The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Once upon a time, a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding. For one British woman, her dream came true. Amanda Gibbs, 44, married her fiancé of eight years on Saturday in a ceremony that was nothing but fairy tale. The happy couple painted themselves green to look like the animation characters Shrek and Princess Fiona. They also donned costumes based on the attire worn by the characters. The guest list included friends and family dressed as Buzz Lightyear, the Gingerbread Man, Snow White and Minnie Mouse. The couple wanted a day to remember that was a little out of the ordinary. They stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and tied the knot in truly unforgettable fashion.

The wedding also had a serious side to it. They decided to use it to raise money for charity. They asked their guests not to buy them any wedding presents, but to donate the money to a cancer research charity instead. They had both lost friends to cancer. The groom, Nathan Gibbs, told reporters: "We thought it would be a great idea to raise money for Cancer Research. Our guests are all making donations to the charity and we hope to inspire others to give money to the charity when they read our story." He added: "We've had a great day today and it's fantastic to think the money raised will go towards helping to support those with cancer and their families."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/shrek-wedding-amanda-nathan-gibbs-2949780#ixzz2oH2OezeF
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1185899/shrek-wedding-going-green-for-cancer-charity
  • http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/what-fairy-tale-wedding-dudley-6438569


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. WEDDINGS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about weddings. Change partners often 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.

 

once upon a time / fairy tale / dream come true / out of the ordinary / tie the knot / wedding / serious / donate / charity / guests / presents / inspire / fantastic / support

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. FAIRY TALE: What could the story be for these modern-day fairy tales? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

About…

Main characters

Summary of the story

The Internet

 

 

Global warming

 

 

Human trafficking

 

 

Hollywood

 

 

Oil

 

 

2014

 

 

4. TRADITIONAL: Students A strongly believe weddings should always be traditional; Students B strongly believe not.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.



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5. TIE THE KNOT: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best place to get married at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Venice

  • New York

  • The Sahara Desert

  • Mount Everest

  • Tahiti

  • Hollywood

  • Your capital city

  • Disneyland

6. DREAM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "dream". 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.

A woman who was engaged for eight years got married.

T / F

b.

The article says the wedding was nothing like a fairy tale.

T / F

c.

Wedding guests attended the ceremony dressed as cartoon characters.

T / F

d.

The couple wanted an ordinary wedding they would not forget.

T / F

e.

The couple asked guests to give to charity instead of buying presents.

T / F

f.

Some of the couple's friends had died of cancer.

T / F

g.

The groom does not want non-guests to help the charity.

T / F

h.

The groom said he was disappointed his wedding day wasn't better.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

came true

a.

purely

2.

nothing but

b.

give

3.

donned

c.

get married

4.

attire

d.

provide for

5.

tie the knot

e.

motivate

6.

raise

f.

clothes

7.

donate

g.

wonderful

8.

inspire

h.

wore

9.

fantastic

i.

collect

10.

support

j.

was realised

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

Once upon

a.

knot

2.

married her fiancé

b.

lost friends to cancer

3.

The happy

c.

fashion

4.

tied the

d.

side to it

5.

in truly unforgettable

e.

others to give money

6.

The wedding also had a serious

f.

a time

7.

raise

g.

those with cancer

8.

They had both

h.

of eight years

9.

inspire

i.

couple

10.

helping to support

j.

money for charity

 

GAP FILL

Once (1) ____________ a time, a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding. For one British woman, her dream came true. Amanda Gibbs, 44, married her (2) ____________ of eight years on Saturday in a ceremony that was                       (3) ____________ but fairy tale. The happy couple painted themselves green to look like the animation characters Shrek and Princess Fiona. They also (4) ____________ costumes based on the (5) ____________ worn by the characters. The guest list included friends and family dressed as Buzz Lightyear, the Gingerbread Man, Snow White and Minnie Mouse. The                (6) ____________ wanted a day to remember that was a little out of the (7) ____________. They stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and tied the (8) ____________ in truly unforgettable fashion.

 

 

couple
donned
fiancé
ordinary
upon
knot
nothing
attire

The wedding also had a (9) ____________ side to it. They decided to use it to (10) ____________ money for charity. They asked their guests not to buy them any wedding presents, but to donate the money to a cancer research charity instead. They had both (11) ____________ friends to cancer. The                       (12) ____________, Nathan Gibbs, told reporters: "We thought it would be a great idea to raise money for Cancer Research. Our guests are all making (13) ____________ to the charity and we hope to inspire others to give money to the (14) ____________ when they read our story." He added: "We've had a great day today and it's (15) ____________ to think the money raised will go towards helping to (16) ____________ those with cancer and their families."

