Методична розробка уроку з англійської мови для 8 класу на тему "The U.K. Scotland, its people and traditions"

Lesson 7

The theme: the U. K.

Scotland, its people and traditions.

Objectives: to develop pupils' speaking, listening and reading skills; to practice using the words on the topic; to develop pupils' imagination and creative thinking; to encourage pupils to know and respect culture and traditions of other countries; to incorporate group and pair work.

Equipment: a tape- recorder, the map of the U.K., the map of Scotland, pictures, illustrated country's symbols, customs and traditions.

PROCEDURE I, Introduction:

Greeting: hi, my dear friends. I am glad to see you again.

Aim: today we shall continue our discovery of one of the most beautiful parts of the U. K. Scotland. We shall learn a lot of interesting facts about the country, its people, customs and traditions.

Warming-up:

Let us start with listening to the poem by M. Longridge about Scotland. It will help us to revise some geographic terms and word- combinations; listen to the poem and repeat after the speaker:

Somebody said we are going to Scotland.

Howfar do you think it will be?

Somebody said there are mountains,

And lochs as wide as the sea,

Andplaces to climb and get lost in,

Where the wind comes blowingfree.

Who can read or recite it?

Well let us examine location of the country. Use the maps, your notes from the text "Scotland" and from your country's cards (material of our previous lessons). Work in groups of 4: the first 2 groups will answer the questions on cards:

l. What is Scotland?

2.     Where is it situated?

3.     What sea is Scotland washed by in the north and northwest?

4.     What ocean is it washed by in the north and southwest?

5.     What channel is it washed by in the southwest?

6.     How many islands has Scotland got?

7.     What languages are spoken in Scotland?

8.     How are the people of Scotland called?

the other 2 groups will put all the words ofjumbled sentences in a proper order to get the correct information:

Cards:

1.     Scotland / of/ Northern Ireland / part / a / the / U. K. / of/ is / Great Britain / and/

2.     situated / part / northern / in / is / Great / of / Britain / Scotland / the /

3.     Sea / washed / is / North / by / in / Scotland / the east / the /

4.     Ocean / washed / is / Atlantic / by / in / Scotland / the / north / the northwest / and/

5.     the North / washed / is / Channel / by / in / Scotland / the / southwest /

6.     has / Scotland / 189 / got / big / islands / small / and /

7.     English / Scotland / language / are / Scottish / in / spoken / and / the /

8.     Scots / are / people / called / Scotland / of/ the /

Il. The main part of the lesson:

Speaking: when we come to another country, what do we usually want to learn about?

-about its history, (traditions, holidays, national symbols, music, dress )

Well let us discuss the national symbols.

-How is the British national flag called?

-What does it consist of?

What is the Scottish national flag represented by?

Well it is represented by the white cross of St. Andrew (the patron Saint of Scotland) on the blue background. You are right.

-What is the national emblem of Scotland?

It is a plant. It is a thistle

-Does anybody know why the thistle? Nobody does.

Listening:

We shall listen to a very ancient legend, which explains us why the thistle is the national emblem of Scotland.

Pre-listening: but we only need to learn some words for better understanding.

Study your wordlists:

The Norsemen = the ancient Norwegians The river Tay

Barefooted [

To shriek = to cry very loudly

To wear — wom (P. Simple)

A buttonhole [

Forewamed is forearmed — IlonepeÅ)KeHnü - OT%Ce, 036poeHHii. Are there any questions? Well take the cards with tasks, listen to the legend and then give laconic answers or retell the story. While- listening:

When the Norsemen, the ancient Norwegians, wanted to take the Scots by surprise on the river Tay, they approached the Scots' camp barefooted to make less noise. And one of them stepped on a thistle. A sudden sharp pain made him shriek. So the alarm was given, and the Scots were saved. Forewarned is forearmed! Since then the thistle has been the national emblem. It's worn by many Scotsmen as a buttonhole on Scotland's National Day on November 30. That's St Andrew's Day, the patron saint of Scotland.

Cards with questions:

1.  Why did the Norsemen approach the Scots' camp barefooted?

2.  Why did one of them shriek?

3.  Were the Scots saved?

4.  When is Scotland's National Day celebrated?

5.  What do many Scotsmen wear on their buttonholes on that day?

Writing: let us have a short rest. What about solving a crosswords? Team I does the words "across", Team 2 — "down" Across:

4.     a small town in the north- east of Scotland( Aberdeen).

5.     a big lake in Scotland surrounded by mountains(Lomond).

6.     a mountain in the Highlands which is 1, 300 m high( Nevis).

7.     a world famous lake in Scotland where a monster is said to live( Ness. Down:

l. the name of a canal in Scotland (Caledonian).

2.     an industrial city in the south- west of Scotland (Glasgow).

3.     the capital of Scotland (Edinburgh).

Project work:

you are divided into 6 groups. Each group will get the text according to their subject, choose and note the main points, arrange the pictures and retell us about

1.  Sights of Edinburgh

2.  Museums of Edinburgh

3.  Edinburgh Festival

4.  The Highland Games

5.  The Scottish people

6.  Favourite holidays of Scots

Presentation of the projects with the aim to enlarge pupils' knowledge on the topic.

