Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals contains a series of movie segments and activities to assess or practice grammar points through fun, challenging exercises. Here you will find the movie segments, the lesson plans, printable worksheets with answer key for each activity, and the tips to develop your own grammar activities with the DVDs you have at home. New activities are posted regularly. Teaching grammar with movie segments is inspiring and highly motivating.
Dec 11, 2011
The Tooth Fairy: In Case x In Case of
The legend of the Tooth Fairy is about a fairy that gives a child money or gifts in exchange for a baby tooth that has fallen out. Children typically place the tooth under their pillow at night. The fairy is said to take the tooth from under the pillow and replace it with money once they have fallen asleep.
A. Read the inventions made for the Tooth Fairy. Look at the invention's name and make a guess about when or why use it. Make sure you complete the sentence with in case and in case of.
Ex:
Magic Generator Wand:
You may use it in case you need to make someone disappear.
You may use it in case of an emergency.
1. Invisibility Spray
You may use it in case __________________
You may use it in case of ________________
2. Shrinking Paste
You may use it in case _____________
You may use it in case of ___________
3. Dog Bark Mints
You may use it in case ______________
You may use it in case of ______________
4. Amnesia Dust
You may use it in case ________________
You may use it in case of _______________
B. Now watch the movie segment and complete the sentences, using the information in the segment.
1. I would use the invisible spray in case ____________
2.You may use the shrinking paste in case _____________
3. You may use the dog barks mint in case of _______________
4. You may use amnesia dust in case _______________
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - TOOTH FAIRY
Possible answers
B.
1. you don't want anybody to see you.
2. you want to shrink 6 inches
3. attacks of cats, mailmen, dogs that come after you.
4. you want the kid to forget everything for the last few seconds
Dec 4, 2011
Dinner for Schmucks: Present Continuous
The opening scene of this movie is memorable and perfect for beginners to practice the present continuous tense. The instructions of the game are simple, but you had better model it, instead of giving the instructions in written form.
Game:
I. Divide the class into groups of 3 students. Watch the movie segment and take notes of all the leisure activities the mice are doing in that afternoon.
II. Get together with your group and write down as many sentences as you can, saying what the mice are doing. You have 10 minutes to do it.
III. Read all your sentences to the class. Every sentence with both correct grammar and information, according to the segment, scores 1 point. The winner is the group that scores most points.
IV. You may watch the segment again to check whether the leisure activities are correct.
OR
I. Cut the sentences into slips and place them in a box.
II. students take turns to pick up a sentence and mime it to their own group. The group has 15 seconds to guess the correct sentence and score a point.
V. Talk to a partner:
1. Which activities you saw in the segment do you like to do in your leisure time?
2. Which ones don't you like to do?
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT - DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS
Dec 1, 2011
1.000.000 Visitors!
Nov 26, 2011
Mary and Max: There to be
A. You are going to see a movie segment that shows Lamington Drive in Waverly, Australia. Look at the phrases below and complete the bingo chart with 9 of the given phrases that you think you will see in the scene.
C. Now rewite the phrases in your chart, using there is (not) or there are (not)
Ex: There is a pair of roller skates on the grass
2. ............................................................
3. ............................................................
4. ...........................................................
5. ...........................................................
6. ..........................................................
7. ...........................................................
8. ...........................................................
9. ...........................................................
MOVIE SEGMENT - MARY AND MAX
WORKSHEET
Answer key - Possible items:
a pair of boots on the wires / a football on the roof / a sprinkler in the garden / a pair of rollerskates on the grass / trash cans on the street / mailboxes / a barbecue grill / different statues / an underwear on a line
Nov 20, 2011
Spirit - Stallion of the Cimarron: Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech that employs a word, or occasionally, a grouping of words, that imitates, echoes, or suggests the object it is describing, such as "bang", "click", "fizz", "hush" or "buzz", or animal noises such as "moo", "quack" or "meow".