 

donations
fantastic
raise
groom
serious
support
charity
lost

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

For one British woman, her dream ______

 

a.  came truly
b.  came true
c.  came truth
d.  came truism

2)

a ceremony that was nothing ______

 

a.  bug fairy tale
b.  not fairy tale
c.  but fairy tale
d.  put fairy tale

3)

They also donned costumes based on the attire worn ______

 

a.  by the character
b.  by the characterise
c.  by the charactersation
d.  by the characters

4)

The couple wanted a day to remember that was a little ______

 

a.  in of the ordinary
b.  out of the ordinarily
c.  out of the ordinary
d.  out of an ordinary

5)

tied the knot in truly ______

 

a.  unforgettable fashion
b.  unforgettable fashions
c.  unforgettable fashioning
d.  unforgettable fashioned

6)

The wedding also had a serious ______

 

a.  side for it
b.  side to it
c.  side too it
d.  side at it

7)

donate the money to a cancer research ______

 

a.  charity instead
b.  charity in stead
c.  charity in steady
d.  charity in steadied

8)

They had both lost friends ______

 

a.  at cancer
b.  to cancer
c.  of cancer
d.  as cancer

9)

Our guests are all making donations to the charity and we hope ______

 

a.  too inspire others
b.  two inspire others
c.  through inspire others
d.  to inspire others

10)

go towards helping to support ______

 

a.  those of cancer
b.  those from cancer
c.  those which cancer
d.  those with cancer

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

(1) ___________________, a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding. For one British woman, (2) ___________________. Amanda Gibbs, 44, married her fiancé of eight years on Saturday in a ceremony that was (3) ___________________. The happy couple painted themselves green to look like the animation characters Shrek and Princess Fiona. They also donned costumes based (4) ___________________ worn by the characters. The guest list included friends and family dressed as Buzz Lightyear, the Gingerbread Man, Snow White and Minnie Mouse. The couple wanted a day to remember that was a little (5) ___________________. They stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and (6) ___________________ truly unforgettable fashion.

The wedding also had (7) ___________________ it. They decided to use it to raise money for charity. They asked their guests not to buy them any wedding presents, (8) ___________________ money to a cancer research charity instead. They had (9) ___________________ to cancer. The groom, Nathan Gibbs, told reporters: "We thought it would be a great idea to raise money for Cancer Research. Our guests are (10) ___________________ to the charity and we hope (11) ___________________ to give money to the charity when they read our story." He added: "We've had a great day today and it's fantastic to think the money raised (12) ___________________ helping to support those with cancer and their families."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

When did a woman dream about having a fairy tale wedding?

2.

What happened to her dream?

3.

For how long were the couple engaged?

4.

What did the guests come as?

5.

What did they do in unforgettable fashion?

6.

What kind of side did the wedding have to it?

7.

What did the couple want guests to do instead of buying presents?

8.

What happened to some of the happy couple's friends?

9.

What does the groom hope people will do if they read his story?

10.

How did the groom describe his wedding day?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

When did a woman dream about having a fairy tale wedding?

6.

What kind of side did the wedding have to it?

 

a) long, long ago
b) once upon a time
c) at 3:12pm last Tuesday afternoon
d) many moons ago

 

a) a serious one
b) a long one
c) a colourful one
d) a straight one

2.

What happened to her dream?

7.

What did the couple want guests to do instead of buying presents?

 

a) her alarm went off
b) nothing
c) she could not remember it
d) it came true

 

a) buy a lottery ticket
b) make them
c) donate to charity
d) save their money

3.

For how long were the couple engaged?

8.

What happened to some of the happy couple's friends?

 

a) 18 months
b) 8 months
c) 8 years
d) 8 weeks

 

a) they died of cancer
b) they didn't attend the wedding
c) they got lost
d) they got engaged at the wedding

4.

What did the guests come as?

9.

What does the groom hope people will do if they read his story?

 

a) animation characters
b) Shrek and Princess Fiona
c) fairies
d) celebrities

 

a) have a fairy tale wedding
b) have a fantastic day
c) be happy
d) give to charity

5.

What did they do in unforgettable fashion?

10.

How did the groom describe his wedding day?

 

a) sewed the button on
b) tied the knot
c) cut the rope
d) unravelled the string

 

a) ordinary
b) supportive
c) fantastic
d) nuptial

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Disneyland

You think Disneyland is the best place to get married. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): Paris, Tahiti or Mount Everest.

