ESOL Web Sites & a Lesson Plan!

Back in Spring 2010, while taking the course Empowering ESOL Teachers at my university,  I had an assignment that required me to find 15 web sites that could assist teachers who have English Language Learners (ELLs) in their classroom. These were the following web sites that I compiled into a list, in addition to a lesson plan that I had to write, using one of the web sites from my chosen list. Feel free to check out those web sites, or use the lesson plan for a science project in your classroom!

1. ABC Teach - http://abcteach.com/directory/basics/

          This web site offers tools and resources for k-8 teachers in teaching subject categories like ABCs, phonics, word walls, and word families. Some materials on the web site are only offered for registered members.

2. ESL 4 Teachers - http://www.esl4teachers.com/

    This website offers resources and lesson plan ideas for teachers who have ELL students.

3. ESL Flash Cards - http://www.eslflashcards.com/

     This website offers a wide variety of flash cards that teachers can use with ELL students.

4. ESLFlow - http://www.eslflow.com/Index.html

     This website offers countless links to websites that teachers can use to teach ELLs, and all links are categorized according to topics or subjects.

5. ESLHQ - http://www.eslhq.com/

     This website offers great resources for ESL teachers. It also is a forum so that ESL teachers from around the world can communicate together or share their own worksheets and other items.

6. ESL Teachers Board - http://www.eslteachersboard.com/

     This website offers job resources and classroom resources for ESL teachers.

7. ESL Teacher Talk - http://www.eslteachertalk.com/

     This website contains interviews, activity ideas, and tips for ESL teachers.

8. Everything ESL - http://www.everythingesl.net/

          This website offers lesson plan ideas, teaching tips, and resource links for teachers with ELL students.

9. Mark’s ESL World - http://www.marksesl.com/

     This website offers simple ESL resources from worksheets to website links and forum discussions.

10. MES-English - http://www.mes-english.com/

     This website offers free resource materials for teaching English to students.

11. Nada’s ESL Island - http://www.nadasisland.com/

     This website contains many resource materials for the ESL classroom.

12. The EFL Playhouse - http://www.esl4kids.net/games.html

     This website contains many game ideas for teachers with ELLs.

13. The Internet TESL Journal - http://iteslj.org/

     This website is for teachers with ELL students. The website consists lesson plan ideas and articles on how to become an effective ESOL teacher.

14. Tools for Educators - http://www.toolsforeducators.com/

     This website contains many resource templates for teachers to use in the classroom. There are creative templates that can be used by ESL teachers to create engaging activities that will involve their ELL students in learning.

15. UsingEnglish - http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers.html

     This website is designed to offer many ESL teacher resources in the form of lesson plans, handouts and quizzes, as well as online glossaries/dictionaries.

Lesson Plan Idea: Using the senses

Subject: Science

Grade: First Grade

Website used as a teaching tool: ESL Flash Cards - http://www.eslflashcards.com/

Objectives

Students will be able to gain first hand experience of observation by examining a pumpkin. 

Students will be able to examine a pumpkin using their five senses and record & write their observations.

Students will be able to compare their observations within cooperative groups.

Sunshine State Standards 

SC.1.N.1.2 - Using the five senses as tools, make careful observations, describe objects in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion, and compare their observations with others.

SC.1.N.1.3 - Keep records as appropriate - such as pictorial and written records - of investigations conducted.
Anticipatory Set

Ask the students if they have had a pumpkin before. Ask them if they have ever been involved with carving the pumpkin. Inform them that they are going to observe the anatomy of a pumpkin by carving it and doing observations on it by way of using the five senses. Briefly explain the concept of the senses and how one goes about using them by showing the “Body Parts” flashcards and reading a book about the five senses.

Teaching: Input

Read the story Our Five Senses by Alyse Sweeney. (The pre-reading strategy can be connected to reviewing certain body part flash cards such as the eyes, hands, nose, ear, and mouth). During reading, have each student touch their eyes, mouth, ears, nose, and rub their hands together during parts of the story that mention the certain sense connected to the body part. Even consider holding up the particular flash card during those moments as well. After reading, discuss a moment where the students may have used one of their senses recently.
Teaching: Modeling

After reading the story and having the discussion, gather everyone around the pumpkin to observe how it sounds and smells, and what they see when the pumpkin is being carved open. Instruct the students to include careful, useful observations of the pumpkin. Divide everyone in groups and split the pulp and seeds (in containers) amongst the groups. Chop pieces of the pumpkin and distribute amongst the groups. Ask that they label their observations, the objects observed, and the senses used. (ESOL & ESE: Assist them during their observations when needed, and assign a working buddy to help record their finding if they are incapable to, or have them draw representations of what they see.)
Teaching: Checking for Understanding

Keep reinforcing the students to use their senses. Ask students (especially ESOL and ESE) what they think about an observation. Ask each group what they found in their observations. Test their knowledge of the senses by asking, “If I felt the pulp and it was squishy, would I be using the sense of hearing or touch?”
Guided Practice

Walk around the room to see if the kids are using their five senses. Keep them on target by having them writing or drawing every unique thing in their science journal.
Closure

Clean up and choose a few students to share their observations with other students from other groups.

Independent Practice

Students will work in groups to observe the pumpkin. They will individually draw their observations in their science journals and label them. They will use their senses to make detailed observations about what the pumpkin smells like, how it feels, how the pulp feels, how the seeds feel, etc.
Materials

1. Pumpkin.
2. Carving utensil.
3. Book: Our Five Senses by Alyse Sweeney found at www.readinga-z.com.
4. “Body Part Flash Cards (Set A)” found at http://www.eslflashcards.com.
5. Rubber disposable gloves for everyone.
6. Students’ science journals to record their observations
7. Document camera (optional) when reading.
8. Paper towels for cleanup.

Duration

Should take about 45 minutes in one day.