Learn English with Over the Hedge

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Hibiscus Teach · Cartoons

Over the Hedge

Explain It from Their Point of View

Explain a habit, notice an assumption and adjust how you speak to someone.

B1–B2 English target60-minute lesson target

13+ target only after full screening. Cat vs. Skunk is a priority content-risk clip.

Created by , British English teacher.

Food For Thought

RJ explains human food habits to animals who are new to the neighbourhood.

Watch for: What does RJ want the animals to notice about human food?

Original source

Clip A quiz: 6 questions

Answer about this clip. Replay when you need to. Choose one answer for each question.

1. What is RJ mainly explaining?
2. What can humans use a telephone for in his explanation?
3. What is the fridge used for?
4. What does he compare a barbecue to?
5. What happens to food that people do not finish?
6. Why is this explanation useful to RJ’s plan?

Useful English

Think of it as a place to store things.

You say: Explain a fridge as a place to keep food cold.

One possible response

Think of it as a place to keep food cold.

What happens to the leftovers?

You say: Ask what happens to unused materials.

One possible response

What happens to the unused materials?

Keep talking: 3 questions

Speak before opening the help or example. With a partner, ask a follow-up. On your own, say your answer aloud.

  1. Which comparison makes the explanation funny?

    Help me start

    The comparison between…

    Show an example

    The comparison between a barbecue and an important place is funny.

  2. What everyday habit might confuse a visitor?

    Help me start

    A visitor might wonder why…

    Show an example

    A visitor might wonder why we queue before a shop opens.

  3. Explain an everyday object without naming it first.

    Help me start

    Think of it as…

    Show an example

    Think of it as a box that keeps your food cold.

Cat vs. Skunk

Stella speaks to Tiger while her friends try to get past him.

Watch for: How does Tiger’s attitude to Stella change?

Original source

Clip B quiz: 6 questions

Answer about this clip. Replay when you need to. Choose one answer for each question.

1. How does Tiger initially treat Stella?
2. How does Stella respond to being judged?
3. What quality does Tiger say he likes?
4. What feature does he compliment?
5. What shorter name does she use for him?
6. Why does keeping him in conversation help her friends?

Useful English

That is not quite what I expected.

You say: Say a task is different from what you expected.

One possible response

That is not quite the task I expected.

What would you like me to call you?

You say: Ask a new colleague how to address them.

One possible response

What would you like me to call you?

Keep talking: 3 questions

Speak before opening the help or example. With a partner, ask a follow-up. On your own, say your answer aloud.

  1. Does Stella’s direct reply surprise you?

    Help me start

    It surprises me because…

    Show an example

    It surprises me because she does not accept his first judgement.

  2. When is a preferred name worth asking about?

    Help me start

    It is useful when…

    Show an example

    It is useful when a person introduces a long name.

  3. Give a specific, non-personal compliment and respond.

    Help me start

    I like the way… / Thank you…

    Show an example

    I like the way you explained that. Thank you; I tried to keep it clear.

Mastery: use your English

Apply language and ideas from both clips in new situations.

Mastery: 6 questions

Use the English in a new situation. Choose one answer for each question.

1. Explain a familiar object to someone who has never used one.
2. Ask about what happens after a meal.
3. Revise your first impression without pretending you knew already.
4. Ask how someone prefers to be addressed.
5. Give a specific compliment on an explanation.
6. Distinguish a habit from a one-time event.

Put it all together: speaking

Use English from both clips. Start with the two short questions, then take a private role each. On your own, practise both roles.

  1. How do both clips involve changing someone’s view?

    Help me start

    RJ…; Stella…

    Show an example

    RJ presents food differently; Stella changes Tiger’s impression.

  2. What makes an explanation useful to a newcomer?

    Help me start

    Use… and check…

    Show an example

    Use a familiar comparison and check what they already know.

  3. Can you reach a workable outcome together using the two private role cards?

    Private Role A

    You show a visitor around a shared kitchen. Food on the top shelf is shared; food in labelled boxes is private. Explain the rule without assuming they know the arrangement.

    Private Role B

    You are new and think everything in the fridge is shared. You have brought a labelled lunch and some fruit to share. Ask where both should go.

    Open only your own role card. Share its information by speaking, without showing the card.

    Help me start

    Discover the missing information; explain your constraint; respond to your partner; agree on a practical next step. Use language from both clips.

    Check your conversation

    • Complete the practical goal on both role cards.
    • Use at least three target items naturally, including language from each clip.
    • Ask a relevant follow-up and respond to information you did not know.
    • End with a clear agreement, next step or summary.
    Show an example

    A: Think of the top shelf as our shared area. B: I thought all the food was shared. Where should I put my lunch? A: Keep it in your labelled box below. B: And the fruit? A: On the top shelf, or we can label another space.

    Try again: The top shelf is full. Agree a clearly labelled temporary place without changing who owns the food.

Original teaching activities: Hibiscus Teach. Film and television clips belong to their respective owners.