A recipe for an abstract notion

 

Choose something that is NOT a dish (e.g. a state of mind, sensation, emotion, an abstract thing, etc.) and create a recipe for it. Describe the process using " a recipe language". You may want to include the ingredients.

You have some ideas in the photo. Feel free to choose from outside the list.

Time for Fairytales

Fairytales... Who, as a kid, wasn't read to or told them at bedtime? Seems we're all familiar with them, and often have a favourite one that stays with us for longer.

Today feel invited to revisit the realm of fairytales. Pick one task: either tell the fairytale to your classmates, family members or to yourself, or write it down, this time in English.

Or, consider writing a totally new one. With students of class 3B, we considered the option. Then I was handed in two beautiful ones, one about time (a mixture of reality and the surreal), the other one about a bird, in a poem form. What a delight...

Whoever wants to explore the land of other reality and time, just go for it:).

Creative Reading

All the tasks are based on "There Will Come Soft Rains", a short story by Ray Bradbury, so please google the title and read or listen to the story after doing task 1. Then choose as many (or as few) tasks from the list as you wish.

1. What does the title suggest about the story? What can it be about? (Remember, there are no wrong answers).

2. Read the story. Take your time.

3. Write a synopsis of the story.

4. What had happened before the story starts? What happens next? Follow your imagination or logic, or both.

5. Look at a part of a story / choose a fragment. Write a set of questions to that part, or create an exam oriented task(s) to that.

6. Write your interpretation of the poem inside the story. What's its meaning in connection to the story plot?

7. What can you assume about the author on the basis of the text?

8. Find the info about the author and the short story. Make a (fun) fact file.

9. Let's say you can communicate with the author through time and space.

a) Write a letter to the author and tell him about the present state of the globe. Mention where and how he was right about predicting the future. Discuss the possible directions humanity can/must take and/or the future of life on the planet.

b) Write down an imaginary conversation with Bradbury. Ask him any questions you want. Let him ask you any questions he wants.

10. Tell the story from a different POV (point of view), e.g. one of the characters, the house, the appliances, some tree in the neighbourhood, etc.

Entertainment opportunities

1. What's your favourite song, TV programme/ channel, film/ series/ documentary or book? What is it about? Why do you like it? What kind of inspiration could it be for others?

2. Imagine you are a journalist or a reporter. Interview a person of your choice who is a singer/ band player/ actor or actress/ film director/ writer/ sportswoman or sportsman, etc. Ask 6 questions and imagine the person's answers. Include at least one unusual question.

3. Rewrite the interview using reported speech.

(I asked where she lived and she said she had lived in Oslo in the past but had moved to Cracow.)

This is a set of tasks for class 3A gr. 1 (Wednesday and Thursday).

Class 3B group 1 - tasks 2 and 3 (Thursday).

Thank you & see you soon 🙂👋.

The Skin Mask

Watch a short film about making a skin mask

(it's one of the topics in Close-up C1 student's book:

https://youtu.be/bgIXb_PqeKI?si=thl59ZglEXslsVbs).

Then (free)write on the notion of the skin mask. 

1. Go for a short story, a poem, a memory, a dream, a report from an event, a monologue, an overheard conversation, etc. 

2. Write a piece about the reasons people choose to have one made. 

3. Would you like to have your own face's mask created? Or you'd rather not? Respond to the question in your writing.

A Simple Christmas Group Game

Let's call it 'Round the X-mas Tree (well, the main picture of the blog entry may not suggest it - but I trust your imagination).

How to play the game? It's very easy. 

You need to sit in a circle. Each participant chooses a number (you can write numbers on pieces of paper and draw them from a X-mas hat). Then you read the question with that number from the list below and answer it.

You can also choose the number straight from the list if you don't have time to make the numbers to draw.

Here's the list of questions:

1. What's your favourite Christmas dish? 

2. How many words meaning Christmas (or concerning Christmas) do you know in other languages?

3. What's your favourite X-mas song? Can you sing it now?

4. How does Santa Claus look like?

5. Describe one Polish Christmas tradition.

6. What's the perfect Christmas weather?

7. What's the best X-mas gift you've ever got?

8. What's the worst X-mas gift you've ever got?

9. Tell a Christmas story (you can make it up).

10. Is Christmas important nowadays? Why?

11. Would you rather be a reindeer or an elf? Why?

12. What would animals say on Christmas Eve at midnight? Consider any and every animal - it can be geese flying south or your pet.

Enjoy playing the game, being together and speaking English.

I wish you all a beautiful Christmas time 😍🤩🌲🤍.

Yours, Ms K.

A Letter to Santa

As a child, did you ever write a letter to Santa Claus (a bow to these of you who complain about "too much of Brit. Eng. in the classroom")? Whatever your answer is, write one now.

In your letter to Santa:

- explain why you are writing

- tell him about your family's preparations to Christmas and how you are participating 

- describe a gift you'd like to get and give the reason(s) why you need it so much

- give some examples how you're going to make the world a better place this coming year.

Ho ho ho, I hope you'll get involved and have fun :).