Sunday 24 March 2013
Tuesday 19 March 2013
Mingle activities: Talk when the music stops
A lively mingle activity to get students moving and talking about various topics.
This is a great activity to:
a) wake students up in the first lesson in the morning,
b) make students move e.g. during a double lesson, when concentration decreases or after
sitting for hours,
c) make students talk to somebody in the class they would not necessarily address,
d) encourage lazier or shyer students to speak.
a) wake students up in the first lesson in the morning,
b) make students move e.g. during a double lesson, when concentration decreases or after
sitting for hours,
c) make students talk to somebody in the class they would not necessarily address,
d) encourage lazier or shyer students to speak.
Procedure:
- Find a tape/CD with lively music.
- Students divide into two groups which are the same size (with odd numbers the teacher joins with remote control).
- Students form two concentric circles.
- When the music starts, the outer circle moves clockwise, the inner circle anti-clockwise.
- When the teacher stops the music after some time, students have to stop too and everybody faces a partner in the other circle.
- The teacher calls out a topic which students have to discuss until the music starts again. The topic depends on the level of the class e.g. Elementary/pre-intermediate: weather, hobby, family, pets, holidays, school. Intermediate: neighbours, favourite invention, future ambitions, going out. Upper-intermediate/advanced: pollution, generation gap, beauty craze, alienation, politics.
- When the teacher starts the music, students move on until it stops again (make sure new pairs are formed)
My students have always enjoyed this activity (really eager discussions develop) as a welcome break to the usual routine.
Festival WebQuests: St Patrick's Day
Who was St Patrick? Where in the world celebrates St Patrick’s Day? In this WebQuest you will find the answers to these questions and discover a range of Irish cultural traditions.
On the 17th March, the whole world becomes Irish. It’s the day we celebrate St Patrick’s Day in honour of Ireland’s patron saint. But who was St Patrick? And how do we celebrate his day?
Activity 1: Who was St Patrick?
Visit this site: http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm and read the article. Look for the answers to these questions. Share your answers with your classmates.
1. Where and when was St Patrick born?
2. What happened to him when he was 16?
3. When did he become a Christian?
4. How long was he a slave?
5. Where did he study and who was his teacher?
6. What did he want to do with his life?
7. Where did he want to go?
8. Who was sent there in his place and how long did he stay there?
9. What did Patrick achieve in Ireland?
10. How long did he work in Ireland?
11. Where did he go when he retired?
12. When did he die?
13. What legends developed about St Patrick?
14. What is the traditional icon of the day and what does it symbolize?
2. What happened to him when he was 16?
3. When did he become a Christian?
4. How long was he a slave?
5. Where did he study and who was his teacher?
6. What did he want to do with his life?
7. Where did he want to go?
8. Who was sent there in his place and how long did he stay there?
9. What did Patrick achieve in Ireland?
10. How long did he work in Ireland?
11. Where did he go when he retired?
12. When did he die?
13. What legends developed about St Patrick?
14. What is the traditional icon of the day and what does it symbolize?
Using questions 1-14 above, now finish the biography about St Patrick below in your own words.
St Patrick was born in Wales in AD 385. He was sold into slavery when he was 16 and became a Christian after he arrived in Ireland.
St Patrick was born in Wales in AD 385. He was sold into slavery when he was 16 and became a Christian after he arrived in Ireland.
Activity 2: What is the history of St Patrick’s Day?
Visit this site: http://socyberty.com/holidays/the-history-of-st-patricks-day-parades/ and read the article. Then complete the following sentences.
- The first recorded St Patrick’s Day celebration in the USA happened in _______________ [1] in the year _______________ [2].
- In 1766, the St Patrick’s Day parade in ____________________ [3] was so successful that they decided to hold one every year.
- ____________________ [4] societies were formed by protestants in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
- These societies organised big celebrations for St Patrick’s Day, where local groups played _______________ [5] and _______________. [6]
- In the year _______________ [7], the ___________________________________ [8] in Ireland meant that many starving immigrants moved to America, so the Irish population there greatly increased.
