A printable copy of the entire blog found at http://usacountrystudy.blogspot.com/ for TEFL students

1. SCHOOL OF BEREZANKA
United States Country
Studies Course
10th Form
Sarah McDonough
Summer 2012

2. Goal: Students will learn about the major components of American culture while also practicing and
honing their English proficiency.
Overall Map:
Date/Day Theme Focus Vocabulary Engagement
Activity
1—May 28 Introductions Vacation, break, classroom teacher, on-duty Favourites
Education student, exercise book, daybook, test, exam Flipbook
2—May 29 People/Family Adjectives: young, old, tall, short, big, little, happy, Family Tree
mad, sad, active, energetic, optimistic, pessimistic,
serious
Verbs: to be, to have
Professions: banker, teacher, dancer, cook, baker,
musician, businessman, doctor, nurse, athlete
3—May 30 American History Revolution, war, slavery, independence, freedom, Timeline
liberty, friendship, Civil War, Civil Rights
4—May 31 Places of Transportation: plane, taxi, metro, car, bus, airport, American
Interest/Travel train, station, ticket, bicycle, driver Symbols book
5—June 1 Weather and Weather: Cold, hot, rainy, snowy, cloudy, windy, Maps of
Landforms sunny USA/Ukraine
Landforms: Swamp, forest, plains, desert, beach,
mountain, lakes, river
6—June 5 Sports and Baseball, basketball, football and soccer, origami, 4-Corners Activity
Hobbies sewing, stamp collecting, video games
7—June 6 Holidays Verbs: decorate, paint, sing, gather, cook, make, Sentences/Art
give and receive projects
Focus: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas,
Women’s Day, Victory Day
8—June 7 Community: Library, school, bank, shop, police station, fire Maps (“If I were
People and Places station, pizzeria, bakery, market, health club Queen”)
9—June 8 Controllna Robota Review all materials Gallery Walk

3. Day #1: Introductions and American Education
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Salt dough
0—15 Students make a salt sculpture that represents them (1 part salt, 1 part
15—30 Students copy the Ukrainian tradition, filling in blanks water, 2 parts flour)
about themselves.
30—45 Model introduction
Students then translate and present an introduction in
English (in Ukrainian)
Hour #2: Brainstorm as many English words as possible for the Paper
following categories: food, colors, drink, seasons, animals
0—15 Markers
and school subjects.
15—30 Distribute materials for students to complete the “My Chalk, chalkboard
Favorites” flipbook.
30—45 Glue
Students finish and present the books to the class.
Hour #3: Education
0—15 Introduce education vocabulary. vocabulary
15—30 Practice with matching activity.
30—45 Discuss differences between American and Ukrainian
education; create chart on the board.
Hour #4:
0—15 Compare and contrast education in America and Ukraine.
15—30 What are the strengths of Ukrainian education? American?
30—45 Practice dialogues, introductions, and favorites.
Translating Introduction Making salt dough sculptures

4. Day #2: American People: Character and Attitudes, Diversity
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Adjective words
Review: introductions, favorites, education vocabulary
0—15 Adjective flashcards
15—30 Present adjectives; conjugate ‘to be’ Model sentence
30—45 “He/She is _____.”
Practice adjectives using full sentences and flashcards
Hour #2: “Character or
Review adjectives (character or appearance sorting
0—15 Appearance?” game
activity)
15—30 Adjectives Profession words
http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/adjectives-
30—45 Profession flashcards
14449095
Brainstorm common jobs in Ukraine? In USA?
Introduce profession words.
Practice profession words using flashcards (in full
sentences).
http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/profession-
14684092
Hour #3: Profession and location
0—15 Review new words; conjugate ‘to have’ matching game
15—30 Distribute paper and instruct students how to create a Example family tree
family tree diagram.
30—45 Paper
Explain and present the example family tree.
Hour #4: Example summary: “I
0—15 Students complete their family trees using model. have a ______. He/she is
15—30 Presentations of family trees ___ years old. He/she is
30—45 Nationalities and diversity of population in the USA. a/an ______. He/she is
(Match the flags with their countries and nationalities) ___________.”
Nationality flashcards
Creating Family Trees

