26 Nov 2013
Updated04 Dec2013

Download a new song from ESL KidStuff: Where are you Going?

Where are you Going? songWhere are you Going?

Song Theme: Asking and answering about where you are going.
Target Vocab: Where are you going (right now)?, I’m going to ~, school, the park, the shops, the beach, my friend’s house, the station, the zoo, home.
Song Length: 0:54

A song about going to different places in your neighborhood using the present continuous tense.

(Members can log in to download the full song)

Lyrics:

Chorus:
Where are you going?
Where are you going?
Where are you going right now?

Verse 1:
I’m going to school,
I’m going to the park,
I’m going to the shops,
I’m going to the beach.

Chorus:
Where are you going?
Where are you going?
Where are you going right now?

Verse 2:
I’m going to my friend’s house,
I’m going to the station,
I’m going to the zoo,
I’m going home.

 

Gestures and activities to use with the “Where are you Going?” song

The gestures are very simple and fun:

  • during the chorus everyone does the ‘question gesture’ (both palms up, looking quizzical) whilst swaying in time with the music.
  • during the verses everyone either walks around the classroom or walks on the spot – in time with the music.

 

Using the “Where are you Going?” song in class

This is a nice easy song which introduces students to different places in their town.  NOTE: You should do the “How did you get here today?” song and lesson before this lesson as the transportation vocab taught for that song will be used in this lesson during the “Where are you Going? Board Game”.

  1. Play the “Snake Follow” game. This lesson starts in a really fun way.  Get everyone to line up behind the teacher.  Get everyone to shout “Where are you going?” and on that prompt the teacher shouts back “Over here!” – then start walking to a different part of the classroom, with everyone following in a line behind you (like a snake).  Keep doing this as you snake your way around the classroom at different speeds.  Other students can also have a go at being the head of the snake.
  2. Introduce the vocab. Before class prepare the flashcards for the different places in the song:

    school, the park, the shops, my friend’s house, the station, the zoo
    home
    the beach

    Hold up each flashcard and elicit / teach the word.  Have students pass each flashcard around the class with each student saying the word as s/he passes the card.

  3. Play “Flashcard Slam” and “Missing Flashcard”. First play “Flashcard Slam” – lay all the flashcards, picture up, on the floor and get everyone to sit around the cards in a circle (for large groups, have a few sets of flashcards so you can do this in groups).  Teacher says “Touch the station!” and everyone must quickly slam their hand down on the correct card.  Play this until every card has been practiced.  Then play “Missing Flashcard” – with the cards all laid out on the floor, tell everyone to close their eyes.  Then the teacher takes away one card.  Say “Open your eyes” and everyone must shout out the missing card.  Continue to play with other missing cards until all vocab has been practiced.
  4. Play “I’m going to… “. You’ll need two sets of the places flashcards for this game, which practices the key structures “Where are you going?” and “I’m going to …”.  Get everyone to close their eyes as you place each card from the first set around the room (e.g. place the zoo card in the corner, the park card under a desk, etc.).  Next, tell everyone to open their eyes.  Give a card (e.g. zoo) from the second set to a student.  Have the following conversation (model):

    Teacher: “Where are you going?”
    Student: “I’m going to the zoo”
    Teacher: “Ok then.  Goodbye”
    Student: “Goodbye”

    The student must then search for the zoo flashcard. When s/he finds it s/he can return to you for another card.  As the first student is searching, give another card (e.g. the beach) to another student and have the same conversation.  Eventually, you will have students searching all over the place and returning for another card – it’ll be a bit hectic but great fun – plus the key structures are being practiced.

    ———-
    NOTE: Extension to the “I’m going to…” game:
    If you have already taught the “Transport & Travel” lesson you can add an extra element to the short conversation as a review, as shown below:

    Teacher: “Where are you going?”
    Student: “I’m going to the zoo”
    Teacher: “How are you going there?”
    Student: “I’m going (e.g. by bus, by car, by bicycle, by rocket, on foot, etc.)”
    Teacher: “Ok then.  Goodbye”
    Student: “Goodbye”

    The student then searches for the card acting out the transport (e.g. steering the wheel of a car, zooming like a rocket, etc.).  Each time the student searches s/he must use a new means of transport.
    ———-

  5. Sing the “Where are you Going?” song. Put the places flashcards on the board in the order of the song (or put up the song poster).  Get everyone to stand up and show them the gestures (see above).  Then run through the song a few times.
  6. Play the “Where are you Going?” board game. This is a great board game to play in groups of 2-4 players.  Put the class onto groups and give out the boards and game cards (you’ll need to print and cut out before the lesson).  If you can blow up the size of the game board to A3 when you copy (if not, A4 size is fine). Each group needs a die and each player a small counter (pen tops, etc., will do.).  Then explain the rules and model how to play the game (the rules are on the worksheet).  Then let everyone play.  As they are playing, walk around and help out and make sure the structures are being used.
  7. Set Homework: For homework, give out the “Where are you Going? Write” worksheet.

 

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