The Enormous Turnip is a super simple story for children learning English as a second language. Instead of using a book to read from I prefer flashcards as you the (teacher or parent) are free to adapt the language you use according to the abilities of the children.
With storytelling whether I am using a book or flashcards I try to always include some theatrical props to add extra interest and encourage group participation. With the Enormous Turnip I made a little shovel, an envelope full of seeds (rice) and a watering can. I also include mask cut outs which I stick to plastic spoons for the children to hold for role play work.
You can create a mini role play by simply using props similar to the ones I use in the video and involve children by asking them to sow the seeds and water them instead of yourself. Or , if you have enough children in your class, add to the fun by asking them to interpret the story characters . Give them a mask and tell them in turn to pull the “flashcard”!
I also find a great exercise after I have told the story is get the children to act it out!
1. Play some relaxing music to the children
2. Tell the children to lie on the floor and make themselves as small as possible
3. Tell them that you are the farmer and using the little shovel indicate digging holes around the children
4. Sow the seeds
5. Water the seeds (make some whooshing water sounds)
6. Tell the children to imagine they are tiny turnip seeds growing slowly under the earth
7. Growing bigger and bigger and bigger until they become the most ENORMOUS TURNIPS! (bodies and faces)
Great fun and an interesting way to repeat key vocabulary.
Happy Teaching
Miranda Flynn Legge
oh my gosh! i just love the way you tell the story! love it love it love it!!! thanks for sharing!!!
By: nina on October 18, 2011
at 4:50 AM
Hi Nina
Thank you for your kind comments and taking the time to visit my blog
By: Miranda Flynn Legge on October 18, 2011
at 11:02 AM
Thanks for share these interesting videos. I copy on my blog the video “5 little monkeys” I hope you don´t mind. It´s a blog for an activity I’m doing in the university for be an English teacher.
Gracie mile
By: kantabria13 on February 9, 2012
at 5:57 PM
Hi,
No problem! I’m glad you find the video useful and good luck with your course.
A big hello also to Spain:-)
Miranda
By: Miranda Flynn Legge on February 9, 2012
at 6:02 PM
Your lesson drama is great, but I was a little bit (for an hour
) shocked while watching the tale “Turnip”. I was always sure that this is a Russian tale, all Russian children know it by heart. But why in English version it is word-by-word similar, I wonder… And I wonder, is there such a tale in Spanish?
By: huswi on September 29, 2012
at 8:47 PM
Hi
Thanks for your message. I was also very surprised to find out today (thanks to Wikipedia) the origins of this popular fairytale. “The Giant Turnip” or “The Enormous Turnip”, as we British know it by, is in fact of Russian or Slavic decent and was first published in 1863 in the collection of Russian Folk Tales, edited and published by Aleksandr Afanas’ev. Wow !!! I had no idea!!
If you are interested in a Spanish version of the story “El nabo gigante” check out the link for this bilingual version in English and Spanish.
By: Miranda Flynn Legge on October 1, 2012
at 12:54 PM