CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Plan for Retelling

(3rd–5th forms)

I am going (I want, I would like) – to retell a (funny, humorous…) story, a text, a fable, a chapter from the book…, written by a famous (popular, well-known) English, American, French, Russian author…

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– to retell a Russian, English… fairy-tale. Fairy tales often have no authors, because they were written long-long ago by simple folk, and were retold by word of mouth from father to son.

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– the title of it is… The title helps me to understand what the text is about (who the main character(s) is (are),the plot, the idea, the message of the text).

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– This text is about…(is about how) – try to say it in one sentence.

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– The story is set (develops) in the forest, in the street, at school, at home, in a fairy land…

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– It takes place in winter, in the evening, at night, during some days...

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– In fact there is one main character in the story (there are two… main characters); name them – It is… they are...

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– There are also minor characters who help(ed) me to understand the story (the plot, the main idea) better – name the minor characters.

– Then you retell the story, without details. You speak only about important facts and deeds of the main characters:

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– After your retelling, you speak about the main characters:

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– appearance __________________________________________________________________________

– age ________________________________________________________________________________

– traits of character with examples ________________________________________________________

– As I have understood the author teaches us (the reader) _____________________________________

– to find a way out of any difficulty ________________________________________________________

– to be diligent and hard-working __________________________________________________________

– to be attentive at the lessons ___________________________________________________________

– to be kind and friendly _________________________________________________________________

– to help people in trouble ________________________________________________________________

– to always keep your word or promise _____________________________________________________

– to tell the truth _______________________________________________________________________

– to tell right from wrong _________________________________________________________________

– to love our native land __________________________________________________________________

– to be helpful to grown-ups (parents, friends, teachers, people in need) ___________________________

– to be tolerant _________________________________________________________________________

– not to be idle or lazy ___________________________________________________________________

– never to deceive anyone ________________________________________________________________

– not to tell a lie ________________________________________________________________________

– never to do harm to nature or animals _____________________________________________________

– not to pollute (nature, forests, parks…) ____________________________________________________

– not to throw litter in the street ____________________________________________________________

– not to boast __________________________________________________________________________

– not to play jokes on people ______________________________________________________________

– not to laugh at those who are weaker ______________________________________________________

– and so on…..

III. Personal Appreciation

– I like the story, book, text…because __________________________

– The story is interesting __________________________________, instructive ____________________, funny _____________________, true to life ______________________________….

* На строчках учащиеся пишут перевод на русский язык

Text for retelling (according to the given plan)

AT BREAKFAST

It is 7 o’clock in the morning. It’s time to get up. Dam does not like to get up early. Ht makes his bed, tries to do his morning exercises, but he can’t. he wants to sleep. He goes to the bathroom to take a shower and to clean his teeth.
Molly is ready fro breakfast. She is in the kitchen. Dan dresses and goes to the kitchen. The family is having breakfast. Dan looks at the table. “Porridge, bread and ham, tea with milk and apple tart”, – Dan sighs. The family is finishing breakfast. Dan is the only one at the table. “Oh, porridge, again! Why must I have it every day? – he thinks, – “I don’t want it, I don’t like it!”
The plate is full of porridge. Dan bites into a small piece of bread and ham and leaves it. He has a cup of tea with milk, and takes an apple tart.
Nobody is in the kitchen now. Dan opens the window and quickly throws the porridge out of the window. He puts the rest of the bread and ham into the red bag, which is on the chair and leaves the kitchen.
– Thank you, Mum, I’m going to school!
– I’m glad you like the breakfast. Good luck to you, dear! See you later.
She goes to the kitchen and takes her red bag from the chair. Just at this moment Molly comes to the door.
– Look here, Mum!
– What’s it?
– The porridge is on our roses in the garden. One of them has been broken.
– Is it?!
Mother looks at Dan. He upsets her greatly!

Answer the questions to the text.

1. What does Dan do in the morning?
2. Does he like to get up early? Do you like to get up early?
3. Does Dan have to get up early? Do you have to get up early?
4. Why do you have to get up early? Why does Dan have to get up early?
5. Is Dan slow or quick?
6. Who is Molly? Does she get up early? Is she slow?
7. When does Dan come to the kitchen?
8. What is the family doing when Dan comes to the kitchen?
9. What do they have for breakfast every day?
10. Does Dan like his breakfast?
11. Does he swallow everything his mother has cooked for him?
12. What does not he want to eat?
13. What does he do with his breakfast?
14. Does he thank his Mum for breakfast?
15. Does Dan deceive his Mum?
16. What does Molly see on the roses?
17. Why is porridge on the roses?
18. Is one rose broken?
19. Is mother upset?
20. Why is mother upset?
21. What surprise is waiting for her in her red bag?
22. Will mother be upset even more? (еще больше)
23. What do you think about Dan?
24. Do you sometimes deceive your parents? Is it good?
25. Have you ever read the story of a Russian writer with the same plot? (одинаковый сюжет)
26. Name the author (автор) and the title (название) of the story.

AT BREAKFAST

Open the brackets, put the verbs into the Past Simple Tense, finish the sentences.

1. That day Dan (not to want) ________ to get __________ as usual.

2. He (to be the last) ___________ for ______________ again.

3. When Dan (to come) ________________ his family (to be)_______ finishing their breakfast.

4. Dan (to look) ______________ at the table and (to sigh) ___________ because he ________________.

5. Then he (to bite off) ______________ and (to put) _____________ the rest of it ____________________.

6. Then he (to open) __________________________ and (to throw) ______________________________.

7. Dan’s sister Molly (to see) _______________ that porridge (to be) _________ on _______________ which (to grow) __________________________________.

8. One of the roses (to be) ____________ broken.

9. Mother (to be upset) ______________________ because she (to understand) ______________ that Dan (not to eat) ___________ porridge but _____________.

10. But Mother (not to know)________________________ yet, what surprise (to be)_____________ in her bag.

SAY: (then retell the story according to the given plan, use the above exercise as sample retelling)

1. What is the title of the story?
2. When does the action happen?
3. Where is the story set?
4. Who is the main character of the story?
5. What do you think about Dam?
6. Is the story instructive?
7. What does the story teach you?

Traits of a Person’s Character _________________________

A person can be: