English Classes Online

Heritage, Unity and Diversity

Lesson 1

Have a look at the picture below, pay attention to the details and figure out the topic of the unit (GEAR UP FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES)

Read the unit goals, the key question and the final task. 

-> Have you ever heard of the ‘Commonwealth or the Commonwealth Games?’

-> What meanings does the word ‘common’ have?

-> What do we mean by ‘wealth’?

What countries make up the Commonwealth? In groups of 5, match the numbers of the capital cities to the correct countries. 

Now let's have some fun with flags.

Follow the instructions given to you. 

Match the titles of the objectives to their definition and find what type of document it is.

To finish, fill in the gaps.

Now, do the vocabulary and grammar exercices.

Lesson 2

Study the text Top 5 Facts about the Commonwealth (2022), Shine Brighter, 2025, p.187.

Change the facts to make them accurate for today. 

Read the speech by Patricia Scotland (2024), Skywalks, 2025, p.195 and fill in the table.

Have a look at the official flag of the Commonwealth of Nations. Comment on:

• the colours
• the shapes 
• the meanings

(blue and gold like the EU flag / globe: representing the global nature of the Commonwealth and the breadth of its membership, spears: multiple facets of the cooperation - C: for Commonwealth...)

Have a look at the logo below. Describe it as well as you can and try to find its meaning.

The three coloured V shapes suggest the way in which the Commonwealth continents, and the rich diversity of their cultures, come together through the spirit of sport. 

The V shapes stem from three points, deliberately reflecting the three values of the Commonwealth Sport movement – Equality, Humanity and Destiny. Six arms rise from these foundation points, in recognition of the Commonwealth regions of Africa, Asia, Americas, Caribbean, Europe and Oceania.

In groups of 4, two students will study the text, From the British Empire Games to the Commonwealth Games, Let's Meet Up, 2025, p.249 and the other two will study the video What are the Commonwealth Games, The News Movement, 2022. 

Explain what the Commonwealth Games are and how they evolved. 

Once you have finished taking notes, in group produce two Did you know? trivia cards: one focusing on the history of the Commonwealth Games and the other focusing on the Birmingham 2022 Games. Here is an example: short and to the point.

Watch the video below and fill in the table. 

Lesson 3

Do the grammar exercices below. 

In groups of 3, you will each have to study a sport. Do some research so that the class can do the activities given to you and then present that sport to the class using every points from the grammar sheet and tell if this sport is or is not a part of the CWG and why, according to you. Then do the activities for this sport. 

1. Cricket

2. Netball

3. Polo

4. Australian football

5. Lacrosse

6. Rugby 7

7. Lawn Bowls

8. Ice Hockey

9. The Ironman Competition

10. White Water Rafting

Lesson 4

Have a look at the grammar point below.

In groups of 4, study the document appointed to you and answer the questions. Then, complete those questions with the ones in the table and fill in the line for your document. Once you are finished, discuss the other answers and complete the whole table and work together to find a synthesis on the relevence of the CWG. 

Document 1: Transcending History, Sir Ben OKRI, Skywalks, 2025, p.196

1. Read the paratext and the biography and say what you understand about the context. 
2. What genre does the text belong to?
3. Note the repeated words to identify the main themes.
4. Say what connection there is between those word and how it is described by Sir Ben Okri. 
5. Find allusions to the origin of this connection and say what they reveal.
6. Explain the importance of strong relationships according to the author.

Document 2: Commonwealth Games: “We have to keep it going” says Dame Laura Kenny, Let’s Meet Up, 2025, p.251

1. Look at the picture and read the title. Guess who Dame Laura Kenny is. 
2. Read until l.24. Explain why it is difficult to organise the Commonwealth Games.
3. Read until the end. Focus on Dame Laura Kenny’s opinion. Highlight her concerns about the future of the Commonwealth Games. 

Document 3: Reconciliation Action Plan, Shine Brighter, 2025, p.191 

1. Look at the pictures, read the culture spot, and identify the country that is being referred to. 
2. Watch the video and pick out information about the unique project of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
3. Identify concrete solutions to promote reconciliation.
4. Identifu how such an event may promote positive values both in Australia and around the Commonwealth. 

Document 4: Is there a future for an event that some feel is a relic of the Empire?, Shine Brighter, 2025, p.190

1. Look at the picturem the caption and the source of the tet. Identify the nature of the document and the point of view. 
2. Read the text and identify the problem that the organisers are facing with the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
3. Identify and rephrase the arguments questioning the relevance of the Games. 
4. Explain the ambiguity of the Commonwealth Games today.

Lesson 5 - Final Task

In pairs:

 -> As a volunteer of the Commonwealth Games, record a video to share your thoughts about the importance of this competition. 

• what is the Commonwealth?
• history of the Commonwealth Games
• the international dimension of the event: atmosphere, sportsmanship, values expressed...

HOW TO MAKE A VIDEO

Build up your ideas:

• brainstorm about what you remember about the unit

Prepare your draft:

• Note down all the keywords that will help you remember the main ideas 
• Make a mindmap to categorise all your ideas and examples

Organise your video:

• prepare an introduction to explain the goal of the video
• structure your video

Rehearse:

• emphasise keywords 
• work on your pronunciation (sound, rhythm, intonation,...)
• practice and repeat several times

Record the video:

• face the camera and smile
• pay attention to the quality of the sound
• add titles, illustrations and captions if you want
• be enthusiastic (use the proper grammatical structures)

DON'T:

• read your notes while recording
• write a full script
• recite