MRS. HATCHET'S PIGEONS (ELIZABETH CENTURIÓN)

 In the first place, the image shows an image of an elderly lady and pigeons all over her.

The title of my story is: Mrs. Hatchet's Pigeons and it is intended for students at levels B1 or B2.

The learning objectives are: boosting students' oral skills, review every day vocabulary and practise past tenses.

The technique I would use here is what Jamie terms: 'Teacher led Picture telling' and I would pre-teach vocabulary such as: Local Council; bird droppings; to make a complaint ....

After that, I would show them the image and ask them: 'Who do you think she is?'; ''How old is she?'; 'Where is she?'; 'What do you think is odd about the picture?'; 'Have you ever seen so many pigeons around a lady before? If so, when?'; 'Why do you think that the pigeons have flocked towards her?'; Is it illegal in Spain to feed pigeons?'

The story is about an elderly lady whose hobby is to feed pigeons but her neighbours complain to the Local Council because their homes become full of bird droppings. I would read it to them.

Once having done this, I would provide them with a copy of the story in which they have to fill gaps with phrases like: They complained/ kept them awake/packed up her pigeon food/flocked towards her/were making their lives miserable etc.

Once, they have filled in the gaps we would re-read the story and they would have to provide a different ending to the one I have given them.