Christmas Around the World QR Code Hunt

 

Level: B1

Aim: to introduce Christmas traditions around the world and boost Christmas related vocabulary; to improve speaking skills (summarizing, presenting); to improve reading skills (reading for gist, reading for specific information)

Procedure:

  • two teams/groups of students are in two different classrooms (for the purpose of making this procedure as clear as possible I will refer to the classrooms as classroom 1 and classroom 3)
  • each group of students is now divided into 2 subgroups (classroom 1: groups 1&2; classroom 3: groups 3&4). The number of students in each group is not important for a successful completion of this activity, however, it is essential that each and every student remembers the number of the group they belong to.
  • it is crucial that as many students as possible have a QR code reader app installed on their mobile phones (there are many that can be downloaded for free), so before you start the activity make sure all your ss have their phones in their hands (not a difficult task, isn’t it?) and the app opened and at the ready. It goes without saying that the teachers in both classrooms should already have had this app installed on their phone 😊.

TASK 1

  • 2 QR codes are stuck to the whiteboard (classroom 1: Group 1 Task 1 & Group 2 Task1; classroom 3: Group 3 Task 1 & Group 4 Task 1). Students scan the codes with their phones, read the instructions and do task 1 (see below).
Group 1

Ask your teacher for as many questionnaires as the number of your team mates. Go to classroom 3. Interview 4 members of team 3. Every team mate should have the questionnaire completed.

The clock is ticking. You have 10 minutes to complete this task.

 Group 1 TASK 1
Group 2

Ask your teacher for as many questionnaires as the number of your team mates. Wait for team 4 to enter your classroom. Interview 4 members of team 4. Every team mate should have the questionnaire completed. The clock is ticking. You have 10 minutes to complete this task.

 Group 2 TASK 1
Group 3

Ask your teacher for as many questionnaires as the number of your team mates. Wait for team 1 to enter your classroom. Interview 4 members of team 1. Every team mate should have the questionnaire completed. The clock is ticking. You have 10 minutes to complete this task.

 Group 3 TASK 1
Group 4

Ask your teacher for as many questionnaires as the number of your team mates. Go to classroom 1. Interview 4 members of team 2. Every team mate should have the questionnaire completed.

The clock is ticking. You have 10 minutes to complete this task.

 Group 4 TASK 1

 

QUESTIONNAIRE:

NAME THE BEST NEW YEAR/CHRISTMAS PRESENT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED 2 WORDS THAT REMIND YOU OF CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 1 CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR TRADITION YOU LIKE
 

 

 

  

 
 

 

 

  

 
 

 

 

  

 
 

 

 

  

 

 

  • when the students have completed their interviews the teachers give the following instructions: now that we have got to know each other better and found out what words remind you of Christmas or New Year and what Christmas and New Year traditions you like let’s talk about quirky/wacky Christmas and New Year traditions around the world. But in order to find out about these traditions and the countries they come from you need to show (dramatic pause) a lot of team spirit and love for technology… so follow the next clue.

TASK 2

  • there are 8 QR codes on the walls in each classroom – 4 codes for each team (that the teachers have put up on the walls, grouped per team, while ss interviewed each other during task 1). The teachers give instructions that the ss should scan the codes, read the texts carefully and that once they have finished they will present what they have learned in the form of a discussion.

At this point teams 2 and 4 are in classroom 1 and teams 1 and 3 are in classroom 3.

It is crucial to direct the teams towards their respective QR codes.

 

Classroom 1

Team 2 Team 4
Team 2 Task 2.1 Team 4 Task 2.1
Team 2 Task 2.2 Team 4 Task 2.2
Team 2 Task 2.3 Team 4 Task 2.3
Team 2 Task 2.4 Team 4 Task 2.4

 

Classroom 3

Team 3 Team 1
Team 3 Task 2.1 Team 1 Task 2.1
Team 3 Task 2.2 Team 1 Task 2.2
Team 3 Task 2.3 Team 1 Task 2.3
Team 3 Task 2.4 Team 1 Task 2.4

 

Ss scan the codes, read the texts and then the discussion ensues. Different team members ‘retell’ different traditions that they have just read about. This speaking session should last no more than 10 minutes (note: teams in one classroom have different texts and also one team reads the texts with the information about which countries the traditions come from, while the other team reads texts without the information about which countries the traditions come from. Those who read the texts without the information about which countries the traditions come from can, for the time being, guess which countries they might be.)

At this stage of the activity team 2 in classroom 1 has the same texts as team 3 in classroom 3 but team 2 can read only about the tradition and team 3 can read both about the tradition and the country it comes from; the same goes for teams 1 and 4.

 

Team 2
Team 2 Task 2.1

Turns out, Santa’s worse half is a hairy, devil-like creature called Krampus. Legend has it that while Santa brings toys to “nice” children, Krampus’ job is to punish kids on the “naughty” list. Mostly he just frightens the children with his beastly looks, but it’s said that he throws particularly bad children into his sack, or chains them up in his basket and carts them off to Hell. People in _____________ and neighboring countries often dress up as Krampus in early December and wander the streets to scare children.

 

 Team 2 Task 2.1

 
Team 2 Task 2.2

In the United States, we associate Christmas with ham or figgy pudding, but in ___________ , it’s all about Kentucky Fried Chicken. That’s not a joke. An estimated 3.5 million families eat fried chicken on Christmas Eve thanks to a marketing stunt by KFC in the 1970s called “Kentucky for Christmas”. Christians make up a very small percentage of the population of _________, so this campaign made up for a lack of Christmas holiday traditions. The KFC Christmas Meal is so popular, many customers pre-order their dinners — which include fried chicken, cake and champagne — months in advance.

 

 Team 2 Task 2.2
 

Team 2 Task 2.3

Some people in __________ believe witches and evil spirits roam the night sky on Christmas Eve. And what is a witch’s preferred mode of transportation? A broomstick. So out of caution, people in __________ hide all of the brooms in their houses to prevent any witches from getting their hands on them. Sometimes people will take it a step further by firing a warning gunshot into the air to scare them off.

 

  

Team 2 Task 2.3

 
Team 2 Task 2.4

You’re probably familiar with Christmas caroling, but you’re definitely not familiar with the carolers who might show up at your door in ___________. At some point in December or January, you could open your door to find someone hidden by a ribbon and bell-adorned sheet, holding up a real horse skull on a stick, with a few fellow revelers in tow. As part of this tradition, the group will sing to you and then challenge you to a battle of rhyming insults. After the contest, the party is usually invited inside for refreshments.

 

 Team 2 Task 2.4

 

 

Team 4  
Team 4 Task 2.1

This version of Santa Claus comes from Italy and is actually an ugly (but kind) old witch. As the story goes, the Magi stopped at her house to ask for directions on their way to visit baby Jesus. They invited the witch, Befana, to come with them on their journey, but she said she had too much housework to do. After they left, she changed her mind and tried to find them but couldn’t, so now she flies around on the night of January 5th (the eve of the Magi’s meeting with Baby Jesus). Much like Santa, Befana delivers toys to children. Instead of milk and cookies, people in Italy leave out a plate of sausage and broccoli and a glass of wine for her.

 

 Team 4 Task 2.1
Team 4 Task 2.2

In the Southern Hemisphere, the holidays fall during the summer. There temperatures can get as warm as 29 degrees Celsius around Christmas, so naturally, many people in Australia head to the beach. Families and friends partake in swimming, picnics and volleyball. Often, some surfing Santas will make an appearance. A couple of beaches are known to be a hotspot for foreign travelers and backpackers, and in recent years there have been a lot of parties with amazing fireworks and singalongs in many different languages.

 

 Team 4 Task 2.2
 

Team 4 Task 2.3

Would you feel lucky if you found a spider web on your Christmas tree? Probably not. But people in Ukraine associate spider webs with good fortune thanks to an ancient story. In the tale, a poor family grew a Christmas tree from a pine cone. The children were excited to decorate it, but the family couldn’t afford any decorations. Sensing the family’s despair, spiders spun glistening silk webs around the tree, which turned to silver and gold when the sun rose in the morning, leaving the family with a beautifully adorned tree. To this day, families in Ukraine decorate their trees with spider webs for good luck.

 

  

Team 4 Task 2.3
Team 4 Task 2.4

Every Christmas, families around Sweden gather around the television at 3pm sharp, to watch the 1958 Christmas cartoon called „Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas“.

Everything on Christmas is planned around the television special, and more than 40% of population of Sweden still tune-in like clockwork. The tradition dates back to the 1960s when televisions were a new thing in Sweden and only two channels aired – one of which played Disney cartoons at Christmas. It may be a quirky tradition, but a whole nation coming together to watch Christmas cartoons together is about as Christmas as it gets.

 Team 4 Task 2.4

 

 

 

Team 1  
Team 1 Task 2.1

This version of Santa Claus comes from ____________ and is actually an ugly (but kind) old witch. As the story goes, the Magi stopped at her house to ask for directions on their way to visit baby Jesus. They invited the witch, Befana, to come with them on their journey, but she said she had too much housework to do. After they left, she changed her mind and tried to find them but couldn’t, so now she flies around on the night of January 5th (the eve of the Magi’s meeting with Baby Jesus). Much like Santa, Befana delivers toys to children. Instead of milk and cookies, people in ___________ leave out a plate of sausage and broccoli and a glass of wine for her.

