April Fools’ Day

WARM-UP (5 minutes)

Do you celebrate

April Fools’ Day?

VOCABULARY (5-7 minutes)

1. April Fools’ Day is celebrated annually on the first day of April.

2. April Fools’ Day is a celebration about making other people look stupid with

pranks or practical jokes.

3. It is observed in many different countries with practices like sending someone on

a “fool’s errand” and looking for things that don’t exist.

4. Trying to figure out the real history of April Fools’ Day can be tough since its

origins are uncertain.

5. Some say it started in ancient Rome during the Hilaria, a festival to celebrate the

resurrection of the god Attis.

6. Others say that it started in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII issued an order to use

a new standard calendar for Christian Europe.

7. One significance of celebrating April Fools’ Day is the chance for people to vent

built-up energy and tension.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? (5-7

minutes)

TALK MORE (15 minutes)

1. Do you celebrate April Fools’ Day? How?

2. Describe your favorite April Fools’ Day prank.

TALK MORE (15 minutes)

3. Talk about a number of practical jokes you are willing to do during this event.

4. What do you know about the history of April Fools’ Day?

TALK MORE (15 minutes)

5. Would you encourage your friends to celebrate April Fools’ Day? Why?

6. What do you think is the significance of celebrating April Fools’ Day?

SUMMARY (2-3 minutes)

1. April Fools’ Day is celebrated annually on the first day of April.

2. April Fools’ Day is a celebration about making other people look stupid with

pranks or practical jokes.

3. It is observed in many different countries with practices like sending someone on

a “fool’s errand” and looking for things that don’t exist.

4. Trying to figure out the real history of April Fools’ Day can be tough since its

origins are uncertain.

5. Some say it started in ancient Rome during the Hilaria, a festival to celebrate the

resurrection of the god Attis.

6. Others say that it started in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII issued an order to use

a new standard calendar for Christian Europe.

7. One significance of celebrating April Fools’ Day is the chance for people to vent

built-up energy and tension.

CHALLENGE (8 minutes)

What do you know about the celebration and

history of April Fools’ Day?