Webquest

This webquest includes activities about Bonfire night and the traditions which are practised today.

Macmillan Dictionary | Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus OnlineThe Free Online English Dictionary from Macmillan Education.

Activity 1

Bonfire Night is a British tradition that is celebrated every year on 5th of November. It is also known as Guy Fawkes' Night. We’ll be learning more about this tradition but, before we begin, take a look at these words – do you know what they mean? Work in pairs or small groups. You can use an online dictionary to help you .

barrels
basement
blow up
bonfire
cellars
effigy
execution
fireworks
gunpowder
parliament
plot
treason

Activity 2: The Gun Powder Plot

Bonfire Night is an event to celebrate the anniversary of a famous event in British history. Visit this website: www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15351828. Then, answer the questions below:

1. What do people burn on their bonfires today?

2. What did Guy Fawkes plan to do?

3. Why did Guy Fawkes and his group put gunpowder in the parliament?

4. How did people find out about the Gunpowder Plot?

5. What happened to Guy Fawkes and his group?

6. What was the reason behind the Gunpowder Plot?

When you're finished, compare what you found out in small groups.

Activity 3: The people involved in the GunPowder Plot

Now, go to this website and find out more about the people who were involved in the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament:

www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/the-gunpowder-plot-of-1605/overview/people-behind-the-plot

Student A – Read and choose three things you want to tell your group about Robert Catesby and Thomas Percy.

Student B – Read and choose three things you want to tell your group about Francis Tresham and Guy Fawke

Student C – Read and choose three things you want to tell your group about John and Christopher Wright.

When you have finished, spend a few minutes in a group of three explaining what information you found out about the people involved in the Gunpowder Plot.

Activity 4: Bonfire Celebrations

Now visit this website: www.bonfirenight.net/bonfire.php.

Student A – Read the first three paragraphs and answer these questions:

1. How soon did Bonfire Night celebrations begin after the Gunpowder Plot?

2. How did the Bonfire Night rituals change in the years after 1605?

3. Effigies of which famous people were placed on the fire?

4. How do people prepare for Bonfire Night?

Student B – Read the last three paragraphs and answer these questions:

1. Apart from a bonfire, what else do people typically light on Bonfire Night?

2. Where is Lewes and why does it attract visitors?

3. Where else is the tradition of Bonfire Night celebrated?

4. Which place gave Bonfire Night an alternative name? What was the name?

When you have finished, discuss the questions that you worked on in pairs or small groups.

Activity 5: Bonfire Night recipes

Student A – Visit this page and find out about Parkin cake: www.learnenglish.de/recipe/parkin.html

1. What are the main ingredients?

2. How is it prepared?

3. How long does it take?

Student B – Visit this page and find out about toffee apples: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/13599/homemade-toffee-apples

1. What are the main ingredients?

2. How is it prepared?

3. How long does it take?

Student C – Visit this page and find out about baked potatoes: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1759659/bonfire-night-baked-potatoes

1. What are the main ingredients?

2. How is it prepared?

3. How long does it take?

When you are finished, work in groups of three. Explain to each other what your recipe is, what ingredients are needed, how to prepare the food and how long you need.

Discussion: Do you eat these dishes, or something similar, in your country? What do people typically eat on a cold night?

Activity 6: Fireworks-staying safe

Watch the film and answer the following questions writing True or False:

Build a bonfire near to a house, a shed, electric cables.
Never light a bonfire with a flammable liquid.
Stand near to the bonfire.
You should always have a fire extinguisher or a hose pipe ready incase of an emergency.
Pour water on the bonfire when it finishes
Always read the instructions before using fireworks
Use a match to light the fireworks
Always use gloves when using sprarklers
Children under five can use sparklers

Vistit the site below "staying safe"

Read from the paragraph which begins ‘New laws were introduced to control the use of fireworks in 2004 …’. When you have finished, answer these questions:

1. How old must people be to use fireworks?

2. Do you need a special license to hold a public fireworks display?

3. At what time of night can people normally not use fireworks?

4. What are the exceptions?

5. What are people not allowed to do with fireworks?

Staying safe

Activity 7: Review task

If you have time, you can play an interactive game to check what you can remember about the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes.

www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/games/gunpowder/index_embed.shtml

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