Starting or going back to school is an important time of year for any child; a new class, a new teacher, new classmates, perhaps even a new school. A range of materials on Learn English Kids will help your child use English to talk to you about what they are doing, and how they feel about school. There are a range of activities, including games, a song, and a story, which will help children with the vocabulary and expressions they need to take a more active role in English classes

You'll find resources about school on LearnEnglish Kids on this page: www.britishcouncil.org/kids-topics-school

With these materials children will be able to:

			practise words for the things they use in the classroom
			do a quiz and match different places in a school with the things children do in them
			read and listen to a story about a school for super heroes
			sing along to a song to practise simple classroom instructions and requests

Activities are marked with a symbol on the topics webpage (www.britishcouncil.org/kids-topics-school) to indicate the best age group and level. Look at these when you choose which activities to use with your child.

Younger children will enjoy singing along with a song which practises simple classroom vocabulary and language for instructions and requests.

SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD

• What's Missing? (also called "Kim's Game)"

Who is it for? The activity is suitable for children aged 5 -10, they will review words for objects they use, or can see, in the classroom.

			Print school flashcards from Learn English Kids. (Flashcards Set 1, Set 2, Set 3 )
			Cut out the individual pictures and review the vocabulary with your child.
			Spread the pictures out on a flat surface, give your child one minute, ask them to try to remember what they can see.
			Ask your child to close their eyes and take away one of the cards.
			Your child guesses which card you have taken away. They can do this by saying the individual words, or you may wish to encourage them to use yes/no questions to make their guesses. e.g."What's missing?" -Is it the ruler? "Yes, it is. / No, it isn't"

• Word Slam

This is a game for 2-3 children and enables them to review individual items of vocabulary. It also uses the school flashcards.(Set 1, Set 2, Set 3)

			Choose four of the pictures and arrange them, on a flat surface, in a square approximately 25cms by 25cms, with a picture at each corner
			Two children sit facing each other, each with a hand held palm downwards about 25 cms above the cards, their finger tips just touching.
			You, or another child, calls out one of the cards, the first child to 'slam' their hand on that card wins the card. Replace the card and continue till you've worked your way through the pack.