Holidays & Events
The Super Bowl
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions
1.
Have you ever watched the Super Bowl?
2. Do you like American football?
3. What is the most popular sport in your
country of origin?
B. Vocabulary Preview
Match up as many words and meanings
as you can. Check this exercise again after
seeing the words in context on page 2.
1.
championship
a)
a group of musicians who march while they play their instruments
2.
anticipated
b)
costing a lot of money
3.
marching band
c)
the time when a television station is on the air
4.
spectator
d)
unforgettable, notable
5.
extravagant
e)
a contest to decide which person or team is the ultimate winner
6.
elaborate
f)
having great detail, very carefully planned
7.
memorable
g)
a viewer of an event (may watch live or on TV)
8.
airtime
h)
awaited with excitement
Copyright 2023, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only.
( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0)
1
The Super Bowl
Holidays & Events
Reading
1.
The “Super Bowl” is the name of the National Football League (NFL)
championship game. It takes place on the second Sunday of
February. Every year, a different city in the United States hosts this
much anticipated event, and millions of people watch it on TV.
Tens of thousands of lucky fans attend the game in person, but they
pay a steep price. In 2022, the cheapest tickets were around $5,000.
“The Super Bowl is
Americana at its
most kitsch and fun.”
—Sting, English musician
2. In addition to the action on the field, the Super Bowl is famous for
its high-budget halftime shows. These shows have changed a lot since
the first Super Bowl was held in 1967. During the early championship
games, a single marching band entertained spectators as the teams
strategized in their locker rooms. As the event became more popular,
famous musicians, such as Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, started
putting on extravagant performances with dozens of dancers and
elaborate sets.
3. Even the commercial breaks add to the Super Bowl experience,
thanks to the memorable advertisements that often feature
well‑known actors and comedians. Because so many people
watch the game, the ads are very expensive. Thirty seconds of
airtime costs about $7 million.
4. Fans of American football treat Super Bowl Sunday like a holiday.
Sports bars hold large celebrations, and people invite friends to
viewing parties in their homes. The parties, the halftime show, the
commercials, and, of course, the game itself are all part of the fun!
Copyright 2023, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only.
( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0)
2
The Super Bowl
Holidays & Events
Comprehension
A. True or False?
Read the statements below. If the statement is true, write T
beside the sentence. If it is false, write F and correct the information.
1.
The Super Bowl takes place every Sunday in February.
2. The Super Bowl takes place in a different city every year.
3. Michael Jackson and Beyoncé both directed Super Bowl halftime shows.
4. Super Bowl ads are expensive because not enough people watch the game.
5. Many people watch the Super Bowl at home with friends.
B. Sum Up the Information
Match the sentence halves to create a short summary of the article.
1.
The NFL championship
a)
featured only a marching band.
2.
American football fans anticipate
b)
extravagant performances at halftime.
3.
Originally, the Super Bowl halftime show
c)
air a thirty-second Super Bowl ad.
4.
Spectators enjoy the halftime show while
d)
easy to remember.
5.
Famous musicians put on
e)
Super Bowl Sunday that fans enjoy.
6.
Super Bowl advertisements are
f)
game is called the “Super Bowl.”
7.
It costs about $7 million to
g)
the teams make plans in the locker rooms.
8.
There are many aspects of
h)
this event all year.
Copyright 2023, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only.
( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0)
3
The Super Bowl
Holidays & Events
Vocabulary Review
Choose the word or phrase with the closest meaning to
the underlined word or phrase in the following sentences.
1.
Attending the Super Bowl was
one of the most memorable
events of my life.
a) hard to forget
b) extravagant
c) strategic
2. SoFi Stadium, where the
2022 Super Bowl took place,
can hold more than 70,000
spectators.
a) cameras
b) players
c) attendees
3. Jeep’s 2020 Super Bowl
commercial got 60 seconds
of airtime.
a) time on the field
b) time on TV
c) time in the locker room
5. It is still common for marching
bands to play at high school
football games.
a) walking music groups
b) heavy metal groups
c) classical music groups
4. Lady Gaga performed an
elaborate show at the Super
Bowl halftime in 2017.
a) confusing
b) complicated
c) simple
Discussion
1.
What does the quote on page 2 mean? What is Americana?
What does kitsch mean? Do you agree with the quote?
2. Would you like to attend the Super Bowl?
Which part of the event would be most interesting to you?
3. Why do people feel so strongly about sports?
4. Is it important to stay loyal to your favourite team even if
they always lose?
5. Do you enjoy hosting parties or would you rather be a guest? Why?
6. What things do you think of when you hear the phrase “all American”?
Copyright 2023, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only.
( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0)
4
The Super Bowl
Holidays & Events
Listening
Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.
1.
The “Super Bowl” is the name of the National Football League (NFL)
game. It takes place on the second Sunday
of February. Every year, a different city in the United States hosts this
much anticipated event, and millions of people watch it on TV. Tens of
thousands of lucky fans attend the game in person, but they pay
a
price. In 2022, the cheapest tickets were
around $5,000.
2. In addition to the action on the field, the Super Bowl is famous for
its
halftime shows. These shows have
changed a lot since the first Super Bowl was held in 1967.
During the early championship games, a single marching band
entertained
as the teams strategized in
their locker rooms. As the event became more popular, famous
musicians, such as Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, started putting on
extravagant performances with dozens of dancers and
sets.
3. Even the commercial breaks add to the Super Bowl experience,
thanks to the
advertisements that often
feature well-known actors and
. Because
so many people watch the game, the ads are very expensive.
Thirty seconds of
costs about $7 million.
4. Fans of American football treat Super Bowl Sunday like a
holiday. Sports bars hold large
,
and people invite friends to viewing parties in their homes.
The
, the halftime show, the commercials,
and, of course, the game itself are all part of the fun!
Copyright 2023, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only.
( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0)
5
The Super Bowl
Holidays & Events
Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
LEVEL: Int
This lesson features a reading about the Super Bowl.
TIME:
1–2 hours
TAGS:
S
uper Bowl, US, American football, football, Americana,
Students learn interesting facts and traditions around this famous
annual event. They also learn new vocabulary and discuss the
sports, concerts, advertisements, commercials, culture
concept of Americana.
Pre-Reading
Vocabulary Review
A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS
1. a
Discuss as a class or in small groups. Answers will vary.
2. c
3. b
4. b
5. a
Discussion
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
1. e
3. a
5. b
7. d
2. h
4. g
6. f
8. c
Discuss as a class or in small groups. Answers will vary.
Listening
Reading (and/or Listening)
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play
the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the
reading is available on page 5. Help your students with vocabulary
1.
championship, steep
2.
high-budget, spectators, elaborate
3.
memorable, comedians, airtime
4.
celebrations, parties
and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.
Comprehension
A. TRUE OR FALSE?
1.
F – T he Super Bowl takes place the second Sunday of February.
2.
T
3.
F – Michael Jackson and Beyoncé both performed at the
Super Bowl.
4.
F – Super Bowl ads are expensive because so many people
watch the game.
5.
T
B. SUM UP THE INFORMATION
1. f
3. a
5. b
7. c
2. h
4. g
6. d
8. e
Copyright 2023, Red River Press Inc. For use by Ellii members only.
( I N T / V E R S I O N 1. 0)
6