The Nonsense Show

• A copy of The Nonsense Show by Eric Carle
  • If unavailable, use one of these online read-alouds:
    • The Nonsense Show
    • ERIC CARLE "THE NONSENSE SHOW" 📖 PICTURE BOOK 🐛READALOUD
• Vocabulary pages (images from Open Symbols). For easiest use, print and compile them into a booklet.
• The Animal Song
• Device to play video (phone, tablet, computer)
• Printouts of the coloring page
• Copies of extension activities you will use
• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• Copies of any extension activities
• Vocabulary list (Share with school staff to help reinforce words throughout the day/week.)

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES
Animal Song

1. Play the video listed in the Materials section.
2. While the video plays, say the vocabulary words when they appear in the video and make the sounds that represent those vocabulary words. Encourage the children to do the same.

Vocabulary Introduction
Using the vocabulary booklet:

1. Show a picture and ask the children to name the English word.
2. Encourage them to create an action and make the sound for each animal.
3. Choose one of the children’s representative actions/sounds and repeat it as a group.

4. Repeat for each vocabulary word, inviting participation from several children.

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READ THE BOOK
Consider how your students will most enjoy the story: Will you read the book without stopping or will you stop and ask questions or point things out? Will you read all the words on the page or briefly summarize? 

1. Read each page aloud. 
2. Point to the picture of each vocabulary word and say its name clearly. 
3. Emphasize vocabulary words with your voice and if they make a noise, their sounds. 
4. Use expressive facial gestures to reinforce meaning. 

POST-READING DISCUSSION

1. What animal rode a bike in the story? (Answer: duck)
2. Where was the fish in the story? (Answer: in the sky)

POST-READING ACTIVITIES
Silly or Real Game

1. Have children sit in a circle.
2. Tell the children: “We are going to play a game! If I say something that is REAL, you sit down and nod your head. If I say something SILLY, you stand up and jump!”
3. You can change the actions if you want- clap for silly, pat your knees for real, etc.)
4. Teachers says sentences about animals and objects. Add big motions to make it more fun and give English learners clues.
5. Children respond with the correct movement

Example:
Silly: A fish flies in the sky (flap arms like wings)
Real: A fish swims in the water (pretend to swim)
Silly: A duck rides a bike (pretend to pedal)
Real: A duck swims in the pond (make swimming arms)
Silly: A mouse wears a hat on his food (point to foot + tap head)
Real: A mouse eats cheese (pretend to nibble cheese)

POST-READING ACTIVITIES
Animal Coloring Page

1. Children may color the page with animals, or they can draw animals on the page with only the barn to make their own “farm.” 
2. Optional: Sit in a circle afterward, show each drawing, and guess who made it. Have the artist name the animals.

Closure
Review the vocabulary words learned today using the vocabulary pages/booklet or by having the children state each word. If time allows, finish the lesson with one or more of the extension activities appropriate for the children’s age and ability level. 

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Level 1: Print the vocabulary pages or the coloring page in black-and-white and have the children color them.
Level 2: Cut vocabulary pages so words and pictures are separate.
For younger children: Cut in puzzle-like shapes so the pieces fit together easily.

For older children: Cut straight for a more challenging match.

Level 3: Print the flash card pages. Cut out the cards and use them to play a matching memory game. Children take turns turning over two cards at a time, trying to find pairs with the same picture. All the cards start face down, so players must remember where pictures are to make matches. The goal is to find the most matching pairs by using your memory. Encourage them to say the English word when they get a match.
 

For all levels: Encourage use of vocabulary words throughout the day with examples such as:

• Point to any animals around the room and name them in English.
• Do an animal dance for a fun break.