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March
March is a month associated with the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring.
However, since March 2020 our impression of this month and our expectations regarding it
may have changed. Our activities for this month will encourage our B2 First and C1 Advanced
students to discuss the topic of first impressions and expectations while they listen to some
well-known music. The B1 Preliminary and B2 First learners will explore the topic of deception
and magic. Finally, our younger learners can have some fun learning some magic tricks.
Happy teaching!
1. First impressions… ...........................................................................................................2
2. Magic ................................................................................................................................5
3. Let’s do some magic! ........................................................................................................7
4. References .....................................................................................................................11

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1. First impressions…
Level: B2 First / C1 Advanced
Skills: speaking and listening
Interaction: whole class and paired activity
Classroom equipment: computer, Internet
connection, speakers, screen
Time: 45 minutes
Lead in (10’) – whole class activity
You are going to listen to a song, listen and fill in the missing words.
Warm up! (10’) – whole class activity
The title of the song is Every breath you take.
• Did you know the song?
• Who wrote the song?
• What is the song about?
• What type of song is it?
• This song was written in 1982, but some time later it created some controversy. Why
do you think that was?

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Listening (10’) – individual activity / in pairs
Watch this video and answer the questions. You are going to watch the video twice.
1. How many times had the song Every breath you take been played according to the
certificate Sting received from an American radio?
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____________________________________________________________________
2. Explain how music played on the radio makes money.
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3. What does Sting point out as a contrast between the popularity of the song and the
song itself?
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4. He also mentions a contrast between what the first impression of the song may be and
the meaning behind it. Can you explain it?
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____________________________________________________________________
5. How does the interviewer try to explain the popularity of the song?
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Follow up (15’) – whole class activity
• Sting mentioned that he never contradicts people about what the meaning of a song
might be. Do you think songs only have one meaning? Are you interested in finding out
about the stories behind songs?
• Do you usually rely on first impressions? Why (not)?
• In difficult circumstances always act on first impressions. (Leo Tolstoy) Do you agree
with this? Why (not)? Why do you think Tolstoy said this?
• It is sometimes difficult to get rid of first impressions. (Sherrilyn Kenyon) Do you agree
with this? Why (not)? Why do you think Sherrilyn Kenyon said this?
Source: Wise Sayings (2021).
KEY
1. How many times had the song Every breath you take been played according to
the certificate Sting received from an American radio?
10 million times
2. Explain how music played on the radio makes money.
Every time a song is played on the radio it earns a royalty, which is split between the
writer and the publisher.
3. What does Sting point out as a contrast between the popularity of the song and
the song itself?
It is his most popular and probably best-known song but it is in the least bit original
because it has a standard melody and you could take the lyrics from a rhyming
dictionary.
4. He also mentions a contrast between what the first impression of the song may
be and the meaning behind it. Can you explain it?
People think it is a romantic song and that was his initial intention but there is a sinister
point in it as it can be seen as the story of an obsession, so the song has a double
edge.
5. How does the interviewer try to explain the popularity of the song?
When you have songs where the same line repeats but some words change the ear
likes that because it makes people think about what the songwriter is going to rhyme it
with and where he is going to go with it and that makes it attractive.

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2. Magic
Level: B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Skills: listening and speaking
Interaction: whole class, individual and paired activity
Classroom equipment: computer, Internet connection, speakers,
screen
Time: 45 minutes
Warm up (15’) – whole class
• What is your opinion on magic?
• What is deception?
• Why do you think people lie?
• Do you think there are ‘good’ lies? Why (not)?
Listening (15’) – individual activity / in pairs
You are going to watch a video where Marco Tempest blends technology and magic.
Answer the questions. You are going to watch the video twice.
1. What does the app he presents do?
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2. Why is magic said to be sincere?
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3. According to Marco and the people he mentions, why do people deceive one
another? Give two reasons.
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4. Who, according to Marco, are the experts at self-deception? Why?
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5. What is said about art and deception?
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Speaking (15’) – whole class activity
Read the following statements, do you agree or disagree. Why?
 Deception is a fundamental part of life.
 Romance is based on deception (Oscar Wilde).
 Bad experiences are quickly forgotten.
KEY
1. What does the app he presents do?
It synchronises videos across multiple screens of mobile devices.
2. Why is magic said to be sincere?
A magician promises to deceive you and he does.
3. According to Marco and the people he mentions, why do people deceive one
another? Give two reasons.
- To gain an advantage
- To hide their weaknesses
4. Who, according to Marco, are the experts at self-deception? Why?
Compulsive gamblers are experts at self-deception. They believe they can win and
they forget the times they lose.
5. What is said about art and deception?
Art is the greatest deception of all, art is a deception that creates real emotions. A lie
that creates truth.

