Jigsaw reading. Most schoolchildren from different countries have free time every day.
Do children from Great Britain, America and Australia do similar activities after school? Read Learning to learn note No. 5.
3) In home groups. Read one of the texts (А, в or C) and do the task.
A How do children in Great Britain spend their free time? Answer the questions.
What hobbies do children enjoy?
What sports do children go in for?
What do children do to earn money?
What clubs/organisations are most children involved in?
In Great Britain most children spend their free time at home, watching TV or doing chores about the house. Or they may listen to music or read. Many children have hobbies. They are great collectors, they collect stamps, or postcards, or stickers of favourite footballers or pop stars. Young people hang out in streets and parks, visit town centres and go window shopping. Many young people use some of their spare time to earn money by working in shops at weekends, delivering newspapers, helping in the yard or car washing for people in their community. Children are also involved in different clubs and organisations: they go to the Scouts,* Boys’ and Girls’
Brigades.* Children enjoy playing and watching different sports: football, rugby,* cricket,* swimming, horse-riding, tennis and many other games.
B How do children in the USA spend their free time? Answer the questions.
What hobbies do children enjoy?
What sports do children go in for?
What do children do to earn money?
What clubs/organisations are most children involved in?
Children in the USA have a lot of interests. Both boys and girls play many of the same games. They swim, play baseball and basketball, go boating and camping. Youth organisations like the Boy Scouts,* the Girl Scouts* and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America* involve children in different activities. After school children take part in the activities of different clubs. They join photography, music, art, stamp collecting, theatre and other clubs. Often schools have bands, choirs and sports for boys and girls. In farm areas children learn to work together in 4-H* clubs. Many children have part-time jobs after school hours. They earn money by delivering newspapers or helping to take care of elderly people in nursing homes. During the summer holidays children go to camps where they have lots of activities and learn different skills.
C How do children in Australia spend their free time? Answer the questions.
What hobbies do children enjoy?
What sports do children go in for?
What do children do to earn money?
What clubs/organisations are most children involved in?
In Australia sports are an important part of many children’s life, with cricket,* football (soccer) and swimming being the most popular. Most children take part in after-school sports during the year. Most girls choose netball,* and boys often choose rugby* or cricket.
Children prefer to spend a lot of time chatting online with their friends or hanging out at the beach. After school many children also do different chores about the house or they may earn1 money by working at the local supermarket or fast food restaurant. Thousands of Australian children join the Scouts* and Girl Guides* clubs where they learn different skills.
2) In expert groups. Compare your answers for the task and come to an agreement. Copy the table and fill It In with the information you have read. Get ready to retell the text.
Sports
Hobbies
Jobs
Clubs/organisations
Other activities
Great Britain
The USA
Australia
3) In home groups. Retell the text you have read to your group mates. Use the questions as an outline. While listening to your group mates, fill in the table with the information about the children’s free-time activities.