You may ask questions or add your own information. Sample of reports:

1. Sights of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since 1487. It is famous for its commerce, industry and sights. Edinburgh Castle is the best known and most popular visitor attraction. It looks like a fortress. It was the seat of Scottish kings in the past. Now it is a historic monument and it is also the headquarters of the Scottish Division. Holyrood House is known as Her Majesty's official Residence in Scotland. It was built before Scotland and England were united. Here James, King of Scotland was enacted King of England. The wonderful rooms of the Palace are open to the public throughout the year except during Royal visits.

2. Museums of Edinburgh.

The Scots are proud of their history, they honour their country and their great men. The Writers^t Museum and the Museum of Childhood are the most popular ones in Scotland. The Museum of Childhood that houses dolls and toys was the first of its kind in the world. These things have been given by adults who cannot throw away the souvenirs of their childhood. The Writers' Museum displays a collection associated with three Scottish men of Letters- Sir W. Scott, R. L. Stevenson and Scotland's national bard R. Bums. One of the most favourite

Scots poem by R. Bums is "My heart in the Highlands".

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,

My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; A-chasing the wild deer and following the roe — My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birthplace ofvalour, the country of worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,

The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow,

Farewell' to the straths and green valley below;

Farewell to the forests and wild hanging woods;

Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; A-chasing the wild deer and following the roe — My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.

3.          Edinburgh Festival.

Edinburgh Festival is one of the most beautiful Scottish traditions in art. It takes place every year from the end of August to September. Its programmes include opera, ballet, music of all kinds, paintings, folk dancing, film and drama. Hundreds of artists of international reputation from all parts of the world take part in performances and concerts. The festival is ended with a splendid colourful "tattoo" in front of the Edinburgh Castle. "Tatto" is an outdoor military show with music and fireworks. 600 people perform under floodlights during 90 minutes.

4.          The Highland Games.

They are called the Scottish Olympics. They are held nearly every weekend in summer and people from all over the world come to watch or take part. The ancient games were held in front of the king to find the strongest and the fastest bodyguards and messengers. Traditional Scottish sport events are throwing the round hammer, tossing the caber (each caber weighs 60 kilos and is 6 metres long) and the tug- of— war. All the athletes wear traditional Highland Games kilts. Art is as important as sport for them. They play bagpipes and drums,  dance the Highland fling and the sword dance.

5.          The British people.

The Scottish people are hard- working, serious- minded, economical. They dislike wasting money. They are hospitable, generous and friendly. Many Scotsmen have to go to England, North America, Australia to seek their fortune and work.

6.          The Scottish holidays.

The Scottish people are fond of holidays. They celebrate New Year with bagpipe music and dancing in the street throughout the night. At midnight there are fireworks and everyone sings a song by R. Burns "In memory of the past times" ("Auld Lang Syne").The Scots call this holiday Hogmanay. Mother's Day and Father's Day are special days for remembering parents. They are celebrated in March and on the third Sunday in June. They like to send cards with person's birthday greetings. In shops there is a very wide range of such cards on sale.

Speaking (or writing)

We have accumulated a lot of information about Scotland, its people, traditions. Let's do the quiz, choosing the correct variant and adding some more information.

You may work individually (in pairs, in groups; in written or oral form). northern

1.      Scotland forms the western part of Great Britain. eastern

two- fourth

2.      Three-fourth of its area is mountainous. one-third

2

3.      Scotland is divided into 3 regions. ( they are the Highlands, the Lowlands,     4 the Southern Uplands).

1 (Northern Ireland)

4.      The population of Scotland is over 5 million.

46 (England)

Andrew

5.      The patron Saint of Scotland is St. Patrick (N. I.)

Jack (the name of the national flag of the

plant

6.      The national emblem of Scotland is a dragon. (the national emblem of Wales) bird (robin- symbolizes wannth of snowball tree( a symbol of Ukraine) British families).

7.      The national symbol of Scotland is a thistle rose( a symbol of England)

kilts

8.      The athletes on Highland Games wear jean.

sport suits

fortress

9.      Edinburgh Castle looks like a tower.

fairy castle

an outdoor military show

10.Tatto is the title of a festival of art.

Scottish Olympics (the Highland Games)

Edinburgh Castle

11.Tatto is held in front of Holyrood House

The Writers' Museum( displays a collection associated with three Scottish men of Letters

Ho ana

12.New Year in Scotland is called Burns' Night(the celebration of birthday of R. Bums)

Auld Lang Syne (a New Year's song)

Ill. Summing- up: presently we are saying "good bye" to Scotland and let us sing one of the favourite song of Scottish people "By yon bonnie banks".

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes, Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,

Where me and my true love were ever wont to go, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Oh, you'll take the high road And I^tll take the low road, And I'll be in Scotland before you.

But me and my true love will never meet again On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.