5. Day #3: American History
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Previous days’
Review and recite introductions
0—15 vocabulary and
15—30 Review professions with matching game flashcards/games
30—45
Retell about families, friends, teachers, pets using
adjectives and verbs ‘to be’ and ‘to have’
Hour #2: Board Game: Let’s
Divide students into teams; use this time to play the board
0—15 Talk
game “Let’s Talk” during which students will review their
15—30 recent vocabulary, as well as other important English Game pieces
words and concepts.
30—45 Die
Hour #3: Distribute paper; have students copy model timeline and American History
new vocabulary from the board.
0—15 Presentation
Present PowerPoint entitled “American History, a brief
15—30 introduction.” Timeline model
American History
30—45 Paper
http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/american-
historya-brief-overview-14684032
Hour #4: Event cards
0—15 Collect completed timelines for portfolio; review by having Quotes
students put the events in order.
15—30
Distribute quotes to pairs of students; have them
30—45 translate.
Present quotes and their translations.
Let's Talk Board Game Reviewing vocabulary

6. Day #4: Transportation and Places of Interest in the USA
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Russian language videos
Review vocabulary using matching game
0—15 on San Francisco, Los
15—30 Introduce transportation words; practice Angeles, and Florida
30—45 Transportation words
Watch 10—15 minutes of video about Los Angeles
Hour #2: Pamphlet
In pairs, have the students translate the pamphlet on
0—15 USA Map
the USA and places of interest
15—30 Locate the places of interest on the US map
30—45
Watch 10—15 minutes of video about Florida
Hour #3: PowerPoint
Presentation about places of interest in USA
0—15 presentation on places
Places of Interest in USA
15—30 http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/places-of- of interest
interest-in-the-usa-14684306
30—45 Cards
Using the cards, locate the places on the map
Watch 10—15 minutes of video on San Francisco
Hour #4: Paper
0—15 Distribute materials for foldable book; demonstrate Glue
assembly
15—30 Markers
Review “Symbols of America” (Day 3 Presentation)
30—45 Have students draw and translate symbols of America Day #3 Presentation
into their foldable books.
Students watch a video about Florida Transportation Vocabulary

7. Day #5: Nature and Weather Regions in the USA
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Previous day’s
Review vocabulary and introductions
0—15 flashcards, maps,
Review transportation and symbols
15—30 Finish symbols flipbook presentations
30—45
Review US Map
Hour #2: Weather in Ukraine
Introduce weather vocabulary; have students practice first
0—15 PPT
on a map of Ukraine.
15—30 http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/weather-in- Weather vocabulary
ukraine
30—45 Papers with map
Presentation on weather in Ukraine.
Students write full sentences = “In _______(city), the outlines
weather is _________(weather word).”
Hour #3: Introduce landform vocabulary; have students practice on Landform
a map of the United States.
0—15 vocabulary
Review weather, now in the United States.
15—30 Students write full sentences = “In the _______(direction), Papers with map
30—45 there are ________ (landforms) and the weather is outlines
_________(weather word).”
Students respond—Where would you live? Why?
Hour #4: Places of interest
0—15 Finally, use the large US map to present places of interest. presentation PPT
Students will write sentences where they are located.
15—30 Places of interest
Students must finish all maps, with landforms and weather
30—45 sentences. cards for map.
Students will present their maps to the whole group.
Landforms and Weather Making maps

8. Day #6: Sports and Hobbies in America
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Board game
Use the “Let’s Talk” board game to review all concepts
0—15
discussed to this point and refresh the students’ memories
15—30 from the weekend.
(Add weather, landform, and places of interest vocabulary)
30—45
Hour #2: Paper and markers
Students each receive a paper, fold into 4 boxes. Write
0—15 Sports Presentation
name in center.
15—30 In box #1, students write “Sports I Like” and in #2 “Sports I
don’t like”. Fill in during presentation.
30—45
Sports presentation; practice full sentences “I like ____,
but I don’t like_____.”
http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/sports-and-
leisure-activities
Hour #3: Paper
0—15 Students retrieve paper they folded into 4 boxes. Hobbies
In box #3, students write “Hobbies I Like” and in #4
15—30 Presentation
“Hobbies I don’t like”. Fill in during presentation.
30—45 Sports presentation; practice full sentences “I like ____,
but I don’t like_____.”
http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/hobbies-
14527937
Hour #4: Colored Paper
0—15 Application: begin by saying “My hobby is origami.”
Instruct the students on how to make a box and a bird.
15—30
Quiz them; have them make the box again without any
30—45 assistance.
Student Work: Origami

