This is a topical lesson plan for the festive season based on comparisons between a traditional British Christmas and Christmas celebrations in the student’s countries.
You will need:
The lesson plan:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!278&authkey=!AOWfTUkqHy7AtDc
The discussion questions handout:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!279&authkey=!ACygXSBVrDDA5H4
The Christmas in England powerpoint:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!127&authkey=!APSM9pHn8j56pvg
The cracker jokes handout:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!130&authkey=!AN8mCLV6wHxpSuQ
Brainstorm Xmas traditions in (the country you’re teaching in) in small groups.
Feedback traditions and put on board.
In pairs or small groups students discuss the following:
How many of these traditions do you follow?
Describe and compare your normal Christmas with your partner.
What do you do on Christmas eve? Christmas day? Boxing day? Kings Day?
If you have children what traditions do you follow? Father Christmas? Caga Tio (a Catalan Xmas tradition)?
When do you give presents?
What do you give?
What did you used to do when you were a child?
Do you still follow the same traditions your parents did?
Who in your family is the most difficult to buy presents for? Who is the easiest?
How have other cultures influenced Christmas celebrations in your country?
Debate:
Christmas is too commercial.
But the statement above on the board, split the class into two teams and assign “for” or “against” to each team. They then have 5 minutes to brainstorm their arguments. Then give them 5-10 minutes to debate the topic. Debate structure should be:
- 2 minutes for each team to present their argument, the other team mustn’t interrupt, they should make notes ready for the 2nd phase.
- 2nd phase 5 minutes open debate. Students attack the oppositions arguments and try to defend their own.
- 1 minute each for a closing statement. Why each team thinks they have won the debate.
Teacher decides which team wins, but as it’s Christmas a draw is probably the fairest result!
British Christmas
Ask students to brainstorm a British Christmas.
Tell students that they are going to watch a presentation about Christmas in England. They have to watch and try to memorise as much as possible.
Show presentation “Christmas in England”
In groups students try to remember as much as they can, in the correct order.
Cracker Jokes
If students hadn’t heard of them before the presentation will have introduced them to Christmas Crackers. Hand out copies of the cracker jokes and have the students tell them to each other. They will get some fairly easily but some might need a little explaining.