Role  B – Paris

You think Paris is the best place to get married. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): Disneyland, Tahiti or Mount Everest.

Role  C – Tahiti

You think Tahiti is the best place to get married. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): Paris, Disneyland or Mount Everest.

Role  D – Mount Everest

You think Mount Everest is the best place to get married. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): Paris, Tahiti or Disneyland.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'fairy' and 'tale'.

fairy

 

tale

 

 

  • 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:

  • getting
  • eight
  • nothing
  • based
  • remember
  • truly
  • serious
  • instead
  • groom
  • hope
  • great
  • families

WEDDINGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about weddings 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.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • 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.

WEDDINGS 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 'wedding'?

c)

What do you think of the fairy tale wedding in the article?

d)

Should all weddings be traditional?

e)

How important is a wedding?

f)

Would you like a fairy tale wedding?

g)

What's your dream wedding?

h)

Has a dream of yours ever come true?

i)

What would you dress up as at a fairy tale wedding (and why)?

j)

When was the last time you did something out of the ordinary?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Should all couples raise money for charity at their wedding?

c)

Do you like weddings?

d)

What do people getting married in your culture promise each other in a wedding?

e)

Do you think that one day, weddings will become a thing of the past?

f)

What's the best and worst wedding you've ever been to?

g)

Do you think it's easy or difficult to plan a wedding?

h)

In your country, do people have to invite people they don't like to their wedding?

i)

What kind of weddings do you think are best?

j)

What questions would you like to ask the happy couple?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Once (1) ____ a time, a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding. For one British woman, her dream came (2) ____. Amanda Gibbs, 44, married her fiancé of eight years on Saturday in a ceremony that was nothing (3) ____ fairy tale. The happy couple painted themselves green to look like the animation characters Shrek and Princess Fiona. They also (4) ____ costumes based on the attire worn by the characters. The guest list included friends and family dressed as Buzz Lightyear, the Gingerbread Man, Snow White and Minnie Mouse. The couple wanted a day to remember that was a little out of the (5) ____. They stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and tied the (6) ____ in truly unforgettable fashion.

The wedding also had a serious (7) ____ to it. They decided to use it to raise money for charity. They asked their guests (8) ____ to buy them any wedding presents, but to donate the money to a cancer research charity instead. They had both (9) ____ friends to cancer. The groom, Nathan Gibbs, told reporters: "We thought it would be a great idea to raise money for Cancer Research. Our guests are all making donations to the charity and we hope to (10) ____ others to give money to the charity when they read our story." He added: "We've had a great day today and it's fantastic to think the money (11) ____ will go (12) ____ helping to support those with cancer and their families."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

upon

(b)

onto

(c)

after

(d)

during

2.

(a)

truly

(b)

truthful

(c)

true

(d)

truth

3.

(a)

yet

(b)

not

(c)

but

(d)

bit

4.

(a)

manned

(b)

binned

(c)

canned

(d)

donned

5.

(a)

ordinary

(b)

unusual

(c)

book

(d)

fairies

6.

(a)

shoelace

(b)

knot

(c)

tongue

(d)

ribbon

7.

(a)

edge

(b)

line

(c)

corner

(d)

side

8.

(a)

now

(b)

not

(c)

all

(d)

for

9.

(a)

lose

(b)

losing

(c)

lost

(d)

loses

10.

(a)

conspire

(b)

inspire

(c)

spire

(d)

respire

11.

(a)

rose

(b)

arising

(c)

risen

(d)

raised

12.

(a)

forwards

(b)

towards

(c)

wards

(d)

rewards

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

in a mnceryeo

2.

iaanminot characters

3.

They also donned scomsuet

4.

the tertia worn by the characters

5.

a little out of the riondrya

6.

truly felobatnuetrg fashion

Paragraph 2

7.

The wedding also had a rsseiou side to it

8.

a cancer hasrerec charity

9.

Our guests are all making dnnooaist

10.

we hope to sprinei others

11.

it's ftaascnit to think

12.

go odwtrsa helping to support those with cancer

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

the Gingerbread Man, Snow White and Minnie Mouse. The couple wanted a day to remember that was a little out

(    )

of the ordinary. They stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and tied the knot in truly unforgettable fashion.

