(共35张PPT)
Unit 3 Celebrations
Lesson 3
Memories of Christmas
Teaching objectives, focus and difficulties
01
Teaching Objectives
Language Competence By the end of this lesson, students will be able to discuss Christmas traditions in English, understand and use key vocabulary related to Christmas, and practice sequencing events in a narrative. These skills will help students better express themselves in English and understand cultural celebrations.
Cultural Awareness Students will learn about Western Christmas customs and traditions, such as decorating Christmas trees, giving gifts, and singing carols. They will also explore the cultural significance of Christmas and compare it with Chinese festivals like the Spring Festival. This will help students develop a deeper understanding of different cultures.
Thinking Qualities Students will analyze the story "Memories of Christmas" to understand the emotions and values it conveys. They will also create their own stories and share their festival memories, fostering creativity and critical thinking skills.
Learning Ability Students will practice reading comprehension skills, such as skimming for the main idea and scanning for specific details. They will also learn how to sequence events in a story, which will help them in future reading and writing tasks.
Key Points Discussing Christmas traditions, understanding the story's main idea and details, and learning new vocabulary.
Difficult Points Exploring the deeper meaning of Christmas and sharing personal festival memories.
Teaching Key and Difficult Points
Active and share
02
What is Christmas
Christmas is a special time of the year when families come together to celebrate. It's a time for giving, sharing, and creating wonderful memories. In this class, we will explore how people celebrate Christmas and the special moments it brings. Let's start by sharing what Christmas means to you.
A Time for Family Reunion
A Season of Giving and Sharing
A Festival of Creating Memories
What do people in the West do to celebrate Christmas
make Christmas pudding
decorate the house
put up a Christmas tree
give/open gifts
sing Christmas songs
hang a stocking
Group Discussion
Christmas, Spring Festival have special foods: Christmas pudding, dumplings. They symbolize festivals, often made, shared with family. Dumplings are traditional in China's Spring Festival, made together like Western families' Christmas pudding.
Similarities in Food
Group Discussion
Festival decorations differ. Christmas: trees, lights, stockings. Spring Festival: red couplets, paper-cuttings, lanterns (red symbolizes luck).
Differences in Decorations
Group Discussion
Both festivals emphasize family reunions. Christmas: families celebrate, exchange gifts. Spring Festival: people travel to be with families, big dinner on New Year's Eve. Importance of family in different cultures.
Similarities in Family Reunions
Gift-giving varies. At Christmas, gifts exchanged; children receive from Santa. In Spring Festival, red envelopes with money given to children as luck and blessings. Reflects different cultural connotations.
Group Discussion
Differences in Gift - giving
Read and Explore
03
Pre-reading: Predicting the Story
Title Inspires Prediction
The title "Memories of Christmas" directly indicates that the story is related to Christmas memories.
Illustration Guides Imagination
Illustrations hint at plots involving Christmas tree decoration, gift exchange, and family dinners.
Stimulates Reading Interest
A preliminary guess stimulates reading interest.
MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS
The following is a memory of a woman about Christmas. Read the story and find out why it was such a memorable Christmas to her
She had such a memorable Christmas because it was the last Christmas she spent with her granny before her granny passed away.
Detailed Reading: Key Events
Memories with Grandma
During reading, mark author's memories with grandma, like helping write to Santa, baking cookies, singing songs.
Analysis of the Author's Emotions
From these memories, we see the author's love and dependence on grandma. Grandma accompanied the author to sing songs, making them happy.
Detailed Descriptions in Narrative Writing
The article describes key events, allowing readers to feel the scene and atmosphere.
Underline the writer's memories of her grandma and tell your partner.
Granny and the writer made sugar biscuits and stuffed the turkey.
2
Granny made an effort to help the writer write a letter to Father Christmas.
1
Granny and the writer left a plate of sugar biscuits out for Father Christmas, and put a stocking at the end of the writer's bed.
4
Granny sat on the writer's bed and sang softly.
5
The writer sat on her granny's lap and sang Christmas songs. Granny had patience to sing it over and over again.
3
Granny laughed so much that her paper hat fell off.
6
Understanding Sequencing
Sequencing is the order in which things happen.
Underline the key events or actions in the story, e.g. opened presents, had a snowball fight.
Look for specific dates or time words, e.g. November, Christmas Eve, a few weeks after.
Pay attention to time linking words, e.g. first, then, later, after that, at the end.
