The Little Match GirlModule:Storytime

Unit: The Little Match Girl

Key Stage 1 Learning TargetsTo develop an ever-improving capability to use English~ to converse about feelings, interests and experiences (I.S.b)~ to respond to characters and events in simple imaginative and other narrative texts through oral,

written and performative means such as describing one’s related experiences (E.S.b)

Programme outlineThis programme is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s children’s story The Little Match Girl. It is about a poor little girl selling matches to earn some money for her family. The story takes place in Russia on New Year’s Eve. In the dark and snowy street, the Little Match Girl is cold, hungry and lonely. Does anyone buy her matches? Besides money, what else does she need? Would it be love and warmth? Who will give her love and warmth?

Communicative functions 1. Express basic needs and wants, e.g., “We really need some food.”, “We need money.” 2. Express concern and sympathy, e.g., “I feel sorry for you.”, “You should go home, little girl.”3. State opinions and express feelings such as “I feel warm and happy now!” 4. Learn about some adjectives such as cold, hot, warm, snowy, dark, old, new, hungry, etc

Suggested activities1. Bring the storybook The Little Match Girl to class. Print out the picture of Hans Christian

Andersen in COPYMASTER 1 and show it to pupils. Introduce to pupils that this famous 19th century author is the author of the story. He also created many popular fairy tale characters such as the Ugly Duckling, the Little Mermaid, etc.

2. Ask pupils to tell their understanding of the story The Little Match Girl.3. Introduce the main character of the programme: the Little Match Girl. Tell pupils that the

programme that they are going to watch is different. The story is set in Russia. The music they hear in the programme is mostly Russian music. The money unit that the Little Match Girl says in selling matches is roubles- the Russian money unit. The building at the end of the street where the Little Match Girl sells matches is St Basil Cathedral in Moscow. Teachers can make use of the pictures of Moscow in COPYMASTER 2 while explaining the background of the story.

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4. Print out COPYMASTER 3 and invite pupils to listen to the song and sing along while they watch.

5. Watch the programme together and find out how this story ends.6. After watching, elicit pupils’ response towards the programme. In COPYMASTER 4, teachers

may guide pupils to think about the message of the story by asking the suggested questions. This is also the time for pupils to express their views freely and teachers to teach English in respect to the naming of clothes, and the use of adjectives to describe mood and feelings, etc. Replay the ending of the story. Ask pupils to write the answers for questions a to c in Part 1, and tick the answers for questions d to g in Part 2. They can write more on the line provided. Reasonable answers are acceptable.Part 1Write the answers.a. Is the Little Match Girl alive in the end? Answer: Yes.b. Who helps her? Answers: The beggar in the street, the man, the woman, the boy and the lady . c. What does the Little Match Girl get on New Year’s Day? (Print out COPYMASTER 5 the

list of new words for teaching and learning. ) Answers: Food, money, a coat, a hat, a gift, boots and gloves . Part 2Tick √ the answer(s). Pupils can tick more than one answer.d. How do you feel about the Little Match Girl? Suggested answers: √ √ √ √ √

She is poor./ She is sad./ She is hungry./ She is cold. / She needs help./ √ √She is strong. She work s to earn some money./ She is brave. She sells

matches to strangers . Encourage pupils to write their own ideas on the line.e. The Little Girl is at your door. What will you do?

Suggested answers: √ √ √Open the door. / L et her in./ Talk to her politely.

Encourage pupils to write more on the line.f. The Little Match Girl needs help. What can you do?

Suggested answers: √ √ √G ive her food and money./ Buy some matches./ Give her new clothes. / √ √Invite her to dinner. / Let her sit by the fireplace.

Encourage pupils to write more on the line.

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g. There is a beggar in the street. He gives the Little Match Girl his scarf. Describe him. Suggested answers: √ √ √ √

He is a kind/ good/ nice/ generous man. Teachers may come up with more questions to facilitate pupils’ understanding of the story and its

main theme-- love and sharing. 7. In COPYMASTER 5, there is a list of new words with pictures such as shawl, scarf, boots and

gloves. They are some of the things the Little Match Girl gets on New Year’s Day. Teachers may teach pupils those new words when answering the questions in COPYMASTER 4.

8. COPYMASTER 6 is an exercise to focus pupils’ attention on the use of adjectives in the programme. Study each pair of pictures and sentences first. Then ask pupils to choose and fill in the right word in each bracket.

Suggested answers:a. I feel (cold) outside. We feel warm inside.b. These boots look (old). My dress is new.

c. The street is (dark). The room is bright d. They look (happy). I feel sad.9. As an extended reading activity, teachers may take pupils to the library to borrow more Hans

Christian Andersen’s storybooks, e.g., The Little Mermaid, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and TheEmperor’s New Clothes. Encourage pupils to read more and share their favourite stories in class as a reading aloud activity.

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COPYMASTER 1The Little Match Girl

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)

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COPYMASTER 2The Little Match Girl

St Basil Cathedral

The Red Square

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State Historical Museum

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COPYMASTER 3The Little Match Girl

Song: The Little Match Girl

(Sing to a Russian folk song: Troika)

The poor little girl

In the dark, dark street

Hungry, cold and lonely

What does she need?

Is some warmth and love

What she needs

Is some warmth and love

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COPYMASTER 4The Little Match Girl

Part 1Write the answers.

a. Is the Little Match Girl alive in the end?

____________________________________________________________________________

b. Who helps her?

The beggar in the street, __________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

c. What does the Little Match Girl get on New Year’s Day?

Food, money, _________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

COPYMASTER 4The Little Match Girl

Part 2Tick √ the answer(s). You can tick more than one answer.

d. How do you feel about the Little Match Girl?

She is poor./ She is sad./ She is hungry./ She is cold./ She needs help./ She is strong. She work s to

earn some money./ She is brave. She sells matches to strangers./

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e. The Little Match Girl is at your door. What will you do?

Open the door./ Let her in./ Talk to her politely ./

f. The Little Match Girl needs help. What can you do?

Give her food and money./ Buy some matches./ Give hers new clothes. / Invite her to dinner ./

Let her sit by the fireplace./

g. There is a beggar in the street. He gives the Little Match Girl his scarf. Describe him.

He is a kind/ good/ nice/ generous/bad man .

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COPYMASTER 5The Little Match Girl

New Words

shawl hat coat

scarf gloves

gift boots

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COPYMASTER 6The Little Match Girl

Look at the pictures and sentences.Then choose and fill in the right word.

happy cold old darka.

I feel ( ) outside. We feel warm inside.

b.

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These boots look ( ). My dress is new.

c.

The street is ( ). The room is bright.

d.

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They look ( ). I feel sad.

End

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