WINTER HOLIDAYS
(Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year)
Пожалуй, уважаемые коллеги, никто не станет оспаривать то, что обучение иностранному языку невозможно без привлечения учащихся к обычаям, культуре и традициям страны обучаемого языка. Ведь специфика предмета включает разнообразную тематику для общения с миром, развивает способности понимать и ценить культуру других народов, представляет огромные возможности для пополнения знаний учащихся и повышения мотивации к его изучению. В современных учебниках отводится огромная роль социокультурной компетентности. Но, к сожалению, не всегда удаются охватить весь уникальный материал из-за нехватки времени. В этом случае внеклассная работа по предмету помогает реализовать страноведческий аспект в полном объёме. Именно во время её подготовки, ребята охотно предлагают свои идеи, а потом мы вместе претворяем их своеобразные проекты в жизнь. На этот раз мы предлагаем вашему вниманию самые популярные английские праздники, в программу которых включены песни, инсценировки, шутки, подарки и сюрпризы. Эта разработка с успехом прошла в нашей гимназии во время недели иностранного языка, как раз накануне их празднования.
Группа ребят или весь класс выбирали наиболее понравившийся из трёх праздников и с моей помощью разрабатывали сценарий, включающий историю этого праздника, песни, пьесы и игры.
The leader:
Welcome to our extraordinary, absorbing, unusual party of winter holidays!
By the way, who knows what winter holidays the English celebrate in winter?
And today you will get to know about different exciting peculiarities of each of them.
Greet the first group with the Christmas holiday!
(Звучит рождественская песня “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” и один из участников рассказывает об истории этого праздника)
CHRISTMAS
The 1-st participant:
Christmas is a religious holiday. It’s the day on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a happy holiday. Families come together to share their happiness, attend churches and exchange gifts. In the days before Christmas, parties are held in schools. Office, factories, clubs, homes and stores are crowded with shoppers. Cities and towns sparkle with bright lights and decorations. Churches, homes, schools, shops and trees are decorated with Christmas trees, coloured lights. The traditional colours for this holiday are red & green, the red poinsettia is considered the Christmas flower.
Families prepare for this holiday weeks before. They make special food, they make & buy gifts. They wrap them with bright paper & ribbons. They choose a tree & then decorate it with ornaments & lights. Christmas cards are sent to friends & relatives. Hot meals are prepared to the poor and homeless. Toys & gifts are given to children at Christmas parties by someone dressed as Santa Clause.
CHRISTMAS PLAY
Characters: Mrs. Claus, Elves (two or more).
Mrs. Claus
:Have you, elves, ever thought what it is like for Santa Clause on Christmas morning?
He comes back to a quiet North Pole having work all night. People are walking up all over the world opening presents & having a wonderful time.
Elves:
Think about it
It almost shocking.
He won’t even have
A Christmas stocking.
Is it too late?
For us to plan
To celebrate
With what cheerful man?
Mrs. Claus: No, let’s quickly think of some presents we can make!
Elves:
Let’s make him new gloves
And a hat right away
So the cold won’t get him
When he is out on his sleigh.
Mrs. Claus: How about some special refreshments?
Elves: We’ll mix up a tasty brew. Can you prepare his favorite Stew?
Mrs. Claus: Yes, of course. It’s 5:00 a.m. I wonder how much time we have
Elves:
We’ll have to hurry
To get things done.
The computer shows
He is on his last run.
(children run around busily working
(Later) Look out the window
Aren’t those his sleigh tracks?
And there in the corner
His big empty sacks?
Mrs. Claus:
I hear him. He’s going into the bedroom. Let’s turn out the lights & hide.
(Time passes, stage remains very quiet)
Mrs. Claus:
I’d better go see what’s happened to him. I don’t here anything
(She leaves and returns immediately)
Well, little elves
You won’t have to hide
Santa’s too tired
After his ride.
The party food
Will have to keep
Dear old Santa
Is fast asleep
(snoring is heard off the stage.)
The 2-nd participant:
While he is snoring, you may write him a letter. When he wakes up, he’ll realize your dream.
(the children prepare sheets of paper & write down the following:)
Dear Santa!
I have tried to be very good this year. Would you, please bring me …………………………… I will leave some milk & cookies for you.
Thanks, Santa.
Your friend… .
The 3-d participant: Now, let’s play a bit.
Game I
All volunteers take part in this game. Form a circle, put your shoe off
And place them in front of you. Then I need two leaders. One will be in the centre, another will crawl behind the children around the circle. The player in the centre drops a small gift in one of the shoes. The owner of the shoe crawls & tries to catch the player already crawling around the circle before he gets back to the vacated space.
Game II You should answer my questions. A person, who gives me a humorous answer will get a prize.
Q: How can a sleigh possibly fly through the air?
A: If you were being pulled by eight flying reindeer wouldn’t you fly too?
Q: Why do we wish people “Merry Christmas”, instead of a “Happy Christmas?”
A: They are the same, but with “Merry Christmas” an extra twinkle is seen in the eyes.
Q: Why do we wrap our Christmas gifts with paper?
A: Because we like to see surprise & joy in the recipients.
Q: How many gifts can Santa Claus’s bag hold?
A: One less than infinity
Q: Is there really Mrs. Santa Claus?
A: The best way to know for sure is to ask Santa Claus next time you see him.
Game III
One child sits on a chair in the middle of the circle with his eyes closed. Another child then knocks on the back of the chair. The child in the chair asks: “Who’s there?” The child then answers:
“Santa Claus” The child on the chair tries to guess Santa’s name by listening to his voice.
The 4-th participant:
Do you know what song do people sing on this holiday? Let’s sing the * song “We wish you a Marry Christmas”.
