Шкільне свято "Robert Burns' Party"

ROBERT BURNS’ PARTY

Мета:

• урочисто відзначити річницю з дня народження Р. Бернса;
• ознайомити учнів із життєвим шляхом та творчістю поета;
• ознайомити учнів з шотландськими традиціями на практиці;
• вдосконалювати мовленнєві навички учнів;
• прищеплювати повагу до культури і традицій країни, мова якої вивчається.

Обладнання: портрет Р.Бернса, записи шотландської музики, гаґґіс (національна шотландська страва або її аналог).

                                               The procedure

Host: Oyez, oyez! Listen to the decree! Everybody, every living soul should gather for Robert Burns’ party!

Younger children: And who is Robert Burns?
Hostess: A poet.
Host: Rather, a bard.

Narrator 1: Let me explain. Look at his portrait. Robert Burns was born more than 250 years ago, in 1759. He was a farmer’s son and a farmer himself. The family was very poor. There were seven children in the family, and Robert was the eldest. Very early Robert had to start earning money for his family. When his father died, Robert inherited the farm. It wasn’t his fault that his farming was unsuccessful.

   He always remained poor. He worked hard and ruined his health. Sadly, Robert Burns died very early at the age of thirty-seven.

Hostess: So, Robert Burns was a peasant?

Narrator 1: You may say so. He understood the life of his countrymen and showed respect for their hard work in his poems. Listen to his poem “The Ploughman's Life”.
 

Reciter 1:

                 The Ploughman's Life
As I was a-wand'ring ae morning in spring,
I heard a young ploughman sae sweetly to sing;
And as he was singin', thir words he did say, -
There's nae life like the ploughman's in the month o' sweet May.

The lav'rock in the morning she'll rise frae her nest,
And mount i' the air wi' the dew on her breast,
And wi' the merry ploughman she'll whistle and sing,
And at night she'll return to her nest back again.

Narrator 2: A farmer! Well, Robert Burns was a farmer by birth, but he was a romantic in heart. His love songs are wonderful. Robert Burns wrote, “There is certainly some connection between Love, Music and Poetry”. And he knew what love is. He fell in and out of love several times. But I think his true love was Jean Armour. Burns devoted to Jean many beautiful poems, such as “I Love My Jean”, “Bonnie Jean” and many others. Unfortunately, Jean’s father was strongly against their marriage. The lovers had to part. Only at the age of thirty Burns could marry his Jean.
   Robert Burns was really a man with a big heart. (Reciter 2) will recite his poem “A Red, Red Rose”.

 Reciter 2:

          A Red, Red Rose

 O, my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my Luve's like a melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair as thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will love thess till, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run:

And fare thee well, my only luve!
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.

Hostess: It sounds like music!

Narrator 3: Everything you have said is true, but I believe that the most important Burns’ characteristic is his love for his native country.

   Robert’s mother knew a lot of Scottish songs and ballads and often sang them to her son in his childhood. She also told many folk-tales to her children. Robert remembered mother’s songs and stories all his life. He began to write poetry when he was fifteen, and composed verses to the melodies of  old folk-songs. He sang of the woods, fields and valleys of his native land. One of his best poems is “My heart's in the Highlands”.

Reciter 3:

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 of valour, the country of worth!
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow,
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below,
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods!

Host: Perfect recitation!

Narrator 3: In his poems the great bard glorified Scotland, its beauty, strength and unique character. There is no doubt – Robert Burns was a true patriot.

Narrator 4: Indeed, Robert Burns was an interesting personality. He is unique for the melody of his poems, for his wisdom and sense of humour. He was a man of principle and a brilliant talker. He wanted justice for people.

  Robert Burns’ poetry is famous all over the world. His heritage belongs not only to his family, class or even country. His poetry belongs to all people. I think Robert Burns is one of the greatest bards whose glory will last forever.

Hostess: To the immortal memory of Robert Burns! Here comes haggis.

(“Piping in the haggis”: two pupils in Scottish costumes bring a dish of haggis. Scottish bagpipe music plays)

Host: But first let’s listen to the prayer written by Robert Burns.

Hostess:

O thou, in whom we live and move-
Who made the sea and shore;
Thy goodness constantly we prove,
And grateful would adore;
And, if it please Thee, Power above!
Still grant us, with such store,
The friend we trust, the fair we love-
And we desire no more. Amen!

(All the guests help themselves with the haggis while listening to Scottish melodies)

Hostess: We are having a good time, aren’t we? How about a Scottish dance?

(A group of dancers perform the dance – the Britannia Twostep)

Host: Now, friends, let’s join our hands and sing “Auld Lang Syne”!

(All the participants sing together)

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?

Chorus.
And for auld lang syne, my joy,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!