Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years as a monarch on February 6th. She ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1953, when she was a 25-year-old princess. The 85-year-old queen spent the day on official duties. She toured the town of King’s Lynn in the east of England. The local mayor opened the celebrations to mark her diamond jubilee. Queen Elizabeth herself launched a new website that shows how much the world has changed during her six-decade reign. Bigger celebrations are scheduled to take place in the U.K. in the summer. There will be a 1,000-ship pageant on the River Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace.
During Her Royal Highness’ reign, there have been 12 British prime ministers, 12 American presidents and six popes. She has also owned 60 corgis (her favourite dog). The diamond jubilee website says she has answered approximately 3.5 million letters. The queen promised her citizens that she would "dedicate myself anew to your service". She also said: "I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart." The queen is still very popular with British people, despite a downturn in her popularity after the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
1. KINGS AND QUEENS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about kings and queens. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
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celebrated / monarch / princess / spent the day / official duties / a new website / prime ministers / presidents / answering letters / citizens / great advances / popular |
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MONARCH: What’s it like being one? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.
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Good things |
Bad things |
Freedom |
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Work |
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Food |
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Friends |
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Parties |
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Travel |
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4. MONARCHY: Students A strongly believe a monarchy is a bad thing; Students B strongly believe it’s good. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
5. CELEBRATE: What’s the best way to celebrate? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.
- party
- create a website
- quiet evening with friends
- alone
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- going overseas
- buy yourself a big present
- just think and reflect
- other __________________
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6. QUEEN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘queen’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
| a. |
The queen of England is celebrating her 60th birthday. |
T / F |
b. |
Elizabeth became queen when she was 25 years old. |
T / F |
c. |
She spent the day with her family at a big party in her palace. |
T / F |
d. |
British people will celebrate the diamond jubilee next month. |
T / F |
e. |
There have been 12 U.S. Presidents during the Queen’s reign. |
T / F |
f. |
She has owned 26 corgis (her favourite breed of dog). |
T / F |
g. |
She announced she will retire as queen at the end of 2012. |
T / F |
h. |
Her popularity went down in the weeks after Princes Diana’s death. |
T / F |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
| 1. |
monarch |
a. |
work |
2. |
ascended |
b. |
progress |
3. |
duties |
c. |
started |
4. |
launched |
d. |
rose |
5. |
scheduled |
e. |
about |
6. |
approximately |
f. |
king or queen |
7. |
citizens |
g. |
decline |
8. |
advances |
h. |
people |
9. |
despite |
i. |
planned |
10. |
downturn |
j. |
in spite of |
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
| 1. |
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years |
a. |
on official duties |
2. |
She ascended |
b. |
3.5 million letters |
3. |
spent the day |
c. |
as a monarch |
4. |
the celebrations to mark |
d. |
to take place |
5. |
celebrations are scheduled |
e. |
reign |
6. |
Her Royal Highness’ |
f. |
have been made |
7. |
he has answered approximately |
g. |
to the throne |
8. |
a time |
h. |
her popularity |
9. |
great advances that |
i. |
her diamond jubilee |
10. |
a downturn in |
j. |
to give |
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
| Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years as a (1) ____________ on February 6th. She ascended to the (2) ____________ of the United Kingdom in 1953, when she was a 25-year-old princess. The 85-year-old queen (3) ____________ the day on official duties. She toured the town of King’s Lynn in the east of England. The (4) ____________ mayor opened the celebrations to mark her diamond jubilee. Queen Elizabeth herself (5) ____________ a new website that shows how much the world has changed during her six-decade (6) ____________. Bigger celebrations are scheduled to take (7) ____________ in the U.K. in the summer. There will be a 1,000-ship (8) ____________ on the River Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace. |
|
local
reign
throne
pageant
monarch
launched
spent
place
|
During Her Royal Highness’ reign, there have been 12 British prime ministers, 12 American presidents and six (9) ____________. She has also owned 60 corgis (her favourite dog). The diamond jubilee website says she has (10) ____________ approximately 3.5 million letters. The queen (11) ____________ her citizens that she would "(12) ____________ myself anew to your service". She also said: "I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great (13) ____________ that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with (14) ____________ head and warm heart." The queen is still very popular with British people, (15) ____________ a downturn in her (16) ____________ after the death of Princess Diana in 1997. |
|
despite
advances
answered
popularity
promised
popes
clear
dedicate |
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 ____________________ February 6th. She ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1953, when she was a 25-year-old princess. The 85-year-old queen spent the ____________________. She toured the town of King’s Lynn in the east of England. The local mayor opened the celebrations ____________________ jubilee. Queen Elizabeth herself ____________________ that shows how much the world has changed during ____________________. Bigger celebrations are scheduled to take place in the U.K. in the summer. There will be a ____________________ on the River Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace.
During Her ____________________, there have been 12 British prime ministers, 12 American presidents and six popes. She ____________________ corgis (her favourite dog). The diamond jubilee website says she has answered ____________________ million letters. The queen promised her citizens that she would "____________________ to your service". She also said: "I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks ____________________ that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart." The queen is still very popular with British people, ____________________ in her popularity after the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘diamond’ and ‘jubilee’.
- Share your findings with your partners.