I. Match the animals or things below and the onomatopoeia you believe the sound they make suggests. There may be more than only one matching for each of the items. Try to figure out the "sound" the verbs may have to identify the corresponding noun.
1. Wind
2. River
3. Wings
4. Bird
5. Eagle
6. Geyser
( ) rumble
( ) swoosh
( ) flutter
( ) screech
( ) chirp
( ) spout
( ) blow
II. Watch the movie segment and check your answers:
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - STALLION SPIRIT OF THE CIMARRON
Answer Key:
river: rumble
wings: swoosh, flutter
eagle: screech
bird: chirp
geyser: spout
wind: blow
bird: chirp
Nov 13, 2011
The Princess and the Frog: Simple Present
A. Take a look at the activities below. Watch the movie segment and write T if Tiana, the main character, performs the activity or P if it is the people of New Orleans who do it, or B if both Tiana and the people do it on a typical day, according to the segment.
( ) 1. Read a magazine on the way to work.
( ) 2. Play musical instruments in the streets.
( ) 3. Dance in the streets of New Orleans.
( ) 4. Serve food and drinks in a restaurant.
( ) 5. Play card tricks.
( ) 6. Buy newspapers in the streets.
( ) 7. Have fun.
( ) 8. Make magic.
B. Now write down four affirmative and four negative statements about what Tiana does (doesn't do) and what people do (don't do) on a typical New Orleans day. Use the information in exercise A.
Affirmative sentences:
1 ...................................................................
2 ..................................................................
3 ..................................................................
4. .................................................................
Negative statements:
1 ..................................................................
2 .................................................................
3 .................................................................
4 .................................................................
Ex 1. I read (don't read) a magazine on my way to work (school).
2 ....................................................................
3 ....................................................................
4 ....................................................................
5 .....................................................................
6 .....................................................................
7 .....................................................................
8 .....................................................................
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
Nov 5, 2011
Avalon: Homophones x Homographs
homo- (from the Greek word "homos", meaning "same"
-phone (from the Greek word "phone", meaning "voice" or "sound"
HOMOGRAPHS are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.
HOMOPHONES:
HOMOGRAPHS:
Oct 29, 2011
An American Carol: In Case x In Case of
A. Watch the movie segment and then read the sentences below. Then complete the blanks with IN CASE or IN CASE OF.
1. Ahman said they need a guest work program _____ the Taliban don't do their job.
Ahman said they need a guest work program _____ the Taliban's desistance.
They believe they need a new recruitment video _____ lack of volunteers.
Ahmed is usually punctual ________ delays
Ahmed double checks his address ________ there is a mistake.
He wears loose clothing _______ suspicion.
B. Talk to a partner:
1. How do you describe the stereotyped characters shown in the segment?
2. Is it fair to picture Arabs this way? Why (not)?
3. How would you describe the stereotypes of the people where you live?
4. Why were the characters shown the way they were in the segment?
5. How do you think your country is stereotyped by foreigners?
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT - AN AMERICAN CAROL
Answer Key:
A.
1. In case / in case of
2. In case / in case of
3. In case / in case of
4. In case of / In case
5. In case / In case of
Oct 22, 2011
A Bug's Life: Pre-Determiners - Such, What
Introduction:
1. Ants are very (organized/intelligent/agile) insects.
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - A BUG'S LIFE
1. ants are such organized insects
Oct 15, 2011
Kick-Ass: Story Writing - Narratives
I. Watch the movie segments with sounds off. Pay attention to the strips so you can come up with the story itself. If necessary, watch it twice with sounds off.
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - KICK ASS
THERE IS NOT A WORKSHEET FOR THIS ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT IS NOT NECESSARY
Oct 8, 2011
Rise of the Planet of the Apes: As x Like
Talk to a partner. Decide if you agree with these statements about animal testing. Justify your answers:
"Animals are here for humans to use. If we have to sacrifice 1,000 or 100,000 animals in the hope of benefiting one child, it's worth it."
"Science has a responsibility to use animals to keep looking for cures for all the horrible diseases that people suffer from."
