Країнознавство
План-конспект уроку з теми:" American Holidays. Thanksgiving Day.”
Objectives:
Students will be able to develop their skills in reading, trying to get the main information from
the text; speak about American holidays;;learn new vocabulary concerning the topic; to
develop speaking skills; to develop student’s ability to read effectively; to enrich student’s
knowledge on the topic;
Supplies: sheets of paper with the text, cards, pictures.
Type of the lesson: reading lesson.
Procedure
I. The beginning of the lesson
1. Greeting.
Aim.
Last lessons we spoke about American traditions and holidays. We like holidays, we need
holidays, we can't live without holidays. The word ''holidays”comes from the words "holy"
and 'days". Almost every country has holidays honouring important events in its history.
"Thanksgiving Day" is our today's topic of discussion.
By the end of die lesson you should be able :
to understand the gist and details of the text for reading;
to talk about Thanksgiving Day.
Warming up
2. Warming up.
Introductory Talk.
- What American holidays do you know?
On January 15, Americans celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King. He was a minister who
fought against racial discrimination. He said that a person's character is more important than
the colour of skin. To remember Martin Luther King, many Americans go to church or
participate in public ceremonies.
On the third Monday in February Americans celebrate Presidents Day. This holiday honors two
of the greatest presidents George Washington, the first president, and Abraham Lincoln, the 16
th president.
Easter is celebrated on a Sunday in April or May. On Easter Sunday children wake up to find
that the Easter Bunny has left them a basket of candy.
Americans celebrate Valentine's Day on February, 14. It is a day of love and friendship.
On March, 17, Americans celebrate an Irish religious holiday, st. Patrick Day. On St. Patrick's
Day they decorate the houses schools, and streets with green shamrocks. They say that
everyone is Irish on st. Patrick's Day.
New Year's Day celebrates the start of a new year.
On July 4 the United States celebrate Independence Dav. because on Jury 4. 1776— Americans
founding fathers declared that, the United States would be free and indepe ndent from
England.
Columbus Day: Christopher Columbus discovered America on October 12, 1492. That's why
Americans celebrate this holiday.
Halloween's one of the best holidays for children. American children celebrate Halloween on
October 31. Children wear masks and colorful costumes. The children walk door to door in the
neighborhood and shout «trick or treat»
Americans celebrate Christmas on December 25. Christmas is a religious holiday and
One of the happiest holidays of the year because it is the day that Christians celebrate
the birth of Jesus Christ.
3. Match the holiday with the picture.
Independence Day Christmas Halloween Columbus Day
Presidents Day St. Patrick’s Day New Year’s Day Easter Valentine’s Day
Martin Luther King’s Birthday
II. The main part of the lesson
Reading
I .Pre-reading.
Introducing new vocabulary
Before you start reading the text I'd like you to pay attention to the following words.
pilgrim, fierce, to leak, beam,confident, to sink, to survive…
Reading.
There is one day in a year when all Americans stay home with their families and eat a big
dinner. This is Thanksgiving Day. The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of
1621. The pilgrims sailed to America from Plymouth, England, in September, 1620. They came to
America for religious freedom. They were among the first European settlers in America. The
name of their ship was the "Mayflower" . They landed at Plymouth Rock, in what is now the
state of Massachusetts in December, 1620. "At first, the passengers enjoyed good weather at
sea. But soon, strong winds and fierce storms developed. Our ship, the "Mayflower" began to
shake and leak. Finally, one of the main beams broke. Some of the passengers and sailors were
afraid the ship could not cross the ocean. They wanted to return to England. But others felt
confident. "If we do not use all the sails, and if we repair the main beam, we will not sink," they
promised. So everyone put his trust in God, and they all decided to continue. After a long
struggle with the sea, the "Mayflower" came to land. What a joy the pilgrims had when they
realized where they were!" There were people living in America before the pilgrims arrived.
These people were the Native American Indians. The Indians began settling in America about
25000 years ago. They hunted, fished, and farmed to survive. There were many groups, or
tribes, and each had its own customs and beliefs.
