Simon Says in Marathi

Objectives

• Children will participate in Simon Says game
• Children will be exposed to how it feels to not understand a different language.
• Children will develop empathy for people who speak a different language and are learning English.
• Children will be exposed to a few simple phrases in Marathi

Materials

• Guest Speaker- Kiran Rotwal
• paper (or journals)
• pencil

Procedures

1. Introduce Kiran- Today Ms. Rotwal is going to play a game with you. Listen up and pay attention. What she has to say is very important.
2. Kiran will begin Simon Says game speaking in Marathi. She will point to the body parts she is talking about and encourage children to participate. She will praise for correct actions and show disappointment for incorrect actions.
3. After time has passed, children will begin to participate because of body signals and repetition.
4. Follow up discussion- How did it feel to not understand the language? Were you confused? How did you cope (figure out the game?) How do you think it would feel to be in this situation all the time? How would immigrants feel that come to US and do not speak English? What should they do? If a student does not speak English are they less intelligent? (Did you lose your intelligence because you did not understand Ms. Rotwal's language) How should teachers deal with this in the classroom? What is the value of a speaking another language?
5. Have Kiran answer questions about her language that the children may have. She will teach them "Hello", "Good-bye" and "How are you"
6. Children will write how they felt during the game in their journals.

Evaluation

Obj. #1: I will observe the children as Ms. Rotwal conducts the game.

• Are the children listening to directions?
• Are they attempting to follow her directions?
• Are some of the children catching on to the game?

Obj. #2 and Obj. #3: I will listen during our discussions and read their journal articles to monitor their understanding of how it feels to not understand a language and their development of empathy towards those in such situations.

• Did the children feel frustrated?
• Did they stop making an effort?
• How did they express their feeling verbally and in written form.

Obj. #4: Since the children are not expected to master these phrases, evaluation will be minimal. I will observe them during the session and occasionally use these phrases with the children.