(    )

inspire others to give money to the charity when they read our story." He added:

(    )

worn by the characters. The guest list included friends and family dressed as Buzz Lightyear,

(    )

British woman, her dream came true. Amanda Gibbs, 44, married her fiancé of eight years on Saturday

(    )

like the animation characters Shrek and Princess Fiona. They also donned costumes based on the attire

(    )

be a great idea to raise money for Cancer Research. Our guests are all making donations to the charity and we hope to

(    )

nstead. They had both lost friends to cancer. The groom, Nathan Gibbs, told reporters: "We thought it would

(    )

The wedding also had a serious side to it. They decided to use it to raise money for charity. They asked their

(    )

"We've had a great day today and it's fantastic to think the money raised will go towards

1  )

Once upon a time, a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding. For one

(    )

guests not to buy them any wedding presents, but to donate the money to a cancer research charity i

(    )

helping to support those with cancer and their families."

(    )

in a ceremony that was nothing but fairy tale. The happy couple painted themselves green to look

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

a,    time    a   upon   Once   married   getting   of   dreamed    woman.    

2.

on     worn    characters    based    attire    the    Costumes    the     by.    

3.

a   of   to   was   out   ordinary   day   that   little   the   A    remember.    

4.

their     plan     for     a     fairy    tale    wedding    They    stuck     to.    

5.

the     Tied     fashion     unforgettable     truly     in     knot.    

6.

had     side     also     serious     it     wedding     a     to     The.    

7.

decided     to     use     it     to     raise    money    for    charity    They.    

8.

money    cancer    instead    the    a    charity    Donate    to   research.    

9.

money    raise   to    idea    great    a    be    would   it    thought    We.    

10.

cancer     to     support     Go     those     towards     with     helping.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Once / Twice upon a time, a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding. For one British woman, her dream came truth / true. Amanda Gibbs, 44, married her fiancé of / for eight years on Saturday in a ceremony that was nothing however / but fairy tale. The happy couple painted themselves green to look like the animator / animation characters Shrek and Princess Fiona. They also donned / dinned costumes based on the retire / attire worn by the characters. The guest list included / inclusive friends and family dressed as Buzz Lightyear, the Gingerbread Man, Snow White and Minnie Mouse. The couple wanted a day to remember that was a little in / out of the ordinary. They stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and tied the knot / rope in truly unforgettable fashion.

The wedding also had a seriously / serious side to it. They decided to use it to raise / rise money for charity. They asked their guests not to buy / purchase them any wedding presents, but to donate the money to a cancer research charity instead. They had both lost friends for / to cancer. The groom, Nathan Gibbs, told / said reporters: "We thought it would be a great idea to raise money for Cancer Research. Our guests are all making / made donations to the charity and we hope to conspire / inspire others to give money to the charity when they read our tale / story." He added: "We've had a great day today and it's fantastic to think the money raised will go towards / forwards helping to support them / those with cancer and their families."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_nc_ _p_n _ t_m_, _ w_m_n dr__m_d _f g_tt_ng m_rr__d _n _ f__ry t_l_ w_dd_ng. F_r _n_ Br_t_sh w_m_n, h_r dr__m c_m_ tr__. _m_nd_ G_bbs, 44, m_rr__d h_r f__ncé _f __ght y__rs _n S_t_rd_y _n _ c_r_m_ny th_t w_s n_th_ng b_t f__ry t_l_. Th_ h_ppy c__pl_ p__nt_d th_ms_lv_s gr__n t_ l__k l_k_ th_ _n_m_t__n ch_r_ct_rs Shr_k _nd Pr_nc_ss F__n_. Th_y _ls_ d_nn_d c_st_m_s b_s_d _n th_ _tt_r_ w_rn by th_ ch_r_ct_rs. Th_ g__st l_st _ncl_d_d fr__nds _nd f_m_ly dr_ss_d _s B_zz L_ghty__r, th_ G_ng_rbr__d M_n, Sn_w Wh_t_ _nd M_nn__ M__s_. Th_ c__pl_ w_nt_d _ d_y t_ r_m_mb_r th_t w_s _ l_ttl_ __t _f th_ _rd_n_ry. Th_y st_ck t_ th__r pl_n f_r _ f__ry t_l_ w_dd_ng _nd t__d th_ kn_t _n tr_ly _nf_rg_tt_bl_ f_sh__n.

