Christmas cracker 【聖誕拉炮】

Source: Wikipedia

在本班的聖誕派對，我出了一個考題：

聖誕拉炮(Christmas cracker)是哪一區聖誕節常玩的小遊戲。

學生猜出來了，卻不知所以然；而有些老師反應她們對這玩意兒一無所知。

Nicole我也是到英國唸書過節時，跟當地朋友吃聖誕餐時才第一次體驗這小活動。

用彩紙包裝得很喜氣的拉炮，裡面包有彩帶，小玩具或是紙做的皇冠。

兩人一組，一人拉一邊，拉斷了會有蹦一聲！

拿到較長部份的人，就可以獲得拉炮裡的小玩具，或是戴上紙做的皇冠。

早先這個點子是由倫敦的糖果商人發明的，

這也是為什麼拉炮也有人叫bon-bons（法文：糖果），

在俄國的新年期間，也有人拿此來玩。

可惜台灣找不到這東西，不然買幾個給學生體驗一下也是不錯的！

這裡，
我找到一個很可愛的影片：英國媽媽跟小朋友示範如何玩cracker!

A Mini Christmas Party 【迷你聖誕派對】

Agenda:
1st Class - Turkey Sandwiches Competition

• Make turkey sandwiches in group.
• Enjoy the sandwiches and choose the best sandwiches.  The group who is chosen making the most delicious sandwiches can get a free drink.

2010 Turkey Sandwiches Champion goes to this group!!!

Sweet, Spicy, Crunchy...You can experience all sorts of levels of the sandwiches!

2nd Class

• Collect and label the gifts.
• Q & A about Christmas.  (In fact, it's a competition.  The group who answers the most correct answers can get free candy.)
• Gift Exchange.

Question 7: Sing a Christmas song in English together!

這是來鬧的，竟然唱韓文歌！趁機為自己的偶像打歌。

Q&A about Christmas
1. Please spell 聖誕節 in English.

2. What CAN'T you see during Christmas?

3. What DIDN'T baby Jesus get when he was born?
A. Gold B. Frankincense C. Myrrh D. Diaper

4. Reindeers helps Santa Claus deliver the gifts.  One of them has a red nose.  What's his name?
A. Michael B. Rudolph C. Nicholas

5. Who helped angels pass down the news that Jesus was born?
A. Shepherds B. Tailors C. Drivers

6. Nicole read you a book "Heaven" in class.  What's the dog's name?
A. Bill B. Dill C. Jill

7. Sing an English song in group!

8. 在哪一國聖誕傳統習俗還包括對來年的預測.他們將蘋果切開,如果第一下能看見蘋果核就預示來年具有好運氣,如果沒有就表示來年的不順。

A. 荷蘭

B. 捷克 

C. 德國

9. 在哪一國，聖誕拉炮（Christmas cracker）是一種慶祝聖誕節不可或缺的形式？

A. 瑞典

B. 俄羅斯

C. 英國

10. Where is it?

A. Taipei

B. New York

C. Tokyo

後記：連著兩節，我的聲音都啞了！學生說明年再來一次，虛脫的我說要再慎重考慮一下！

【A Christmas Carol 小氣財神】... 課程進行中...

Source: Wikipedia

"If Christmas, with its ancient and hospitable customs, its social and charitable observances, were in danger of decay, this is the book that would give them a new lease", said English poet Thomas Hood.

【Handout for Students】

【The First Class】
利用 ppt 以中文講述 Dickens 的生平。花了一些時間概述 Dickens 的作品，如：孤雛淚(Oliver Twist)、雙城記 (A Tale of Two Cities)、塊肉餘生記 (David Copperfield)、以及小氣財神(A Christmas Charol)。

最後，播放BBC 國家電視台為 Dickens 做的卡通動畫。雖然口音是濃重的英國腔，速度對國二生而言算快，但是我並不勉強他們全懂。只是到一段落會問一下重點，如：
1. How many children do Dickens and his wife have? （--> 他們可以數牆壁上孩子的照片。）
2. Dickens loves to travel.  Where did he visited. （--> 動畫中的美國地圖、比薩鐵塔都可以引導學生回答）



【Useful Source 實用資源】

• Wikipedia - Chinese 
• Wikipedia - English
• Wikipedia - Charles Dickens / Chinese
• Wikipedia - Charles Dickens / English
• Lesson Plan
• Worksheet: Teachit.co.uk --> Strong Recommendation!!!

