Back of person wearing striped jumper with a note pinned to it saying Happy April Fools' Day

April Fool's Day

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Introduction

This lesson is about April Fool's Day, which takes place in the UK on 1 April. Many countries have their own equivalent of April Fool's Day. If your country does, this lesson would create opportunities for learners to tell you all about their country's version and their experiences of it.

You could start the class by playing an April Fool's trick on your learners! Task 1 is based on discussion questions, and Task 2 is a reading text from the British Council's Trend UK site. Task 3 is based on the idea of a website message board and gives a selection of opinions on April Fool's day, and Task 4 looks at the top ten tricks that have been played on the general public in various countries from around the world. Task 5 asks learners to think up their own April Fool's trick.

Learning outcomes

  • Practise giving opinions through discussion of April Fool's Day
  • Practise reading comprehension skills
  • Practise reading for specific information skills
  • Use vocabulary related to April Fool's Day

Materials

  • Slip of paper with 'joke' written on it – one per learner
  • April Fool's Day learner worksheet  – one per learner
  • Cut-out texts – enough for one text per learner
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Useful link 3, if using

Procedure

  • Tell learners they are going to write an essay as a language test. Look serious.
  • Ask them to get ready with a pen or pencil.
  • Give out the slips of paper face down so that learners can't read the text. Tell them the essay information is on the paper.
  • Do a countdown for them to turn their paper over: 'Three ... two ... one'.
  • When they turn over the paper, say 'April fool!' or 'Joke!', depending on which is more appropriate.

Note: In the Useful links and references section, you can find links to ideas for alternative tricks to play on your learners.

  • Give out Worksheet A or show Slide 2.
  • Put learners into pairs and ask them to discuss the five questions.
  • Open the discussion up to the whole class.
  • Feed in any useful vocabulary, such as: practical jokes, play a trick, to fool somebody, a hoax, joker, etc.

  • Learners work in pairs.
  • Give out Worksheet B (Slides 3-6) and ask them to read the text and stop to discuss the questions as they read through.
  • Get feedback from the whole class.

Note: The text is adapted from a Trend UK article.

  • Tell learners that a website asked British people for their opinions on April Fool's Day, and they will read the replies.
  • Ask learners to read the responses individually (Worksheet C or Slides 7-10), then discuss the questions with a partner.
  • Nominate a few pairs to share their ideas.

  • This is a consolidation stage. Give each learner a cut-out text.
  • They read it, then describe it to a partner. The pair decide which trick they like the most.
  • Put two pairs together and repeat the process.
  • Monitor and support with vocabulary.
  • Finally, ask each group to explain to the whole class the trick they selected and why.
  • Ask the whole class to vote for their favourite trick.

Note: for online classes, this could work as a pair work reading activity. Show Slide 11 to Student A and Slide 12 to Student B (they can take a photo of the slide) and put pairs in breakout rooms to explain the tricks to each other and choose their favourite.

  • Show Slide 13 and ask learners to think of their own idea for an April Fool's trick and describe it to a partner or write a description for homework.
  • Show learners the video about the history and traditions of April Fool's Day. Ask learners to write down ten key points. Then they share what they learned in small groups.

  1. http://hoaxes.org/aprilfool/ – Top 100 April Fool's Day hoaxes
  2. https://youtu.be/ywsOd__j47w?si=OMK6GpH6l81GeUb1 – 10 April Fool's Day pranks for teachers
  3. https://youtu.be/YUX2zCWOJO0?si=RpsP54EZjin4m3ik – video about April Fool's Day history and traditions

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