English For Today chapter 3: Commands, Instructions, Requests and Numbers

Simple commands

A. Game: Do this. Do that.

Follow your teacher’s instructions and play the game “Do this. Do that”.

Figure

Description: A teacher stands in front of a classroom blackboard with both arms raised. Students sit at desks with their hands raised, and some open books lie on the desks.

B. In pairs, make a list of the commands you hear in your drill class.

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C. Look at the picture below. It shows a student in ‘attention’ position.

1. Listen and repeat the commands given below.

Figure

Labels: Keep your head upright. Look to the front. Keep your body straight. Keep your arms down. Keep your palms facing in. Keep your hands and fingers straight. Keep your knees straight. Keep your heels together. Description: A student stands upright in the attention position. Pink arrows point from each command to the body part it refers to: head, eyes, body, arms, palms, fingers, knees and heels.

2. Breathing exercise commands:

Figure

Labels: Keep your mouth closed. Place your hands on lower chest. Breathe in . Breathe out. Keep your heels together. Description: A student stands upright with both hands placed on the lower chest. Arrows point from the commands to the mouth, the hands and the heels.

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D. What other commands may your drill teacher give you? In pairs, take turns to give and follow the commands below.

Exercise 1

Figure

Labels: Keep your head still. Face your palms outward. Keep your arms forward. Keep your arms sideways. Keep your arms downward. Keep your body straight. Keep your heels together. Description: A girl stands upright with her arms stretched out sideways.

Exercise 2

Figure

Labels: Keep your head still. Face your palms outward. Keep your arms upward. Keep your arms sideways. Keep your arms downward. Keep your feet apart. Description: A boy stands with his feet apart and both arms raised above his head.

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E. Now, complete the commands for the exercises shown in the picture. Then, in pairs, give and follow the commands.

Exercise 3

Figure

Labels: ……………. your head upright. ……………. at the front. ……………. your back straight. ……………. your hands on waist. ……………. your left leg forward. ……………. your right knee still. Description: A girl is shown in profile with her hands on her waist and one leg lifted forward.

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Following and giving instructions

A. Follow your teacher’s demonstration of how to make a simple kite. In your notebook take a brief note of the major steps shown by your teacher.

B. Read the instructions on how to make a simple kite. In small groups, one reads out the instructions and the others follow them to make the kite.

Instructions for making a simple kite

Figure

Description: A hand folds a yellow A4 sheet diagonally to form a triangle.

1. Fold your A4 paper in half (like you are folding a card).
2. Take the top corner and place it on the opposite side.
3. Do the same on the other side.

Figure

Description: A green stapler and a hand hold the folded yellow paper together, with the staple being placed.

4. Staple them in place.

5. Make a tail for your kite.

Figure

Description: A hand holds the folded kite, and a blue hole punch is placed near its lower edge.

6. Put a hole punch around 1-2 cm from the staple and press to make a hole.

7. Thread the string through the hole and tie in place.

Figure

Description: A hand holds the end of the string at the top of the folded kite, with a red tail at the bottom.

8. Hold the end of the string and wave it around to fly it!

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C. Project: Make your own kite at home following the instructions given earlier. You may decorate your kite with coloured papers, stickers and paint. You may also use one of the following samples for decorating your kite.

Bring your kite to the class on the day fixed by your teacher. Your school/class may organise a “Kite Festival” with all the kites made by you.

Figure

Description: Three kite designs: top left, a red, orange and yellow kite with a green tail; top right, a green rectangle with a red curved band, a green triangular tail and red bow ties; bottom centre, a blue, pink and purple kite with a yellow tail and bow ties.

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Rhyme

Hello Hello

A. Listen to the rhyme and repeat after your teacher.

Hello, hello. Can you clap your hands? Hello, hello. Can you clap your hands?

Can you stretch up high? Can you touch your toes? Can you turn around? Can you say, “ Hello”?

Hello, hello. Can you stamp your feet? Hello, hello. Can you stamp your feet?

Can you stretch up high? Can you touch your toes? Can you turn around? Can you say, “ Hello”?

Hello, hello. Can you clap your hands? Hello, hello. Can you stamp your feet?

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B. Listen to each instruction given in the rhyme. In pairs, ask and answer the following question.

A: Can you clap your hand? B: (Claps) Yes, I can.

Grammar focus: You may request someone to do something using the following structure–

• Can you + verb (action word) + ……… + please ?

Examples:

• Can you open the door, please?
• Can you move your seat, please?

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Following and giving instructions

A. Follow your teacher as she/he shows you how to use a simple thermometer. Take note of all the important steps shown by your teacher.

B. Now, listen and read the instructions for using a simple thermometer.

1. Shake the thermometer well.
2. Put the tip under your armpit.
3. Make sure the thermometer is touching skin.
4. Press your arm to hold the thermometer.
5. Leave it there for 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Remove the thermometer.
7. Hold it at your eye level.
8. Follow mercury line that shows your temperature.
9. Record the temperature and wash the thermometer.

Figure

Labels: 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, °C Description: A simple glass thermometer lying diagonally, with a black bulb at the lower left and a mercury column rising along a scale marked from 35 to 42 °C.

C. In pairs, tell your partner the steps for taking someone’s temperature using a simple thermometer.

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D. These are the instructions on a school library card. Some of the instructions are ‘Don’ts’ and others are ‘Dos’. Listen to the instructions and repeat after teacher.

1. Use the books with maximum care.
2. Please return the book timely.
3. Don’t fold over the pages.
4. Don’t write inside a book.
5. Always keep the book with face up.
6. Don’t lose or damage a book.
7. Pay your library fees regularly.

E. In pairs, use the table given below and list the above instructions under the headings ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’.

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Making requests and responding properly

A. Look at the pictures and match each of them with a request given in the box.

Figure

Description: A librarian sits behind a desk in a library with bookshelves behind him; a boy stands at the desk facing him.

A: Hi! Can I have an orange juice, please?

B: Of course. I will make you one.

Figure

Description: A woman in a pink dress stands at a fruit stall where a man in a blue cap is selling oranges; fruit is piled in baskets.

A: Hello, can I borrow your pencil, please?

B: Sure.

Figure

Description: A girl walks along a footpath past a yellow road sign with a bent arrow; a woman in a blue sari stands by a brick wall and points.

A: Excuse me. Can I borrow this book, please?

B: Sorry, this book is not for borrowing.

Figure

Description: Two boys sit across a desk with papers on it; one points with his hand as he gives directions to the other.

A: Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to the Zainul Park, please?

B: It’s on Kachari road, next to the big playground.

B. Now, in pairs, practise the dialogues given in activity A.

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C. Match the requests (A) with suitable responses (B). Write the responses under the requests. One is done for you.

D. Guessing game

Play the game in pairs. Partner A will request B for something. She/he will use gestures/mime to make the request and must not speak out. Partner B will guess and follow the request. A and B take turns and continue.

Example: A may request B (through gestures/mimes) for borrowing his/her pen/book/khata (copy) etc. B will try to guess the request and act to follow it.

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