Circus Squad
WORKSHEET
1. Suggested Use
Community, friendship and teamwork focus, followed by B1-level vocabulary and grammar activities.
2. Suggested Activities
A. Project-based learning
Students work in pairs or small groups to design a new club or activity group where people with similar interests can meet.
They decide the name and purpose of the club, what members do together, where they meet and how often and how the group helps people connect or learn new skills. Each group gives a short presentation to the class, explaining why others should join.
B. Mediation task: Encouraging conceptual talk
Students watch the video again and make notes on the reasons why the students enjoy the Circus squad so much. They then work in pairs to add their own ideas about why a group like this would be enjoyable. Put two sets of pairs together to discuss the benefits of being in a group such as the one in the video.
C. Pronunciation task: Intonation to show enthusiasm
Elicit some sentences from the script where speakers show enthusiasm, e.g. I find it really interesting; it’s the best opportunity we have; These are things that I would never have experienced etc. Elicit, practise and drill the intonation the speakers use. Have students write their own sentences about things they’re enthusiastic about and practise the correct intonation.
3. Vocabulary
Activities
circus
juggling
unicycling
walking on stilts
performing
learning new skills
teamwork
live show
People and community
teenagers
members
friends
backgrounds
community
audience
meet people
have similar interests
help each other
make friends
work as a team
feel more confident
come from different places
Emotions and attitudes
nervous
confident
proud
interested
different
similar
4. Grammar
Tenses:
(present simple) The teenagers come from different places; Some live in the city. Others live in the suburbs; They like the same things. (Past simple) Tiffany joined the group; She wanted to meet new people.
Coordinating conjunctions:
Some live in the city. Others live in the suburbs. But they like the same things; They all enjoy learning new skills, performing on stage, and making new friends.
Articles and Determiners:
The Trenton Circus Squad; a circus; the same things; the city / the suburbs / the local community / the audience
TRANSCRIPT
Circus Squad
NARRATOR:
How can we meet people with similar interests to us? In Trenton, New Jersey, some teenagers join a circus to do that. The Trenton Circus Squad is a group where young people learn circus skills like juggling, unicycling, and even walking on stilts. The teenagers come from different places. Some live in the city. Others live in the suburbs. But they like the same things. They all enjoy learning new skills, performing on stage, and making new friends. Tiffany joined the group. She wanted to meet new people.
SOUNDBITE - Tiffany Thomas:
"It's our best opportunity we have to make so many good friendships that we have here with other Trenton squad members who may be our same age but come from different schools, different backgrounds."
NARRATOR:
Gabbie likes talking to other members of the group.
SOUNDBITE - Gabbie Cain:
"Just by talking to everyone from here I find it really interesting, like their stories, and where they come from. It's really great working with people here. You find out so much more about them. These are things that I would never have experienced if I didn't come to Trenton Circus Squad."
NARRATOR:
At the circus, the teens help each other. They learn how to work as a team. They also perform live shows for the local community. Performing helps them feel more confident. And when the audience smiles or laughs out loud, the squad feels proud. The Trenton Circus Squad members may come from different places, but joining the circus helped them meet people with the same interests and make friendships that last.