 

 Team 1 Task 2.1
Team 1 Task 2.2

In the Southern Hemisphere, the holidays fall during the summer. There temperatures can get as warm as 29 degrees Celsius around Christmas, so naturally, many people in ____________ head to the beach. Families and friends partake in swimming, picnics and volleyball. Often, some surfing Santas will make an appearance. A couple of beaches are known to be a hotspot for foreign travelers and backpackers, and in recent years there have been a lot of parties with amazing fireworks and singalongs in many different languages.

 

 Team 1 Task 2.2
 

Team 1 Task 2.3

Would you feel lucky if you found a spider web on your Christmas tree? Probably not. But people in _____________ associate spider webs with good fortune thanks to an ancient story. In the tale, a poor family grew a Christmas tree from a pine cone. The children were excited to decorate it, but the family couldn’t afford any decorations. Sensing the family’s despair, spiders spun glistening silk webs around the tree, which turned to silver and gold when the sun rose in the morning, leaving the family with a beautifully adorned tree. To this day, families in ______________ decorate their trees with spider webs for good luck.

 

 

  

Team 1 Task 2.3
Team 1 Task 2.4

Every Christmas, families around ____________ gather around the television at 3pm sharp, to watch the 1958 Christmas cartoon called „Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas“.

Everything on Christmas is planned around the television special, and more than 40% of population of ____________ still tune-in like clockwork. The tradition dates back to the 1960s when televisions were a new thing in Sweden and only two channels aired – one of which played Disney cartoons at Christmas. It may be a quirky tradition, but a whole nation coming together to watch Christmas cartoons together is about as Christmas as it gets.

 Team 1 Task 2.4

 

 

Team 3
Team 3 Task 2.1

Turns out, Santa’s worse half is a hairy, devil-like creature called Krampus. Legend has it that while Santa brings toys to “nice” children, Krampus’ job is to punish kids on the “naughty” list. Mostly he just frightens the children with his beastly looks, but it’s said that he throws particularly bad children into his sack, or chains them up in his basket and carts them off to Hell. People in Austria and neighboring countries often dress up as Krampus in early December and wander the streets to scare children.

 

 Team 3 Task 2.1
 

Team 3 Task 2.2

In the United States, we associate Christmas with ham or figgy pudding, but in Japan, it’s all about Kentucky Fried Chicken. That’s not a joke. An estimated 3.5 million families eat fried chicken on Christmas Eve thanks to a marketing stunt by KFC in the 1970s called “Kentucky for Christmas”. Christians make up a very small percentage of the population of Japan, so this campaign made up for a lack of Christmas holiday traditions. The KFC Christmas Meal is so popular, many customers pre-order their dinners — which include fried chicken, cake and champagne — months in advance.

 

 

  

Team 3 Task 2.2
 

Team 3 Task 2.3

Some people in Norway believe witches and evil spirits roam the night sky on Christmas Eve. And what is a witch’s preferred mode of transportation? A broomstick. So out of caution, people in Norway hide all of the brooms in their houses to prevent any witches from getting their hands on them. Sometimes people will take it a step further by firing a warning gunshot into the air to scare them off.

 

  

Team 3 Task 2.3
Team 3 Task 2.4

You’re probably familiar with Christmas caroling, but you’re definitely not familiar with the carolers who might show up at your door in Wales. At some point in December or January, you could open your door to find someone hidden by a ribbon and bell-adorned sheet, holding up a real horse skull on a stick, with a few fellow revelers in tow. As part of this tradition, the group will sing to you and then challenge you to a battle of rhyming insults. After the contest, the party is usually invited inside for refreshments.

 

 Team 3 Task 2.4

 

TASK 3

  • after the discussion each group is given one QR code with the next clue. It is vital that each group receives their respective QR code.
TEAM 2 task 3

tradition only

 TEAM 4 task 3

tradition + country

 TEAM 1 task 3

tradition only

 TEAM 3 task 3

tradition + country
Team 2,

go to classroom 3 and ask team 3 to help you match the Christmas traditions and the countries they come from.

 

 Team 4,

wait for team 1 to come and  help them match the Christmas traditions and the countries they come from.

 

 

 Team 1,

Go to classroom 1 and ask team 4 to help you match the Christmas traditions and the countries they come from.

 

 Team 3,

Wait for team 2 and help them match the Christmas traditions and the countries they come from.

 

 
TEAM 2 task 3

 

 TEAM 4 task 3

 

 TEAM 1 task 3

 

 TEAM 3 task 3

 

 

TASK 4

  • once ss have matched the traditions and the countries they come from the teachers give instructions: Let’s find out about one more tradition:

Each team is given one (the same) QR code:

 

With all the searching and matching, hope it’s been fun,

There’s one tradition left – you’re almost done!

Look under the Christmas tree for the very last one!

__________(name of school) wishes you a Happy New Year and a very Merry Christmas!

 
Team 1 Task 4

 

 Team 2 Task 4

 
Team 3 Task 4

 

 Team 2 Task 4

 

 

Ss come to the Christmas Tree, look under it and find their presents.

 

 

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