Father's Day
Father's Day celebrates fathers every third Sunday of June. Father's Day began in 1909 in Spokane, Washington, when a daughter requested a special day to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised his children after his wife died. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson.
Father and Son By Cat Stevens
1. Listen to the song and fill in the blanks. The first letter is given:
No, Father:
It's not t…………. to make a ch…………….,
Just r…………, take it e…………..
You're still y……………, that's your fault
There's so m……………… you have to k……………...
Find a g………………, settle d………………
If you want you can m ……………...
Look at me, I am o………, but I'm h……..........
I was once like you are n………, and I know that it's not e…………
To be c………… when you've found something going on.
But take your t………., think a lot,
Why, think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here t……………., but your d………….. may not.
Son:
How can I try to e…………, when I do he turns a………. again.
It's always been the same, same old s………….
From the moment I could t……….. I was ordered to l…………...
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go a………..
I know I have to go.
Father:
It's not t………….. to make a ch…………..,
Just sit d………….., take it s…………...
You're still y…………., that's your fault,
There's so m………. you have to go th………….
Find a g…………., settle d………….,
if you want you can m…………...
Look at me, I am o……, but I'm h………….
Son:
All the times that I c………., keeping all the things I knew i……….,
It's h…….., but it's harder to i………. it.
If they were right, I'd a……….., but it's them you know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go a……......
I know I have to go.
2. Explain any difficult vocabulary items
3. All students READ the song aloud, copying the rhythm. (Emphasis on Good Pronunciation )
4. All students SING TOGETHER.
5. Post-Song DISCUSSION: "Generation Gap"
In groups of 4 they discuss the subject: "Conflict - parents - children
adults - teenagers
a. Describe the signs of a Generation Gap
b. Whose fault is it ?
c.. Is there a solution?
d. Any suggestions or proposals?
e. Groups share their findings with the whole class.
6. ALL STUDENTS SING THE SONG: Half of the class may sing the FATHER's verses and the other half the SON's verses.
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(Beginners Level)
A. Reading
Sunday is Father’s Day, and Maria wants to buy a special gift for her father. She looked at the Father’s Day ads in the newspaper, but they mostly had sales on ties and bottles of cologne. Her father doesn’t like to wear ties, and he never wears cologne. He used to go fishing or bowling on the weekends, but lately he’s been staying home and working in the garden. Maria can spend about $45 on her father’s gift. She wants to buy him something that he will use every week. Last year she got him a sweater and two sports shirts. She wants to get him something different this year.
B. True or False
1. ________ Maria wants to buy a gift for her mom for Father’s Day.
2. ________ Maria’s father used to go fishing and bowling on weekdays.
3. ________ Last year, Maria got her father two sweaters and a sports shirt.
4. ________ The newspaper ads had sales on ties and cologne for Father’s Day.
5. ________ Maria can spend $45 on her father’s gift.
C. Yes or No – What about you?
1. ________ I visit my father on Father’s Day.
2. ________ I like to give gifts.
3. ________ I like to receive gifts.
4. ________ I look in the newspaper for sales before I buy things.
D. Writing – What should Maria buy her father for Father’s Day? Why?
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Teachers: This free life skills worksheet may be copied for classroom use. Visit us on the
web at www.elcivics.com for more downloadable ESL and EL Civics lesson material.
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FATHER’S DAY
(Intermediate / Advanced Level)
(Intermediate / Advanced Level)
http://www.eslHolidayLessons.com/06/fathers_day.html
THE READING
Father's Day is celebrated all around the world to say thank you to dads. An old English proverb tells how important fathers are. It says: “A father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” Many of us perhaps think our father is even more important. There is no age limit for the person saying thank you, nor for the dad. There is no universal date when every country celebrates Father’s Day. In many countries it is on the third Sunday in June. Most fathers receive presents and cards and perhaps even a special dinner. The day has a special punctuation point. The apostrophe is placed before the ‘s’.
