One of the Lads ("Frozen Pizza and other slices of life" by A.Moses) - Reading Circles lesson

1. “Reading Circles”
technology
for home reading
lessons
Discussion Leader Summarizer Connector
Word Master Passage Person Culture Collector

2. One of the Lads
Frozen Pizza and other slices of life
Antoinette Moses

3. Big Dave Gerry
Mike Steve
Luke Thomas

4. gang
to sort out
lad
equal
to blush
to hesitate

5. … Swearing was so much a part of the lads’
way of speaking that none of them ever
noticed it. Every remark, every description
used words which had not only lost their
shock value, but no longer had any meaning
at all.
Luke, however, had to remember not to use
these words at home as they upset
his mother, so he still remained aware of
them. He thought that the others no
longer heard them.

6. “As I was saying,” said Dave, …”when football began in the Middle
Ages, it was a way for men to sort out their differences…”
“What do you mean?” asked Gerry cautiously.
“What do you think I mean? You’re stupid, you know, you’re really
thick. …I don’t know why Luke doesn’t mistake you for a bit of
wood.”
“Sort out their differences – fight,” continued Dave. “Football
started with men like us who just wanted a good fight. … it was
always more a battle than a game.”
…After a moment Luke spoke.
“But didn’t anyone try to stop it?”
…”Yes, they did. …Kings and politicians. They tried to ban football
loads of times. But they never succeeded. And do you know
why?”
The lads shook their heads.
“They never succeeded,” concluded Dave, “because there have
always been too many of us. We decide that there’s going to be
trouble and there’s nothing anyone can do.”

7. A young Dutchman had been passing on his bike when Dave threw
the glass. He’d stopped and now turned to Luke.
“What is wrong with you?” he asked. “Why do you English behave
like this? Why are you always so angry?”
Luke looked at him. He’d never thought about the gang like that…
“Angry?” Luke asked the Dutchman. Then, before he could reply,
said, “I’m not angry.”
“But they are,” said the Dutchman. “Your friends. They are angry. If
you don’t agree with them, you don’t have to stay with them.”
It was an obvious statement. Someone could have said it to
Luke years ago, but no one ever had. It was true… He didn’t have
to stay with the lads.
Now he realized that what the lads thought no longer mattered.
They couldn’t stop him. Not really.
“They’re not my friends,” Luke said to the departing Dutchman.
“Not any more,” he added to himself. He turned away from the
pub and started to walk away.

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImcD_DOoQM0

10. The press about bullying

11. punks
goths

12. skinheads

13. You have received a letter from Luke Thomas who writes:
…I wonder, what do you think of bullying at school? In my
class I have to give some lads my pocket money. In return
they’ve let me join their gang. Do you think I should have
refused? My Mom knows nothing about it. In my place
would you tell your parents or teachers anything?...
Write back to Luke answering his 3 questions. Write
100-120 words.
Remember the rules of letter writing.

14. Thank you