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Age range: 12 - adult
Theme: Summer festivals
Lexical area: Special events
Instructions for language assistants in italics
Classroom materials
Introduction:
This lesson is all about some of the many summer festivals in the UK. Thanks to all the assistants who wrote to me with their ideas for which festivals to include. I have chosen the most popular ones here but you can easily add more festivals of your choice to the lesson. Students will want to know about the festivals you have been to and the ones that are specific to your hometown so do adapt and add as much as you can to the lesson. You could also use a song from one of the bands playing at this summers’ festivals, or bring in some photographs of the festivals in question so your students can really see what they’re like. Some of the websites mentioned below have video clips of festival action too. This lesson could also be used as a starting point for asking students to tell you about their local festivals.
Task 1 asks students to think about the ingredients of a good festival and Task 2 is a ‘find somebody who…’ speaking task about festivals. Task 3 and Task 4 are based on short readings about five of the most popular British summer festivals. Task 5 focuses on Glastonbury Festival and uses information from an on-line guide to the festival and Task 6 is more creative and asks students to plan a festival in their area.
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1. What are the ingredients of a good festival?
This is a simple introduction to the theme of festivals and a perfect opportunity for you to find out about local festivals where you are living. Encourage the students to tell you as much as they can about festivals they’ve been to.
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Task 1 What are the ingredients of a good festival?
Have you ever been to a festival? What type of festival was it? What do you think are the ingredients of a good festival? Discuss the possible ingredients below and add more of your own.
- Music
- Food
- Theatre
- Costumes
- Art
- Dance
- Camping
- Friends
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2. Festival – Find somebody who…
Use the two blank spaces in the table to personalise the task for your students. Include local festivals depending on where you are living. Then check that students know how to construct the questions correctly and write the most difficult on the board if necessary. For example, number five is, ‘Do you know anything about a British festival?’ Ask students to stand up so they walk around the class speaking to as many people as possible. Make sure they only use the same classmate once in their chart. Encourage students to ask a follow on question in order to find out some extra information and when the set time is up, have some group feedback to share their findings.
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Task 2 Festival – Find somebody who…
Talk to your class mates and find people who… Remember to ask another question to get some extra information.
| Find somebody who... |
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Extra information |
| … has been to a festival in the past year. |
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| … can tell you about their favourite festival. |
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| … has never been to a festival but would like to. |
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| … thinks that music is an essential ingredient for a good festival. |
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| … knows something about a British festival. |
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3. Summer festivals in Britain – the big five - fact files
Cut up the fact files about five of the major festivals in the UK. If you want to include other festivals that you consider should have made it into the ‘big five’ write up a fact file for them too. You can easily find the information you need on the internet. Put students into groups of five and give each student a different festival to read about. Give the stronger students the longer texts. When students have read and understood their text they should tell their group about it. If you have time and the equipment to do so, print off some photos of each festival and give out to students with the texts. This will help to give them a real idea of what the festival is like.
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Task 3 Summer festivals in Britain – the big five - fact files
The Edinburgh Festival What type of festival is it? A better name for ‘The Edinburgh Festival’ is ‘The Edinburgh Festivals’ as the name refers to much more than a single event. In the summer months, Edinburgh is the host of many festivals. The main two are the Edinburgh International Festival, three weeks of music, theatre and dance, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which plays host to thousands of performances from all over the world. There’s also a film festival, a science festival, an art festival, the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, a book festival, a Mela, which is an intercultural festival, and many, many, more! When did it start? The Festival began in 1947, with the aim of providing 'a platform for the flowering of the human spirit'. Where does it take place? In the city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. How many people go to the Festival? Because there are so many events and so many festivals within ‘The Edinburgh Festival’ it’s impossible to know how many people attend. Last year, over 250,000 spectators watched the final firework display. How much does a ticket cost? Ticket prices depend on which of the many hundreds of events you choose to see. You can also see lots of events for free as they take place in the streets and in public places. For more information have a look at: http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/ |
T in the park What type of festival is it? A three day music festival. People usually stay in the campsite next to the festival to spend the three days the festival lasts, There is also a fairground. When did it start? T in the Park started in 1994. Where does it take place? In the small town called Kinross in the east of Scotland. The festival takes place in an old airfield. How many people go to the Festival? 80,000 How much does a ticket cost? £115 - £140 but all the tickets for this year sold out within 40 minutes of going on sale this year! What are the highlights for 2008? The Sugababes, Amy Winehouse, REM, Chemical Brothers, The Verve, The Fratellis, Kaiser Chiefs and many more. For more information have a look at: http://www.tinthepark.com/ |
Womad What type of festival is it? WOMAD stands for World Of Music Arts and Dance. It celebrates music, arts and dance from countries and cultures from all over the world. When did it start? The first Womad festival was in 1982 and the aim was to give talented artists an international audience. This year it’s the 25th anniversary of the Womad Festival. Where does it take place? Womad started in the UK but now it has festivals all over the world. Womad festivals have taken place in over 20 countries. This summer Womad festivals are taking place in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Sicily, the UK and Singapore! How many people go to the Festival? 20,000 people just in Womad Charlton Park in the UK. How much does a ticket cost? Prices vary. For example, the Womad festival in Cáceres, Spain this summer is completely free but the three day Womad festival to be held in Charlton Park, in Wiltshire, near Bristol costs from £120. Money raised from Womad festivals go to the Womad Foundation Charity. What are the highlights for 2008? In Womad UK some of the highlights include Baaba Maal from Senegal, Lila Downs from Mexico, Cesaria Evora from Cape Verde, Clube do Balanço from Brazil, Toots and the Maytals from Jamaica, Warsaw Village Band from Poland and the Dhol Foundation from the UK. For more information have a look at: http://www.womad.org |
