All Eyes On South Africa....

Germany is gleefully wound up in preparation for the FIFA Worldcup -- which starts today, I believe, with opening ceremonies in South Africa. 

The TV guide helpfully published an entire month's worth of countries squaring off for Soccer, and while I am interested in what the Worldcup can produce locally inside a country (German flags flying from cars, windows, etc.....normally, a person doesn't see so many flags flying around here in the Bundesrepublik...) the real reason I'm writing this is how well it all matched up to my Lesson Plan for my English Club. 

For it is, in fact, all about ME.

I am in the second half of my English Club -- which means I've moved to the other second grade class, now.  They are just as naughty ;-) and mischievous as the first class, but the dynamic is much different.  For example, they respond really well to rewards for kindness, sharing, compassion, etc.  The other class thought it was worth it to just go ahead and get in trouble.

I still had these left over from Sunday School in VA....I love it when saving works out like this. :-)  Hooray for my stash!

All Lesson Plans are just recycled from the ones I used with the other class....AND - thankyou thankyou - the "Fly Your Airplane Around the World Map" lesson coincided perfectly with Worldcup fervor.  I took full advantage of this. 


Ms Tanya:  What is happening in South Africa these days?  Something big....something important to Germany...

Eager Second Grader, springing out of his chair:   Worldcup!!  Worldcup!!! 

Ms. Tanya:  Exactly!  And....what is a language we can speak in South Africa? 

(....silence.....)

Ms. Tanya:  English!  We can speak English in South Africa. 

Second Grader:  Everyone is playing soccer in South Africa, too!

As far as the snack went this week, I followed the world theme.  I'd always had good luck with unusual treats, games, snacks in the other class, I figured they'd LOVE four little international crackers for snack time.    I almost sang:  clever me! clever me! ;-)

Wrong.  They're not nearly as adventurous as the other group....those kids would have lined up for SKY DIVING, if I'd offered it.  Ever-giddy over anything slightly off-beat, the seaweed crackers would have sent them rollicking and asking for more.... 

Not the case in this current group, however.  They stuck with the German Zoo crackers and one girl asked me - worry stamped across her face - if I was going to bring this assortment next Monday, as well.

But, they loved the dot-to-dots I got off of the Enchanted Learning site...several requests for more maps next week of South Africa.  :-)