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e-lesson

Week starting: 15

th

December 2008

1. A Christmas truce
This week’s lesson focuses on the moving story of the ‘Christmas truce’ between
British and German soldiers during the First World War.

Level
Pre-intermediate and above (equivalent to CEF level A2-B1 and above)

How to use the lesson
1. Explain the meaning of ‘spirit’ and ask your students what they understand by
‘Christmas spirit’ – or, if Christmas is not celebrated in their country, ask them if they
have any festivals that are connected with certain sentiments or kinds of behaviour.
Can they think of any examples of Christmas spirit either from history or from their
own experience? Also ask them what they know about the First World War.

2. Give your students five to ten minutes to read through Worksheet A, encouraging
them to look up new vocabulary. Tell them they are going to answer a series of
questions on the text, but that they shouldn’t write anything down at this stage.

3. Divide the students into pairs and hand out Worksheet B. Ask the students to work
together to complete Exercise 1, in which they have to answer comprehension
questions. Encourage them to try to answer in complete sentences.

4. Check answers in open class.

5. Keeping the students in their pairs, ask them to move on to Exercise 2, in which
they have to answer true/false/doesn’t say questions.

6. Check answers in open class.

7. Hand out Worksheet C and ask the students to work together to complete the
crossword.

8. Check answers in open class.

Answers:

Exercise 1
1. They were fighting in France and Belgium.
2. Many soldiers had to live in trenches.
3. They replied by singing carols in English.
4. They exchanged small presents.
5. They played football.
6. It took place in 1914.
7. The generals in both armies ended the truce.
8. It ended in 1918.

Inside

Out

This page has been downloaded from

www.insideout.net

.

It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2008.

Exercise 2
1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. F 6. F 7. T 8. D

Exercise 3
1. northern 2. whisky 3. German 4. get 5. messages 6. armies
7. carols 8. soldiers 9. fire 10. shook 11. between

If the sentences have been completed correctly, nine million will read from top to
bottom.


2. Related Websites
Send your students to these websites, or just take a look yourself.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World_War

The First World War entry in Simple English Wikipedia. Challenging for
pre-intermediate level.

http://www.christmastruce.co.uk/index.html

A website about the 1914 Christmas truce, including letters written by British soldiers
who participated in it. Intermediate level and above.

http://www.fylde.demon.co.uk/xmas.htm

A site containing recollections of the truce from soldiers on both sides. Intermediate
level and above.