Activity 3: A St Patrick’s Day Treasure Hunt
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world. You have 15 minutes to visit these sites and answer the questions about various international celebrations.
Ireland
Dublin:http://www.stpatricksday.ie/cms/events.html/
Cork: http://www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie/
Dublin:http://www.stpatricksday.ie/cms/events.html/
Cork: http://www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie/
United States of America
New York City:http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/NYC/newyorkcity.htm
Chicago:http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/
Rochester, New York:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7702896/st_patricks_day_2011_events_in_rochester.html
Savannah, Georgia:http://www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com/
St. Louis, Missouri:http://www.irishparade.org/
New York City:http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/NYC/newyorkcity.htm
Chicago:http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/
Rochester, New York:http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7702896/st_patricks_day_2011_events_in_rochester.html
Savannah, Georgia:http://www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com/
St. Louis, Missouri:http://www.irishparade.org/
Rest of the world
Toronto, Canada:http://www.allirish.ca/topatrick/
Tokyo, Japan:http://www.inj.or.jp/stpatrick_e.html
Manchester, UK: http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/events_day14_2011
Toronto, Canada:http://www.allirish.ca/topatrick/
Tokyo, Japan:http://www.inj.or.jp/stpatrick_e.html
Manchester, UK: http://www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk/events_day14_2011
Questions:
In which city …
1. … does the parade end at University Avenue?
2. … is the second largest parade in the world?
3. … can you run a five-mile race called Runnin’ O’ the Green?
4. … is there a photographic exhibition about County Mayo?
5. … is the river coloured green?
6. … can you take part in a walking tour ‘in the footsteps of St. Patrick’?
7. … is the parade on Fifth Avenue?
8. … is ‘happiness’ the theme of the 2011 festival?
9. … can you attend the 20th St Patrick’s Day parade in 2011?
10. …can you visit the Irish Village at Kiener Plaza?
2. … is the second largest parade in the world?
3. … can you run a five-mile race called Runnin’ O’ the Green?
4. … is there a photographic exhibition about County Mayo?
5. … is the river coloured green?
6. … can you take part in a walking tour ‘in the footsteps of St. Patrick’?
7. … is the parade on Fifth Avenue?
8. … is ‘happiness’ the theme of the 2011 festival?
9. … can you attend the 20th St Patrick’s Day parade in 2011?
10. …can you visit the Irish Village at Kiener Plaza?
Now, summarize for the class how St Patrick’s Day is celebrated.
Activity 4: Irish Culture
There are many traditions connected with St Patrick’s Day. Visit the links and investigate one of these aspects of Irish culture and report on it to the class. The questions will help you.
The Shamrock
Links
How Stuff Works:http://people.howstuffworks.com/saint-patrick3.htm
The Holiday Spot:http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm
How Stuff Works:http://people.howstuffworks.com/saint-patrick3.htm
The Holiday Spot:http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm
Questions
1. Why is the shamrock related to St Patrick?
2. In what year was the first reference to the shamrock and what was it
used for?
3. Why is three the Irish magic number?
1. Why is the shamrock related to St Patrick?
2. In what year was the first reference to the shamrock and what was it
used for?
3. Why is three the Irish magic number?
The Blarney Stone
Links:
The Holiday Spot:http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm (scroll down)
How Stuff Works:http://people.howstuffworks.com/saint-patrick3.htm (scroll down)
The Holiday Spot:http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm (scroll down)
How Stuff Works:http://people.howstuffworks.com/saint-patrick3.htm (scroll down)
Questions:
4. Where is the Blarney Stone?
5. What legend is told about the Blarney Stone?
6. What gift does the stone give?
7. What does “blarney” now mean?
4. Where is the Blarney Stone?
5. What legend is told about the Blarney Stone?
6. What gift does the stone give?
7. What does “blarney” now mean?
Leprechauns
Link:
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm (scroll down)
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm (scroll down)
Questions:
