Episode 1-2

Xmas & St.Valenitine’s Lessons

 We are happy to invite you to look through
the ready-made lessons designed for special
occasions such as Christmas, St. Valentine’s
Day, Easter, etc.
Feel free to download the materials and use
them for your lessons.
Please note that further publication is for-
bidden as these materials were established on-
ly for the teachers to be used in the lesson.

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 Last year Express Publishing Ukraine hold
the competition for teachers of English called
“Xmas celebration in different countries”.
Participants were supposed to create lesson
plans for festive lessons.
The winners’ lessons are published here in
this booklet and you are invited to look
through them.

1st place: Andriiy Verboviy (Chernivtsi)

2nd place: Olena Nozdrachova (Chernivtsi)
3rd place: Yulia Krasnoportko (Chernivtsi)

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Teacher: Andrii Verbovyi (Chernivtsi)
1st place winner of the competition.
Grade: 9
Topic: When in Rome (online lesson)
Date: November 2, 2021
Number of students: 17

Stage Aims Time Interaction Procedure

Warmer 2 min Teacher- Indi- The teacher places a `Squirrel
- To provide students with initial vidual students- Scale` picture in the chatbox.
speaking practice describing their Open Micro- (Internet stock photo)
current mood and comparing it with phone/Chatbox The students describe their mood
holiday spirit at the moment.
The teacher asks the students to
compare their mood today with
their usual Christmas mood and
encourages the students to pick a
different picture and provide rea-
soning (see the picture attached)

Lead-in 2 min Menti.com The teacher shares a link in the

-to elicit Christmas associations Teacher - chatbox and asks the students to
-to develop speaking skills while individuals come up with their immediate as-
justifying the choice and making sociations with Christmas.
conclusions (menti.com)
https://
www.menti.com/95kui5162h

The word cloud is then shared

with the class and the learners an-
alyze the associations, making
generalizations and drawing con-
clusions.
(Self-designed by Andrii Ver-
bovyi, 2021)

Picture-based questions on a hu- 8 min Breakout The students are subdivided into 2
morous Christmas picture rooms, groups breakout rooms and work with the
-To write questions based on the same picture in separate Google
picture, trying to avoid the obvious documents having the same pic-
ones ture.
(Group 1) Group 1 comes up with possible
-To predict the questions and write questions that might be difficult to
the possible answers (Group 2) answer.
- to match the questions with the https://docs.google.com/
answers and draw conclusions about document/
the types of questions (open and d/1d0G5qhyfNULPujypAyOXixS
closed) wOePDqFlKNeBaswAKBoA/
edit?usp=sharing
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 Group 2 is supposed to predict the
possible questions and write the
answers for them.
https://docs.google.com/
document/
d/1DnEPfoiARuVPqfksmQiGEct
HATh79IlHuEUiOaQ-uXA/edit?
usp=sharing
(Self-designed by Andrii Ver-
bovyi, 2021)
In a debriefing session in the main
hall the learners define the ques-
tions that were difficult and easy
to answer and classify them into
open and closed ones.

Jigsaw Reading 10 min Breakout The PPT `Christmas Traditions in

Christmas Traditions in Denmark rooms, groups. Denmark` is shared with the
-to get acquainted with a definite Speakers` learners and they are given sepa-
slide of the PPT presentation and presentations in rate tasks to give a summary of a
share the main gist of the subtopic the main hall definite subtopic (Slide 2-
with the fellow students Christmas traditions in Den-
-to ask questions about one subtopic mark, Slide 3-Unusual tradi-
and be ready to provide clarification tions in Denmark,
Slide 4- Gift game).
(Self-designed by Andrii Ver-
bovyi, 2021)
The students create a summary of
the subtopic in a breakout room
and a spokesperson presents in in
the plenary which is followed by a
questions and answer session in
the main hall.

