Saint Valentine’s Day - Lesson Plan

Date: 14th February Class: III (gymnasium)
Time: 90’ Level: pre-intermediate

Assumed knowledge:
-Present Simple (habits), Present Continuous (at the moment of speaking and as future), Future Simple, Past Simple
-basic vocabulary connected with various topics
Aims:
- to provide the students with some information and words associated with St.Valentine’s Day, to practice new vocabulary and the reading skill
- to use language creatively and write some poems
- to relax my students
Functions:
-to be able to use new vocabulary in spontaneous way
-to be aware of the origins of this festival
-to be able to work in groups
Vocabulary: cupid, doves, arrows, puppies, bow, persecuted
Skills: reading, listening, speaking, writing
Materials: handouts, pictures, labels, the cassette, a cassette recorder, dictionaries

Procedures of the lesson
Greetings, checking students’ homework and asking for a mark. Time: 6’
Stage 1, Step 1: T shows some pictures connected with love e.g.: a heart, arrows and elicits the words; the students probably know some of them. Then T says the new words and encourages the students to repeat them. Time: 5’
Step 2: T asks the students to match the pictures with the labels. They do it in pairs on their desks having small pieces of paper and then some students stick the big labels to the pictures on the board. Repeating the words. Time: 4’
Step 3: T elicits the topic of the lesson and the students should guess it easily. T shows the picture of Saint Valentine and asks whether the students know anything about him or not. Time: 2’
Stage 2: Step 1: The students have to fill the gaps in the text on their handouts, the words are given but some of them might be new and they have to guess the meaning from the context. They present their choices but T does not correct the mistakes yet (Appendix No.1).Time: 5’
Step 2: The students listen to the text on the cassette twice and check. Time: 5’
Step 3: The students read the text carefully once again in order to decide if the sentences are true (comprehension check. They should correct all the wrong ones. Time: 7’
Step 4: Feedback. The students provide their answers and T can ask some additional questions checking students’ comprehension. Short summary of the text. Time: 5’
Stage 3, Step 1: T distributes the handouts with pictures and idioms connected with the topic;the students match them appropriately without T’s help; they present their decisions. Time:3
Step 2: The same idioms in the multiply-choice exercise; the students choose the correct answers remembering about the topic of the lesson and present their decisions. The students can mention some Polish idioms and proverbs connected with St. Valentine’s Day. Time: 5’
Step 3: Students are asked if they know any rhymes or lyrics in English and then they try to work in small groups and create their own wishes and poems connected with love. T monitors their work. Time: 20’
Step 4: Feedback: students are presenting their poems. Time 10’
Homework: T asks the students to look at the crossword connected with the lesson and explains that the squares with hearts and numbers will make up a proverb. Time: 5’


Appendix No.1 Stage 2

Fill the gaps with the given words:

doves, send, arrows, carnival, farewell, cupids, saint, persecuted

St. Valentine
The 1)………........is ending. The days are short, cold and gloomy. It is February. Still, there is a special day in the middle of this month, on 14 February. This holiday is called St. Valentine’s Day. It is the Day of Lovers. The day got its name from Valentinus – a 2)……………...who lived in the 3rd century. He helped the Christians 3)…………………by the Romans. The Roman Emperor put Valentine in prison. Valentine did not want to believe in pagan gods so the Emperor ordered his soldiers to kill him. On 14 February Valentine wrote a 4)………………….letter to his friend and signed it “From your Valentine”. He died on the same day.
There is also an old legend which says that 14 February is the day when birds choose their partners. That is why people named the day – Day of Lovers.
Today, people in Britain, the USA and many other countries celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. They 5)………………..valentine cards, called valentines, flowers and gifts to their sweethearts and friends. Valentine cards must be anonymous, which means that you cannot sign your name on them. Valentines are usually colourful, with pictures of hearts, flowers, kittens, white 6)……………...or 7) …………….with bows and 8)…………….You can also send a special valentine telegram or put an advertisement in a newspaper. But the most valued is a home-made valentine.

I. Comprehension check.
Decide if the following sentences are true or false.
1. St. Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the carnival.
2. 14 February is the Day of Lovers.
3. St. Valentine lived in the 3rd century.
4. St. Valentine did not care for other people.
5. He believed in pagan gods.
6. On 14 February St. Valentine sent a letter to the Emperor.
7. People send gifts and valentine cards to their sweethearts and friends on St. Valentine’s Day.
8. You cannot sign your name on a valentine card.
9. On 14 February you can read a valentine advertisement in a newspaper.