Th_ w_dd_ng _ls_ h_d _ s_r___s s_d_ t_ _t. Th_y d_c_d_d t_ _s_ _t t_ r__s_ m_n_y f_r ch_r_ty. Th_y _sk_d th__r g__sts n_t t_ b_y th_m _ny w_dd_ng pr_s_nts, b_t t_ d_n_t_ th_ m_n_y t_ _ c_nc_r r_s__rch ch_r_ty _nst__d. Th_y h_d b_th l_st fr__nds t_ c_nc_r. Th_ gr__m, N_th_n G_bbs, t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "W_ th__ght _t w__ld b_ _ gr__t _d__ t_ r__s_ m_n_y f_r C_nc_r R_s__rch. __r g__sts _r_ _ll m_k_ng d_n_t__ns t_ th_ ch_r_ty _nd w_ h_p_ t_ _nsp_r_ _th_rs t_ g_v_ m_n_y t_ th_ ch_r_ty wh_n th_y r__d __r st_ry." H_ _dd_d: "W_'v_ h_d _ gr__t d_y t_d_y _nd _t's f_nt_st_c t_ th_nk th_ m_n_y r__s_d w_ll g_ t_w_rds h_lp_ng t_ s_pp_rt th_s_ w_th c_nc_r _nd th__r f_m_l__s."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

once upon a time a woman dreamed of getting married in a fairy tale wedding for one british woman her dream came true amanda gibbs 44 married her fiancé of eight years on saturday in a ceremony that was nothing but fairy tale the happy couple painted themselves green to look like the animation characters shrek and princess fiona they also donned costumes based on the attire worn by the characters the guest list included friends and family dressed as buzz lightyear the gingerbread man snow white and minnie mouse the couple wanted a day to remember that was a little out of the ordinary they stuck to their plan for a fairy tale wedding and tied the knot in truly unforgettable fashion

the wedding also had a serious side to it they decided to use it to raise money for charity they asked their guests not to buy them any wedding presents but to donate the money to a cancer research charity instead they had both lost friends to cancer the groom nathan gibbs told reporters "we thought it would be a great idea to raise money for cancer research our guests are all making donations to the charity and we hope to inspire others to give money to the charity when they read our story" he added "we've had a great day today and it's fantastic to think the money raised will go towards helping to support those with cancer and their families"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Onceuponatime,awomandreamedofgettingmarriedinafairytalewedding.For
oneBritishwoman,herdreamcametrue.AmandaGibbs,44,marriedherfiancéo
feightyearsonSaturdayinaceremonythatwasnothingbutfairytale.Thehappyc
ouplepaintedthemselvesgreentolookliketheanimationcharactersShrekandP
rincessFiona.Theyalsodonnedcostumesbasedontheattirewornbythecharact
ers.TheguestlistincludedfriendsandfamilydressedasBuzzLightyear,theGing
erbreadMan,SnowWhiteandMinnieMouse.Thecouplewantedadaytorememb
erthatwasalittleoutoftheordinary.Theystucktotheirplanforafairytaleweddin
gandtiedtheknotintrulyunforgettablefashion.Theweddingalsohadaserioussi
detoit.Theydecidedtouseittoraisemoneyforcharity.Theyaskedtheirguestsno
ttobuythemanyweddingpresents,buttodonatethemoneytoacancerresearch
charityinstead.Theyhadbothlostfriendstocancer.Thegroom,NathanGibbs,to
ldreporters:"WethoughtitwouldbeagreatideatoraisemoneyforCancerResea
rch.Ourguestsareallmakingdonationstothecharityandwehopetoinspireothe
rstogivemoneytothecharitywhentheyreadourstory."Headded:"We'vehadag
reatdaytodayandit'sfantastictothinkthemoneyraisedwillgotowardshelpingt
osupportthosewithcancerandtheirfamilies."

FREE WRITING

Write about weddings for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Marriage ceremonies should always be followed in a traditional fashion. Discuss.

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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 fairy tale weddings. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. WEDDINGS: Make a poster about weddings. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. FAIRY TALE: Write a magazine article about a fairy tale wedding. Include imaginary interviews with the bride and groom.

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. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a wedding arranger. Ask him/her three questions about weddings. Give him/her three ideas for a fairy tale wedding. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

came true

a.

was realised

2.

nothing but

b.

purely

3.

donned

c.

wore

4.

attire

d.

clothes

5.

tie the knot

e.

get married

6.

raise

f.

collect

7.

donate

g.

give

8.

inspire

h.

motivate

9.

fantastic

i.

wonderful

10.

support

j.

provide for

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Once upon a time

2.

It came true

3.

Eight years

4.

Animation characters

5.

Tie the knot

6.

A serious one

7.

Donate to charity

8.

They died of cancer

9.

Give to charity

10.

Fantastic

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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