ST.VALENTINE'S DAY

 Lesson Title: St. Valentine's Day: Love and Hearts!

Subject: CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) - Social Studies (Culture) & English

Level: A1 EFL Primary School

Time: 60 minutes

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to identify and understand basic Valentine's Day vocabulary (heart, love, rose, card, gift).

Students will be able to use simple phrases related to St. Valentine's Day (I love you, Happy Valentine's Day).

Students will be able to understand the concept of showing love and kindness to others.

Students will learn about a little bit of the history of St. Valentine's Day.

Materials:

Flashcards with Valentine's Day vocabulary (heart, rose, card, gift, love, St. Valentine)

Large paper hearts (one per student)

Crayons, markers, glitter, stickers

St. Valentine's Day Simple Story (visual aid)

Interactive Whiteboard or Projector

Music player

Small prizes (e.g., heart-shaped stickers, pencils)

Worksheet with simple matching/coloring activities

5E Methodology:

1. Engage (10 minutes):

Greeting and Warm-up Song: Start with a cheerful greeting song like "Hello, How Are You?" to get students energized.

Mystery Box: Show a decorated box. Ask, "What's in the box?" (Use gestures to help them understand). Open the box and reveal a heart-shaped object or a card.

Question: "Do you know why we have hearts?". Ask a couple of students their opinions/ideas.

Introduction: "Today, we are going to learn about St. Valentine's Day! A day about love!"

2. Explore (15 minutes):

Flashcard Introduction: Show each flashcard (heart, rose, card, gift, love, St. Valentine) one by one. Say the word clearly and slowly. Have the students repeat after you as a class and individually.

Action Association: Pair each word with a simple action:

Heart: Place hands on chest.

Rose: Pretend to smell a flower.

Card: Pretend to write on a card.

Gift: Pretend to give a gift.

Love: Hug yourself or pretend to hug someone.

St. Valentine: Point up to the sky.

Interactive Game 1: "Flashcard Freeze": Play music. When the music stops, hold up a flashcard. Students must say the word and do the associated action. If they forget or don't do it correctly, they're "out" (sit down). Last student standing wins a small prize.

3. Explain (10 minutes):

Simple Story (Visual Aid): Use a simple story or a visual aid depicting a short version of the story of St. Valentine.

Example: "Long ago, there was a kind man named St. Valentine. He helped people a lot. He gave them flowers and cards. He showed them love." (Use pictures to illustrate each sentence).

Key Phrases: Introduce the phrases "I love you" and "Happy Valentine's Day." Demonstrate how to say them with a smile. Have students repeat.

Meaning of Love: Briefly explain that Valentine's Day is about showing love to family, friends, and people we care about. Ask students who they love.

4. Elaborate (15 minutes):

Activity: Decorate a Heart! Give each student a large paper heart.

Instructions: "Now, you will decorate your heart for someone you love. Use crayons, markers, glitter, and stickers!"

Vocabulary Reinforcement: As they decorate, circulate and ask questions: "What color is your heart?", "Who is this heart for?", "Is that a rose?". Encourage them to use the vocabulary.

Phrase Practice: Prompt them to say "I love you" to the person they are making the heart for.

Interactive Game 2: "Heart Delivery": Play music. Students walk around with their hearts. When the music stops, they must find a partner and say, "Happy Valentine's Day!" and give the heart to them

5. Evaluate (10 minutes):

Worksheet: Distribute a simple worksheet with matching and/or coloring activities related to the vocabulary. Example: Match the picture of a heart to the word "heart."

Oral Assessment: Call on a few students individually.

Ask them to name the Valentine's Day words.

Ask them to say "I love you" and "Happy Valentine's Day."

Ask them who they made their heart for, and why they love them.

Observe: Observe students' participation in games and activities. Pay attention to their use of vocabulary and their understanding of the concepts.

Positive Reinforcement: Give praise and encouragement throughout the lesson.

Assessment:

Formative: Observation of student participation in activities, their responses to questions, and their use of vocabulary during the lesson.

Summative: Worksheet completion and individual oral assessment.

Differentiation:

For less advanced students: Provide more visual support, slower pace, and simpler instructions. Offer one-on-one assistance.

For more advanced students: Encourage them to use more complex sentences and to share their own personal experiences related to love and friendship.

Important Considerations:

Cultural Sensitivity: Be mindful of cultural differences and family structures when discussing love and Valentine's Day. Emphasize the importance of kindness and respect for everyone.

Keep it Fun: Focus on making the lesson engaging and interactive for young learners. Use games, songs, and activities to keep them motivated and interested.

Visuals: Use plenty of visuals (pictures, flashcards, real objects) to support understanding.

Repetition: Repeat vocabulary and phrases frequently throughout the lesson.

Pace: Adjust the pace of the lesson to suit the needs of your students.

This lesson plan provides a framework for teaching A1 level EFL primary students about St. Valentine's Day. Remember to be flexible and adapt the activities to suit the specific needs and interests of your students. Good luck!