Children: 7-9 year-olds
In this section, find out how 7-9 year-old children learn and develop.
| Characteristics | Implications | Need |
| Beginning to be logical and analytical | Can see patterns, aware of language | Opportunities to experiment |
| Asking questions | Need answers | Freedom to express themselves and learn more than language |
| Reading and writing still minimal in L1 | Still need support and help | Practice and success oriented activities |
| Still have problems sharing | Group activities not always successful | Teacher to guide them and chances to work alone |
| Developing confidence to express themselves | Students will have views on what they want to do / talk about | Chance to state opinions |
| Developing knowledge of the world around them | Know more than we often give them credit for | Chances to use what they know |
Chants
Children at this age group still love chants, but can add their own verses too. This stimulates their creative skills and gives them a sense of achievement when they can produce their own (see Five little speckled frogs song in related pages below).
World knowledge
The quiz at the bottom of the page requires not just linguistic knowledge, but also knowledge about animals.
Wall displays
By now many children are developing their writing skills and becoming proficient drawers. They also get a great sense of achievement from seeing what they have created.
A mini-project on animals is easy to set up. Each child chooses an animal they like. They draw a picture of the animal and write sentences based on a model* provided by the teacher. The pictures are neatly mounted on the classroom walls. Invite parents in too to see these lovely displays.
model:
- …………… is a big/small animal
- …………… lives in the jungle / on a farm / in my house
- ………….. eats leaves / other animals/ …………..
- ………….. can fly / run / swim etc etc
Fun
Games are popular with all ages and it is a shame to push children into formal book-based learning early. They will become de-motivated and maybe even stressed. A really fun game can wake them up and bring laughter back into the classroom.
In this game My animal's got....(see related pages below) children create funny composite animals e.g. one with a tiger’s head, a bear’s tummy and an elephant’s legs.
This fun game works on many levels. Children can enjoy it purely visually and can also practise their English through it. It is very good for the possessive ‘ s.
Anchor Point:bottom
Related Resources
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Five little speckled frogs song
To read and sing a counting song and to practise numbers 1 - 5.
Level: Starter/beginner, Elementary Type: Worksheet
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Five little speckled frogs song - teacher's notes
To read and sing a counting song and to practise numbers 1 - 5.
Level: Starter/beginner, Elementary Type: Worksheet
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My animal's got.... worksheet
To introduce and revise animals and colours and to practise body parts.
Level: Starter/beginner, Elementary Type: Teaching notes
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My animal's got....teacher's notes
To introduce and revise animals and colours and to practise body parts.
Level: Starter/beginner, Elementary Type: Worksheet
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