- Make questions using the words you found.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
- Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:
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- popes
- 60
- 3.5
- give
- 1952
- 1997
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KINGS AND QUEENS SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about kings and queens in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
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STUDENT 1
_____________ |
STUDENT 2
_____________ |
STUDENT 3
_____________ |
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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- Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
- Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
KINGS AND QUEENS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
| a) |
What did you think when you read the headline? |
b) |
What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘queen’? |
c) |
What do you know about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II? |
d) |
What would you like to know about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II? |
e) |
Do you think having a monarchy is good for a country? |
f) |
What do you think of the Queen’s diamond jubilee? |
g) |
Would you like a diamond jubilee? How would you celebrate? |
h) |
How has the world changed in the past six decades? |
i) |
What do you think the queen does every day? |
j) |
Would you like to be a monarch? |
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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
| a) |
Did you like reading this article? |
b) |
Is it better for a country to have a monarchy or not have one? |
c) |
Is it better for a country to have a king or a queen? |
d) |
What do you think of the Queen’s length of service to her country? |
e) |
Do you think the Queen has had a great life? |
f) |
What advice do you have for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II? |
g) |
What kind of letters do you think the Queen gets? |
h) |
Do you “look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart”? |
i) |
Who do you prefer, the Queen or Princess Diana? |
j) |
What questions would you like to ask Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II? |
LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years (1) ____ a monarch on February 6th. She ascended (2) ____ the throne of the United Kingdom in 1953, when she was a 25-year-old princess. The 85-year-old queen spent the day (3) ____ official duties. She toured the town of King’s Lynn in the east of England. The local mayor opened the celebrations to (4) ____ her diamond jubilee. Queen Elizabeth herself launched a new website that shows how much the world has changed during her six-decade (5) ____. Bigger celebrations are scheduled to (6) ____ place in the U.K. in the summer. There will be a 1,000-ship pageant on the River Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace.
During Her Royal Highness’ reign, there have been 12 British (7) ____ ministers, 12 American presidents and six popes. She has also owned 60 corgis (her favourite dog). The diamond jubilee website says she has answered (8) ____ 3.5 million letters. The queen promised her citizens that she would "dedicate myself anew to your service". She also said: "I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great (9) ____ that have been made since 1952 and to (10) ____ forward to the future with (11) ____ head and warm heart." The queen is still very popular with British people, despite a (12) ____ in her popularity after the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
| 1. |
(a) |
is |
(b) |
was |
(c) |
has |
(d) |
as |
2. |
(a) |
to |
(b) |
up |
(c) |
by |
(d) |
at |
3. |
(a) |
for |
(b) |
on |
(c) |
by |
(d) |
to |
4. |
(a) |
dark |
(b) |
lark |
(c) |
mark |
(d) |
hark |
5. |
(a) |
rain |
(b) |
feign |
(c) |
reign |
(d) |
pain |
6. |
(a) |
give |
(b) |
take |
(c) |
be |
(d) |
do |
7. |
(a) |
top |
(b) |
first |
(c) |
main |
(d) |
prime |
8. |
(a) |
approximately |
(b) |
aggregated |
(c) |
average |
(d) |
all over |
9. |
(a) |
backwards |
(b) |
advances |
(c) |
forwards |
(d) |
sideways |
10. |
(a) |
sight |
(b) |
vision |
(c) |
view |
(d) |
look |
11. |
(a) |
clarity |
(b) |
clears |
(c) |
clear |
(d) |
cleared |
12. |
(a) |
downturn |
(b) |
upturn |
(c) |
upbeat |
(d) |
downbeat |
WRITING
Write about kings and queens for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.
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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 out more about jubilees. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. KINGS AND QUEENS: Make a poster about kings and queens. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. BRITAIN’S QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Write a magazine article about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against a monarchy.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. Ask her three questions about being a queen. Give her three pieces of advice on how to be a better queen. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
| a. |
F |
b. |
T |
c. |
F |
d. |
F |
e. |
T |
f. |
T |
g. |
F |
h. |
T |
SYNONYM MATCH:
| 1. |
monarch |
a. |
king or queen |
2. |
ascended |
b. |
rose |
3. |
duties |
c. |
work |
4. |
launched |
d. |
started |
5. |
scheduled |
e. |
planned |
6. |
approximately |
f. |
about |
7. |
citizens |
g. |
people |
8. |
advances |
h. |
progress |
9. |
despite |
i. |
in spite of |
10. |
downturn |
j. |
decline |
PHRASE MATCH:
| 1. |
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years |
a. |
as a monarch |
2. |
She ascended |
b. |
to the throne |
3. |
spent the day |
c. |
on official duties |
4. |
the celebrations to mark |
d. |
her diamond jubilee |
5. |
celebrations are scheduled |
e. |
to take place |
6. |
Her Royal Highness’ |
f. |
reign |
7. |
he has answered approximately |
g. |
3.5 million letters |
8. |
a time |
h. |
to give |
9. |
great advances that |
i. |
have been made |
10. |
a downturn in |
j. |
her popularity |
GAP FILL:
British Queen celebrates diamond jubilee
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years as a (1) monarch on February 6th. She ascended to the (2) throne of the United Kingdom in 1953, when she was a 25-year-old princess. The 85-year-old queen (3) spent the day on official duties. She toured the town of King’s Lynn in the east of England. The (4) local mayor opened the celebrations to mark her diamond jubilee. Queen Elizabeth herself (5) launched a new website that shows how much the world has changed during her six-decade (6) reign. Bigger celebrations are scheduled to take (7) place in the U.K. in the summer. There will be a 1,000-ship (8) pageant on the River Thames and a concert at Buckingham Palace.
During Her Royal Highness’ reign, there have been 12 British prime ministers, 12 American presidents and six (9) popes. She has also owned 60 corgis (her favourite dog). The diamond jubilee website says she has (10) answered approximately 3.5 million letters. The queen (11) promised her citizens that she would "(12) dedicate myself anew to your service". She also said: "I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great (13) advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with (14) clear head and warm heart." The queen is still very popular with British people, (15) despite a downturn in her (16) popularity after the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
LANGUAGE WORK
| 1 - d |
2 - a |
3 - b |
4 - c |
5 - c |
6 - b |
7 - d |
8 - a |
9 - b |
10 - d |
11 - c |
12 - a |