
Social studies (migration); History;
Focus on languages
Speaking and reading skills in L2;
Worksheet 1
New classmates
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 2
Our town - our region
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 3
Our town and the world
Material for Teachers
Material for Students

4. Exploring multicultural aspects of our town / region

Timing
several days
Material required
a copy of the poem in English to be placed on the classroom notice board before the beginning of Unit 4.
Grouping
collaborative work in groups
Focus on content
Social Studies; Geography; History. Looking for adequate information; collecting evidence.
Focus on languages
Speaking and writing skills in L1 and L2
Worksheet 1
A poem
Material for Teachers
Material for Students
Worksheet 2
Out-of-school exploration
Material for Teachers
Material for Students

5. Presenting exploration results – our town and the world

Timing
Unit 5 (45 minutes)
Material required
-
Grouping
... (groups)
Focus on content
Social Studies; Geography; History; Presenting relevant information and evidence;
Focus on languages
Speaking skills in L2, L1 and/or other languages present in the class;
Notes for the teacher
  • Pupils can present their work in L2 and some L1. They should also include the languages spoken in their school or class.
  • Expected outcomes:
    • Thematic maps of the town (region) according to the explored topics.
    • Large sheets of paper used for the display of pictures, maps, text etc.
    • Other.
Worksheet 1
Material for Teachers
Material for Students