Let’s Draw a Monkey

Michelle Foley

OBJECTIVES:

1. To put into practice their understanding of comparatives

2. To not use the textbook (!!)

3. To be silly

PROCEDURE:

1. Start by reviewing comparatives. I have a poster-size monster drawing that is lop-sided. Everything he has in pairs is uneven: left eye is bigger than his right eye, his right ear is smaller than his left ear… that sort of thing. Review terminology (higher, lower, longer, shorter - you will use this vocabulary during the drawing activity) by making comparisons on the monster. The ALT can make the first few observations, and then ask students to make their own. Be sure to identify the right and left side of the monster as being his or her right and left side, and write this on each side of the poster.

2. Next, hand out the monkey worksheet (on next page). Point out the right and left sides of the monkey. I adapted this activity from Copy & Go. It’s out of print now, but this was an activity I thought was worth sharing again for those who may not have a copy anymore.

3. Then, get drawing! You can ask them to do anything you’d like, but I usually use the same instructions for all classes within that grade. I give them around 7 or 8 things to add to their monkey, and give them the instruction twice:

4. Finally, students can share their drawing with their neighbours to make sure everything on their monkey is the same as their neighbour’s monkey.

NOTES:

• It’s a good idea to draw your own monkey, or have one prepared beforehand, that’s big enough for all the students to see afterwards. They can use your monkey to see if they’ve drawn the correct length/size appendages etc.

• If students are having a hard time understanding the comparative one way, try reversing it. Instead of saying his left eye is bigger than his right eye, try saying his right eye is smaller than his left eye.

WORKSHEETS and HANDOUTS:

The worksheet for this lesson is here