Comic Relief and Red Nose Day was launched in 1985 on BBC One from a refugee camp in Sudan during a famine in Ethiopia. The charity gets British comedians to perform and make people laugh to raise money for those in need both in Africa and the UK. A key event is Red Nose Day, which sells red noses and has celebrity fundraising events and performances. Red Nose Day has raised over £459 million since 1988. Comic Relief has raised over £650 million total. The money helps fund projects related to issues like poverty, education, health, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.

1. Comic Relief and Red Nose DayA lesson created by Sandy Millin@sandymillinhttp://sandymillin.wordpress.com(Teacher’s notes follow)

2. Challenge 1PredictionWhat’s it all about?

3. What links these pictures…

4. …and these words?Created using www.tagxedo.com (using Wikipedia entry)

5. A British charity and its main fundraising event

6. Challenge 2MemoryRead the texts.Tell your partner what you can remember.

7. Comic Relief was launched from a refugee camp in Sudan on Christmas Day in 1985, live on BBC One. At that time, a devastating famine was crippling Ethiopia and something had to be done. That something was Comic Relief.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

8. The idea was simple – Comic Relief would get a whole bunch of much-loved British comedians to make the public laugh while they raised money to help people in desperate need.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

9. As well as doing something about the very real and direct emergency in Ethiopia, Comic Relief was determined to help tackle the broader needs of poor and disadvantaged people in Africa and at home in the UK.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

10. It all began with a few live events and, before too long, Red Nose Day was created. The first ever Red Nose Day in 1988 took the nation by storm – bringing together comedy and charity like never before on live national TV. It raised a staggering £15m.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

11. The eleven Red Nose Days that have followed since have raised more than £459m. That money has helped, and is helping, to support people and communities in dire need both in the UK and Africa.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

12. Since 1985, Comic Relief has raised over £650 million to tackle poverty and social injustice across the UK, Africa and some of the world’s poorest countries.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

13. Over the years, our cash in Africa has educated people about HIV and AIDS and taught women to read. It has helped street children from Bangladesh to Brazil and supported communities affected by terrible conflict and natural disasters.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

14. Across the UK it has helped disabled people challenge discrimination, provided escape routes for women living with domestic violence and done much more.http://www.comicrelief.com/about-us/our-history

15. Created usingwww.wordle.net

16. Challenge 3SpeakingWith your partner, speculate about the pictures. Use the information to help you.

17. Lenny HenryDudleyJamaican1975 (aged 17)original / 1985Pictured with…

18. Lenny HenryBorn in Dudley, UKSon of Jamaican parentsFamous comedian since 1975 (aged 17)One of the original comedians for Comic Relief in 1985Pictured with an African boy Comic Relief has helped

19. Red Noses17 / 132011monsterHonkus, Chucklechomp, Captain Conksupermarket / Oxfam charity shops

20. Red Noses17 noses for 13 shows (1985-2011)These are the noses for 2011Monster-themedHonkus is at the bottom, Chucklechomp is top-left, Captain Conk top-rightYou can get them at the supermarket and Oxfam charity shopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_Relief#The_Red_Nose

21. MerchandiseRed nosesCar nosesSingles:e.g. Is this the way to Amarillo?J.K. RowlingFood and drink

22. MerchandiseRed noses and car noses are sold for people to show support.One or two songs are released every Red Nose Day to raise money.J.K. Rowling wrote two special books: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "Quidditch Through the Ages".Food and drink: Walkers Crisps produce special flavours, as do many other companies. The picture shows Comic Relief wine.

23. FundraisingEveryone and anyoneBaked beansFancy dressHair cutCake saleCelebrities / Sahara

24. FundraisingEveryone gets involved. Events include:sitting in a bath of baked beans;wearing fancy dress;cutting all your hair off;having a cake sale.Celebrities go on special shows or do amazing things like trek across the Sahara.

25. UK£205 million / 1985Mental healthWomenOld peopleRefugeesSport

26. UK£205 million has been spent on UK projects since 1985, including:Mental health – Will > was helped with his depressionWomen – shelters for those suffering from domestic abuseOld people – helping them feel part of the communityRefugees – helping them come to terms with past traumasSport – increasing participation to end the poverty cycle

27. AfricaSlumsChildrenHealthEducationHIV / AIDSTradeSport

28. AfricaThe rest of the money is spent in Africa. Projects help:people to leave slums;children to have a childhood;healthcare provision to be increased;education to be made available;HIV / AIDS to be treated;trade opportunities to be increased, especially for women;sport to provide opportunities.

29. Challenge 4ProjectChoose one of the ideas.Create a two-minute presentation for your class.ORWrite a text (e.g. an article or a newspaper report) based on the idea.

30. Choose one…Ideas for the next Red Nose Day (RND).A proposal for a similar event in your country.Ideas to help people fundraise.Suggest a project which should receive money from Comic Relief.Tell Comic Relief how their money has already helped a project.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of events like RND.Report on what happened during the Red Nose Day.Anything else you can think of linked to RND!

31. Do your presentation.ORShare your writing.

32. Challenge 5Find out moreIf you’re interested…

33. …find out more here:www.comicrelief.comwww.rednoseday.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_Reliefhttp://www.youtube.com/user/rednoseday - Red Nose Day channel on YouTubehttp://www.youtube.com/user/ComicReliefOfficial - Comic Relief channel

34. Don’t forget…

36. Teacher’s NotesDon’t show the students the title slide – it’ll give the game away! Feel free to add / edit activities – this works for my groups, but may not work for yours.You may need to pre-teach some vocab, especially in the history section. (Challenge 2)You can add a grammar focus e.g. modals of speculation, if your students need it.You could also add media to your classroom – see the ‘Find Out More’ slide.

37. Pictures fromhttp://www.solarnavigator.net/music/comic_relief.htm (Lenny Henry)http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9380000/newsid_9386300/9386309.stm (red noses)http://www.cpb.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/6222.jpg (wine)http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/image_galleries/comic_relief_2007_gallery.shtml?3 - (baked beans)http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/comic%20relief%20desert%20trek.jpg (desert trek)http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/Lcqx1Zw683b/British+Airways+Comic+Relief+Announce+Charity/KwXHS34YIRr/Bill+Nighy (Bill Nighy)http://www.rednoseday.com/change-lives/who-you-help#tab_5 (Will, Stoke-on-Trent)http://education.scholastic.co.uk/resources/42474 (Mr Men)