Shel Silverstein's Homework Machine in the EFL Classroom!

Who wouldn't want a Homework Machine? Shel Silverstein's poem depicts the frustration all of us have felt at least once in their lives. What if you could actually build one and use it at home with your child or even better in class with your students?

The endeavour is grand but the solution is simple. All you need is a shoe box - or a simple card box-, a cutter and a lot of imagination. I made this Homework Robot to use with my students in class within an hour and believe me Serious Grammaticus, as his name is, became an instant hit among all ages. 

This is how you can make one of your own. 

Materials:

1. card box (a shoe box is the easiest way)
2. cutter 
3. glue
4. markers
5. blank cards 
6. thin cardboard 

Instructions:

1. Cut two holes on the front of the box, one on the top (input hole) and on the bottom (output). Make them large enough for the blank cards to fit.  

2. On the inside of the box, make a cardboard pathway connecting the input hole to the output hole. Make the short one first then the longer one. Glue them in place. 

3. Decorate the box whichever way you like. I made mine into a robot, Serious Grammaticus!

4. Prepare your cards. One the front side of the card write the questions. On the back side write the answers. The cards will instantly flip when you drop them into the INPUT hole and come out with the answer face up!

Uses:

You can use the Homework Machine in many different ways. 

1. Math
addition cards
tables
subtraction
multiplication
division

2. Language arts
parts of speech recognition
plurals
persons (my brother and I= we, Helen=she,etc.)
irregular verbs
spelling: Correct your teacher, error identification
vocabulary translation 
dolch words

Do spend the time making the Homework Machine with your child, I assure you you are going to have a blast. If you do find the time please send me a picture, I would love to see what you came up with!

Η Δραστηριότητα της Κυριακής 

Ο Serious Grammaticus, το ρομπότ που μας βοηθάει να μαθαίνουμε παίζοντας, είναι μια εύκολη κατασκευή που μπορείτε να φτιάξετε με το παιδί σας στο σπίτι. Στην τάξη μπορείτε να τον χρησιμοποιήσετε με πολλούς και διάφορους τρόπους, για να διδάξετε από μαθηματικά, γλώσσα (μητρική ή ξένη), ακόμα και ιστορία. Το πιο σημαντικό είναι να δείξετε στα παιδιά σας ότι η φαντασία μπορεί να μεταμορφώσει ακόμα και το πιο βαρετό γραμματικό φαινόμενο σε παιχνίδι.