Thanksgiving: Free Birds, Pieces of April & The Ice Storm
Thanksgiving is not a popular holiday in some countries, so
it is always profitable to insert cultural perspectives into the lessons. Many
ESL students learned a lot about this holiday and had fun doing it.
I. WARM-UP GAME
Here you will
find some information about Thanksgiving.
In groups, decide if the statements are True or False. The group or student who scores most points is the winner.
|
1. |
( ) |
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated primarily in
the United States and Canada. |
|
2. |
( ) |
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the same day in both
the US and Canada. |
|
3. |
( ) |
Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated in Leiden, the
Netherlands. |
|
4. |
( ) |
Thanksgiving in the United States has been
celebrated on various different dates throughout history. |
|
5. |
( ) |
In the West African country of Liberia, Thanksgiving
is celebrated on the first Thursday of November. |
|
6. |
( ) |
Thanksgiving day originated in America. |
|
7. |
( ) |
It is traditional for families and groups of friends
to get together for a large breakfast. |
|
8. |
( ) |
Traditional food often consists of a turkey,
stuffing, different types of potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, other seasonal
vegetables. |
|
9. |
( ) |
Pumpkin pie is a traditional Thanksgiving dish. |
|
10. |
( ) |
Thanksgiving Day parades are held in some cities and
towns on or around Thanksgiving Day |
|
|
Answer key:
1. T;
2. F
(in the United States, Thanksgiving Day falls on the fourth Thursday of
November. In Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday in October);
3. T;
4. T; 5. T; 6. T;
7. F
(a large meal, usually dinner or lunch);
8. T; 9. T; 10. T;
II. Watch the
segment from the movie Free Birds and talk
about the following questions:
1. What is the turkey's point of view about Thanksgiving food? |
|
2.
What Thanksgiving
symbols did you see in the segment?
|
III. Watch the segment from the great movie Pieces of April and discuss the questions:
1. Describe the scene or write some key words.
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2. Who do you think is hosting the dinner party?
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3. What is being served?
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4. What are some of
the characteristics in exercise I did you manage to see in the segment?
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IV. Now watch the scene from the movie The Ice Storm and discuss the questions.
1. Describe the
scene.
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2. Who do you think is hosting the dinner party?
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3. What is being served?
_____________________________________________________________________
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4. What are some of
the characteristics in exercise I did you manage to see in the segment?
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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - PIECES OF APRIL
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE ICE STORM