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3. Let’s do some magic!
Level: A1 Movers / A2 Flyers
Skills: speaking and listening
Interaction: whole class and paired activity
Classroom equipment: computer, Internet connection, speakers, screen
Time: 55 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• Do you like magic?
• Can you do any magic tricks?
Vocabulary (10’) – in pairs / groups of 3
Give each pair / group a card and ask them to find the object(s) in the classroom.
Coloured card Scissors
Tape and
stickers to
decorate
Paint brush
See-through
sticky tape
2 different sized
food tins
A can opener A newspaper An old shirt

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Listening (10’) – whole class activity
Watch the video and put the steps in the correct order. You are going to watch the video
twice.
Put the steps in the correct order:
A: Cut out four pieces of thick cardboard
measuring 20 x 20 cm each. Paint the
backs of all the squares with the black
paint. If you are using a box, paint the
inside of the box with the black paint. Be
careful not to get paint on the presentation
side (the side that people will see). Leave
to dry.
C: Use the can opener and remove the
bottom of the big can only, so you are left
with a tube. This is a bit tricky, so ask your
teacher for help. Make sure there are no
sharp edges along the sides.
E: Paint only the inside of the big tin with
black paint. Make sure all the surface is
black.
B: Now paint the inside and the outside of
the smaller tin. This is the part that people
shouldn’t see. Leave your tins to dry.
D: Decorate the square (or the side on the
box) with the grid. We used stickers and
decorative tape, but you can add buttons
and any other decorations you want.
Remember, this is what your audience will
be seeing when you are doing the trick.

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Adapted from: Magic Tricks for Kids (2013).
Speaking (10’) – whole class activity
• Did you like the trick? Why (not)?
• Do you want to learn other tricks?
Follow up (15’) – individual activity
Do you know any good magic tricks? If you don’t, you can do some research online and
learn a trick. You can use it for the magic show that your school is organising.
G: Now we are going to build the square.
Place the four squares (with the black
painted sides facing up) one next to the
other. Stick the sides of two squares
together with a length of see-through sticky
tape. Stick the side of the third square to the
first two squares. Now stick the last square
to your row of squares. All your squares
should now be attached in one long row.
H: The last step is to make your ‘square’ by
sticking the last two sides together. Ask
your teacher for help. Then add some
decorative tape along the sides of the
square to give it a nice finish.
F: Your squares (or box) should be dry by now.
Measure and cut out a grid in one of the squares
(or one of the sides of the box). (See pictures on
the right).
By cutting these diagonal lines, it adds to the
misdirection in the show, because it is almost
impossible to see the vertical sides of the can
when it is inside the square.
Magic week.
Your school is organising a magic week. Students can have some fun
watching tricks and performances. Take part and do your own trick!
The winner will attend a course for young magicians!

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KEY
1. A
2. C
3. E
4. B
5. F
6. D
7. G
8. H

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4. References
Cody, P. (2018). No title. [image/jpeg] Available at:
https://unsplash.com/photos/y5fhAe3s0Ck [Accessed 19th February 2021].
Kobruseva, A. (2020). White and Black Star and Number. [image/jpeg] Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-black-star-and-numbers-5715255/
[Accessed 19th February 2021].
Lyricstraining (2020). Every Breath you Take. Available at:
https://es.lyricstraining.com/play/the-police/every-breath-you-
take/U9pBOeCaQ9#e5w [Accessed 17th February 2021].
Magic Tricks for Kids (2013). Square Circle Production Box – Magic Tricks for Kids to Do at
Home – Make it and Do it!. Youtube. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS5ZOEU5jo8&feature=emb_logo [Accessed
18th February 2021].
Marco Tempest (2011). The magic of truth and lies (and iPods). Ted Talks. Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/marco_tempest_the_magic_of_truth_and_lies_and_ipods/t
ranscript [Accessed 17th February 2021].
Oyen, D. (2019). No title. [image/jpeg] Available at:
https://unsplash.com/photos/jbPQwY5t7MQ/info [Accessed 19th February 2021].
The Magic Tricks for Kids. (2013). Square Circle Production. Magic Tricks for Kids to Do at
Home. Available at: http://magictricksforkids.org/magic-tricks-for-kids-to-do-at-home/
[Accessed 18th February 2021].
The Magic Tricks for Kids. (2021). Magic Lessons. Magic Tricks for Kids to Do at Home.
Available at: https://magictricksforkids.org/magic-lessons/ [Accessed 18th February
2021].
The Police (2020). Sting on Every Breath You Take – BBC Two’s Secrets of the Pop Song.
Facebook. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/thepolice/videos/sting-on-every-
breath-you-take-bbc-twos-secrets-of-the-pop-song/712690979516657/ [Accessed
17th February 2021].
Wise Sayings (2021). First Impressions Saying and Quotes. Available at:
https://www.wisesayings.com/first-impressions-quotes/#ixzz6moqSXlN5 [Accessed
18th February 2021].