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The story and origins behind Halloween B1/B2 EFL Lesson Plan
ESL lesson plan that focuses on the history of Halloween celebrations in the UK and USA. The video-based EFL lesson is

designed not only to improve listening skills but also introduce the vocabulary related to Halloween customs. At the end
of the lessons learners will have more insight into the traditions of this popular day and will be able to explain its origins.
Topic: Halloween

Activity: speaking, listening, vocabulary

Level: Intermediate B1, Upper-intermediate B2
Learner: teenagers, adults
Accent: American English
Time: 50-60 minutes

Materials: video + worksheet

1. Pre-teach vocabulary and establish the interest in the topic (15mins)
On the board write the following :

/bb fr plz/
/l hl o v/ /r ti frst v kto br/ /en nt kl tk
vl / /s wn/ /sol kek/ /fnsi drs k stum/
/trk r trit/

fs t

Ask students to work in pairs and write the words that have been transcribed. Here are the answers:
bobbing for apples
soul cake

All Hallows' Eve

31st Oct

fancy dress costume trick or treat

ancient Celtic festival

Samhain

Ask students if they know which celebration they are going to talk today. Later tell learners to work in pairs to give the
definitions/ meanings of the words. Elicit answers, show photos when necessary.
2. Watch the video and do the exercise (15 minutes)

Give out the worksheet and do Ex. 1 -here students have a number of different names associated with Halloween. Their
task is to write the exact day of each celebration:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

All Saints Day

Samhain
All Hallows
All Hallows' Eve
All Souls
Halloween

Correct answer:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

All Saints Day 31st Oct

6.

Halloween 31st Oct

Samhain 1st Nov

All Hallows- 31st Oct
All Hallows' Eve- 1st Nov
All Souls day- 2nd Nov

created by Emily Kruszewska 20I4

www.englishlessonplan.co.uk

www.telcuk.com

Learners watch the video again and answer questions Ex.2- it's the part of the lesson when your Sts listen for more
details.

1. Which of the customs below are celebrated during Halloween?

a) parades

b) bobbing for apples

c) giving presents

d) trick or treating
2. What two things did people use to do at the night of 31st October? Why did they do it?

a)...................................................................................................................................................................................................
b)...................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. What are the names of the following customs:
a) A custom during which needy people offer their prays for dead relatives in return for pastry, such as soul cakes, is
called .................... .

b) A custom during which young people dress up and accept food, wine or money in exchange for singing , reciting poetry
or telling jokes is called ......................... .
4. Read the text and write a missing word

Halloween has become a family-friendly, kid-centred custom in .................... . Since then it's been growing in popularity
all over the world. It's estimated that on average US consumers spend round .............. on costumes annually, and the
remaining on ........................ . Making it the second most commercial holiday after ........................ .

3. Follow up QuiZ (20mins)

At the end of the lesson, ask your students to close all the notebooks, hand out a small piece of paper to each learner, tell
them to write as many new words and traditions they remember from the lesson as possible. Then divide students into

pairs (2-3 sts). Each pair chooses 4 most difficult words from the lists they have. Once students have written the words
take the papers and prepare a quiz.
Quiz

Preparations:

students remain in the groups as before

write the name of each person from the group on the board and asks for the name of the team (e.g. Only the
brave, Gangsta- see below)

Only the brave

Gangsta

Girl Power

Ana, Elton, Adriana

Marta, John

Aga, Monika

0.5

created by Emily Kruszewska 20I4

www.englishlessonplan.co.uk

www.telcuk.com

Rules:

teachers tells the word (you choose the words that your sts gave you) aloud

sts have 15s to discuss the answer

teacher appoints the team that has to give the definition

one member of the team gives the definition, s/he has 20s to explain the meaning of the word, the remaining
teams listen to the answer and tell if they agree with the explanation

the team on the left listens to the definition and tries to guess the word- if the guess correctly- they get 1 point, if
not the next team has a chance of getting 0.5 points

teacher puts a above the name of the learner who said the definition ( see the above table)

For more innovative lesson plans and ideas, please check out (www.englishlessonplan.co.uk).

created by Emily Kruszewska 20I4

www.englishlessonplan.co.uk

www.telcuk.com