APIEClass activity: Festival Show-and-Tell
Festivals, traditions and culture
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🎪 Festival Show-and-Tell
The 90-Second Cultural Challenge • Traditions, Spectacles & Heritage
📜 Rules of the Game
Roles & InstructionsTeacher Steps
- 1 Put students into groups of 3 or 4 and assign team speaker roles.
- 2 Give teams 10 minutes to choose a festival and complete the Talk Frame.
- 3 Pair each group with another group for 90-second head-to-head talks.
- 4 Hand out Feedback Cards to the listening group to tick criteria and award bonus points.
- 5 Check the Teacher Key below for reference answers and typical grammar corrections.
Student Mission
- 1 Pick an authentic festival or cultural celebration your whole group knows well.
- 2 Build your 90-second speech using all 4 sections of the Talk Frame.
- 3 Deliver your talk clearly and passionately to your partner group within 90 seconds.
- 4 Listen actively when the other team speaks, ask your 2 challenge questions, and tick your card.
- 5 Earn victory points for sharp contrasting connectors, unit vocabulary, and energetic teamwork!
⏱️ Timed Lesson Plan (30 Minutes Total)
Strict ScheduleForm teams & choose a festival
Prepare 90s talk with Talk Frame
Round 1 Talks & Feedback
Round 2 Talks & Feedback
Scores, class vote & closing
🗣️ The 4-Part Talk Frame
Mandatory Talk StructureEvery presentation must cover these four dimensions. Allocate approximately 20–25 seconds per panel to fill your 90 seconds.
1. When It Happens
Key details to cover:
- Season, solar or lunar month, recurring calendar dates.
- Duration (e.g., 3-day holiday, fortnight celebration).
- Atmosphere or weather context during that time.
2. What People Do
Key details to cover:
- Traditional costumes, garments, or masks.
- Sacred rituals, prayers, and ceremonies.
- Musical performances, authentic street processions, and feasts.
3. Why It Matters
Key details to cover:
- Deep pride in local cultural heritage and folklore.
- Gathering to commemorate national heroes or ancestors.
- Rebuilding community bonds and cross-generational ties.
4. How It Has Changed
Key details to cover:
- Shift from quiet family rites to large tourist spectacles.
- Modern technology, live-streaming, or commercialization.
- Balancing authentic customs against modern speed.
📋 Peer Feedback Cards (Listening Teams)
Active ListeningEach listening group takes one card. During and right after the 90-second talk, ask your 2 prompt questions and tick the 3 scoring criteria!
Checklist & Ticks:
Checklist & Ticks:
Checklist & Ticks:
Checklist & Ticks:
🏆 Scoring System & Victory Badges
Max 4 Points + Grand VoteFeedback Card Ticks
Earn 1 point for every tick marked on the partner group's feedback card.
Punchy Delivery
Awarded for a compelling opening hook and an impactful memorable ending.
Whole-Class Vote
Final 2-minute class vote for the most authentic and engaging cultural presentation.
💬 6 Expressive Sentence Starters
Target ConnectorsUse these prompt starters to build natural B2 contrasts and showcase unit vocabulary during your talk:
"Although this ancient ritual began centuries ago, ..."
+ clause with subject & verb
"Despite the large crowds and modern spectacle, ..."
+ noun phrase / -ing form
"Older generations preserve the ceremony, whereas young people ..."
+ contrast clause
"Although many customs have modernized, our cultural heritage ..."
+ contrast clause
"People eagerly participate in the procession, whereas others ..."
+ contrasting clause
"Despite bad weather conditions, we gather to commemorate ..."
+ noun phrase
🔑 Teacher Reference Key & Error Radar
Quick ReferenceBenchmark Talk Model: An Example Festival
❌ "Despite it was raining heavily, we enjoyed the parade."
✅ "Despite the heavy rain, we enjoyed..." OR "Although it was raining heavily, we..."
❌ "Whereas modern celebrations, ancient rites were slow."
✅ "Whereas modern celebrations are fast-paced, ancient rites were reflective."
🔀 Classroom Variations & Differentiation
Flexible LevelsWritten Bullet Notes
Allow struggling groups to draft bullet points directly inside the 4-box Talk Frame before speaking.
4 Keyword Cue Card
Students present using only 4 single trigger words written down on a palm card (one per box).
Mid-Talk Interruption
The listening team can raise a hand at 45 seconds to inject one surprise clarifying question!
Social Promo Post
Write a 2-sentence social media caption promoting the festival using whereas and heritage.
❓ Final Plenary & Closing Reflection
Wrap-up (3 Mins)Conclude the 30-minute session by holding an open plenary discussion using these 3 thought-provoking questions:
Which festival described today would you most like to participate in, and why?
Focus: Personal interest & vivid details.
How can local communities preserve authentic heritage despite rapid tourism growth?
Focus: Critical thinking & cultural value.
Did using connectors like "although" and "whereas" make your cultural contrasts clearer?
Focus: Linguistic awareness & self-assessment.
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