The Isle of Wight Festival What type of festival is it? A music festival. When did it start? It started in 1968. 1970 was the most famous festival and 600,000 people attended. The most famous performers were Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, The Doors and Leonard Cohen. The 1970 Isle of White Festival is now part of rock festival history! From 1970 – 2001 there were no festivals. It has only been revived in 2002. Where does it take place? On the Isle of Wight, an island on the south coast of England. How many people go to the Festival? 50,000. This year the tickets are already sold out! What are the highlights for 2008? Kaiser Chiefs, Kate Nash, Amy Macdonald, The Cribs, Sex Pistols, Star Sailor, The Police, Ian Brown and many more. For more information have a look at: http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/ |
Glastonbury Festival What type of festival is it? Glastonbury Festival is a very special festival. In the words of Michael Eavis, the man who started the Festival, "The Glastonbury Festival aims to encourage and stimulate youth culture from around the world in all its forms, including pop music, dance music, jazz, folk music, fringe theatre, drama, mime, circus, cinema, poetry and all the creative forms of art and design, including painting, sculpture and textile art.” Most people think of Glastonbury Festival as a giant music festival where friends go to spend three days together going to concerts, dancing, watching performances from around the world, and generally having a three day party. Part of the Glastonbury festival experience is camping in tents in the fields of the farm. When did it start? It started in 1970. Where does it take place? The home of the Festival is Worthy Farm in the town of Glastonbury in Somerset, in the south west of England. Glastonbury is known for its mystical atmosphere. How many people go to the Festival? This year there are 145,000 tickets on sale for Glastonbury Festival but over 350,000 people have already registered and want a ticket. Usually the tickets all sell out in a few hours, so you are very lucky to get one. How much does a ticket cost? £145 What are the highlights for 2008? Kate Nash, James Blunt, Manu Chao, Kings of Leon, The Editors, Massive Attack, Hot Chip, Pete Doherty and many more. For more information look at: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/ or http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/glastonbury/ |
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4. Which festival would you choose?
This task follows on from Task 3. When students have read about the festivals and told their group about the one they read about they should decide as a group which one they would go to if they had the choice. They must agree on one festival so encourage them to persuade their friends to go to their favourite one. Groups that can’t decide easily should hold a group vote. Then ask all the groups to explain their choices to the whole class.
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Task 4 Which festival would you choose?
When you have read about one of the festivals, told your group about it and listened to your class mates tell you about a different festival decide which one you would go to, as a group, and why. You may have to have a group vote to decide. You can only choose one festival, so you all have to go to the same one. Compare your answers with the other groups in the class.
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5. You’re going to Glastonbury Festival
This is a task for higher levels. Put students into groups of four or five. Tell them they are going to Glastonbury Festival this year. Before the class you will need to print off ten pages from an on-line guide to Glastonbury. Here’s the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/glastonbury/guide/ Give each student in the group a couple of areas each and ask them to skim read the text and find out the most important information on their area. Searching for information on websites and selecting the most useful information is a skill your students will no doubt need in the future. Help students with challenging vocabulary and make sure dictionaries are available. When each student has researched their areas they should tell the whole group about their findings. Then use the information they have found out to have a group discussion about Glastonbury Festival. Is it like any festivals they have been to? Why / why not? Would they like to go? Why / why not? etc.
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Task 5 You’re going to Glastonbury Festival
Imagine you’re going to Glastonbury Festival with a group of friends. Before you go you need to make a lot of preparations. Your teacher will give you information from the BBC website. Or go to this website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/glastonbury/guide/
You need to read the information and tell your friends the most important parts so you are all well prepared for the festival. Divide these areas amongst you. The areas are:
- Packing and checklist
- Getting there
- Getting in
- Camping
- Getting around
- Loos!!!
- Health and safety
- Kidz
- Disabled info
- Charities
Remember, you are responsible for telling your group about the area you read about so make sure you understand the main points. If you have time, look at who is playing at the festival and decide between you which bands you will go and see.
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6. Plan a Festival
Put students into pairs or small groups to work together to design a festival. They can decide if their festival will be held within their town or city, or in an open space outside their hometown. Monitor the groups carefully and encourage them to consider as many aspects of festival organising as you think they can manage. If you like, ask each group to draw up a plan of the festival area with the stages, camping areas etc, or if it’s a city festival they should think of appropriate venues for all the events.
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Task 6 Plan a festival
You are going to plan a festival for your town or city. Work in groups and decide between you:
- What type of festival is it?
- Where does it take place?
- How long does it last?
- How many people can go to the festival?
- How much does a ticket cost?
- Does some of the money go to charity?
- What jobs would you need to advertise? Security guards? Ticket inspectors? First aid teams etc?
- What is special about your festival? Why would people come?
- Think of a name for your festival and be prepared to tell your class about it.
- Draw a plan for your festival showing where the different events take place.
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Internet links
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