Intonation for making requests.

Hello grade 5 pupils, today we are going to learn about making requests using intonation in English.

Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice when speaking. We use intonation to convey different meanings and emotions, and it can also be used to make requests. When making a request, we can use rising or falling intonation, depending on the context and the level of politeness we want to convey.

Here are some examples:

1. Rising intonation – This is used when we want to make a polite request. It is when our voice goes up at the end of the sentence. For example:

• Can you please pass me the pencil?
• Could you help me with my bag, please?
• Would you mind closing the door, please?

2. Falling intonation – This is used when we want to make a more direct or urgent request. It is when our voice goes down at the end of the sentence. For example:

• Shut the window, please.
• Tell me the answer, now.
• Come here, quickly.

It’s important to remember that the tone of our voice is just as important as the words we use. Using a polite tone with rising intonation can make a big difference in how our request is perceived.

So, when making a request, remember to use intonation to convey the level of politeness you want to express. Use rising intonation for polite requests, and falling intonation for more direct or urgent requests.

I hope you found this lesson helpful, and that you’ll practice making requests with the correct intonation

[mediator_tech]

Evaluation

1. Would you mind _______ the window, please? a) opening b) closing c) cleaning d) locking
2. Can you _______ me your pen, please? a) give b) take c) buy d) throw
3. _______ you please help me with my homework? a) Should b) Can c) Would d) Do
4. _______ you mind if I sit here? a) Would b) Could c) Should d) Will
5. Please _______ me the salt. a) pass b) throw c) catch d) kick
6. Could you _______ me a glass of water, please? a) drink b) pour c) wash d) bring
7. _______ you like me to help you with your project? a) Should b) Would c) Can d) Do
8. Can you _______ the TV, please? a) turn off b) turn on c) tune in d) tune out
9. Would you mind _______ me the time, please? a) telling b) asking c) keeping d) forgetting
10. Please _______ the door behind you. a) close b) open c) lock d) break

Lesson Presentation

Title: Making Requests with Intonation

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand what intonation is and how it is used in making requests
• Use rising and falling intonation appropriately when making requests
• Differentiate between polite and direct requests

Materials:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Handout with examples of requests and their appropriate intonation
• Audio clips or recordings of requests with different intonation

Introduction:

• Start by asking students if they have ever made a request before, and what kind of requests they have made (e.g. asking for help, asking for something, etc.)
• Explain that when making requests in English, we use a special tone of voice called intonation to convey the level of politeness or urgency in our request
• Write the words “rising” and “falling” on the board, and ask if anyone knows what they mean in relation to intonation

Body:

• Explain that rising intonation is when the voice goes up at the end of the sentence, and is used for polite requests (e.g. “Can you please pass me the book?”)
• Give examples of other polite requests, such as “Would you mind helping me with this?” and “Could you please turn down the volume?”
• Use audio clips or recordings to demonstrate how rising intonation sounds
• Explain that falling intonation is when the voice goes down at the end of the sentence, and is used for more direct or urgent requests (e.g. “Shut the door, please.”)
• Give examples of other direct requests, such as “Tell me the answer now” and “Come here quickly.”
• Use audio clips or recordings to demonstrate how falling intonation sounds

Practice:

• Give students a handout with examples of requests, and ask them to identify whether the appropriate intonation is rising or falling
• Have students practice making their own requests with appropriate intonation, using prompts such as “Ask your friend for a pencil,” “Ask your teacher for permission to go to the restroom,” etc.
• Encourage students to pay attention to their tone of voice, and to practice using rising intonation for polite requests and falling intonation for more direct or urgent requests

Closure:

• Review the concepts of rising and falling intonation, and when to use them in making requests
• Have students share any challenges or successes they had while practicing their requests
• Encourage students to continue practicing intonation when making requests in English, and to pay attention to how others use intonation when making requests

Assessment:

• Observe students during practice activities to see if they are using appropriate intonation for their requests
• Check students’ understanding through oral questioning during the closure portion of the lesson

I hope this lesson plan presentation will be helpful in teaching Primary 5 pupils about making requests using intonation in English. Good luck with your teaching!