This means we all think about our own father. Of course, if the apostrophe was placed after the ‘s’, we would be honoring all the fathers in the world. Father’s Day historians believe the day started in Washington state in the USA. A lady called Sonora Dodd was sitting in church one Sunday in 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. She decided it was only fair to also have a day for fathers. In 1910, she arranged a special church service to say thank you for own father. The idea took off very slowly. U.S. Presidents. from Calvin Coolidge in 1926 to Richard Nixon in 1972, supported the idea. Nixon started the permanent official Father's Day in June, 1972. Today it is a major holiday. It has become extremely commercialized, which is good and bad. The shops are so full of Father’s Day stuff, it is almost impossible to forget when the day is.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1. celebrated all a. limit
2 There is no age b. fathers in the world
3. There is no universal c. Sunday in June
4. it is on the third d. around the world
5. The apostrophe is placed e. date
6. honoring all the f. before the ‘s’
Paragraph 2
1. historians believe the day a. holiday
2 it was only b. commercialized
3. The idea took off c. when the day is
4. Today it is a major d. started in Washington
5. It has become extremely e. fair
6. it is almost impossible to forget f. very slowly
GAP FILL
Father's Day is celebrated ____________________ to say thank you to dads. An old English proverb tells how important fathers are. It says: “A father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” Many of us perhaps think our father is _____________. There is no age limit for the person saying thank you, nor for the dad. There is ____________________ when every country celebrates Father’s Day. In many countries it is on the third Sunday in June. Most fathers receive presents and cards and perhaps ____________________. The day has a special punctuation point. The apostrophe is placed before the ‘s’. This means we all think about our own father. Of course, if the ____________________ after the ‘s’, we would be honoring all the fathers in the world.
Father’s Day ____________________ day started in Washington state in the USA. A lady called Sonora Dodd was sitting in church one Sunday in 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. She decided ____________________ also have a day for fathers. In 1910, she arranged a special church service to say thank you for own father. The ____________________ slowly. U.S. Presidents from Calvin Coolidge in 1926 to Richard Nixon in 1972, supported the idea. Nixon started ____________ Father's Day in June, 1972. Today it is a major holiday. It has become extremely commercialized, which is good and bad. The shops are so full of Father’s Day stuff, it is almost ____________________ when the day is.
WHILE READING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Father's Day is celebrated all __________ the world to say thank you to dads. An old English proverb tells how important fathers are. It says: “A father is _________ than a hundred schoolmasters.” Many of us perhaps think our father is_______ more important. There is no age __________ for the person saying thank you, nor for the dad. There is no universal __________ when every country celebrates Father’s Day. In many countries it is on the third Sunday in June. Most fathers receive presents and cards and perhaps even a __________ dinner. The day has a special punctuation __________. The apostrophe is placed before the ‘s’. This means we all think about our own father. Of course, if the apostrophe was __________ after the ‘s’, we would be honoring all the fathers in the world.
date even around point
placed more special limit
Father’s Day __________ believe the day started in Washington state in the USA. A lady called Sonora Dodd was __________ in church one Sunday in 1909, __________ to a sermon on Mother’s Day. She decided it was only __________ to also have a day for fathers. In 1910, she arranged a special church service to say
thank you for own father. The idea took off very __________. U.S. Presidents. from Calvin Coolidge in 1926 to Richard Nixon in 1972, supported the idea. Nixon started the permanent __________ Father's Day in June, 1972. Today it is a major holiday. It has become __________ commercialized, which is good and bad. The shops are so full of Father’s Day stuff, it is almost impossible to __________ when the day is.
slowly sitting extremely forget
historians listening official fair
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Father's Day is celebrated all around the world to say thanks / thank you to dads. An old English proverb tells how important fathers are. It says: “A father is many / more than a hundred schoolmasters.” Many of us perhaps think our father is even more important. There is no old / age limit for the person saying thank you, or / nor for the dad. There is no universal date when every country celebrates Father’s Day. In many countries it is on / in the third Sunday in June. Most fathers receive presents and cards and perhaps even a special / specially dinner. The day has a special punctuation point. The apostrophe is placed / place before the ‘s’. This means we all think about our own father. Of course, if the apostrophe was placed after / before the ‘s’, we would be honoring all the fathers in the world.
