Energizer: True or False Animal Gestures

Learning Objectives: 

• Students will be able to identify if sentences about animals are true or false. 

• Students will be able to express their understanding of the given sentences through gestures. 

Instructions: 

1. Start with a quick review of animals and action verbs that describe animal behavior. For example, “Birds fly. Rabbits hop. Fish swim.” Show students examples of gestures as you review. “What do rabbits do? That’s right, they hop! Let’s hop like rabbits together!” 

2. When students are comfortable with the animals and associated action verbs, it is time for the true or false animal gestures energizer!

3. Ask students to stand up in the classroom or if possible, bring the students outside so they have sufficient space to move around. 

4. Explain that the teacher will give students a sentence about animals. If the sentence is true, the students must show their understanding through gestures. If the sentence is false, they must stand still. For example, “Birds fly!” This is true so the students must become flying birds. “Fish walk!” This is not true so students should remain still. 

5. Give students a series of sentences, mixing true and false statements. Encourage students to move, laugh, and enjoy the experience. 

6. Ask some students to come to the front to become the teacher and make sentences. 

Tips: 

• This is an energizer so the language focus is not the priority. Always encourage students to act freely, laugh loudly, and enjoy the movements. 

• The language can be adapted based on your students’ levels. For example, if your students have been studying transportation, make true or false statements about transportation. 

Teacher: Zannatul Ferdous Mou, Bangladesh

Mou has been a teacher for 12 years. She is currently teaching at a public primary school. She is also a teacher trainer.