What's this? Classroom objects
Children learn ten classroom words and use What's this? for things near and What's that? for things far away. A mystery bag keeps everyone guessing, and a short dialogue shows the language in use.
At a glance
- From
- Level 1, Next Steps English: Week 3, School and classroom
- Grammar
- this / that / these / those
- Key language
- What's this? It's a pencil. / What's that? It's a board. / What are these? They're books. / What are those? They're chairs.
- Children make
- A mystery bag question-and-answer game and a "This is a..." worksheet.
- Class size
- Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.
Objective
By the end of the lesson children can name ten classroom objects and ask and answer "What's this?", "What's that?", "What are these?" and "What are those?"
Success criteria for children
- I can name things in my classroom.
- I can ask "What's this?" and "What's that?"
- I can say "It's a..." and "They're..."
Timing: 60 minutes
| Minutes | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Warm-up: what's in the bag? | Pull a pencil out of the bag and say what it is; children copy. |
| 5 to 15 | Teach ten objects | Show, say and repeat ten objects; drill with a point-and-say game. |
| 15 to 25 | This and that | Teach the difference between near (this) and far (that) with movement. |
| 25 to 35 | Mystery bag game | In pairs, one child feels an object in the bag and asks What's this? The partner guesses. |
| 35 to 43 | Listening and reading: the dialogue | Listen to the dialogue, answer questions, then read it in pairs. |
| 43 to 55 | Worksheet: this, that, these, those | Complete sentences with this, that, these and those; unscramble; write about your bag. |
| 55 to 60 | Exit ticket | Each child answers one question about an object near or far. |
Materials
- Ten real objects: pencil, rubber, ruler, book, bag, scissors, glue stick, pen, crayon, notebook
- A cloth bag or box for the mystery game
- Word cards for each object (optional)
- One worksheet per child, a pencil
- Classroom objects (free, linked from Week 3)
- Classroom language (free, linked from Week 3)
Before the lesson: Put one object in the bag for each pair of children, or use one bag and a small group at a time. Pick two things that are far away (the board, the door) for "that".
Step by step, with teacher talk
0 to 5 minWarm-up: what's in the bag?
- Show the bag. Pull out a pencil slowly. "It's a pencil." Show a ruler: "It's a ruler." Children repeat.
- Ask "What's this?" for the next item and take a guess.
"What's this? It's a pencil. Say it: a pencil."
5 to 15 minTeach ten objects
- Hold up each object. Say the word with "a": "a pencil", "a ruler". Children repeat three times, loud, quiet, fast.
- Play "Point and say": you point to an object and children say its name. Then children point and say.
- Show a word card and let children read it, then match the card to the object.
- Is it a pencil or a pen? (Child chooses.) What's this? (It's a...)
15 to 25 minThis and that
- Hold a pencil in your hand: "What's this? It's a pencil." Walk to the board, point to it and say "What's that? It's a board."
- Teach the plural: hold two books "What are these? They're books." Point to chairs across the room "What are those? They're chairs."
- Play "Near and far": call "This!" and children touch an object near them; call "That!" and they point to something far away.
"This is near. That is far. What's this? What's that? What are these? What are those?"
- (Hold up a ruler.) Is the ruler near or far? (Near.) Do I say this or that? (This.)
- (Point to the door.) Is the door near or far? (Far.) What do I say? (That.)
- Two books: do I say it's a book or they're books? (They're books.)
25 to 35 minMystery bag game
- Demonstrate with a child. Close your eyes, feel an object in the bag and say "It's a... ruler?" Open your eyes to check.
- Pairs play with a bag (or an object under a cloth). The guesser says "What's this?" and the other answers "It's a..."
- Swap after four objects. Walk the room and listen for correct "It's a..." sentences.
"Close your eyes. Feel it. What's this? It's a... pen? Yes!"
35 to 43 minListening and reading: the dialogue
- Say or play the dialogue below once, with hand gestures for near and far. Ask the comprehension questions.
- Read it in pairs, one child as Mr Okafor and one as Kofi. Swap roles.
- Who is the teacher? (Mr Okafor.) What does Kofi feel in the last line? (A ruler.)
43 to 55 minWorksheet: this, that, these, those
- Do number 1 together: "You hold a pencil. This is a pencil."
- Children work alone for tasks 2 and 3. Walk round and support.
- Early finishers draw three things in their school bag and write "This is a..." under each.
55 to 60 minExit ticket
- See the exit ticket below. Finish with a quick "What's this? What's that?" echo round.
Differentiation
Support
- Use only singular objects and "this" and "that" for the first lesson.
- Keep the word cards on the board so children can look while speaking.
- For writing, give the sentences with words to copy and let children fill one word.
Stretch
- Add colours: "It's a red pencil."
- Ask "Whose is this?" and answer "It's Kofi's."
- Children write four sentences about things near and far.
Dialogue
Read in two voices. Mr Okafor holds up an object and points; Kofi answers.
Mr Okafor: Kofi, what's this?
Kofi: It's a pencil.
Mr Okafor: Good. And what's that?
Kofi: It's the board.
Mr Okafor: What are these?
Kofi: They're books.
Mr Okafor: Yes! And what are those?
Kofi: They're chairs.
Mr Okafor: Well done. One more. Close your eyes. What's this?
Kofi: It's a ruler. I can feel it!
Questions
- What is the first thing Mr Okafor holds?
- What is "that" in the dialogue?
- What are "these"?
- What are "those"?
- What does Kofi feel with his eyes closed?
Printable worksheet
Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.
This, that, these, those
1. Write this, that, these or those.
- (You hold a pencil.) is a pencil.
- (A bag is across the room.) is a bag.
- (You hold two rubbers.) are rubbers.
- (Two chairs are across the room.) are chairs.
2. Put the words in order.
- a / pencil / This / is →
- that / What's / ? →
- are / books / They →
3. Draw two things in your bag. Write about them.
Answer key
Dialogue questions
- A pencil.
- The board.
- Books.
- Chairs.
- A ruler.
Worksheet
- 1: this, that, these, those.
- 2: This is a pencil. / What's that? / They are books. (Accept "They're books.")
- 3: answers will vary. Check "This is a..." with a singular object and a capital letter at the start.
Exit ticket
Hold up one object and ask a child "What's this?" Then point to something far away and ask "What's that?" Tick a class list: both correct, one correct, needs help.
Homework
Find five things at home and say "This is a..." for each. Draw two of them and write "This is a..." under the pictures.
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- Level 1, Week 3: School and classroom (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
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