Lesson 7

Lesson Objectives and Overview

  • Course Unit: Grade 7, Unit 8: Into the past, Lesson 7 (Writing), Page 139.

  • Primary Learning Objectives:

    • Extract information from a reading text.

    • Write an account about a celebration or a festival.

Definition and Types of Festivals and Celebrations

  • Definition of a Festival: A special day or period of activities, usually in memory of a cultural event, with its own social activities, food, or ceremonies.

  • Examples of Major Festivals and Celebrations:

    • The National Day of Bahrain

    • Eid Al Adha

    • Eid Al Fitr

    • Gargee'an / Gerga'oon Festival

    • Bahraini Women's Day

    • International Workers' Day

    • World Teachers' Day

    • Mother's Day

    • International Women's Day

    • Family Day in Bahrain (a day dedicated to honoring parents by purchasing gifts and holding family gatherings at home or in restaurants)

Key Festivals and Celebrations Analysis

  • Gargee'an / Gerga'oon Festival:

    • Timing: Celebrated in the middle of the month of Ramadan (specifically the 15th day).

    • Traditions: Children dress in traditional attire, carry colorful bags, and go door-to-door in their neighborhoods.

  • Eid Al Fitr:

    • Timing: Celebrated on the first day immediately following the end of the month of Ramadan.

    • Traditions: Families gather together, and children receive gifts of money.

  • The National Day of Bahrain:

    • Timing: Celebrated annually on December 16th.

  • Eid Al Adha:

    • Timing: Celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja.

    • Context: Occurs while pilgrims are performing Hajj (Pilgrimage).

Reading Comprehension: Gerga'oon Festival

  • Cultural Context and Purpose:

    • Gerga'oon is a special event celebrated in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan across the Arab Gulf states.

    • The day is dedicated to children across the Gulf states to encourage them after fasting for the first 15 days of Ramadan and to motivate them to complete fasting for the remaining half of the month.

  • Customs and Activities in Bahrain:

    • Children carry cloth bags and walk from house to house within their local neighborhoods to collect sweets and nuts.

    • Children sing traditional Gerga'oon songs throughout the neighborhood.

    • Girls' Attire: Girls wear new costumes consisting of the bakhnak and beautiful jalabiyas.

    • Boys' Attire: Boys wear white Thobs.

    • Family Activities: Families gather to spend cheerful time together, chatting and telling children historical stories about Gerga'oon.

  • Comprehension Questions and Answers:

    • Question: Gerga'oon is celebrated around the world. (True / False)

    • Answer: False (It is celebrated specifically around the Arab Gulf states).

    • Question: Children, on Gerga'oon day, wear new clothes. (True / False)

    • Answer: True.

    • Question: The word "cheerful" means: (a) confused (b) happy (c) long

    • Answer: (b) happy.

    • Question: Why do they celebrate Gerga'oon?

    • Answer: Families celebrate Gerga'oon to encourage children to continue fasting the rest of Ramadan after completing the first 15 days.

    • Question: Mention one thing children do on the day of Gerga'oon.

    • Answer: Children collect sweets and nuts / Children sing traditional songs of Gerga'oon.

Reading and Text Analysis: International Women's Day

  • Text Overview:

    • "International Women's Day is a special day. It is celebrated around the world on the 8th March every year. This day is dedicated to women. People around the world celebrate this day, but most importantly they celebrate it differently."

    • Celebrations in Bahrain:

    • Celebrated globally on March 8th, while Bahraini Women's Day is specifically celebrated on December 1st.

    • The government honors Bahraini women working in schools, hospitals, and all other fields for their contributions and sacrifices.

    • Celebrations in Italy:

    • It is not an official public holiday.

    • The Italian government and society honor women by offering them free admission to museums and free medical check-ups on Women's Day.

    • People present women with special yellow flowers called mimosa.

    • Celebrations in China:

    • Chinese women receive half a day off from work.

    • Chinese men buy extraordinary presents and flowers for the women in their families.

  • Structural Elements Answer Key:

    • Topic Sentence: "International Women's Day is a special day."

    • Main Idea of Paragraph 2: To provide specific examples showing how different countries around the world celebrate Women's Day in diverse ways.

    • Specific Detail: Italian people present women with yellow flowers (mimosa).

    • Concluding Sentence: "All around the world, people celebrate Women's Day differently, in a way that reflects their culture."

Classification Paragraph and Essay Writing Guide

Classification Paragraph Diagram

  • Essential Components of a Classification Text:

    1. Introductory Paragraph:

    • Must start with a clear topic sentence introducing the central theme.

    • Followed by specific introductory details (e.g., "It is celebrated around the world on the 8th March every year.").

    1. Body Paragraph(s):

    • Details how different groups or countries observe the occasion differently.

    • Provides specific examples for each country or culture mentioned.

    1. Concluding Sentence:

    • Concludes the essay by summarizing the main overarching idea of the text.

Writing Criteria and Self-Assessment Checklist

Self Assessment Criteria Table

  • Target Length: 100–120 words.

  • Required Structural Content:

    • A paragraph containing a clear topic sentence.

    • A paragraph providing specific examples illustrating the topic.

    • A strong concluding sentence.

  • Self-Assessment Checklist Criteria:

    • Points: Checked whether all required details were addressed.

    • Tense: Ensured consistent and correct verb tense usage throughout.

    • Spelling: Verified complete spelling accuracy.

    • Punctuation: Correctly implemented full-stops, commas, dashes, and other punctuation marks.

    • Capitalization: Properly capitalized sentence beginnings, proper nouns, and national designations.

Sample Writing Model: Eid Al Fitr Account

  • Model Essay:

  "Eid Al Fitr is a special day. It is celebrated around the Islamic world at the end of the holy month of Ramadan every year. This day is very important for people who finish fasting in Ramadan.

  In Bahrain, people celebrate Eid Al Fitr every year. Bahraini people wear new clothes and visit relatives, and families gather to share joy. In addition, it is a public holiday for three days. Early morning on the first day people go to mosques to pray and thank Allah for helping them fast in Ramadan. Most importantly, Bahraini people help each other and collect money to help the needy.

  In Oman, Eid Al Fitr is also a public holiday and Omani people wear new special clothes. They gather in large yards to pray in the early morning. Moreover, Omani people gather and eat special Omani sweets. In Morocco, people decorate homes and prepare Eid sweets. Moroccan women decorate their hands with henna.

  In the Islamic world, all people celebrate Eid Al Fitr in different ways that reflect their cultures but all share the joy."