Building Towers and Learning Together!

In our last lesson, the students from 1st grade enjoyed a fun review activity to finish Unit 1.
First, we worked as a whole group, and later in pairs. Their mission: to build a tower using flashcards and plastic cups!

Each tower had a purpose:

Towers with picture flashcards helped them practise speaking, describing the images using the structure “This is…” or “Sister is….”
Towers with word flashcards supported both reading and oral expression, helping them connect written words with their meaning.

As they built their towers, the children were constantly using English to name, repeat, and help each other.
There was laughter, teamwork, and a bit of friendly competition — but most importantly, there was meaningful use of language.

This type of playful cooperative activity is much more than a game. It encourages:

Communication and interaction in real contexts.
Active learning, where students use the language instead of just memorising it.
Collaboration and empathy, as they learn to work together and respect each other’s turns.
Fine motor skills and focus, essential at this stage of development.

Learning through play allows children to feel confident and motivated to speak English — and that’s the best foundation for future learning!

Na última sesión, o alumnado de 1º de Primaria gozou dunha divertida actividade de repaso para pechar a Unidade 1.
Primeiro traballamos en gran grupo e, despois, en parellas. A súa misión era clara: construír unha torre usando tarxetas de vocabulario e vasos de plástico!

Cada torre tiña un obxectivo:

As torres con imaxes servían para practicar a expresión oral, describindo o que vían coa estrutura “This is…” ou “Sister is….”
As torres con palabras reforzaban tanto a lectura como a expresión oral, relacionando palabra escrita e significado.

Mentres construían, os nenos e nenas empregaban o inglés de maneira natural: nomeaban, repetían e axudábanse uns a outros.
Houbo risas, cooperación e algo de competición saudable — pero, sobre todo, houbo uso real da lingua.

Este tipo de actividades lúdicas e cooperativas van moito máis alá do xogo. Favorecen:

A comunicación e interacción en contextos reais.
A aprendizaxe activa, onde o alumnado usa a lingua en lugar de memorizar.
A colaboración e empatía, aprendendo a traballar en equipo e respectar as quendas.
As habilidades motrices finas e a atención, tan importantes a esta idade.

A aprendizaxe a través do xogo fai que os nenos e nenas se sintan seguros e motivados para falar en inglés — e ese é o mellor punto de partida para seguir aprendendo!