A Butterfly Activity to Teach Nouns and Pronouns in a Multiclass, Multigrade Classroom

A Butterfly Activity to Teach Nouns and Pronouns in a Multiclass, Multigrade Classroom

Teaching in a multiclass and multigrade setting is always a challenge because students differ not only in age and grade level but also in their language abilities. To address this, I designed a bilingual, interactive activity to teach nouns and pronouns. What started as a simple idea turned into one of the most joyful and effective classroom experiences.

What Was the Activity?

I called this the Butterfly Activity. I drew a big butterfly on the board and labeled its four wings as Noun, Pronoun, నామవాచకం, and సర్వనామం. Then, I prepared word bricks with different examples of nouns and pronouns in both English and Telugu. The students’ task was to identify the correct category and paste the word on the butterfly’s wings.

Why Did I Do This?

The main reason I did this activity was to overcome two challenges I often face in my classroom. The first is teaching multiple classes and grades together, and the second is addressing the bilingual needs of students. Some children are more comfortable in Telugu, while others prefer English. Through this activity, I wanted to ensure that every learner could participate and understand the concept. At the same time, I wanted to create an atmosphere of fun and engagement so that students enjoyed the lesson instead of seeing it as a routine lecture.

Planning and Execution

1. Concept Introduction – I explained nouns and pronouns in both English and Telugu with simple examples.

2. Butterfly Board Setup – I drew a large butterfly and labeled the wings in English and Telugu.

3. Word Bricks Preparation – I wrote examples of nouns (e.g., Ram, book, school / రామ్‌, పుస్తకం, పాఠశాల) and pronouns (he, she, they / అతడు, ఆమె, వారు) on small slips.

4. Grouping Students – The class was divided into four groups.

5. Game Begins – At the word “Start!”, each group took turns picking a word brick, ran to the board, and pasted it under the correct butterfly wing.

6. Participation for All – Every child in the group got a chance to run, pick, and paste.

The Result

The result of this activity was truly remarkable. Students were filled with joy, excitement, and enthusiasm, and even the shy learners came forward to take part. They were able to understand the concepts clearly because the words were given in both languages, and the bilingual approach made the lesson accessible to all. Most importantly, this activity helped me naturally handle the challenges of multigrade teaching, as every student could participate at their own level. The cheerful atmosphere, the teamwork, and the deep learning it created reminded me once again that creativity and play can turn even the toughest teaching situations into opportunities for joyful learning.