H oliday Meal and Traditions

Aims and objectives: to revise and practise vocabulary; to develop students listening and reading skills; to develop students' writing skills; to develop students' creativity;- to develop cross-cultural competence.

Warm up

The teacher's greeting. Good morning, students! I’m glad to see you. How are you?

Phonetic exercise

Students revise homophones. First, students listen to the word pairs, the, they repeat them. The teacher gives the definitions of the homophones if it is necessary. The pairs of the words are on the black­

board (or in the handouts): a [bi:]	be — bee
□ [bo:l]	ball — bawl
□ [baend]	band — banned
□ [beis]	bass — base
□ [bo:d]	board — bored
□ [bai]	by — buy — bye

Checking on homework

Students in turn read their works, others check.

Introducing the topic

To present the topic of the lesson, the teacher starts from ex. 1, p. 174. Students match the phrases in the box to the names of holidays. The teacher helps students if it’s necessary.

Students talk about these holidays as in the example.

Listening. Reading

Students listen to the text “St. Valentine’s Day” and mark unknown words (ex. 2, p. 174-175). After listening, the teacher explains defini­tions of these words and expressions.

Students read the text aloud. Then they have to say how people cel­ebrate this holiday. The teacher asks questions to help students:

1. When do people celebrate St. Valentine’s Day?What is this holiday special?

2. When did it start?

3. When did people begin to send Valentine’s cards?

4. What is in these cards?

5. If people always know who is a sender?

6. What way do people celebrate the holiday nowadays?

7. Is it a public holiday or a festival?

After-reading activity. Students read the sentences and complete them (ex. 3, p. 175).

Answers:

1. the 14th of February

2. in Europe more than 600 years ago

3. about 200 years ago

4. a message of friendship and love

5. say about their love in special cards and give presents

6. share lovely short messages

Relaxation

The teacher makes movements with the students. Teacher uses any rhyme for physical exercises. For example:

Teddy Bear, turn around.

Teddy Bear, touch the ground.

Teddy Bear, close your eyes,

Clap your hands, and do it twice.

Teddy Bear, nod your head.

Open your eyes and go ahead!

Reading. Writing

The teacher divides students into groups and proposes students to look through ex. 4, p. 175. Students have to read the messages and tick the Valentine’s Day ones. Then, the teacher gives students the sets of cards (one set to each group, and 2 to 3 Valentines in each of the sets) with congratulations to the Valentine’s Day (1-8), like these:

1. My love is like a cabbage:

Devided into two.

The leaves I give to others,

The heart I give to You!

2. My heart to you is given Oh do give yours to me We’ll lock them up together And throw away the keyHere is a valentine.

I made it just for you.

With paper and ribbons And lots of Elmer’s glue!

3. Good day to you, Valentine Curl your locks as I do mine Two before and three behind Good day to you, Valentine

4. It’s nice to have a friend like you.

I’ll tell you what I’m going to do.

Because you make me feel so fine,

I’ll take you for my valentine!

5. If apples were pears,

And peaches were plums,

And if the rose had a different name —

If tigers were bears,

And fingers were thumbs I’d love you just the same!

6. Valentine’s Day

Is a wonderful way To make “I love you”

Easy to say. •

7. Valentine’s for mothers, too —

A time to celebrate

Love in all its symphony,

Each gift of fertile fate.

Students read them and write down the greetings that were liked to use them at home. They may use short notes (a-f) for the “postcards”.

1. You make every day as special as Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s day ... every day!

2. Be my Valentine for the rest of my life.

3. I have learned what not to get you for Valentine’s Day.

4. Chocolate and flowers are sweet and beautiful, but not as sweet and beautiful as you. Happy Valentine’s Day!

5. I love loving you. Happy Valentine’s day!

6. I want to let you know that I want you to be my Valentine. Again! Homework

To make and write a valentine.