This is for British teachers only, I guess. And considering these events have passed now, maybe someone will pick this up next year. This is a lesson I made to cover both Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes Night at once. The idea is to look at both and learn what they are about. This all leads to the game which must come at the end.

On thing to note is that I began with one lesson, but very soon I found the ability difference between my schools was too great, so I had to make different versions. I've added only some of the related files.

Begin with a very brief introduction telling them what today's lesson is about and when these two celebrations are. 

Split the class into pairs and give them the worksheet for the first activity (see: gf-hw info gap.doc) - the first page goes to one half of the pair, the other to the other. This is an information gap activity - one student has info missing on Guy Fawkes, the other student has info missing on Hallowe'en. They must ask questions to their partner in English. On the back of the sheets are questions if they have trouble (see: gf-hw info gap qs.doc) as even at my top school students found forming a question by themselves too hard. For mid-level schools I made an easier version, with the text, but the questions written on the front with space to write the answer (see: gf-hw qs exercise 2b.doc). For my lowest school we had to edit my text down to simple sentences and questions with Japanese translation added (I'll upload that later). [This activity takes about 25 minutes.]

Next an explanation, using either the blackboard or a powerpoint picture presentation. I made sure I emphasized that in some parts of the world bonfires are lit on both Guy Fawkes Night and Hallowe'en and that toffee apples are eaten and bobbing for apples is played on Guy Fawkes Night in Britain and Hallowe'en in America: This is very important for later. [This part takes about 15 minutes.]

If there is time include the simple link-up activity (see: gf-hw ing exercise 3). This is solo-work where they must link the verb to the object and make a sentence using -ing form. [This activity takes less than 10 minutes]

With about 10 minutes left, go to the final activity: the game. This needs cards, which take a while to make but are reusable. Make 90 little cards and stick 10 copies of the 9 pictures (see: gf-hw card pics.doc) onto them with the name of each written underneath ("Trick or treat", Ghost stories, Jack-o'lantern, "Penny for the guy", Fireworks, Parkin, Bonfire, Toffee apples, Bobbing for apples). Place each set of 9 into different envelopes. 

In class put them into groups of 4 or 5 students and explain the rules: They must group their cards so there are 3 under Hallowe'en, 3 under Guy Fawkes Night and 3 under Both. It is a race. When the group has done, they must run to the front, say "Trick or treat" Check their cards - if even one is wrong, tell them to try again. The first group with the with the correct answer wins. One thing to note: Do NOT give them the cards until after you have explained the rules. In some classes, a group has started while I'm explaining and come to the front straight away before the others have a chance. [This activity takes 5 minutes to prepare, and between 2 to 5 minutes to do]

Be first to review this lesson

Only registered users can write reviews.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.2