The Easter Bunny Hates You
Image courtesy of Zaffnews.
This is for the Blog Carnival being hosted by the wonderful Karenne Sylvester of KalinagoEnglish.
Rather than simply just posting a lesson I thought I’d go into some detail about my thinking behind it as well. I’ve divided the lessons into stages. Just click on the stage title (for part 1, 2, and 4) to download and view that part of the lesson. The file for the entire lesson can plan also be downloaded here.
Lesson: The Easter Bunny Hates You!
Level: Pre-Intermediate and Up
Planning the Lesson – Like most of my lessons, this was one that was created from the content rather than finding content to suit a specific aim. I saw the original video and immediately wanted to incorporate it into one of my classes, so I started to think of ways to do it.
I think creating lessons around content rather than finding content to fit a language point is really the way to go. It comes across as much less artificial and lessons aren’t as restrictive because a variety of language is allowed to emerge rather than an unrealistic overemphasis on a particular structure or lexical set.
I also tend to like lessons that have a cultural element to them. They are a bit more interesting, encourage sharing and discussion between teacher and students, and often help students understand the language more.
Part 1: Create Tension and Mingle
Creating tension is probably one of the most important elements of any lesson. Tension can be created with something as simple as a question or a picture. Tension pulls the students into a lesson and then keeps them interested.
I’m not sure if this lesson would work in more Christian countries because the Easter Bunny is probably pretty familiar. Here in Turkey, he is not well known, so students never recognize the word Easter and most students know the word “rabbit” but not “bunny” for whatever reason.
The lesson starts with a question, “Who or what is the Easter Bunny?” Immediately students are curious. As the mingle progresses they become more and more interested in who or what the Easter Bunny is, and a burning desire to know is created. Usually, when I take a break after the first hour, most students run to the Internet and do a quick search for the Easter Bunny before they come back.
I also love mingles as they involve lots of speaking, listening, and movement plus in this one the students have to remember and adapt information they’ve learned.
Part 2: Satisfying Curiosity & Personalization
(Reading, Listening, & Speaking)
While students have probably already checked the Internet for the information, this phase of the lesson gives them a chance to really understand what the Easter Bunny is and compare it to the ideas they came up with in the first hour. They can also ask you questions about this rather strange tradition and this can lead to a discussion on holidays and traditions in your students’ country.
Part 3: Video Humor
Establish that today is not Easter. Then write the question, “What is the Easter Bunny doing right now?” on the board. Either as a class or in groups get as many ideas as possible and put some of them on the board. Language of possibility is desired here (i.e. He might be painting eggs for next year). This language can be demonstrated and analyzed if necessary. Show them the video:
The Easter Bunny Hates You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPb0po2jzfg
Compare students’ guesses on the board to the actual video.
I think videos are a great way to provide context, change up the routine, and intro material in the classroom.
And I think an important feature of any classroom is humor. Humor is one of the things that makes sitting in a class and learning English for 4 hours bearable. It also increases motivation, creates a good atmosphere, and helps build relationships in the class. For these reasons I love to use lesson materials that contain humorous elements and what is funnier than the Easter Bunny kicking some ass? 
Part 4: Creative Writing
In this phase of the lesson the students have been given a funny story, so they have a place to begin. The story is quite creative itself and opens the way for the students’ own creativity.
Here the students are given free reign to come up with a variety of ideas related to the Easter Bunny’s past. Allowing the students to be creative is another important element for many a lesson and the language, laughter, and stories that come out of these types of activities are simply fantastic.
Part 5: Final Comparison and Wrapping Things Up
After students write and discuss their own work, it’s always a lot of fun to show the “official” version of the story. Students get a big kick out of comparing what they came up with with what the makers of the video came up with. It’s a good way to get feedback and bring the lesson to a close.
Grammar Outline for Modals of Deduction
I hope you enjoyed the lesson The full lesson plan can be found here.
Tags: Easter Bunny, Lesson Planning, Modals, Tension
Lesson Ideas | turklis1 | 
March 7, 2010 12:48 pm
7 Comments
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By Ellen, March 23, 2010 @ 9:22 am
I thought it was hilarious. I reposted and immediately offended someone.
Bad Ellen.
Still hilarious
By Mike Harrison, April 21, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
Hi Nick,
I’ve just done your fab lesson with a group of students this morning (post- rather than pre-Easter with my timing).
Really enjoyed doing the lesson and the video, like Ellen says, is hilarious. Got some writing from the student and fairly accurate (if a bit simplistic) – all good in my opinion, though, as it’s often hard to get these students to produce (they like to sit back and be lectured at, I think), so your plan worked a treat!
Thanks
Mike
By magdalena, July 24, 2010 @ 4:23 am
Incredible!!! I´m from Uruguay, it´s a great web page!!!I wish we had one in this country…I loved the easter bunny!! ja
By betty, April 24, 2011 @ 5:12 pm
wow, such a beautiful easter bunny and it’s also very cute, so i used it in my easter art project!
By mccaela, April 24, 2011 @ 10:54 pm
wtf… hilarious i cant believe it, i just wish that i knew that person!!!:) i cant wiat 2 show my buddies this, oh wiat i have nun!!!:( but i can show my sisters this!!! theyll prob ask me why a 13 year old still in 6th grade at school would look this up!!! lol!!!:)
By mccaela, April 24, 2011 @ 10:59 pm
lol………………………………………………………………………………………………………funny bunny… kick some ass!!!
By Sarah, April 24, 2011 @ 11:44 pm
The first picture of the rabbit is from subeta. MMMEEEEFFFT!