Unusual Houses
Exercise 1
Here are some examples of different types of “house”. Do you know what they are?
A t (for camping)
An i (snow)
A c (for kings and queens)
A w (originally to make flour)
A l (near the sea to warn ships of rocks)
A c ( a natural place, not man made)
Choose from these possible answers:
A windmill, a lighthouse, a houseboat, a mobile home, a cave, a tree house,
20 Questions:
Student A: Think of one of the houses from exercise 1(Do not tell anyone else)
Students B,C,D etc. Ask yes/no questions to find out what type of house it is such as:
Is it made of…………………?
Do you need a lot of money to live there?
Is this type of house in the city?
Is it big?
Is it a holiday house?
Activity 3
Look at the houses you see on the site below:
http://www.google.it/images?hl=it&rlz=1G1ACAW_ITIT359&q=Unusual+houses&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=mRCDTf7wHYGXOqKE6MgI&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=688
Match three of the pictures with the descriptions below:
This is a rather messy looking building but it is a test of our normal perception of “what a house should be”. This is because it is upside down, in fact, and the door is where we would normally expect the roof to be.
This looks like a lovely, dreamy house to me. It reminds me of the sea and when I was a child playing in the sea in Cornwall and collecting shells along the beach. I can imagine that the rooms inside would be interesting, round shapes and the furnishings would also be unusual, I can see curtains in the windows that reflect the light summery feel of the architecture.
This house is the one that catches your eye immediately, which is, perhaps, because of its reference to children’s nursery rhymes. The owners of this house obviously have a sense of humour and come from an Anglo-Saxon background.
Now it’s your turn:
Choose one of the houses in the pictures and write a short description.
The other students should guess which picture you are describing so don’t make it too easy or too difficult (.
Activity 4
Vocabulary Extension:
Look at these words and expressions from the texts above. Match them to the best definition for this context:
Vocabulary item Definition 1 Definition 2
rather messy Not very ordered or symmetrical A place where you can eat. upside down At the top of a hill Reversed with the top at the bottom It reminds me of the sea It makes me think of the sea It tells me not to go to the sea shell The home some animals, like snails, carry with them A type of petrol furnishings These are essential items in a house like chairs, tables etc. You use these to decorate your home: curtains, cushions etc. This catches your eye Something goes in your eye You see this immediately nursery rhyme A short, traditional poem or song for children. A type of medicine given to children by a nurse.
Expand your vocabulary:
Answer these questions (which refer to the items above). By using and thinking about vocabulary you acquire it.
Can you remember a nursery rhyme from your childhood?
What does one of the houses remind you of?
LANGUAGE NOTE:
you can say “It reminds me of + noun” It reminds me of the sea.
or you can say “It reminds me of + -ing” It reminds me of eating ice cream by the sea.
Is there a part of your house/bedroom which is rather messy?
Have you ever collected shells on the beach? Did you keep them?
Activity 5
The Haines Shoe House
This is the beginning to a Blog article (see the link below). Some things, however, are the opposite here from the original.
Example
This version
The Haines Slipper House
Original version
The Haines Shoe House
Look at the text and decide what you think has been changed from the original:
The Haines Slipper House is located in Hallem, Pennsylvania. It was invented by the owner, Mahlon Haines, in 2011. The house was originally built for his children. He was a children’s writer, and had published 40 short stories.
The house is made from a chocolate structure in the shape of a star, and incased with gold, and then covered with stucco. It stands 250 ft. tall, 17 ft. wide, and 48 ft. long. It consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living-room, but no kitchen. The pink bedroom, was referred to as the fairy tale suite, because Mahlon Haines, would tell stories on certain nights there for $20 per person.
(Look below to see the original text- How different is it from yours?)
Activity 6
Webquest
Go to this link to read the original article: “The Shoe House” and then write your comments on the site discussion thread: would you visit this house? What sort of unusual house would you build?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5541916/an_unusual_house_the_haines_shoe_house.html?cat=16
Answers:
The Haines Shoe House is located in Hallem, Pennsylvania. It was built by the owner, Mahlon Haines, in 1948. The house was originally built as an advertising gimmick. He was a shoe salesman, and had a chain of 40 stores.
The house is made from a wood structure in the shape of a shoe, and incased with wire, and then covered with stucco. It stands 25 ft. tall, 17 ft. wide, and 48 ft. long. It consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living-room, and a kitchen. The pink bedroom, was referred to as the honeymoon suite, because Mahlon Haines, would allow honeymooners to spend the night there for free.