The pilgrims' first winter in the New World was difficult. They had arrived too late to grow many
crops. Without fresh food, half of the pilgrims died. The following spring the Indians taught the
pilgrim how to hunt, fish, plant, and survive in America. The crops did well, and in the fall of
1621 the pilgrims had a great harvest. They were thankful and decided to celebrate with a
Thanksgiving feast. They prepared a dinner of turkey, corn, beans, and pumpkins. They invited
their Indian friends to share this feast. The Indians brought food to the feast, too (they even
brought popcorn!). Americans still celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the fall. It is celebrated on the
fourth Thursday in November. Turkey is still the main dish and pumpkin pie is the most popular
dessert.
2.While-reading task.
Read the first paragraph and tell me when American began to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of 162!.
3.Post-reading activities.
a). Circle the right answer in every sentence.
1. The pilgrims landed in .... in 1620.
a). New York
b). Georgia
c). Massachusetts.
d). Mayflower
2. The pilgrims celebrated the first ... in the fall in 1621.
a). Christmas b)Thanksgiving Day c).
Valentine's Day
3. The name of their ship was ...
а) TheMayflower
b). The Plymouth c). The Harvest
4. Some of the passengers and sailors were afraid the
could not... the ocean.
a). Land b). Cross c).
Plant
5. The Indians taught the pilgrims how to ...
a). Cook
b). Survive c). Celebrate
6. In the fall of 1621, the pilgrims had a good ...
a)Harvest
b). Ship
c). Survival
7. Today ... is still the main dish served on Thanksgiving Day.
a). Popcorn
b). Crops c). Turkey
b). Match the words with or phrase that has a similar meaning.
feast sure, certain
survive kind of food
confident to stay alive
dish a person travelling in a train, bus…
passenger a group of people with the same customs
tribe a big meal
c). Put the sentences in the right order.
1.There were people living in America before the pilgrims arrived. 2.They came to America for
religious freedom.
3.They landed at Plymouth Rock.
4. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
5.They prepared a dinner of turkey, corn, beans, and pumpkins.
6.The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of 1621 7.The following spring
the Indians taught the pilgrim show to hunt, fish, and survive in America.
8.The Indians hunted, fished, and farmed to survive.
9.The pilgrims' first winter in the New World was difficult
10.They were thankful and decided to celebrate with a Thanksgiving feast. 1l.They invited their
Indian friends to share this feast.
12.Americans still celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the fall.
ІЗ.Тиrкеу is still the main dish and pumpkin pie is the most popular dessert.
d). Put the questions into the right order and answer,
1. Do, Americans, Thanksgiving, today, where, day,celebrate?
2.In, did, the, season,pilgrims,which, the, celebrate,Thanksgiving Day, first?
3. They, eat,did, what?
4. How, to, who, survibe, in, taught, the pilgrims, America?
5. The pilgrims, to, did, why, come, America?
6.Did, invite,the Indians,their, to, feast, why, the pilgrims?
e). Take a sheet of paper " You' ve having a Thanksgiving feast." Fill the gaps.
”You've having a Thanksgiving feast."
Turkey, table, say, your family, I'm full, cut,put.
1.Set the ...
2.Take the roast... out of the oven.
3. ... all the food on the table.
4. Call… … to the table: "It's time to eat!"
5. Sit down. Put your napkin on your lap.
6. ... prayers.
7. ... the turkey.
8. Serve each person.
9. Enjoy.
10. Say… …
New Words:
I'm full.- Я не голодний.
f) Crossword puzzle.
1. A special day for Mom.
2. The most scary day of the year.
3. Americans celebrate Independence Day during this month.
4. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought against racial .
5. He visits on Christmas Eve.
6. Americans wear this color on St. Patrick's Day.
7. The first President of the USA (last name).
8. The celebration of this holiday begins on December, 31.
9. He discovered America (last name).
10. Everyone is______on St. Patrick's Day.
4). Reproduction the text.
III. Finishing the lesson
Summarizing. What have we done at the lessons?
Homework.
Marks.
I hope that our today's lesson was both useful and interesting for you. I
think any day can be a holiday when you are healthy and happy.
