Happy Easter!

Many Americans are Christian.  Easter is a holiday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many Americans go to church and sing a song (hymn) like this every Easter:

Link to watch the Roman Catholic Easter Mass in English

Handel's "Messiah" is very popular this week as well.  ("Messiah" is also popular at Christmas.)  Many choirs sing the "Messiah" and many families go to see it.  Many choirs sing the "Alleluia Chorus" in church.  You may even hear people sing "Alleluia" at the mall.

Many Americans go to church, eat with their family, and give children candy.  Some pretend an Easter bunny leaves baskets of candy and toys and hides eggs around the house.  A lot of  non-christians celebrate easter in the USA by sharing candy and hunting for eggs.

Today Easter egg hunts are popular.  A long time ago, Easter egg rolls were more popular.  The most popular Easter egg roll now is at the White House.  You can take children to roll eggs at the White House and get a special white house egg.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll

Did you celebrate Easter today?  What did you do?

Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the day that Jesus Christ was crucified.  It's important for Christians around the world.

Do you go to church on Good Friday?

Happy Norooz!

On Sunday, March 20 people all over the world will celebrate Norooz.  Norooz is an important Persian holiday.  Many people clean their homes very well -- some shake it up so much that they get new furniture -- to prepare for the party.  The party is always exactly at the time of the equinox that marks the beginning of spring.  Although many Americans don't know about Norooz, the Obama family celebrates it.  Our traditions of spring cleaning and easter eggs may come from Norooz.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/20/norooz-persian-new-year-2015_n_6904092.html

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick brought Christianity to the British Isles.  He started more than 400 churches.

In the United States, people celebrate Irish heritage on St. Patrick's Day.  They wear green.  They often drink beer.  It's rarely about Christianity.

In elementary school, any child (of any heritage) who doesn't wear green on St. Patrick's day gets pinched.  There are many parades and many parties on St. Patrick's day.

photos from DC St. Patrick's Day Parade posted by About.com

"Danny Boy" is a famous Irish song

A classic navy song for St. Patrick's day.  Listen to the song and look at the words.  Can you point to the words you hear?  It's fast!

("till his sober"= "until he's sober" in good English.  Sober is the opposite of drunk.  You are sober if you don't drink any alcohol.)

drunken-adjective (description word) for someone who drank too much alcohol.  Often "drunk."

sailor-occupation-work on a boat

Got some unexpected time?  Watch this video -- Can you follow and understand it?

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

We say "you don't have to" when something is optional or not important.  Do you believe the singer when he says "you don't have to say you love me?"  I think he protests too much!

Time Change

Reading from ELCivics



Time Change

Twice a year, people in the United States change the time on their clocks and watches. In spring they turn their clocks forward one hour. In fall they turn them back one hour. The time change means that in spring people lose an hour and in fall they gain an hour. There is a saying to help us remember which way to turn our clocks: “Spring forward and fall back.” Most people change their clocks on Saturday evening before they go to bed. Then when they wake up on Sunday, their clocks are correct. Remember to change your clocks.

People also change the batteries on their smoke detector(s) when they change their clocks.

Were you late on Saturday or Sunday because of daylight savings?  Do you feel tired or sick?

Do you think we should all have to change our clocks on 4PM on a Friday rather than in the middle of the night on Saturday?

Making a Doctor's Appointment

Listening Exercise -- making an appointment. Go to II and press the triangle>
Do you understand?  Can you complete the exercises?