Superstitions and Friday the 13th

[Virginia]

One of the great things about being an English teacher is being able to take advantage of all holidays and calendar events....

This Friday will be Friday the 13th, so I've made up a little class activity for my supplementary group. I haven't tested this out or anything yet, I'm just putting it out there. Don't know if it will work or not, but maybe it will help you generate your own lesson.

1. Introduce the idea of "Superstition". I've noticed a few Korean signs for "luck" etc around, so the kids should not have a problem with this concept. The idea is not to discuss the concept of superstitions, but to talk about some of the weird superstitions that are out there.
2. PowerPoint: Is it good luck or bad luck? Some of the images might take some explaining (like the wishbone). This is a simple warm-up, which should help with the matching activity.
3. Handout: What is a superstition - in English or in Korean, depending on their level (I want the definition in English - they just saw it on the PowerPoint! In pairs, have the students match up what they think the result of each superstition is. They should be making GUESSES - we're working some logic and problem solving here, as well as clue-scanning (very North American approach). Integrated grammar = If... + future tense. In case you aren't sure, here are the answers: 1-e, 2-h, 3-c, 4-f, 5-a, 6-d, 7-j, 8-i, 9-k, 10-b, 11-g.
As you correct, explain each superstition a bit more. Some of them are bizarre, and most are very cultural... I hate seeing opened umbrellas drying in the teachers' room. It's polite to say "bless you" when someone sneezes. Sometimes there is a rhyme too (Star light, star bright....).
4. Now, let's compare with some Korean superstitions. Ask the students to turn over their papers - now they have a blank sheet to write on. Ask them to write one example of a good luck superstition and one example of a bad luck superstition in Korea. They should use the "If you...., you will...." pattern.
5. Have the students write their sentences on the board, or stand up and say or somehow present the superstition.

xoxo

Virginia

p.s. I haven't written out the timing for this lesson - Like I said, I haven't tried it yet.

[Virginia]

And here's a "Hot Seat" warm-up for the Superstitions....

Divide the class into groups of 4. Assign Person 1, 2, 3, 4. Person 1 interviews each team member in turn. Examples of questions:

Do you believe in good luck? Why?
Do you believe in lucky charms? Why?
Are you a lucky person? Why?
etc...

[Laurel!]

sweet maybe I'll use this....

I also have a sweet Mr. Bean lesson that I just made.... btu I had to download the episode and burn it to dvd.... is anyone is interested

[Sara]

Good idea for the superstitions lesson!  I was able to use the material for one of my extra classes today! Thanks!

[AlexMokpo]

WOW!  Your kids must be really smart!  hahaha, I might be able to get away with this in maybe 5 of my 16 classes   But I'm intrigued to try!  It sounds like fun  
(and my my!  Aren't you ambitious to prepare a power-point for every class!  I just draw everything on the board.  It's allllll about the chalk-board = no prep work hahaha)

PS:  Laurel, if you read this, I'm very interested in seeing your Mr. Bean Lesson.  I have 5 episodes on my Laptop, but have to be able to think a good lesson to go with them.

[goulash]

sweet maybe I'll use this....

I also have a sweet Mr. Bean lesson that I just made.... btu I had to download the episode and burn it to dvd.... is anyone is interested

Hey Laurel, I just downloaded Mr Bean myself. If you have that lesson plan, I'd love to get a copy.

Stu from Naju.

[goulash]

Hey Virginia,
I used your lesson plan last week. It went fairly well, but I think the language was a bit over my kids heads. Might have gone better if I did it with my high level 3rd years.

Thanks anyway. I had fun with it.
 

[Laurel!]

Hi guys,

I have the Mr. Bean worksheet at my other school so I can post it on Monday. You need to download the Mr. Bean in Room 426 if possible, and maybe even Goodnight, Mr. Bean. Depending on how you do the lesson. I downloaded it using Torrentbox.com or torrentspy.com I think, and you need a special program... like Bitlord to then download it. Torrents are special; files and they rock. You can download anything you want, whole cd's, movies, tv shows you can't get here... it's great.

anyways with the lesson here is what i did:
introduce TV shows, ask who likes tv etc.
ask for different types of tv shows, and write them on the board: so like comedy, drama, news, home shopping etc....
then I made them draw out a chart like this on a half piece of paper:
                          Favourtie TV show              Type
name:

Name:

Name:

Name:

I then got them to interview each other usuing what is your favourite tv show? my favourite show is____, it is a comedy. etc

then we talked about it.

Then I introduced Mr. Bean. Went over the work sheet and clarified anywords they don't know. Then we watched the video and they would have to put the events in order as they watched. a certain scene.

Then we talked about it, went over answers.

Then I made thenm write out 2 or 3 things they liked about Mr. Bean ususing 'I liked it when......________ and inserting things from the worksheet and they would have to change it to past tense. Then I picked ppl to stand and say what they liked.

Or You can watch 2 videos and put stuff in order.... and for the 3, if the kids are really smart I made them have partners and one face the back, one face the screne and descibe what is happening, then switch.

I'll post the worksheet on Monday.

Laurel