HAPPY HALLOWEEN

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ACTIVITY FOR 5º

Activity: Popular Halloween traditions

Trick-or-treating

Read the first two paragraphs of this website link about the tradition of ’trick-or-treating’:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating and answer the following questions, sharing your answers with a partner.

1. What do children ask for when they travel from house to house? (Note: The answer is an American word. Do you know the British English equivalent?)
2. What question do the children ask?
3. What is usually the ’trick’?
4. Since when has this tradition been practised in North America?
5. What do homeowners who wish to participate usually do to their houses?
6. In what countries did two traditions similar to trick-or-treating already exist and what were they called?
7. What did these two traditions involve?

8. Trick-or-treating has become prevalent in countries outside of America – what do the children ask for in Mexico?

Jack-o’-lantern

Read the introductory paragraph at http://www.history.com/topics/jack-olantern-history and describe the Jack-o’-lantern tradition to your partner. Then, read the full article entitled The Legend of “Stingy Jack”. Look for the answers to the following questions. Share your answers with your classmates.

1. The Jack-o’-lantern tradition originated from which Irish myth?
2. What did Jack do with the coin instead? Why?
3. Under what condition did Jack free the devil?
4. What trick did Jack play the following year and how did he prevent the devil coming down from the tree?
5. What happened soon after?
6. What problem did Jack then face?
7. What did the Irish call Jack’s ghost?
8. What did the Irish then begin to make and place in their windows and doorways and why?
9. What did the vegetable become in America?

Apple-bobbing

Read the first paragraph of this website link about the rules of apple-bobbing:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_bobbing. Answer the following questions and share your answers with a partner.

1. How is the game played?
2. Why are apples used?
3. What do players use to catch the apples?
4. What part of your body are you prevented from using?

Discussion

• Have you ever practised any of these traditions? If your answer is yes, which is your favourite? If your answer is no, what do you think would be your favourite?
• Have you ever seen a real carved-out jack-o’-lantern? Have you ever designed one yourself? Would you like to make one with your classmates?
• Do you think you would be good at apple-bobbing? Would you like to have an apple-bobbing competition with your classmates? Who do you think would win?
• Would you be interested in going trick-or-treating? If yes, what would be your costume of choice? What trick would you play?
  If you had some children knocking on your door, would you opt for giving them a treat or accept the trick?
• How do you think people from your country would respond to trick-or-treaters?

ACTIVITY FOR 4º

Activity: Halloween around the world

Although Halloween is often seen as a predominantly American celebration, you’ll be surprised to know that many countries around the world also celebrate Halloween. Many have their own unique traditions.
a. Tell your classmates if and how your country celebrates Halloween.
b. Your teacher will give you a country to research from this website link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_around_the_world

Before you begin your research, consider the following questions:

1. How long has your chosen country been celebrating Halloween?
2. What unique traditions does it have?
3. What costumes do people dress up in?
4. Why has Halloween become popular there?

Note: You may not find information on all these questions, but as you read, write down any other interesting facts you discover about your chosen country to share with your classmates. Write your answers in note form and share them with your classmates

VOCABULARY

ACTIVITY FOR 6º

Activity: Halloween’s history

Visit THIS and THIS and read the first section entitled Ancient origins of Halloween. Look for the answers to these 13 (unlucky for some) questions. Share your answers with your classmates.

1. Where is the celebration of Halloween thought to have come from?
2. The Celts occupied an area of land covering six modern-day countries. Name at least four of them.
3. Why did the Celts celebrate ’Samhain’ on the night of 31st October?
4. What did the Celts believe the ghosts of the dead would cause damage and trouble to?
5. To commemorate the event, what did the Druids build?
6. What costumes did they wear?
7. What did they re-light to help protect them from the coming winter?
8. By 43 AD, who had conquered the Celts?
9. What two other festivals were combined with ’Samhain’?
10. After many changes due to the spread of Christianity, what new celebration was created in 1000 AD?
11. What were the similarities between this day and ’Samhain’?
12. What was another name given to this celebration?
13. What was the night before called and what did this finally become?

Discussion

• Are you surprised by the history of Halloween?
• Do you know any other stories about its origins?
• Are there any celebrations in your country that have a strange and uncertain history?
• Do you agree with this type of celebration?
• Do you believe in ghosts and the supernatural?

ENGLISH CLASS RULES

1. SPEAK ENGLISH IN CLASS.
2. WORK QUIETLY IN YOUR SEATS.
3. DON'T TALK WHEN SOMEBODY  ELSE IS TALKING.
4. DON'T SHOUT!!!.
5. LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHER AND YOUR CLASSMATES.
6. RAISE YOUR HANDS TO SPEAK.
7. RESPECT OTHERS. BE KIND WITH YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS.
8. HELP YOUR PARTNER.
9. REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR MATERIALS.
10. KEEP YOUR MATERIALS NEAT AND TIDY.
11. ENTER/ LEAVE THE CLASSROOM QUIETLY.

WELCOME

HELLO!, 

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I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY IT.