Introducing this and that
Here are some fun activities for demonstrative pronouns to introduce the meaning of ‘this and that.’ In addition, the possessive adjectives ‘My and your’ are combined with this lesson plan.
Play a pointing game with your class using pens, pencils, and crayons. In fact, any common item will do. First, have students hold a crayon. Then, tape a crayon to the wall or board. Next, point to your crayon and say, “This is my crayon.” Finally, point to yourself on “my” and to the crayon on “crayon.” Repeat with emphasis when you point!
Walk over to one student and have them hold their crayon in front of their face, then ask them to look at the crayon and say, “This is my crayon.” Now walk back to your crayon, standing next to it, say, “This is my crayon,” as you demonstrate ownership by pointing to your crayon and body. Explain that “this” is for something nearby and “that” is for something further away.
Now, point in each direction, saying, “THIS is MY crayon” or “THAT is YOUR crayon.” Repeat three times, making sure you gesture with emphasis.
REPETITION
Have the entire class hold up a crayon while repeating “This is my crayon” three times. Then have the classroom point to the child you were with earlier and say with you, “That is your crayon,” three times.
Make sure the students are pointing at the correct object. So, when they say, “This is my crayon,” make sure they point to their own crayon. When they say, “That is your crayon,” make sure they point at the child’s pen you were with before.
Point at your crayon on the board and ask, “Is this my crayon?” Students reply, “Yes, that is your crayon.” Ask a student, “Is this your crayon?” They answer, “Yes, this is my crayon.”
Tips for Demonstrative Pronouns Activities
For the best results with your demonstrative pronoun activities, it is crucial the children know all the nouns you use before introducing any pronouns. This, that, my, and your are the new words, which is enough to think about for now. If you teach new vocabulary simultaneously, it will be too much for the children to absorb.
Using real objects and space make ‘this and that’ easier to understand and remember than filling in worksheets.
More demonstrative pronoun activities
LISTENING
All the children have a variety of familiar objects on their desks. The teacher can say, “This is my eraser.” All students then hold up their erasers, showing ownership. Then say, “That is your eraser,” but specify someone else’s eraser. Repeat, “This is my eraser,” and “That is your eraser” with everyone pointing at another’s eraser. Make sure no one is gesturing with their eraser, which could confuse things! If pointing is rude, please use an acceptable alternative.
Then say, “This is my leg.” Have the class copy. Next, everyone says, “This is my leg,” and lifts up a leg, pointing at it. Carry on using different nouns such as, “This is my ruler.” “That is your desk,” and so on.
If the students are doing well, you can make it more intriguing by saying, “This is my YELLOW backpack.” Only the students with a yellow backpack can show them. This activity will work well with coloured markers or clothing.
Have students practise in pairs with items around them. Listen in checking for accuracy.
CIRCLE GAMES
Form small groups and place piles of possessions in the middle. A small group will avoid chaos. The children take out their possessions, saying, “This is my pen, this is my lunchbox, and this is my book.” Incidentally, by following this demonstrative pronoun lesson plan, you have started work on the play script from “CARS.” (30 Fun ESL Role-Plays for Children)
Play a circle game where the children pass around an object as the music plays. When the music stops, the student caught holding the object picks something out of the middle and says, “This is my…” or, “That is your…” Make sure if they say “that,” they are pointing at it, and not holding it. This is near, that is far.
HOT POTATO
Have the students pass around an object belonging to one student, such as a lunchbox. When you clap, the person holding the lunchbox says to the lunchbox owner, “THIS is yours.” If, by chance, the owner has the lunchbox when the music stops, he can say “THIS is MINE.” As the class becomes well-versed, add in more and more items to have several circulating at once.
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