The document provides instructions for students to plan a surprise birthday party for their friend Evelyn, who is studying abroad from the United States. It divides the class into groups to take on different party planning roles: designing invitations, choosing a theme, planning games, and baking a cake. As there is no kitchen at the school, the groups must research online how to fulfill their tasks and present their plans to the class. The party is meant to emulate the lavish American teenage birthday bashes shown on television to make Evelyn feel more at home.

1. A Webquest for English as a Second Language
Group: 3rd Grade Secondary
Designed by: Marta Álvarez González

2. Marta Álvarez González
Introduction:
Next week is your friend’s birthday. As
you may know she will be 16. It is an
important moment for a teenager,
especially in United States, Canada
and United Kingdom. They normally
celebrate their birthdays with a huge
party as you may know thanks to TV
shows such as My super sweet 16.
Task:
Evelyn is far from her family because she is studying in our country. As it is an
important moment for her we are going to pretend to organize a birthday party.
We will need invitations, games, a cake… but before those things we need to
know some features of some of the most outlandish birthdays of American
teenagers.
Process:
You are going to look for some information about the reality show My super
sweet 16. Take notes of what you think is more relevant to tell to the rest of the
class. After this, there will be a debate.
Tip: The debate is going to include
questions such as:
1. How does it make you feel?
2. Would you want to trade lives with any
of these teens?
3. Do you think they're happy after their
party?
4. Does this make you want to have a
party of this scale?
5. Would you be happy having one within
your family's means?
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3. Marta Álvarez González
Resources:
- http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/my-super-sweet-16
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joanna-popper/mtv-my-super-sweet-
16_b_2348445.html
Read the full summary:
- http://www.mtv.com/shows/sweet_16/series.jhtml#moreinfo
We are going to divide the class in groups of 4 or 5 students. Each group have
to make use of power point to show the task to the rest of the class.
Group A will be in charge of the invitations for
the party. You have to look for information of
what is typical in Evelyn’s country, United
States. Design one invitation card and
explain to the rest of the class the
information that you have found, how and
why you design your invitation like you
did.
Group B will be the decorators. You have to
choose a theme for the party. You are going to tell
to the rest of the class which one you think that
would be the best one for this birthday, and how you
would prepare it. Which materials you would need
and if it is possible which materials you would
replace for recycled ones and how you would do
this.
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4. Marta Álvarez González
Group C will be in charge of fun. You have to look
for games suitable for our party. Don’t forget the
people who are invited (our class ) and our likings.
You can make some interviews before preparing the
games. You have to prepare at least two games.
Explain the rules clearly and take into account if you
would need any kind of materials or instruments and
how you would prepare or get them.
Group B will be the pastry cooks. They are going to
surf the Net and choose a recipe for the birthday cake.
As we haven’t got a kitchen in the high school, you are
going to explain to the rest of the class which
ingredients you would need, where you would buy
them, and how you would cook the cake.
Resources:
Each group is going to surf in specific webpages:
• Group A:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-Birthday-Party-Invitations
http://www.punchbowl.com/p/sweet-sixteen-invitations
• Group B:
http://www.punchbowl.com/p/sweet-sixteen-party-themes
http://www.teenpartyideas.com/
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5. Marta Álvarez González
• Group C:
http://www.punchbowl.com/p/sweet-sixteen-partygames
http://freebies.about.com/od/birthday-freebies/tp/birthday-party-games.htm
• Group D:
http://www.punchbowl.com/p/sweet-sixteen-cakes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/birthday_cake
http://thepartyanimal.hubpages.com/hub/Candy-Birthday-Cakes
Evaluation:
Most of the work will be carried out in class, with the exception of activity
number one. Students will have to investigate by themselves to make a debate
in the following lesson.
Oral presentation will be 80% of the mark.
The group work will be 20% of the mark. Students must write a diary with the
activities that each person has carried out.
Poor Average Excelent Mark
2 3 4
Content - Content is Most of the All content
Accuracy typically content is throughout the
confusing. Ideas accurate but presentation is
are not well- there is one accurate.
organised piece of
information that
might be
inaccurate.
Sequencing There is no clear Most information Information is
of plan for the is organized in a organized in a
Information organization of clear, logical clear, logical
information. way, although way.
some items of
information seem
out of place.
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6. Marta Álvarez González
Spelling Presentation has Presentation has Presentation has
and many some no
Grammar grammatical mispronunciation, mispronunciation
errors or but no or grammatical
mispronunciation. grammatical errors.
errors.
Originality Presentation Presentation Presentation
shows very little shows some shows
attempt at originality and considerable
originality and inventiveness. originality and
inventiveness. The content and inventiveness.
ideas are The content and
presented in an ideas are
interesting way. presented in a
unique and
interesting way.
Group work Group often is Group delegates Group delegates
not effective in tasks and shares tasks and shares
delegating tasks responsibility responsibility
and/or sharing effectively most effectively all of
responsibility. of the time. the time.
Conclusion:
This would be the best party ever. But who knows if one day it could be real!
Now you know how to organize one, so… when is the next birthday?
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