FOR THE 6TH GRADERS
ACTION 1
Look at the document and describe it.
ACTION 2
Watch and react in French or English!
ACTION 3
Look at the photos below and describe the pranks you see.
FOR THE 8TH GRADERS
ACTION 1
Read
I want to tell you... I just gave birth to 5 babies last
weekend. Isn't that exciting? Oh, you don't believe me? Okay then, I
stole some money from a bank on Saturday night. Now do you believe me?
(Actually, I hope you don't.) April 1st, or April Fools Day, is the day
when we play jokes on people. Do you have it in your country?
Vocabulary
a fool- someone who doesn't understand what is happening
to tease- laugh at, make fun of someone, joke about
something
to play a joke (on someone)- to do something funny that
another person doesn't know about or suspect at first
container- something that holds something else, like a
box, a bottle, or a jar
to play a trick (on someone)- same as play a joke
in the spirit of fun- with an atmosphere of fun,
just for fun, lighthearted
a fool- someone who doesn't understand what is happening
to tease- laugh at, make fun of someone, joke about
something
to play a joke (on someone)- to do something funny that
another person doesn't know about or suspect at first
container- something that holds something else, like a
box, a bottle, or a jar
to play a trick (on someone)- same as play a joke
in the spirit of fun- with an atmosphere of fun,
just for fun, lighthearted Nowadays we play jokes on people on April 1st. For example, someone might put salt in the sugar container so another person could "accidentally" put it in their coffee. Or someone might change the time on another person's alarm clock so that person would unknowingly wake up earlier or later than planned. Or maybe a person would tell a lie to make someone else shocked.
After we play the trick, we say "April Fool." Then the poor person realizes he was fooled. It is generally done in the spirit of fun and doesn't cause any real harm to anyone. Do you have any great jokes to play on anyone today? Try it out. Just don't forget to say "April Fool" when the other person begins looking a little confused.
ACTION 2
http://www.5minuteenglish.com/apr1.htm
ACTION 3
ACTION4
Do you play tricks on your friends on April Fool's Day ?
ACTION 3
Read and answer the questions below.
1. What is the document ?
2. What are the recommendations given?
3° Do you agree with them? Why or why not ?
There
are rules to this game.
1.
Your trick must be harmless.
2.
Your victim must
believe
you.
make your victim at least
smile
(or better yet,
laugh)
when you shout "April Fool's!" Otherwise, it does not qualify as an
April Fool's Day trick.
2. What are the recommendations given?
3° Do you agree with them? Why or why not ?
ACTION4
The origins of April Fool’s Day are uncertain, although there are
various theories have been proposed. The most likely seems to be related
to the festivals that celebrated the equinox on March 21. Many cultures
considered that day as the beginning of the new year, including ancient
Rome and India.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar set New Year’s Day, originally celebrated from March 25 to April 1 on January 1. However many countries resisted the change (Scotland until 1660 ; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700 ; and England until 1752).
In 1564 France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year’s day to Jan. 1. However, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day April 1.
Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool’s errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. The French came to call April 1 Poisson d’Avril, or "April Fish." French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d’Avril" when the prank is discovered.
In 1752, Great Britain finally changed over to the Gregorian Calendar, and April Fool’s Day began to be celebrated in England and in the American colonies, along with the tradition of pranks and jokes.
British
folklore linked April Fool’s Day to the town of Gotham, the legendary
town of fools located in Nottinghamshire. According to the legend, it
was traditional in the 13th century for any road that the King travelled
over to become public property. The citizens of Gotham, not wishing to
lose their main road, spread a false story to stop King John from
passing through their town. When the King learned of their deception, he
sent a messenger to demand that they explain their actions. But when
the messenger arrived in Gotham he found the town was full of lunatics
who were engaged in foolish activities such as drowning fish or
attempting to cage birds in roofless fences (though, of course, their
foolery was all an act). The King fell for the ruse and declared the
town too foolish to warrant punishment. And ever since then, April
Fool’s Day has supposedly commemorated their trickery.