"If we didn't use animals, we'd have to test new drugs on people."
"If people will benefit from the experiments, it is not relevant whether the animals suffer or not."
I. Watch the segment and complete the blanks with LIKE or AS.
1. ___________ we know, animal testing is controversial.
2. The chimp is _________ a friend to the doctor.
3. She is as smart _____________ a human being.
4. __________ expected, she was unable to complete the puzzle at first, before taking the new drug.
5. She behaved _______________ if he were completely out of control.
6. She is agile, ___________ most monkeys.
7. The doctor works ___________ a genetic engineer, researching the cure of Alzheimer.
8. ___________ a doctor, he suggested that more money be invested in therapies to treat brain disorders.
Answer key:
1. as 2. like 3. as 4. as 5. as 6. like 7. as 8. as
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Oct 1, 2011
Killers: Have You Ever... ? x Would You Ever...?
II. Watch the segment and check who performs the activities above, the guy or the girl.
III. Ask a partner the following questions.
Ex:
Sep 24, 2011
Astro Boy: To be Supposed to x To be Able to
A. This scene takes place in the future. Watch the scene and write down 5 things that robots will be supposed to do in the future, according to the segment:
1.......................................................
2......................................................
3......................................................
4......................................................
5.....................................................
B. Now watch the second segment from the same movie. Make a list of 5 things that robots will be able to do and that humans can't do nowadays.
1................................................
2................................................
3................................................
4................................................
5................................................
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ASTRO BOY - PART 1
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ASTRO BOY - PART 2
Sep 16, 2011
The Ghost Writer: Giving Directions - Imperative Forms
I. Read the instruction the driver received from his GPS while driving to his destination. Choose the right verbs from the given ones below before watching the video.
You may repeat them.
Answers: 1. join, 2. turn, 3. turn, 4. proceed, 5. take, 6. make
II. Work with a partner. Choose 2 easy-to-reach destinations in your city and give each other instructions to get there driving.
Sep 9, 2011
The Green Zone: Scanning - Teaching Reading
Scanning is a technique to search for key words or ideas. In most cases, you know what you're looking for, so you're concentrating on finding a particular answer. Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words and phrases. When scanning, look for the author's use of organizers such as numbers, letters, steps, or the words, first, second, or next. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a different font size, style, or color.
- I. You will watch a scene of an invetigator scanning for information. He googles Lawn Dayne / Wall Street Journal / WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction). Scan the information along with the main character in the movie and write down all key words and data you can see.
II. Work with a partner and come up with an article summarizing the information you put together. You may use your imagination to come up with an interesting article. Don't forget to add a title to your article.
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE GREEN ZONE
Sep 2, 2011
Radio Days: While x During
1. The phone rang while / during they were robbing the Needleman's house.
Answer key:
B. Now write down 3 things that you do:
While you are talking on the phone.
1 ........................................................
2 .......................................................
3 ......................................................
During a party:
1 ......................................................
2 .....................................................
3 .....................................................
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - RADIO DAYS
Aug 19, 2011
1408: Reflexive Pronouns
I. Work in pairs:
1. Do you believe in supernatural activities? Explain it.
2. Have you ever seen or known someone who has experienced supernatural activities?
3. Would you stay in a hotel which is famous for having ghosts? What about a history of murders? Why (not)?
4. Would you like to make contact with people who have passed away? Why (not)?
II. Watch the segment and complete the blanks with a reflexive pronoun:
1. The main character, Louis, served _________a drink.
2. The radio started playing a song by ________________.
3. The alarm clock reset ________________ to 60:00.
4. Louis recorded _____________ saying what was going on in the room.
5. The window closed by ______________ and hit Louis's fingers.
6. He started washing ____________ when the faucet started doing unexpected things by ______________.
7. The curtains were moving by _________________.
8. What about you? Would you spend the night in this room by ___________.
WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - 1408
Answer key:
1. himself
2. itself
3. itself
4. himself
5. itself
6. himself / itself
7. themselves
8. yourself