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The Monkey Family

Mr Monkey proved a huge hit on the "What's your name song?" and now he's back - with his family!! A very fun song!!

I wrote the original Monkey Family to include every possible family member combination, but quickly figured out it's a real pig to teach!

So I'd recommend just sticking to the nice and easy "Baby Monkey Family" version. Check that it is OK to teach family members ( we don't want to distress any kids who recently lost a parent or a sibling), then try this version for brother, sister, mother, father, grandma i.e. from a kid's point of view the most often used words.

In the classroom or at home ........

If you place a photo of each family member on a different wall of the class, as the kids sing they turn and point when introducing everyone.

Then if they are up for a challenge, try the "Monkey Family" version with a full family. Listen to the song and figure out the family tree.

By the way, the record time for completing the quiz on the CDROM section is is 45 seconds by two of my Junior High students. But I've not yet seen an adult who can do it in less than 2 minutes!

And don't forget to praise the kids when they do well, as Mr Monkey says "Well done everybody!"


Recommended Game: Who's this? Sticky Fingers!

1. Three or four kids come to the front and each take hold of one of the teacher's fingers.

2. Choose one "magic family member" e.g. grandma.
3. Everyone shouts out "Who's this?"
4. The teacher says "This is " plus one of the family members.

5. If the teacher says the magic family member, the kids who are holding the teacher's fingers let go and run to the nearest wall.
6. If the teacher tags them before they make it to the wall, they are out!
7. If the teacher says a word other than the magic word and the kids let go of the teacher's fingers, they are out!

This may sound like a strange question to teach, but if you ever show your photographs to a bunch of kids you'll see how often it comes up!

Picture Book

Baby Monkey Family




The "Monkey Family" song can be found on in the Teacher's Set.!

Readers' Comments

I have been teaching the winter clothes song again this week and have introduced the family to some of my new students this year. I have been playing a game which has proved very popular.

Firstly I have taught the target language and read the story book. I then get a chair and say I need a Baby Monkey. One child volunteers and sits on the chair. Of course we all make a fuss of Baby Monkey. I then say I need all of the other characters. The children were so keen to volunteer. I then asked them to tell me their Monkey family name. Some needed a little prompting for the first groups. When they say their name I said e.g."Look its Baby monkey, let's say hello to Baby Monkey!!" Then the whole class waves at the family member and says e.g. "Hello Baby Monkey. " etc. etc. We went through the entire family, then all waved goodbye and the family sat down. Depending on the class size I have then swapped the family or just moved the children around. Some of the Grandma Monkey actors were so funny!! It was also very popular for the boys to be Grandma!! They did all ask about Grandad, but I say he is very tired and is at home having a nap, my usual response!!

I also tried this with an older class who know the monkey family. I thought maybe it would be far too easy and they would find it 'boring!' How wrong I was. There was nearly a stampede to join in !!! I also got them to pretend to be Aunt, Uncle and cousin as they already know these.

- Flossy

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