Piatas

PiatasLanguage Features and Functions

Vocabulary: A tradition in Mexico

Function: Expressing feelings and ideas

I think/ In my opinion,Language Skills

Speaking: To answer the question about the story.

Reading: To read for comprehension and answer.

Writing: To write and share the opinion about the story

Vocabulary TestMatch the words to their definitions. 1. pick up a. a small round or oval object produced by a plant, 2. seed from which a new plant can grow 3. shout b. something that someone tells you to do 4. stick c. with the eyes covered 5. blindfolded d. take hold of and lift up something 6. century e. a thin piece of wood 7. instruction f. a period of 100 years g. to speak with a very loud voice

VocabularyPick up (v.)

My mother picked some flowers up make a merit in this morning.

VocabularySeed (n.)

The farmers grow the rice for getting seeds for buying.

VocabularyShout (v.)

I heard someone shout for helping.

VocabularyStick (n.)

Although you hate cats, you should not hit them with a stick.

VocabularyBlindfolded (v.)

We were blindfolded for game competition. You cant see.

VocabularyCentury (n.)

This temple was constructed for a century or one hundred years.

VocabularyInstruction (n.)

My mother gave me some instruction for making cookies.

AnswerdagecfbPre-readingWhat is your favourite holiday in your country?

What special things do you do on that holiday?

Where did those traditions come from?

PiatasEvery year on birthdays and other special holidays, people in Mexico make Piatas. Piatas are big, colourful animals made out of paper. Inside the Piatas are many sweets. People take turns to hit the Piatas with a stick. When it breaks, the sweets spill out onto the ground. Then everybody has a lot of fun picking them up! In Mexico, Piatas are a very popular tradition. But not many people know that the first Piatas came from China!

PiatasIn the fourteenth century, a European called Marco Polo visited China. When he returned to Europe he told everyone about a Chinese tradition. The Chinese often made animals out of coloured paper and put seeds inside They hit the animals with a stick until they broke. Breaking the animals was thought to bring good luck. The tradition soon became popular in Italy and Spain. When the Spanish went to Mexico in the sixteenth century, they took the tradition with them. It quickly became very popular there, too.

PiatasToday in Mexico, breaking a Piatas is not so easy. Before hitting it, each person is blindfolded. Because they cant see the Piatas, they have to be told where to hit it. People give instructions to the person who is trying to hit it. They shout at them to hit higher or lower, left or right. They sing songs about Piatas and laugh a lot! It is great fun watching children grab the sweets when the Piatas breaks!

Post-readingVocabulary A1. pick it up2. take turns3. good luck4. seeds5. sweets

Post-readingVocabulary B1. speak very loudly2. long, thin piece of wood3. tied something around his head to cover his eyes4. a time of 100 years5. told him how to do it

Post-readingIn other words

A 2 - To describe the tradition of piatas.

B1. Paragraph 22. Paragraph 33. Paragraph 1

Post-readingGeneral understanding

1. F2. F3. T4. T

Post-readingIn detail1. They are made out of paper.2. They hit it with a stick.3. Everybody picks them up.4. Marco Polo.5. In the sixteenth century.6. Because each person is blindfolded.