Skill Builder
Sequencing Events
Timeline Combing
In Nov., grandma moved in & prepped for Christmas; in Dec., they prepped together; on Christmas, they received gifts & ate.
Understand Structural Features
Chronological order is common in narrative writing. Following time sequence, we see preparations for Christmas.
Grasp the Rhythm of the Story
Sorting out the timeline helps grasp the story's rhythm. As time passes, Christmas atmosphere intensifies, reaching climax on Christmas Day.
Read the story again. When did these activities happen Complete the timeline. Then talk about what happened based on the timeline.
a. made sugar biscuits
b. Granny moved in
c. had Christmas lunch
d. left sugar biscuits out for Father Christmas
e. opened presents
f. put a stocking at the end of the bed
g. sang Christmas songs
h. wrote a letter to Father Christmas
November
December
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
b
h
a
g
d
f
e
c
Use the subjects, verbs or verb phrases and adverbial phrases in the circles to make sentences about the writer's memories of the Christmas.
Example Cousin David put so much pudding in his mouth.
1. The writer and Cousin David raced around the garden.
2. Cousin David couldn't swallow the pudding.
3. The writer and Cousin David rolled a snowball.
4. Granny gave the writer a music box with a ballet dancer inside.
5. The writer caught Granny's eye through the window.
6. The writer opened the presents on her best behaviour.
7. The writer hung decorations on the branches.
8. Granny and the writer stuffed the turkey.
9. Granny took a seat by the fire.
Group Work: Discussing the Story
Explore the Reasons for "Magic"
Grandma created a magical Christmas with family love at her last moment.
Focus on the Value of Family Affection
In this story, Grandma's company and care are the most precious gifts, more valuable than any material presents.
Share Group Opinions
Communication helps understand story meanings and appreciate family affection during festivals.
Think and share
1. Can you find any hints in the story that suggest Grandma was in poor health condition Did the writer notice it at that time How did she feel after Grandma passed away
Granny spent most of her time on the sofa by the fire; her hand was slightly shaky; she stayed inside by the fire and didn't go outside.The writer didn’t notice it at that time.
Think and share
2. Why does the writer think of her grandma every Christmas What can you infer after reading the story
Because she had a happy Christmas with her Granny before Granny passed away.Granny knew she was very sick and that she probably did not have much time,so she cherished every minute with the writer.
Granny loved her family very much and the family loved her.
Granny was very happy,especially with the children,despite her illness.Granny made great effects to spend a happy Christmas with her family.
Deeper Understanding
Expression of Missing Emotions
Author yearns for grandma. Takes out grandma's music box with paper hat and letters every Christmas.
Expression of Missing Emotions
Author may regret not realizing grandma's condition and not cherishing time with her.
Continuation of Memories
Author makes G-shaped cookie for grandma annually, symbolizing continued memories.
Focus on language:Collocations(1)
04
Look at the Word Builder. Match the words (1-8) with the endings (a-h) to form collocations.
1. fill a. patience
2. have b. a seat
3. make c. one’s eye
4. take d. an effort
5. spend e. one’s heart
6. catch f. asleep
7. fall g. time
8. come h. to mind
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the collocations.
01
She _______ her grandma's ________ because she wanted her to come outside.
I remember Granny singing softly to me until I ______________ that Christmas.
The writer's grandma always _________ to sing Christmas songs over and over for her.
Now, whenever the writer makes sugar biscuits, her grandma ______________.
Granny ___________ by the window and watched us playing with the snow.
Granny _______ most of her _______ on the brown sofa by the fire.
02
03
04
05
06
07
Although Granny's hand was slightly shaky, she _______________ to help me with the writing.
Granny's singing ________________ with warmth.
08
caught
eye
fell asleep
had patience
comes to mind
took a seat
spent
time
made an effort
filled my heart
Express yourself
05
Group Work Read the last paragraph. Why does the writer think Christmas is "magical"
Pair Work Tell your partner about your festival memories.Focus on something special and unique.
The writer thinks Christmas is "magical" because of the memories of her granny. Whenever Christmas comes, she thinks of her granny and the happy time they spent during that Christmas.
Summary
06
Think about what you learned today. What new vocabulary did you learn What did you learn about Christmas traditions How can you apply what you learned to your own life
Homework
07
Write a short story about one of your memorable festival memories. Focus on describing the events in order and using the new vocabulary you learned.