the uk and the u.s.a.

Holidays: Preview 1

1 In both the UK and the U.S., there are special holidays during the year when people have the chance to celebrate. Here is a list of special holidays and pictures from the UK and the U.S. Label the pictures with the names of the holidays. Independence Day Easter Christmas ’ Night May Day New Year

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Holidays: Part one Before watching

1 Match the words (1–7) with their meanings (a–g). 1. parade a. someone who has no religion 2. patriotic b. to put on special clothes 3. decorate c. an organized procession of people celebrating a special occasion 4. dress up d. political freedom, self rule 5. pagan e. to make something look better and beautiful 6. float f. showing support and love for one’s country 7. independence g. a pretty vehicle usually seen at fairs and carnivals

Authorized adaptation © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. 34 Permission granted for classroom use. the uk and the u.s.a.

While watching EXTENSION 2 Watch the DVD. Complete the chart with Does your country have an Independence Day or the words from the box. a traditional holiday? Describe this holiday. What do people do on this day? May 1st country fairs patriotic floats dancing small villages pagan July 4th picnics parades not patriotic family day

Independence Day May Day

Authorized adaptation © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. 35 Permission granted for classroom use. the uk and the u.s.a.

Holidays: Part two Before watching

1 these two pictures tell a story about a national holiday in the U.S. What is the holiday? What do you know about this U.S. holiday?

2 What do you think happened before the first Thanksgiving feast in the United States? Check all that apply. Then watch the DVD and check your answers. • The Pilgrims won a sports game against the native Indians.  • The local Indians taught the Pilgrims how to plant crops for food.  • The Pilgrims suffered a terrible winter.  • Many Pilgrims died during the harsh winter.  • The local Indians did not help the Pilgrims.  • The Pilgrims did not learn how to plant and raise animals for food.  • The Pilgrims prepared a feast to thank the Indians for helping them. 

Authorized adaptation © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. 36 Permission granted for classroom use. the uk and the u.s.a.

While watching

3 Watch the DVD. What types of food are eaten at Thanksgiving? Check (3) the best answers. 1. apple pie  2. beef  3. tomato sauce  4. turkey  5. pumpkin pie  6. mince pies  7. chicken  8. roast potatoes  9. cranberry sauce  10. mashed potatoes  11. carrots  12. roast pig 

4 Whatch the DVD. Put the sentences below in the correct order. Use numbers 1-6. The arrive in the U.S.A.  The Puritans and Native Amercians have dinner together.  Fifty percent of the Puritans die.  The history of Thanksgiving starts in 1621.  The winter is very cold.  Native Americans teach the Puritans which crops to grow and how to look after them 

EXTENSION Think of a special holiday you celebrate in your country. What holiday is it? What do you do on this day? What kinds of food do you eat?

Authorized adaptation © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. 37 Permission granted for classroom use. the uk and the u.s.a.

Holidays: Part three 1 Before watching

1 Match the words about Christmas with the pictures. Christmas pudding mistletoe holly singing carols silver bells tinsel mince pies

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While watching EXTENSION Make a list of New Year’s resolutions. Compare your 2 Watch the DVD and complete the list with a classmate’s. sentences with some of the words Find out how many students in your class keep from the box. their New Year’s resolutions.

forget loves buys want sun covers a resolution = a promise snow has sell makes presents For example: Jessica says, “I’m going to study harder.” 1. Jessica Christmas. 2. Jessica a huge fir tree. 3. Jessica the tree with silver bells. 4. James wants on Christmas Day. 5. Jessica New Year’s resolutions. 6. People their resolutions quickly.

Authorized adaptation © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. 39 Permission granted for classroom use. the uk and the u.s.a.

Holidays: Part four 2. Who likes Christmas because of the Before watching presents? • Kelly  1 3 What do you do on New Year’s Eve? Check ( ) • Anders  the things you do. • Rebeca  1. play games  • Milenka  2. give presents  • Raj  3. be with friends  Jonathan  4. eat special food  • 5. dance  • Ahmed  6. go to a party  • Imogen  7. watch TV   8. be with family EXTENSION 9. sing  Plan a New Year’s Eve party with your class. What do you want to do? What do you want to eat? While watching

2 Watch the DVD and listen to the students talk about holidays in the U.S. and the UK. 1. What is the favorite holiday of each of these students? • Kelly • Anders • Rebeca • Milenka • Raj • Jonathan • Ahmed • Imogen

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Holidays: Part five 2 Label the pictures in Exercise 1 with the words Before watching from the box. stuffed figure of Guy Fawkes’ 1 Below are some pictures about Guy Fawkes’ toffee apples fireworks Night. What do they tell you about Guy Fawkes’ Night? While watching 1 3 Which sentences are true about Guy Fawkes’ Night? Which ones are false? Check (3) the correct boxes. True False 1. Guy Fawkes’ Night is on 5th. 2. The real Gunpowder Plot was in 1606. 3. We burn a “Guy” on a . 4. There are a lot of fireworks. 2 5. The Houses of Parliament were blown up. 6. People eat tomatoes. 7. It’s usually cold.

EXTENSION Choose a historical day, for example, Independence Day, a popular uprising, or the birthday of a famous 3 person. Make a presentation about the event. Find pictures to show to the class.

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Authorized adaptation © 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. 41 Permission granted for classroom use. the uk and the u.s.a.

Follow-up: Ba’ game

Scotland: The land of festivals No one knows why, but Scotland seems to have more festivals than any other country in the world. We talked to some teenagers in different parts of Scotland and asked them about some of the not-so-famous festivals that are popular in their country.

Duncan, Kirkwall Heather, Braemar Kenneth, Lerwick Every year at Christmas and New Braemar is famous because of its At the end of January every year, we Year, we play Ba’, a version of Highland Games. The event takes place have the festival of Up-Helly-Aa. The Medieval football game. It has on the first Saturday in September. festival started a long time ago on been played in Scotland since There are many Highland Games in the Shetland Islands and has been 1850. Ba is basically a village Scotland but the most famous is in celebrated in Lerwick since the 1820s. football. Two parts of a town, Braemar. The first Braemar Gathering On this night, everyone comes out on the South (the Uppies) and the (and Games) took place in 1816. It the street to sing, dance, and have fun. North (the Doonies) ends of the is an opportunity for all the clans Since 1880, it has become a festival of town, have to get a ball to their (traditional groups of Scottish families) Viking tradition. Every year a model respective side. The game moves to come together and have fun. There of a Viking ship is carried through the through the town -- into yards, is singing, dancing, and traditional streets by people dressed as Vikings. streets, and alleys. Shops and Scottish games such as sword dancing Everyone has a great time and people houses board up their windows and tossing the caber (throwing a tree). come from all over the world to see the to prevent damage. A typical Ba’ The Braemar Gathering is now very festival. game can go on for hours. The famous, and the Queen comes nearly Craig, Burghead game can be dangerous, but it’s a every year. th lot of fun. On January 11 every year, we celebrate the Burning of the Clavie. The Clavie is a set of whisky barrels. Nobody really remembers the meaning of the Burning of the Clavie because this festival is more than 2,000 years old. For many years this was a local festival and only a few hundred people would attend. Now people come from all over the world. Last year there were more than 10,000 visitors.

1 Read the text and complete the chart.

Festival Where? When? When first happened? How many people? Burning of the Clavie (1) (2) more than 2,000 years ago thousands (3) (4) (5) 1850 over 200 (6) (7) September (8) don’t know (9) Lerwick (10) (11) don’t know

2 Project Find out about an unusual festival from another country. Make a poster about it and give a presentation to the class.

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