Our Day Out by Willy Russell

OUR DAY OUT - SPEAKING & LISTENING EXCERCISES

A resource by David Didau

Aim: To question Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay about their teaching styles and their behaviour on the day out, and to decide whether one or either of them is a bad teacher.

Work in pairs: write an interview with either Mrs Kay or Mr Briggs where you ask them about themselves and their impressions of the day out. Also write their replies. Practice role-playing your interview.

Performance: pairs will be asked to show their work to the class.

Debate: pairs to join up into small groups to discuss the points listed below and arrive at a verdict on each character. Feedback will be given from groups to the rest of the class.

Question ideas for Mrs Kay

Would you say it was wrong of you to let the children run riot in the caf�?

How could you have prevented the children from stealing the animals from the zoo?

What was your main aim for the day out and did you achieve it?

What would you say your relationship with the children is like?

Do you think 'losing' Carol was your fault?

Why did Digga and Reilly want to come on the trip even though they have left the Progress Class?

Do the children respect you?

Question ideas for Mr Briggs

Why did Carl say you hate all the kids?

Why did the children groan when you got on the bus?

Do you think you handled the situation with Carol on the cliff well?

Whose fault was it that the children stole animals at the zoo?

Why did you allow the children to go to the fair?

Would you do anything differently if you could have the day over?

Do the children respect you?

Questions to debate in you group

Is Mr Briggs too strict?

Do the children respect him? Do they like him?

Why does Carol change her attitude towards Briggs?

What do the kids think of him at the end and why?

Is he a bad teacher?

Is Mrs Kay too soft?

Should she have let the kids loose in the caf�/zoo/castle?

Do the children respect her? Do they like her?

What is her attitude to the kids and the day out? Do you agree ?

Is she a bad teacher?

The Trial

Imagine that Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay are put on trial for their teaching styles and their behaviour during the day out. The question is whether either of them can be convicted of being a bad teacher.

A judge will conduct the trial and there will be four teams of layers:

one to defend Mrs Kay

one to prosecute Mrs Kay

one to defend Mr Briggs

one to prosecute Mr Briggs

Each team will be able to interview the characters on trial. They will also be able to call one other witness to interview (these can be any of the characters from the play).

The final decision on whether either can be convicted of being a bad teacher will be made by the four jurors. They will listen to all the evidence, then make their decision.

You have one lesson to prepare your case or practice your part, then one lesson to conduct the trial.

During the preparation lesson, members of the jury and the judge will assist in preparing a wall display of work produced during the scheme of work.

JUDGE - You are playing the part of the judge in this trial. You will be responsible for keeping order during the trial, inviting the prosecution and defence speakers to make their points and to interview characters. You will need a good working knowledge of the play as a whole and the parts played by each character.

MRS KAY'S PROSECUTOR - You are prosecuting Mrs Kay. It is your job to put together a case to show that she is a bad and irresponsible teacher. Write an opening speech to show what you think of her - this must be based on what she says and does in the play. You will also be allowed to interview her, so prepare some tough questions. You can also interview one other witness to show what a bad teacher she is. First choose the character, then prepare you questions. You will have two researchers to help you.

MRS KAY'S DEFENCE - You are defending Mrs Kay. It is your job to put together a case to show that she is a good and responsible teacher. Write an opening speech to show what you think of her - this must be based on what she says and does in the play. You will also be allowed to interview her, so prepare some good questions. You can also interview one other witness to show what a good teacher she is. First choose the character, then prepare you questions. You will have two researchers to help you.

RESEACHER - MRS KAY'S PROSECUTION - You are a researcher helping in the prosecution of Mrs Kay. It is your job to help the prosecutor by researching Mrs Kay's part in the play and the part of your other witness. You should also help the prosecutor to decide what questions to ask them and how to make her sound like a bad teacher. The prosecutor may call you for help, notes, etc. if they forget anything during the trial.