9. Day #7: American Celebrations and Holidays
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Resources from
Review landform words; have students locate on US map.
0—15 the previous
15—30 Review weather words; have students locate on US map. days
30—45
Review sports and hobbies presentations; have students give
introductions.
Hour #2: Holiday
Introduce Holiday vocabulary—have students translate
0—15 vocabulary
15—30 Have students organize holidays into those celebrated by Americans,
Americans, Ukrainians, or both.
30—45 both,
Review dates when these holidays are celebrated (on/in)
Ukrainians…
Dates of
holidays
Hour #3: Introduce verbs (how do we celebrate); practice by having Celebration
0—15 students match and translate. words
15—30 Students must write 5 sentences for portfolio: “Who, how, for Paper for
30—45 what, in/on when.” For example: Ukrainians have parades for sentences
th
Victory Day on May 9 . Cards: Who,
how, what,
when
Hour #4: Cups (plastic)
0—15 Students write and then discuss: “My favorite holiday is Paper, markers,
15—30 _____________ because ____________.” scissors and
30—45 Students will make a traditional Thanksgiving children’s craft: glue
Candy Turkey (if time allows: origami Easter rabbit) Some candy
Writing comparison sentences
Holidays in Ukraine and in America

10. Day #8: American Community: Places, People, Food and Traditions
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour Questions from
Review: All students will give their introductions; then, using the
#1: board game
questions from the board game “Let’s Talk,” students will be
0—15 called upon to answer questions and have discussion. Holiday
Review about holidays; organize into American and Ukrainian;
15—30 vocabularies
match celebration words; quiz—origami rabbit.
30—45 Paper for rabbits
Hour Community
What is community? Show “Community: Part 1 Places”
#2: presentation
presentation.
0—15 Display map for students; instruct them to create their own towns (part 1)
using the new focus vocabulary.
15—30 Paper and
Students must present their towns to the class—“My town has….”
30—45 http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/community-part-1places markers
Hour What is community? Show “Community: Part 2 People” Community
presentation.
#3: presentation
On small sheets of paper, write “Ukrainian Food,” “Ukrainian
0—15 Celebrities,” and “Ukrainian Cities.” Pass them in a circle and have (part 2)
students brainstorm; discuss.
15—30
Now do the same for American cities, food, singers and actors.
30—45 Discuss. Compare how much students know about American Paper and
culture.
http://www.slideshare.net/jacobina142/community-part-2- markers
people
Hour Teach students how to make an origami booklet. Paper and
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/origami_booklet_instructions.pdf
#4: markers
Title the book “American Culture.” Students will write the
0—15 following sentences:
1. My favourite American actor is ______.
15—30
2. My favourite American actress is _________.
30—45 3. My favourite American food is ___________.
4. My favourite American city is ____________.
5. My favourite American singer (male) is ________.
6. My favourite American (female) is ________.
American Community and Culture Day

11. Day #9: Controllna Robota and Recognition Ceremony
Time Activities Materials needed:
Hour #1: Set up 8 stations and label them; use the previous day’s All of the previous
materials for a controllna robota gallery walk:
0—15 days’ materials
1. Education
15—30 2. Adjectives Station markers
3. Professions
30—45
4. Places of Interest
5. Weather and Landforms
6. Transportation
7. Holidays
8. Nationalities
Students will copy the preceding list on a sheet of paper
and receive a sticker for each station completed. When all
are completed, they have finished their tests!
Hour #2: Pre-prepared
Each student will take a question and answer it in a
0—15 questions
complete sentence. Repeat process until the period is
15—30 over.
30—45
Hour #3: Recognition
0—15 Distribute to each student his/her bookmark and certificates or
personally, individually, describe their unique
15—30 bookmarks
characteristics and thank them for their work.
30—45 Party supplies (juice,
cookies, candy)
Recognition and Appreciation Party

12. Student Portfolios
Student Portfolios contain:
1. “Favourites” flipbook—Day 1
2. Family Tree—Day 2
3. American History timeline and vocabulary—Day 3
4. American Symbols flipbook—Day 4
5. USA map of nature and landforms—Day 5
6. Sport and Hobbies 4-Corners activity
7. Origami projects—Day 6
8. Holidays in Ukraine and America sentences—Day 7
9. Easter Rabbit (origami)—Day 7
10. Community map—Day 8
11. “American Culture” booklet—Day 8
12. Controllna Robota Results—Day 9

13. Resources and Focus Vocabulary
Day 5: Weather and Landforms
Landforms
Weather

14. Resources and Focus Vocabulary
Day 7: Holidays

15. Resources for
America’s Places of Interest
Our English Library
Other Resource Examples
Professions Matching Review Game
Let's Talk Board Game

16. More Student Examples
Day 1: Self Sculptures
Day 6: Sports and Hobbies 4-Corners
Day 1: Favourites Flipbook

17. More Student Examples
Day 5: Maps and Places of Interest
Day 8 American Culture
Booklet
Thanksgiving
Turkeys
Day 8 Community Map

18. Controllna Robota
Day 9
Education Station
Holidays Station
Adjectives Station
Places of Interest Station
Weather and Landforms Station
Transportation Station