Hello spring, hello April
April is a month of many things: pranks, chocolate eggs and new life. We would like to breathe new life into your child’s English learning by sharing ideas and tips for bringing English into everyday life!
Spring at last
During the cold months, everyone looks forward to spring. Now that it is finally here, we invite you to celebrate it! It is the perfect opportunity to introduce basic vocabulary through crafts and drawing!
Get creative with hands-on crafts that capture the essence of spring. Colouring sheets, fingerprint bunnies, painting eggs… There are endless ways to combine language learning with artistic expression. An excellent website with simple instructions in English and materials you are sure to have at home is https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas/by-craft/art-ideas/ . For example, find out how to make these tin flowerpots!
- Nature outings are another wonderful way to learn English. On nature walks or while playing in the park, ask your child to name animals, plants and sounds. “I spy with my little eye…” is an excellent game for learning letters and new words!
- Scavenger hunts around the house or outdoors to find and identify spring-related objects are a great way to encourage your child to use their English to describe each item they discover, expanding their vocabulary along the way.
April is Poetry Month
April is also known as Poetry Month. Use this opportunity to embrace the wonderful variety of English literature and poetry! Discuss rhyming words, work on pronunciation and improve your reading skills! Discover exciting new poems on these websites, which offer great resources for all ages:
- BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zjhhvcw
- The Academy of American Poets: https://poets.org/poems-kids
Siblings Day, 10 April
When did you last pause to truly appreciate your siblings and say thank you? This 10 April, let’s celebrate the special bond we share with our siblings and express our love in meaningful ways. Create a heartfelt card in English to show your gratitude!
Earth Day, 22 April
Every year on 22 April, we celebrate Earth Day – a perfect opportunity to learn why looking after our planet matters. Watch this video to explore Earth Day in more depth and find inspiring ways to join the celebration while developing English vocabulary!
- https://youtu.be/wefswCPT7B4
Discover these two exciting websites packed with fun activities, interactive quizzes and fascinating science to help your child learn English while discovering scientific facts, exploring the environment and engaging with global issues!
- NASA Climate Kids: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/play/
- U.S. Energy Information Administration energyKIDS: https://www.eia.gov/kids/games-and-activities/
April book recommendations
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is an essential first book to read in English. Its vibrant, colourful collage illustrations and hopeful story about a caterpillar with an extraordinarily large appetite have helped make it the most widely read children’s book in the United Kingdom.
Age: 4+
Available: http://thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1001303154
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
This classic picture book tells the story of Sophie and her extraordinary teatime guest. Loved by children around the world, this funny story is perfect for reading aloud or for young children to read themselves. First published in 1968 and never out of print, it has become a timeless classic, perfect for little hands.
Available: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1046635126
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
James and the Giant Peach by world-famous author Roald Dahl is a classic that has sparked readers’ imaginations for generations. Filled with beautiful, descriptive language (suitable for more advanced readers) and an underlying message of resilience and perseverance, it follows James and his insect friends through a magical world inside a giant peach!
Age: 8+
Available: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1047648340
Thank you for reading our April newsletter. We wish you a wonderful April without too many “April showers”!
Best wishes,