Requirements
"The Barking Mouse" requires Flash software for optimized viewing. If you do not have this software, you can download it for free here.
How to Use "The Barking Mouse" in the Classroom
To begin, the teacher might ask the students if they know anyone who speaks in more than one language, or if they themselves can speak in another language. What are some words they know from another language? Name some words in English that derive from another language, e.g., piano, pants, bungalow.
Students can view the interactive reading individually or in groups, depending on the number of available computers. Encourage students to read along with the narrative even though some of the words may be unfamiliar. Have the students first try to understand the foreign words from the context. Because of built-in repetitions in the story, this should not be difficult. Later on, go over the meanings of foreign or difficult words. It'd be good to encourage participation of Spanish-speaking students or members of the community.
After students have viewed "The Barking Mouse," begin a classroom discussion.
1. Introduce the word "bilingual" to the class, or have students discuss how they understand the word "bilingual."
2. How do students experience "bilingualism" at home or in the community?
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