Doofy the Hippo

Pre- reading activities: activation of schemata.

T asks SS “Have you ever been to a zoo?” “What animals did you see there?” Pre- teaching of vocabulary with pictures of the different animals in the story. Prediction: we’ll tell a story of a hippo who doesn’t want to be a hippo any longer. Does

he change or accept himself in the end? What do you think?

While- reading activities: children´s involvement.

When SS hear the name of the different animals they try to imitate the sound they make.

When Doofy meets the lion in the story, T can ask for example “Are lions kind or dangerous? to keep SS engaged in the story and predict what is going to come next.

Post- reading activities: to check comprehension of the story.

Checking students’ predictions as regards Doofy and his appearance Retelling parts of the story with mistakes and making students stop you to correct them.

For example, Doofy did not want to be like a zebra because they are too big (incorrect). Doofy did not want to be like a zebra because stripes would not look good on his body.

Worksheet with short activities. Activity n° 1: Students have to spot the mistake in each sentence and correct it.Activity n°2: Students have to match the animals with the adjectives which were used in the story.

Make it true!

Find the mistake, underline it and write the correct word.

1- In the Birmingham zoo there lived a lion named Doofy.

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2- The first animals Doofy met were the snakes.

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3- The birds were beautiful, but they were too big.

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4- The zebras are the kings of the jungle.

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5- “They are the most fascinating animals, I want to be a zebra” Doofy said.

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6- When the other hippopotamuses saw Doofy, they smiled.

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7- At the end of the story, Doofy was sad to be who he was.

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Adjectives: match

Birds beautiful and humble

Hippo colorful and small

Lions long and skinny

Snakes strong and ferocious

Giraffes unique and striped

Zebras tall and fascinating