The basic lesson plan may include: Warm-up-5 minutes
Homework check(review)-10 minutes
Introduction of the new material-5-10 minutes
Practice of the new material-5-20 minutes
Assigning homework-2-3 minutes
Wrap-up-3-5 minutes
In a warm-up the teacher gets children ready for the lesson. Warm-ups are quick, easy and enjoyable. After the warm-up the teacher checks the homework. Next comes the introduction of the new material. It could be vocabulary, dialogs, listening material, grammar. When the new material is introduced, it should be first introduced orally with the books closed. Children need to hear as much comprehensible English in class, as possible, because they hear almost none outside the classroom. Cards, realia, animals, role-play are excellent ways to introduce the new material.
After the new material is introduced, children open the books and see the material in another context and listen to the classroom tape. All the children should be involved all the time.
Students may repeat, point to vocabulary items or pictures, repeat, check boxes, circle an item. After the practice is finished, it is a good time to introduce songs or chants. While working logically with language, the children were using the left side of their brains. Right brain activity is a good change. After a song or a chant the teacher gives homework. Children must know before they leave the classroom exactly how to do the homework. The wrap-up is an enjoyable activity that finishes the lesson. It might include consolidation of the new material or revision of the material learnt earlier.
The ideal primary foreign language classroom looks like:
Children play with language
Children are grouped
A wide variety of instructional techniques
Children cooperate to learn rather than compete with one another
Topics are appropriate and of interest to children
A great deal of input is made meaningful through abundant context
Children are active processors of language, not passive
Teacher trust and guidance
Learning is holistic, not separate from the meaning it conveys