LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERSTHE DARK SIDE OF HALLOWEEN
LinguaHouse
Oct. 4, 2022
Level: Upper-Intermediate (B2-C1)
Type of English: General English
Tags: Celebrations and Special Events; Beliefs, Religion and Superstition; American Culture; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old; Article Based
Publication date: 10/04/2022
In this lesson, students read an article about the hazards and downsides of Halloween. Activities focus on the skills of reading, writing, and speaking. There are also opportunities for students to give their opinions about Halloween and its traditions.
- CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
- CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
- CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
- CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
- CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
- CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT
The dark side of Halloween
Parts of Halloween that we don't talk about
It’s Halloween again. Are you looking forward to dressing-up and eating your body weight in candy or are you shaking behind the sofa? If it’s the latter, prepare to be even more scared when you’ve finished reading about the dangers and downsides of Halloween.
Scary experiences
Everything about Halloween can be truly terrifying for young children, and even the most fearless adults can be scared by realistic decorations. Psychologists advise parents to watch their children closely during Halloween, and to remind them of what is real and what isn’t.
Overdosing on sugar
The average young trick-or-treater will consume about 3 cups of sugar on Halloween, and devour around 7,000 calories, which is the equivalent to 13Big Macs. As a grown-up, you’re also just as likely to consume too much sugar, as it’s very tempting to steal candy from kids and snack on treats people bring to the office.
Commercialization
In the past few decades, the Halloween industry has grown dramatically. Temporary Halloween stores have opened up. Bars, nightclubs and restaurants have theme nights, and people even send Halloween cards. Then there is the pressure to buy costumes, decorate your house and buy a ton of candy for trick-or-treaters.
Hidden dangers
Children can trip over their Halloween costumes and some are flammable. Masks can obstruct people’s vision. Children should also be careful about what they accept from strangers. In 1964, a woman gave dog biscuits and ant poison to a group of teenagers she thought were too old for trick-or-treating. However, the biggest Halloween danger is car accidents. At night, it’s difficult for drivers to see people wearing dark clothes.
Vandalism
Halloween can unleash violent behavior in people. Children get hyped up on sugar and adults get drunk, so property gets easily damaged. Cars, homes and mailboxes are often targeted on Halloween, but people have also stolen things like kitchen utensils. In some states in the US, ringing the doorbell and running away is a criminal offense.
Cleaning up
On Halloween in the US, people throw eggs at houses, which splatter on impact. The mess this creates is horrendous to get rid of. Toilet paper in trees and silly string are also common Halloween pranks which take a lot of time to take down. In California, you can be fined $1000 dollars for using silly string.
Cosmetic catastrophes
Zombie face paint, fake blood and prosthetic skin can all cause skin irritation, inflammation and allergic reactions. Test any make-up you plan to wear on a small patch of your skin first. Colored contact lenses have also become popular but experts say that it’s wise to wear only prescription lenses.
Fancy dress fears
It seems it’s not acceptable to leave the house on Halloween dressed as yourself. Some people start thinking about their costume months in advance, to avoid the stress of trying to put together an adequate outfit at the last minute. Then there’s the pressure of trying to top the costume you wore last year.
Terrifying TV
If you hate horror films, then Halloween isn’t a goodtime for you. Scary movies take over our screens and there are countless previews for these in movie theaters. A lot of these films are also deliberately terrible. Many horror fans truly want to see a movie ‘so bad, it’s good.’
Risks to our four-legged friends
Halloween can also be frightening for pets. Owners should be wary that they’re not eating any sweets or chocolate that are lying around the house. Many Halloween costumes also have plastic accessories which a dog might want to chew on and possibly swallow, so these should be kept away from animals.
Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/the-dark-side-of-halloween. Accessed on October 13, 2022. © 2008–2022 LinguaHouse.com. All rights reserved.
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