APRIL FOOL'S DAY IN THE MEDIA

LESSON PLAN: APRIL FOOL'S DAY IN THE MEDIA

English Lesson Plan for Grade 8 | Unit 7.3 Beyond Words

Lesson Objectives

• Reading: To read and understand an article about April Fool's jokes in the media (gapped text format).

• Vocabulary: To learn and practice media-related vocabulary (press, reporter, sources, viewers, TV channels, etc.).

• Speaking: To discuss fake news, April Fool's tricks, and media reliability.

I. Lead-in (7–10 minutes)

Activity 1: The Paddington Bear Mystery

• Presentation: Show students the picture card with the headline 'Paddington Bear was stolen!'.

• Discussion Questions: Ask the following discussion questions:

• Look at this news story. What happened to the monument of Paddington Bear in Newbury?

• Look at the second picture. Do you think this news is real or fake? Why?

• Would you believe this story if you read it in a newspaper or on social media?

• Teacher's Reveal: Reveal that this story serves as a hook to talk about fake news and jokes in the media. Introduce key terms: 'April Fool's joke' and 'play a trick (on someone)'.

II. Pre-Reading (5–7 minutes)

Exercise 1 (Page 91)

Task: Ask students the introductory question: 'Have you ever heard any strange or funny stories reported in the media? What were they?'

Background Note: Explain briefly that April Fool's Day is celebrated on April 1st in many countries (UK, USA, Ireland, France, Poland, etc.), where newspapers and TV channels often publish silly or untruthful stories as jokes (e.g., the famous BBC 'spaghetti trees' hoax from 1957).

III. While-Reading (15–18 minutes)

Exercise 2: Skimming

Task: Students read the text quickly to answer two general questions:
1. Which story do you find the funniest?
2. Which is the hardest to believe?

Feedback: Pair check followed by brief class discussion.

Exercise 3: Gapped Text (Exam Task - B1 Preliminary)

Task: Students read the article again and fill in gaps 1–5 with sentences a–h (3 extra sentences).

Strategy: Remind students to look for logical and grammatical clues before and after each gap.

Listening Check: Play audio 7.6 for students to verify their answers.

IV. Post-Reading & Vocabulary (8–10 minutes)

Exercise 4: Media Vocabulary

Task: In pairs, students discuss media habits in their country using highlighted vocabulary from the text (press, reported, viewers, channels, sources, etc.).
Prompt: 'What's your favourite TV channel / news source?'

Exercise 5 & 6: Listening Connection

Task: Play audio 7.7 (a girl talking about her brother's April Fool's Day tricks).
Questions to discuss:
• What four tricks does she describe?
• Which of the tricks in Exercise 5 do you think is the funniest? Why?

V. Your World & Cool Down (5 minutes)

Exercise 7: Discussion

Have students discuss the following ethical and personal questions in pairs or small groups:

• Is it all right to have April Fool's jokes in the media? Why? / Why not?

• Have you ever played an April Fool's trick on someone? What was it?

• Has anyone ever played an April Fool's trick on you? What was it?

Homework

• Complete Workbook page 73.

• Write 3–5 sentences about a funny trick or fake news story you have heard of.