Father’s Day historians / historical believe the day started in Washington state in the USA. A lady called Sonora Dodd was sitting in church one / on Sunday in 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. She decided it was only fare / fair to also have a day for fathers. In 1910, she arranged a special church service to say thank you for own father. The idea took off / on very slowly. U.S. Presidents from Calvin Coolidge in 1926 to Richard Nixon in 1972, supported the idea. Nixon started the permanent officially / official Father's Day in June, 1972. Today it is a major holiday. It has become extreme / extremely commercialized, which is good and bad. The shops are so full of Father’s Day staff / stuff, it is almost impossible to forget when the day is / was.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Father's Day is celebrated all around the world to say thank you (1) ____ dads. An old English proverb tells how important fathers are. It says: “A father is (2) ____ than a hundred schoolmasters.” Many of us perhaps think our father is even more important. There is no (3) ____ limit for the person saying thank you, nor for the dad. There is no universal date when every country celebrates Father’s Day. In many countries it is (4) ____ the third Sunday in June. Most fathers receive presents and cards and perhaps even a special (5) ____. The day has a special punctuation point. The apostrophe is placed before the ‘s’. This means we all think about our own father. Of course, if the apostrophe was placed (6) ____ the ‘s’, we would be honoring all the fathers in the world.
Father’s Day (7) ____ believe the day started in Washington state in the USA. A lady called Sonora Dodd was sitting in church (8) ____ Sunday in 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. She decided it was only fair to also have a day for fathers. In 1910, she (9) ____ a special church service to say thank you for own father. The idea took off very slowly. U.S. Presidents. from Calvin Coolidge in 1926 to Richard Nixon in 1972, supported the idea. Nixon started the permanent (10) ____ Father's Day in June, 1972. Today it is a major holiday. It has become (11) ____ commercialized, which is good and bad. The shops are so full of Father’s Day (12) ____, it is almost impossible to forget when the day is.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1. (a) for (b) to (c) so (d) with
2. (a) most (b) more (c) many (d) much
3. (a) age (b) old (c) young (d) youth
4. (a) in (b) at (c) on (d) to
5. (a) diner (b) dining (c) dinners (d) dinner
6. (a) on (b) after (c) below (d) before
7. (a) historians (b) historical (c) history (d) hysterical
8. (a) on (b) a (c) one (d) in
9. (a) arrangement (b) arranges (c) arranging (d) arranged
10. (a) officially (b) officialdom (c) official (d) officials
11. (a) extremely (b) extremity (c) extreme (d) extremes
12. (a) stuff (b) stiff (c) staffs (d) staff
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1. radecetelb all around the world
2. There is no age tiiml
3. There is no auevilnsr date
4. Most fathers ierecve presents
5. The day has a sicelpa punctuation point
6. ornuoinhg all the fathers in the world
Paragraph 2
7. historians evbleei the day started in Washington
8. she deaganrr a special church service
9. supdptroe the idea
10. Today it is a rmoja holiday
11. It has become erymeextl commercialized
12. full of Father’s Day ffuts
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) in church one Sunday in 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. She decided it was only fair to also have a day
( ) for fathers. In 1910, she arranged a special church service to say thank you for own
( ) important fathers are. It says: “A father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” Many of us perhaps think our father is even
( ) in 1972, supported the idea. Nixon started the permanent official Father's Day in June, 1972. Today it is a major
( ) more important. There is no age limit for the person saying thank you, nor for the dad. There is no universal
( ) of Father’s Day stuff, it is almost impossible to forget when the day is.
( 1 ) Father's Day is celebrated all around the world to say thank you to dads. An old English proverb tells how
( ) father. The idea took off very slowly. U.S. Presidents. from Calvin Coolidge in 1926 to Richard Nixon
( ) apostrophe was placed after the ‘s’, we would be honouring all the fathers in the world.
( ) Father’s Day historians believe the day started in Washington state in the USA. A lady called Sonora Dodd was sitting
( ) receive presents and cards and perhaps even a special dinner. The day has a special punctuation point. The apostrophe is
( ) date when every country celebrates Father’s Day. In many countries it is on the third Sunday in June. Most fathers
( ) placed before the ‘s’. This means we all think about our own father. Of course, if the
( ) holiday. It has become extremely commercialized, which is good and bad. The shops are so full
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1. all celebrated is Day Father's world the around
2. is limit no There age
3. the on is it June in Sunday third
4. day punctuation has point a The special
5. the in world all fathers the honouring
6. day in historians the started Washington believe
7. also have a day for fathers it was only fair to
8. idea The slowly very off took
9. commercialized become It extremely has
10. Father’s are Day so stuff full The of shops
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
THE FATHER’S DAY SURVEY
Write five questions about Father’s Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each
student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
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STUDENT 2
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STUDENT 3
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Q.1.
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Q.2.
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Q.3.
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Q.4.
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Q.5.
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Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about Father’s Day for 10 minutes. Show your
partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Father’s Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Father’s Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Father’s Day. Write about will happen on this day around the world. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
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