Time to speak!

Research the topic

You have learned about the importance of play and the possible benefits of a school garden. Now, do more research on this topic on your own or use one of the following sources. Make notes because you will be the project leader of your new school playground. You may use the texts below, or find some of your own.

 

Principles of playground design: https://playgroundideas.org/10-principles-of-playground-design/

More principles of playground design: https://www.huckplay.co.uk/news/2023-11/playground-design/

TEDx talk: designing playgrounds for kids

https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_werner_konradi_designing_playgrounds_for_happier_healthier_kids?language=en

 

Then, use this document to decide what is more or less important in a school playground. Remember: there are no right or wrong answers! Think about why you think these things.

Survey - what makes a good playground

 

Speaking Task 7

Now, you’ve got your rating. Find a classmate and discuss your rating and its consequences from the exercise above.

Make sure to practice sentences like “A good playground needs lots of green because…” If we invested in a school garden, then…”

 

With ChatGPT

ChatGPT prompt 1: I want to talk about school playground design and pedagogical vision. Please listen and estimate my CEFR level of speaking.

  • After speaking prompt 1: Please estimate my CEFR level of speaking.
  • After speaking prompt 2: What suggestions can you make to improve my vocabulary, based on my speaking?
  • After speaking, prompt 3: What suggestions can you make to improve my grammar, based on my speaking?

Repeat the speaking task

ChatGPT prompt 2: I will now repeat the speaking task. Please check if I have applied your suggestions correctly.

Make notes of the feedback ChatGPT gives.

 

Speaking Task 8: RAFT assignment*

*A RAFT assignment is a speaking assignment where you make choices regarding your role as a speaker, your audience, the format, and your topic.

Topic: playground design

Yay! You’re done researching this topic and can present your findings.

For this task, you will make once choice from each column: a Role, an Audience, a Format, and a Topic. You may work independently or with a partner.

Role Audience Format Topic
teacher parent speech/ pitch funds
parent student vlog school garden
student advisory committee responsible for the subsidy interview more playtime

Think about...

  • ...your role: what is your point of view?
  • ...your audience: who are you speaking to? What does that person want, or need? Is there any conflict between what you see and what that audience wants?
  • ...the format: what format will work best for this task?
  • ...your topic: what is it about? Are there pros and cons?

Choose a standpoint and complete the task.