Comparative Analysis, Speaking 10 min Breakout The teacher creates 2 breakout

extension rooms, speak- rooms and gives separate tasks.
-To identify similarities and differ- ers` presenta- Group 1 should discuss the simi-
ences between holiday traditions in tion in the main larities and differences between
Denmark and Ukraine hall the Christmas traditions in
-To suggest the customs and tradi- Ukraine and Denmark in terms of
tions that could be shared with for- unusual customs, traditional ways
eigners and tried while participating of celebration and gifts and
during an exchange program chooses a spokesperson to present
their findings.
Group 2 should come up with a
list of customs and traditions that
could be shared with foreigners
who are staying in Ukraine and
another list including the tradi-
tions that Ukrainian students
might be engaged while partici-
pating in an exchange program in
Denmark.

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Listening Comprehension. 10 min. Teacher, whole Students watch a video explaining
Speaking+ class, pairs in the proverb `When in Rome, do as
Writing breakouts the Roman do`, take notes and
(proverb based) express their opinion on it, pro-
vided justification for either sup-
-to express opinions on a proverb porting or refuting it. https://
- to develop listening skills www.youtube.com/watch?
-to create mini-dialogues v=o9XAIUsq06M (Youtube
video)

Then they create similar mini dia-

logues in pairs and present in in
plenary.

Reflection 3 min Teacher, indi- Learners express their ideas in the

viduals `KWL` mode according to the
table. (KWL reflection stock pho-
to)

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Teacher: Olena Nozdrachova (Chernivtsi)
2nd place winner of the competition.
Grade: 8-9
Topic: Christmas Around the World
Date: December 27, 2021
Number of students: -

Learning Objectives
Students will be able to read different informational texts and compare and contrast the celebration of Christ-
mas in two different countries.

Introduction
(5 minutes)
 Tell students that today we will be learning about how people celebrate Christmas in different coun-
tries and comparing and contrasting Christmas in different countries around the world.
 Ask students if they celebrate Christmas, and, if so, to share some of their favourite Christmas tradi-
tions including activities, foods they eat, etc.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

(10 minutes)
 Tell students that as a class we will read about Christmas in the Philippines
 Draw a diagram on a piece of chart paper.
 Label one circle as “Christmas in the U.S. ” and the other circle as “Christmas in the Philippines.”
 Tell students that as we are reading they will be looking for examples of how Christmas in the Philip-
pines is similar to Christmas in the United States. This information will go in the overlapping section of the
two circles on the Diagram.
 Tell students that we will also be looking for examples of how Christmas in the Philippines is different
from Christmas in the U.S. This information will be written in the circle under the correct heading. For ex-
ample, in the Philippinesthey celebrate Christmas during the summer, but in the U.S. they celebrate Christ-
mas during the winter.
 Remind students that they do not have to write on the Venn diagram using complete sentences. In-
stead, they can use single words or phrases (e.g. Christmas during summer).

Guided Practice
(10 minutes)
 Project the Christmas in the Philippines Worksheet on the board.
 Read the information aloud and ask students to follow along silently.
 Remind students to be listening closely for examples of how Christmas in the U.S. compares and con-
trasts with those celebrating in the Philippines.
 After reading, refer back to the diagram and call on volunteers to contribute ideas to fill in the diagram.
 Write students’ ideas in the appropriate place and remind students where to write information that is
similar and information that is different on the Venn diagram.

Independent working time

(20 minutes)
 Tell students that it is their turn to compare and contrast Christmas in two different countries.
 Distribute the Christmas in Mexico and Christmas in Sweden worksheets.
 Tell students that they will be reading these two informational texts and comparing and contrasting
how people celebrate Christmas in these two countries.
 Distribute the Nonfiction Compare and Contrast worksheet to each student.
 Tell students that they will use this worksheet to write down their contrasts and comparisons between
Christmas in these two countries.

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Differentiation
Support: Read each informational text aloud to students needing extra support. Talk through their ideas with
them before they move onto filling in the Nonfiction Compare and Contrast worksheet.

Enrichment: Give students a copy of the Christmas in England worksheet, and ask them to add a third circle
to their Nonfiction Compare and Contrast worksheet so that they are comparing and contrasting three different
informational texts.

