Articles for Teachers:

Using Props in the ESL and Language Classroom

  by Lucille Lever

 Visual,  tactile props stimulate the eye and mind and result in creativity in the
  classroom. Lessons in which props are used are more memorable for the
  students.

 Visual  props are an essential item in a drama or language classroom. Items such as
  pictures, cereal box cartoon characters, magazine cut-outs, crafts, toys, add
  focal points to the lessons to stir imagination.

 An  extremely effective prop is fabric. The magic of colors and large arrays of
  textured textiles are very exciting. Teachers can use props not only in drama
  and language lessons but also in other classes such as geography and history.
  Textiles can brighten up a presentation, and make the subject matter more real
  in a student’s mind.

 Here  are some ideas of how to use fabric for effect:

 Drama  Class Ideas 

Notice  that many of the above activities can be the starting point for a presentation,
  review, oral or creative writing classes, and can also be used as part of a
  presentation in which students are tested through creative writing.

 History,  Geography or Social Studies Lessons

 Students  working on historical characters can be told to find a picture of rooms,
  clothes, etc. from a particular period and recreate them in
  fabric

 Use  fabric to create the clothes worn by different ethnic groups in countries being
  studied in the geography courses. Recreate a costume. Bring some pictures and
  get the students to try and copy the ideas.

 Collectible  Props for the Classroom

 Teachers  are encouraged to start a collection of all kinds of ties, bows, elastic,
pieces  of lace, and any sort and size of fabric that will bring out something
in the  imagination of the students. A trip to the local fabric store may  surprise  buyers looking for a bargain of scraps of a variety of  materials.

 Teachers  do not have to sew. Accessories that hold things together from sticky tape,
duct  tape to safety pins, hairclips and elastic stretchy bands are available to
hold  the items together without a permanent mark.

Some  important items to keep in a prop costume box:

• for
    headdresses (elastics, ties, bows, artificial flowers);
  
• for
    robes (safety pins, hair clips to hold fabric around the body);
  
  
• for
    making props (large pieces of fabric or old sheets that can be used to cover
    chairs to form beds, thrones, backdrops);
  
• for
    making figures (items that can be used to stuff up clothes and fabric in order
    to create a sleeping body, dog, silent character on the stage);
  
  
• for
    jewelry (chains, ropes, bits and pieces from your tool box, such as "o" rings,
    link-like pieces from a plumbing item, hardware store rings and
    connectors).

It  is recommended that creative teachers start collecting bits and pieces of
fabric  and accessories for their lessons. Don’t be shy to use these items in
lessons  other than drama. Colors and props are memorable and fun, so adding
them to  classes will connect ideas and imagination with subjects that sometimes
seem  less tangible, difficult or boring.

 What’s  better than a memorable lesson?