The custom of playing practical jokes on April Fool’s Day is also very widespread and of uncertain origins. The victim of a joke is known in English as an April Fool ; in Scots as a gowk (cuckoo or fool) ; and in French as a poisson d’avril (April fish). The custom may have had something to do with the move of the New Year’s date, when people didn’t accept the new date system were played jokes upon. Originally, April Fool’s Day jokes and pranks concentrated on individuals but in the 20th century it became common for the media to perpetrate hoaxes on the general population.
(Source: http://www.anglais.ac-aix-marseille.fr/spip/spip.php?article102)
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar set New Year’s Day, originally celebrated from March 25 to April 1 on January 1. However many countries resisted the change (Scotland until 1660 ; Germany, Denmark, and Norway until 1700 ; and England until 1752).
In 1564 France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year’s day to Jan. 1. However, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day April 1.
Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool’s errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. The French came to call April 1 Poisson d’Avril, or "April Fish." French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d’Avril" when the prank is discovered.
In 1752, Great Britain finally changed over to the Gregorian Calendar, and April Fool’s Day began to be celebrated in England and in the American colonies, along with the tradition of pranks and jokes.
British
folklore linked April Fool’s Day to the town of Gotham, the legendary
town of fools located in Nottinghamshire. According to the legend, it
was traditional in the 13th century for any road that the King travelled
over to become public property. The citizens of Gotham, not wishing to
lose their main road, spread a false story to stop King John from
passing through their town. When the King learned of their deception, he
sent a messenger to demand that they explain their actions. But when
the messenger arrived in Gotham he found the town was full of lunatics
who were engaged in foolish activities such as drowning fish or
attempting to cage birds in roofless fences (though, of course, their
foolery was all an act). The King fell for the ruse and declared the
town too foolish to warrant punishment. And ever since then, April
Fool’s Day has supposedly commemorated their trickery.The custom of playing practical jokes on April Fool’s Day is also very widespread and of uncertain origins. The victim of a joke is known in English as an April Fool ; in Scots as a gowk (cuckoo or fool) ; and in French as a poisson d’avril (April fish). The custom may have had something to do with the move of the New Year’s date, when people didn’t accept the new date system were played jokes upon. Originally, April Fool’s Day jokes and pranks concentrated on individuals but in the 20th century it became common for the media to perpetrate hoaxes on the general population.
(Source: http://www.anglais.ac-aix-marseille.fr/spip/spip.php?article102)
1° The origins of April Fool's Day is:
a-a joke.
b-not sure.
c-well-known.
2° Ancient Romans and Indians believed that
the beginning of the year was:
a-Janurary 1.
b-March 21.
c-April 1.
3° Who introduced a new calendar
making Jan.1 the beginning of the New Year?
a- Pope Gregory.
b-Pope Francisco.
c-Mother Teresa.
4° France accepted the new calendar in:
a-1564.
b-1515.
c-1789.
5° Some people continued to celebrate
New Year's Day on Jan. 1 because:
a-they didn't believe the date hah changed.
c-they pretend nt to have learnt about the new date.
6° In France today, April 1 is called:
a-"April Jesters Day ".
b-" Poisson April ".
c-" Poisson d'Avril ".
7° French children usually fool their friends by:
a-putting a tack ontheir chiar.
b-taping a paper fish to their backs.
c-telling knock-knock jokes.
8° Other countries adopted the reformed calendar:
a-in America.
b-in Europe.
c-In Africa.
9° A British city has become the symbol of April Fools:
a-London.
b-Liverpool.
c-Gotham.
10° In the past, April Fools was an individual matter,
but now it has become:
a-a historical matter.
b-a media matter.
c-a crazy matter.
6° In France today, April 1 is called:
a-"April Jesters Day ".
b-" Poisson April ".
c-" Poisson d'Avril ".
7° French children usually fool their friends by:
a-putting a tack ontheir chiar.
b-taping a paper fish to their backs.
c-telling knock-knock jokes.
8° Other countries adopted the reformed calendar:
a-in America.
b-in Europe.
c-In Africa.
9° A British city has become the symbol of April Fools:
a-London.
b-Liverpool.
c-Gotham.
10° In the past, April Fools was an individual matter,
but now it has become:
a-a historical matter.
b-a media matter.
c-a crazy matter.