8. What is a leprechaun and what does it look like?
9. What kind of treasure do leprechauns hide from people?
10. Why must you keep your eyes on a leprechaun if you want his treasure?
8. What is a leprechaun and what does it look like?
9. What kind of treasure do leprechauns hide from people?
10. Why must you keep your eyes on a leprechaun if you want his treasure?
Irish Blessings and Sayings
Link:
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/irish_blessings_and_sayings.htm
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/irish_blessings_and_sayings.htm
Questions:
11. What are blessings? How can you tell which of the texts are blessings? What word do they begin with?
12. Choose one blessing and memorize it. Recite it and explain what it means.
13. Choose one of the other sayings. Explain it to your classmates.
11. What are blessings? How can you tell which of the texts are blessings? What word do they begin with?
12. Choose one blessing and memorize it. Recite it and explain what it means.
13. Choose one of the other sayings. Explain it to your classmates.
Activity 5: St. Patrick’s Day Collage
Have you ever made a collage? Collage is an art form in which the artist takes a number of images and/or words and puts them together on a piece of paper, in a frame or on a screen. The goal is to make a message or feeling by the very patterns, content and interactions.
Usually you cut and paste images and sentences from magazines, but you can also make collages on your computer. All you need is a word processing program, Power Point, or a website editing program (like Front Page). You can see some collages at Collage Town:http://www.collagetown.com/gallery.shtml
In this activity you will make a collage about St Patrick’s Day. How would you like to celebrate that day? Let your collage reflect how you would like to celebrate.
The links below will help you find images to include in your collage. Start by briefly looking at each site. When you see an image or read a sentence you like, save it in your computer. For images, just put the cursor over the image you are interested in and click with your right mouse button if you are using a PC or double click if you have a MAC. Choose “save” and decide where you want to save the image. For words or sentences, just select the text, and copy it onto a document in a word processing program.
As soon as you have a collection of images, open the program you will use to make your collage and paste images wherever you want on the page. You can also add words and sentences if you want. You can edit the images using a photo-editing program and you can edit the sentences in your word processing program (change the size, the font, the colour).
When you finish making your collage, share it with your classmates and explain why it represents your personal view of St Patrick’s Day.
Links: (you can also use any of the links in the other activities)
Awesomeclipart:
http://www.awesomeclipartforeducators.com/cat.cfm?cat=St.%20Patricks%20Day&sec=Holidays
http://www.awesomeclipartforeducators.com/cat.cfm?cat=St.%20Patricks%20Day&sec=Holidays
The Best Collection of Webimages & Clipart:
http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/patrick-htm/default.htm
http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/patrick-htm/default.htm
Extra activities
1. Do you think you know a lot about St Patrick’s Day? Take this quiz and find out:
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/quiz.htm
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/quiz.htm
2. Send a free St Patrick’s Day card to your friends or teacher. These sites have lots of free cards available:
Hallmark: http://www.hallmark.com/occasion/st-patricks-day
123 Greetings: http://www.123greetings.com/events/saint_patricks_day/
Hallmark: http://www.hallmark.com/occasion/st-patricks-day
123 Greetings: http://www.123greetings.com/events/saint_patricks_day/
3. Do you like to cook? Check out these Irish recipes. Are they very different from your country’s dishes?
All about food:http://www.ireland-information.com/irishrecipes/index.htm
All about food:http://www.ireland-information.com/irishrecipes/index.htm
4. Would you like to know more about St Patrick? Visit:
Saint Patrick Centre online:http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/
The Centre offers an interpretative exhibition that tells the story of Ireland’s Patron Saint.
Saint Patrick Centre online:http://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/
The Centre offers an interpretative exhibition that tells the story of Ireland’s Patron Saint.
Related resources
Festival WebQuests: St Patrick's Day - webquest
Level: Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper intermediate Type: General lesson plan
Festival WebQuests: St Patrick's Day - teacher's notes
Level: Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper intermediate Type: General lesson planFestivals: St Patrick's Day (17th March)
Patrick was later appointed second bishop to Ireland and was successful in converting pagans to Christianity. He travelled around Ireland setting up monasteries, schools and churches - his mission lasted 30 years. He died in County Down, Ireland, on the 17th March AD 461, which has been commemorated as St Patrick's Day ever since. The day is celebrated by the Irish all over the world with parades, festive dinners and dances.
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