Assessment
(10 minutes)
 On the board write some different categories for students to use to compare and contrast Christmas in
different countries, such as food, names for Santa Claus, weather during Christmas, beginning and end of
Christmas celebrations, etc.
 Tell students that you will read aloud an informational text called "Christmas in the Philippines."
 As they are listening, ask students to compare and contrast Christmas in the Philippines with Christmas
in New Zealand.
 After reading, go through the categories on the chart paper. Ask students to give a thumbs up if people
celebrate in the same way or a thumbs down if people celebrate differently for each category.

Review and closing

(5 minutes)
 Discuss unique cultures and traditions with the following questions:
 Are there any similarities with how they celebrate Christmas compared to how people celebrate in
Sweden and Mexico?
 Are there any differences with how they celebrate Christmas compared to how people celebrate in
Sweden and Mexico?

Scan the qr-code to download

the materials of the lesson 

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Teacher: Yulia Krasnoportko (Chernivtsi)
3rd place winner of the competition.

Grade: 8
Topic: Amazing Facts About Christmas Traditions in Spain.
Date: December 26, 2021
Number of students: 11

Stage Aims Time Interaction Procedure

Lead in 8 min - Ss look at photos - can get the necessary infor-
to set the context for understanding mation from the greeting cards,
for the lesson and information about invitation cards;
generate interest Christmas Tradi- - distinguish holidays by signs and
tions; symbols;
- Ss get the main in- - give H/O - (Game 1) 2 minutes
formation from the in pairs match them all;
announcement. Ask for volunteers to go to the
TS board and draw up answers;
SS Mini FB: wer e they all cor r ect?
ST
TS-ST
Lexis 7 min - Ss draw three or Hangman and Bingo games,
to introduce vocab- more of the words crafts, worksheets, story starters;
ulary for listening to incorporate into a Prize to winning team / but
stage poem or story; praise both teams;
- interactive break; On WB - The 4 groups of 3 sen-
- T elicits list of tences;
Christmas and win- P: Model and dr ill pr onuncia-
ter vocabulary in the tion - linking of the words:
classroom, includ- looks_like, looks_as_if
ing:
SS
ST - TS - ST
Listening 10 min - Ss listen to the sto- Ss produce a simple project;
Pre-Listening; ry about Christmas Feedback on board;
While- Listening; in Spain:
Post- Listening https://youtu.be/ Discussion why and refer back to
kJ_Ji_4R-Q0 the form on the board;
- offer opportunity
for class discussion Have a second (freer) exercise
and more interaction ready in case they manage to do
among students; this quickly and successfully.
- perceive the text (separate HO)
structure;
- keep themselves
concentrated
throughout the
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 passage;
- listening for the
speaker's attitude.
T
SS
TS - ST
Presentation 12 mins T elicits English Ss chat about holidays asking the
- to manipulate language. opinion;
form; Pair work describing / guessing
- to provide re- using TL. Tick off the ones you
stricted practice in worked on;
using English lan- FB: Random nomination. Which
guage and stand- ones did you pick to describe? Did
ardise pronuncia- you find it difficult?
tion
Less resticted 3 mins Ss write 2 sentences Feedback
written practice about their wishes.
- to provide a writ-
ten record;
Authentic practice 3 mins Ss describe their Brainstorm and organize their ide-
- to give students own emotions while as
authentic practice celebrating different
holidays, understand
other people beliefs
and points of view.
Summariz- 2 mins TS Summarise the language cov-
ing / Feedback / ered in the lesson - comment on
Assessment ST good use of language picked up
from monitoring the students dur-
ing FP.
Did you like the lesson? What did
you like?
You worked well today. Your
marks are good and excellent.
Homework: br iefly descr ibe a
holiday in Ukraine, make a short
presentation about favourite one.

Scan the qr-code to download

the materials of the lesson 

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Express Publishing Team has designed ‘The Festivities Worksheets’ for stu-
dents of all levels. They are already available for all teachers to download
for free and use with their students.
If you visit https://www.teachers-corner.co.uk/free-resources/festivities-
worksheets/ you will find attractively decorated worksheets for levels A1-
B2 ( Secondary) on various festivities.
Follow the link to download "Festivities worksheets for Primary-Levels 1-
6": https://www.teachers-corner.co.uk/free-resources/festivities-worksheets-
primary/

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