Lesson goal: Students can describe and give opinions about art, theatre and performances, using relative clauses and a range of evaluative adjectives.
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Lesson plan
- 1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- When did you last go to a museum, gallery or the theatre?
- Is there a painting or a piece of music that you really love?
- Do you prefer classic or contemporary art?
- Were you taught art or music at school? Did you enjoy it?
- 2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
Find the matchAnagramexhibition · sculpture · masterpiece · gallery · portrait · abstract · critic · performance · playwright · choreographer · contemporary · inspire · interpretation · venue · masterclass
All words in the set - 3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
- Fill the gap
The museum is holding an ___ of Van Gogh's early drawings.
Answer: exhibition - Fill the gap
A ___ is a person who writes plays.
Answer: playwright - Fill the gap
This is the gallery ___ I saw my first Picasso.
Answer: where / in which - Fill the gap
The artist, ___ paintings sell for millions, started out drawing in the street.
Answer: whose - Multiple choice
Art that doesn't try to show real objects, only shapes and colours, is ...
abstractcontemporaryclassicalrealistic - Multiple choice
Choose the sentence with correct punctuation.
The Mona Lisa, which is in the Louvre, attracts millions of visitors.The Mona Lisa which is in the Louvre attracts millions of visitors.The Mona Lisa, that is in the Louvre, attracts millions of visitors. - Multiple choice
The critic said the play was ___. Everyone should go and see it.
outstandingdisappointingdull - True / false
Read: "The new production of Hamlet sets the play in a modern office. Some critics loved this interpretation, but others felt it was a gimmick. Everyone agreed, however, that the lead actor's performance was outstanding." All the critics liked the modern setting.
Answer: False - True / false
Read the text again. The critics agreed about the lead actor.
Answer: True - Discussion question
Describe a performance, exhibition or work of art that made a strong impression on you. What was special about it?
Sample answer: A few years ago I saw a contemporary dance show in a small venue near my home. The choreographer had used ordinary movements like walking and running, which sounded boring, but the performance was surprisingly moving. It inspired me to take dance classes.
- Fill the gap
- 4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Should museums and galleries be free for everyone?
- Can anything be art? Where do you draw the line?
- Do you trust critics' reviews, or do you prefer to decide for yourself?
- Which artist, writer or musician from your country should the world know better?
- Should schools spend more time on art and music, or is that less important than other subjects?
- 5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz