All over the world we have unique names for the months of the year, often with historical or cultural references.

Author: 
Katherine Bilsborough

This activity encourages students to think about these historic and cultural references at the same time as they do the activity.

In this lesson students play a quiz-based card game in groups. They have to discuss three facts about each month and guess which fact is false. Students play in groups of odd numbers so that they are forced to reach agreement. The information is meant to be informative and fun.

Aims

  • To develop and practise speaking skills
  • To learn some interesting cultural and historical facts
  • To work in a team to reach agreement

Age:

Teenagers and adults

Level:

Council of Europe Framework (CEF) level A2 and above

Time:

45 - 50 minutes

Materials:

The lesson plan and student worksheets can be downloaded below in PDF format

Find out more about ways to encourage learner interaction in our teacher development module Understanding speaking – maximising interaction.

Downloads
PDF icon Lesson plan
PDF icon Month cards
PDF icon Months Answer Key

Comments

simonetta uberti's picture simonetta uberti replied on

I think it is interesting and challenging at the same time. Hope I can find a suitable class to introduce the cards. My oldest students are 13 and not all equally motivated

charliewheeler's picture charliewheeler replied on

Would it be a good idea to have a bit of board work or to focus on specific language/vocabulary?
Overall I like the lesson idea, but I just wonder if it needs to be brought into focus at the end.

Cath McLellan's picture Cath McLellan replied on

Hello - you are right! There can't be. Thanks for pointing out the mistake - it's been corrected on the answer key now.

Best wishes,

Cath
TE Team

ColinA89's picture ColinA89 replied on

Hi, I noticed a mistake on the answer key. Augustus died in the first century AD, not the eighth century BC.

Cath McLellan's picture Cath McLellan replied on

Thanks ColinA89 - you are right! Thanks for pointing that out. It has now been corrected on the answer sheet.

Best wishes,

Cath
TE Team

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