RESEACHER - MRS KAY'S DEFENCE - You are a researcher helping in the defence of Mrs Kay. It is your job to help the defence lawyer by researching Mrs Kay's part in the play and the part of your other witness. You should also help the prosecutor to decide what questions to ask them and how to make her sound like a good teacher. The prosecutor may call you for help, notes, etc. if they forget anything during the trial.

MR BRIGGS' PROSECUTOR - You are prosecuting Mr Briggs. It is your job to put together a case to show that he is a bad and uncaring teacher. Write an opening speech to show what you think of him - this must be based on what he says and does in the play. You will also be allowed to interview him, so prepare some tough questions.
You can also interview one other witness to show what a bad teacher he is. First choose the character, then prepare you questions. You will have two researchers to help you.

MR BRIGGS' DEFENCE - You are defending Mr Briggs. It is your job to put together a case to show that he is a good and caring teacher. Write an opening speech to show what you think of him - this must be based on what he says and does in the play. You will also be allowed to interview him, so prepare some good questions.
You can also interview one other witness to show what a good teacher he is. First choose the character, then prepare you questions. You will have two researchers to help you.

RESEACHER - MR BRIGGS' PROSECUTION - You are a researcher helping in the prosecution of Mr Briggs. It is your job to help the prosecutor by researching his part in the play and the part of your other witness. You should also help the prosecutor to decide what questions to ask them and how to make him sound like a bad teacher. The prosecutor may call you for help, notes, etc. if they forget anything during the trial.

RESEACHER - MR BRIGGS' DEFENCE - You are a researcher helping in the defence of Mr Briggs. It is your job to help the prosecutor by researching his part in the play and the part of your other witness. You should also help the prosecutor to decide what questions to ask them and how to make him sound like a good teacher. The prosecutor may call you for help, notes, etc. if they forget anything during the trial.

MRS KAY - You are playing the part of Mrs Kay. Look back at your role in the play and be prepared to defend each of your actions! You need to know what you did and said in lots of detail as you will be questioned by the defence (who are on your side) but also by the prosecution (who are trying to prove you are a bad teacher). You can discuss the case with your defence team before the trial.

MR BRIGGS - You are playing the part of Mr Briggs. Look back at your role in the play and be prepared to defend each of your actions! You need to know what you did and said in lots of detail as you will be questioned by the defence (who are on your side) but also by the prosecution (who are trying to prove you are a bad teacher). You can discuss the case with your defence team before the trial.

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION OF MRS KAY - You are playing the part of a character from the play chosen by Mrs Kay's prosecution team. This means that you will be asked questions by the prosecutor who will be trying to show that she is a bad teacher. Ask the prosecutor which character you are to play, then look back at your part in the play very carefully and be prepared for some tough questioning.

WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE OF MRS KAY - You are playing the part of a character from the play chosen by Mrs Kay's defence team. This means that you will be asked questions by the defending lawyer who will be trying to show that she is a bad teacher. Ask the defence which character you are to play, then look back at your part in the play very carefully and be prepared for some tough questioning.

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION OF MR BRIGGS - You are playing the part of a character from the play chosen by Mr Briggs' prosecution team. This means that you will be asked questions by the prosecutor who will be trying to show that he is a bad teacher. Ask the prosecutor which character you are to play, then look back at your part in the play very carefully and be prepared for some tough questioning.

WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE OF MR BRIGGS - You are playing the part of a character from the play chosen by Mr Briggs' defence team. This means that you will be asked questions by the prosecutor who will be trying to show that he is a bad teacher. Ask the defending lawyer which character you are to play, then look back at your part in the play very carefully and be prepared for some tough questioning.

JUROR - You are playing the part of a member of the jury. You must have a good knowledge of the play as a whole so that you can make the right decision about whether either Mrs Kay or Mr Briggs should be convicted of being a bad teacher. Remember that you don't have to convict either, but you can convict both if you wish. Listen carefully to all the evidence before making up your mind.