OLD Version Holiday lesson series #2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

We're all going on

Agenda

Lesson goals - 2 minutes

What is a blog post? 6 minutes

Blog post outline - 4 minutes

Assignment - 12 minutes

Research questions (homework) - 3 minutes

Close lesson - 3 minutes

Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson you can.....

- work together in a group 

- research a topic and find useful information online

- put together an outline for a blog post

- write a blog post about a cultural event or festival for your chosen country

Work in your groups and discuss what you think a blog (post) is? Explain it here.

Work in your groups and discuss what information would you find in a blog post?

What is a blog?

Blog = web log

A blog is an online diary or journal located on a website. The content of a blog typically includes text, pictures, videos, animated GIFs and even scans from old physical offline diaries or journals and other hard copy documents.

Blog post outline:

• Big idea: What your audience will get out of reading your post
• Key points or headings: What specific things would you like to mention in your post? Make a list. Base your headline on the big idea
• Conclusion: Do you want your post to persuade or inform? A recommendation should be made to the reader or a conclusion formed.

Steps to follow:

1. Set up a basic outline to follow, so your post stays focused
2. Add in links, snippets, and notes in the outline before you start writing.
3. Use your outline to help you know what to look for and what terms to use when researching.
4. Open and close strong. 
5. Write naturally (like you are talking to someone or writing in your journal)
6. When you're done, reread to make sure it's structured. Eliminate wordiness.

Today's task

With your group, research a cultural festival or event in your groups chosen country (see next slide).  When you have decided on a cultural event or festival, pretend you have attended this event and write a blog post (120 - 200 words) describing your experience.  Be creative and use photos in your post. Don't forget to give your blog post a title.

Try to......explain the significance of the event and why it takes place in that country or why it is celebrated? When and where it takes place? Which type of people go to the event/festival? Does it take place as part of a bigger event/holiday or for religious or historical reasons?   What can you do at the festival/event?  Write a conclusion that tells the reader whether the event is worth attending. 

England	Wales	Scotland	Ireland	USA
- Notting Hill Carnival, London - Diwali, Leicester - Robin Hood festival, Sherwood Forest - Obby Oss, Cornwall - Guy Fawkes	- Tafwyl Fair, Cardiff - Sesiwn Fawr, Dolgellau - Hay Festival, South Wales	- Hogmanay, Edinburgh -Edinburgh Fringe - Royal National Mòd - Cowal Highland Gathering, Dunoon	- St. Patrick's Day - Bloomsday Festival, Dublin - Samhain Festival - Puck Fair, Killgorin	- Super Bowl Sunday - Mardi Gras, New Orleans - Coachella, California - Burning Man Festival - Independence Day - Halloween - St Patrick's Day, NY
Canada	New Zealand	Australia	India	South Africa
- Celebration of light, Vancouver - Calgary Stampede - Winterlude, Ottawa - Celtic Colors Festival, Nova Scotia - Canada Day	- Fringe, Wellington - New Zealand Festival, Wellington - Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival - Matariki - Waitangi Day	- Adelaide Festival - Sydney Mardi Gras - Moomba Festival, Melbourne - Woodford Folk Festival - New Years	- Diwali - Holi Festival - Dussehra Festival - Navratri Festival - Durga Puja Festival - Krishna Janmashtami Festival	- National Arts Festival, Grahamstown - Oppikoppi Bushveld Festival - Afrikaburn - Minstrel Carnival, Cape Town - Royal Reed Dance (Umkhosi Mhlanga), Nongoma

Research questions (for vlog) as homework

As a group decide who will research and answer each of these research questions:

Is there a particular national costume? Can you describe it?

Are there any special local dances? What are they like?

Are the people generally friendly?

What are some special customs or traditions in your chosen country?

What is the most popular sport in your chosen country? How do you play it?

Are there any sports or games unique to your chosen country?

Are there any sports that foreign visitors practice in your chosen country?

What food or drink is your chosen country famous for?

Is there a lot of wildlife in your chosen country?

Are there any nature parks in your country?

End of this lesson

Hand in your groups' blog post in Google Classroom (all students) before Friday.

Put all the research questions and answers per country in a powerpoint. 

Remember to save it as a group, make sure that you all have access to the powerpoint as one of your group members may be absent next lesson!