The Little Toy Soldier
Module
Storytime
Unit
The Little Toy Soldier
Programme Outline
This programme is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s children’s story The Steadfast Tin Soldier. The old toymaker makes a set of seven soldiers. Unluckily,he runs out of wood when he is making the last one.He gives this soldier with only one leg a special name- The Little Toy Soldier. His exciting journeybegins as two children buy and take the toy soldiers home.
Key Stage 1Learning Targets
To develop an ever-improving capability to use English
~ to converse about feelings, interests and experiences(I.S.b)
~ to respond to characters and events in simple imaginative and other narrative texts through oral, written and performative means such as drawing pictures and creating captions(E.S.b)
Communicative Functions
1. Ask a person’s name and make other simple inquiries
2. Express concern and sympathy like ‘I feel sorry for you.’, ‘It can sail him home, I hope.’
3. State opinions and express feelings, e.g., ‘You’re so brave.’, ‘They look very nice.’, etc.
4. Talk about locations such as ‘in the street’, ‘in a drain’, ‘on a boat’, etc.
Suggested Activities
1. Bring the storybookThe Steadfast Tin Soldier to class. Ask pupils if they know the story. Motivate them to share whatthey know.
2. Print out the picture of Hans Christian Andersen in COPYMASTER 1 Part 1 and show it to pupils. Explain to pupils that he was the author of the story. He also created many popular fairy tale characters such as the Ugly Duckling, The Little Match Girl, etc.
3. Introduce the main characters of the programmewhich is based on The Steadfast Tin Soldierusing the pictures inCOPYMASTER 1 Part 2: The Little Toy Soldier, the dancer Johanna, the toy maker, the clown (the Jack-in-the-box).
4. Print out the lyrics in COPYMASTER 2andproject it on the screen so that pupils can follow the words when the toy soldier and the dancer sing in the programme.
5.Watch the programme together.
6. Draw pupils’ attention to the places the Little Toy Soldier goes after being thrown out of the window. He is in the street, then ina drain,then on a boat flowing along river. After that, he plunges down a waterfall. Then he is swallowed by a big fish. At last,he is back at home, safe and sound.
7. After watching, distribute COPYMASTER 3to pupils.First, go through the short phrases in each box to recall pupils’ memories and check their understanding of the places the Little Toy Soldier goes. Then, ask pupils to draw in each boxaccordingly. A little imagination and creativity are encouraged.
8. As a speaking and writing activity, ask pupils to fill in the speech bubbles in COPYMASTER 4.
a. My name is Johanna. And what is your name?
Answers:My name is The Little Toy Soldier.
b. I was born with just one leg.
Answers:Oh, I feelsorry for you.
c. Let’s make the soldier a boat.
Answers:It can sail himhome,I hope.
d. Oh, Johanna!
Answers:I’m so happyto see you again.
COPYMASTER 1
The Little Toy Soldier
Part 1.The author of the children’s storyThe Steadfast Tin Soldier
Hans Christian Andersen
(1805-1875)
Part 2. The characters of the storyThe Little Toy Soldier
The Little Toy Soldier/ The dancer, Johanna
The toymaker
/ The clown
COPYMASTER 2
The Little Toy Soldier
Sing along
Song 1: The Little Toy Soldier
I feel lonely here
with no one near
to love me
There won’t be any more lonely days and nights
I am here
to be near you
to love you
You promise?
I promise!
Song 2: The Little Toy Soldier
I felt lonely here
with no one near
to love me
There won’t be any more lonely days and nights
I am here
to be near you
to love you
You promise?
I promise!
COPYMASTER 3
The Little Toy Soldier
Where is the Little Toy Soldier?Draw.
He is…
a. in the street / d. in the riverb. in a drain / e.in a big fish
c. on a boat / f. at home
COPYMASTER 4
The Little Toy Soldier
Choose and fill in the blanks.
sorry for youdancerI’m so happyhome
The Little Toy Soldiertoy makerfish
1