(children do motions on verses & on chorus, join hands & ring around circle)
Chorus:
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
Verse I:
Let’s all do a little clapping
Let’s all do a little
Let’s all do a little clapping
And spread Christmas cheer.
Verse II: … jumping.
Verse III: …twirling.(on chorus after the song) We will honour Christmas in our hearts & try to keep it all the year!
Chorus (repeat)
BOXING DAY.
The 1-st participant:
Boxing Day is celebrated on the 26-th of December, the date after Christmas. On this day small gifts are given to the servants, the postmen, Why is this holiday
called so? The matter is in the old days. When people came to the church on the 26-th of December they dropped some small presents for poor people into boxes placed in churches. An old tradition on Boxing Day is singing carols though it remains mostly in the countryside. Groups of children & young people go from house to house, knock at the door & sing Christmas carols wishing good will & expecting a gift of few pennies or cakes. The money collected is usually given to the needy. (the children, dressed in different colourful clothes sing Christmas carols, gathering money)
Children:
Good master & good mistress,
While you are sitting by the fire,
Please, think of us, poor children,
Who are wandering in the mire?
Christmas is coming
The geese are getting fat;
Please, put a penny
In the old man’s hat.
Good rest you, merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our faviour
Was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we has gone as tray.
NEW YEAR’S DAY.
Звучит фонограмма “Jingle bells”
The 1-st participant:
New Year is a popular legal holiday celebrated in the United States. The celebration begins in December 31, New Year’s Eve, the night before New Year’s Day. Many people state until midnight. Horns, whistles & other noisemakers are very popular. (he demonstrates these sounds) This is an old tradition from ancient times when people made loud noises to score confetti & streamers. (he shows it) On New Year’s Eve, New York city holds an outdoor event which attracts a crowd of a million people. A large ball shaped like an apple & covered with bright lights is slowly lowered from a pole on top of a tall building in Time Square.(demonstrates) When it reaches the bottom of the pole, the New Year has begun. Do you know what drink is popular? Eggnog is a drink made with milk & eggs. Coming back to the history, it should be noted that people who follow the Roman calendar celebrated this holiday on January first, named for Janus, the ancient Roman god with two faces, one looking into the past, the other looking into the future. (Shows the picture) People look forward to a "New Year resolutions" on what they will achieve.
The 2-nd participant:
Everyone of you likes to get gifts from Santa Claus. But have you ever thought how it is hard to bring them safe & what obstacles wait for Santa on his way? Let’s listen to one fairy-tale about it.
A KIDNAPPED SANTA CLAUS.
Characters:
Santa Claus, his assistants: Nuter the Ryl, Peter the Knock, Kilter the Pixie, Little fairy Wisk, Daemons: Daemon of Malice, Daemon of Repentance, Daemon of Fantasy, Daemon of Irritation, story-teller.
Design: Big rambling castle, different toys.
Story-teller:
Once upon a time in the mighty Forest of Burzee in the Laughing Valley, in the big rambling castle there lived god old Santa Claus. On the eve of New Year he was very busy with the choice of presents he usually gave to children.
Santa Claus:
This beautiful doll will be for Mammies Brown. These new rubber boots will be for Charlie Smith. Susie will be glad to get a sewing box, filled with colored worsteds & threads & needles.
Story-teller:
Having packed his huge sacks of toys, old Santa drove his reindeer & went to the great world beyond with all his assistants.
Santa Claus: (singing a song)
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way
All what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh. (twice)
Story-teller: Just at that time, the Daemons gathered in their cave & was discussing the plan of kidnapping Santa Claus.
Daemon of Malice: I hate Santa Claus, because he gives all children presents & makes them happy.
Daemon of Irritation: How they are glad & joy when get them! O-o-o-h! It irritates me much!
Daemon of Fantasy: Oh, a good idea has come into my mind. Fancy children not receiving the presents.
Daemon of Malice: Ha, ha! (rubbing his hands) What will the children do then? Do you mean kidnapping?
Daemon of Fantasy: That’s the ticket! (giggling) I offer carrying him away to our secret cave &chaining to the rocky wall so that he couldn’t escape.
Daemons: Great! That’s agreed.
Story-teller: So, the daemons were waiting for the arrival of Christmas Eve. As soon as they heard Santa’s coming, they caught him, tied his arms & body, drew tied & carried him away to the mountain. (Little Wisk, sticking out his head from underneath the seat & finding that Santa has gone)
Whisk: Whoa! (Peter, Nuter, Kilter are jumping upon the seat & looking back over the track made by the sleigh)
Nuter: We must go back at once & find our master!
Peter: No, no! It’s certain that some wicked creatures have captured & their goal was to make the children unhappy We should search for our master.
Story-teller: The Christmas Day dawned
Daemon of Malice: (guarding Santa Claus) the children are waking up, Santa! They are waking up to find their stockings empty. Ha! Ha! How they will quarrel & wail & stamp their feet with anger! Repentance! Take my place (goes away)
Daemon of Repentance: It’s morning now & the mischief is done You cannot visit the children another year. I’m even now repenting that I assisted in your capture. And to prove that I sincerely regret my share in your capture. I’m going to permit you to escape.(he unties the knots & leads him the way through a long tunnel) (Santa Claus comes back, softly whistling to himself)
Story-teller: On his way back he met a marching army . (the army consists of nooks, each one carries the emblem of the flower or plant At the head of the army there are Wisk, Peter, Nuter & Kilter)
Wisk, Peter, Nuter,Kilter, seeing Santa: Oh!!! We can’t believe our eyes! Santa! Dear! You are alive. How are we glad to see you!