Let's Carve a Pumpkin!

今年的萬聖節，Nicole心血來潮向有機農場訂了數顆南瓜，打算帶學生刻南瓜燈。

Nicole唯一一次帶學生刻南瓜燈的經驗已經是七八年前的往事了！那時Nicole還是個大學生，跟著英語教學指導教授到台北縣山區某國小，義務指導學生萬聖節的相關課程。只是丟南瓜給他們，小鬼頭們自己就七嘴八舌討論得很開心，效率也很好，一節課就刻出有模有樣的南瓜燈。

今年帶著是半大不小的國中青少年，我認為：即便刻南瓜燈娛樂性質高，但是課程還是不能缺少組織。於是，我設計兩節課（注意！此兩節課並沒有連堂，是隔週）：

First Class:

Pre-class activity:

• Buy pumpkins. (Nicole purchased the pumpkins from WE ARE GRATEFUL GROWERS.)
• Group students: four to five students in a group.
• Remind students to bring a dictionary for the first class.

During class:

• Make students understand what they are going to do in the following two class - To carve a pumpkin.
• Show students a short video of HOW TO CARVE A JACK-O'-LANTERN.  You can find numerous videos about this topic on YouTube.  Nicole showed her students this below, which is made by WE ARE GRATEFUL GROWERS again :-)

• Show students some photos of jack-o'-lantern.  You can also find hundreds of jack-o'-lantern on the Internet.  Nicole showed her students EXTREME PUMPKINS.  In fact, she bought this writer's book instructing how to carve a pumpkin.  Students borrowed the book from her anytime.

Nicole bought this book for reference

Source: Here

• Group members sit together.  Together they have to finish the worksheet 1. (The goal of the worksheet is to help students build word knowledge.  This worksheet may help them read and understand instructions better . )

Worksheet 1

(Click the picture to enlarge.)

• Show students a simple instructions how to make a jack-o'-lantern.  Instructions like this one can be easily found on the website or tool books.  Teacher can modify the instructions based on students' language level.
• Finally, it's students' turn to make a plan. (See worksheet 2)

Worksheet 2

(Click to enlarge)

After class

• Teacher read the plan from each group carefully and give practical advice.

Note:

• There are tons of things to do in the first class.  Actually, it's impossible to finish all these steps in one class.  My advice is, students can look up the new words and take worksheet 1 home as homework.  Or, they can return worksheet 2 another day.

Second Class:

Pre-class

• Recruit parents who are willing to remove the meat of pumpkins at home before the class.  (We don't have to deal with the meat of pumpkins in class, because it's messy and waste of time.)

During class

• Teacher returns the plan to each group.
• Remind students to be careful when they carve their pumpkins.
• Teacher must go around the classroom and watch out for the students when they carve pumpkins.

After class

• Take photos.  Put the beautiful pumpkins beyond the windows.
• Students can also vote which pumpkin is the most creative one.

照片分享

首先，各組先討論屬意的南瓜。

比手畫腳，很熱鬧！

這一組學生的傢伙最齊全，加分！！！

女孩，連細部工作都很注意。

拿起第一堂課畫的設計稿討論一番。

報紙上的塗鴉，是學生們用來討論，挑選的眼型。

學生參考了國外的video，採取先戳洞，再用刀把洞連起來。這樣會比較好刻。

用美工刀也可以，不過據說最好用的是牛排刀！！！

Extreme Pumpkins 的作者也是這樣說。

這位同學拿到刀就超級興奮，阿，還是把力氣花在刻南瓜上吧。

S. H. what...?

為了裝飾，假睫毛也出動了。

成品一

成品二

My favorite two pumpkins :-)

點燈後～

放蠟燭的效果比不放當然好太多了。

嘴巴超大

變形熊南瓜人

一字排開，很壯觀呢。