Black Friday: Lesson Ideas for Teens

Black Friday is an informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. The day after Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of the United States Christmas shopping season since 1952. Nowadays many stores offer highly promoted sales on Black Friday. Despite the pandemic, no one has cancelled Black Friday and lots of people especially teens are looking forward to this big sale day. Here are some ideas that you can use in your classes to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of Black Friday, to enlarge students’ vocabulary on the topic of “Shopping” and to hone their listening and speaking skills. The lesson is suitable for Pre-Intermediate level.

Task 1: Warm-up

Look at the picture. What do you think is going on? Why are there so many people? Can you guess the topic of the lesson?

Task 2: Quiz

Do the quiz to find out your money personality type.

Do you agree with the result? Why?

Task 3

Discuss the questions.

1. Does shopping make you feel happy and satisfied?
2. Do you usually spend more money than you have planned when you go shopping? Why?
3. Have you ever shopped on Black Friday? What usually happens on this day?
4. Have you ever bought anything online during Black Friday? If so, what?
5. Are the Black Friday deals really that good?
6. Are you going to buy anything on Black Friday 2020? Why (not)?

Task 4

Match the expressions with the definitions.

A. a discount

B. a consumer

C. saving

D. to queue

E. deal

F. to slash the prices

G. a bargain

H. a sale

I. go from being in the red to black

1. A temporary reduction in the price of goods aimed at increasing sales.
2. To reduce, to decrease or to lower the prices.
3. Something on sale at a lower price than its true value.
4. A lower price for something.
5. An act of economizing.
6. A period during which a shop or dealer sells goods at reduced prices.
7. A person who uses goods or services.
8. To stand in a line of people waiting for something.
9. Go from being in debts to making a profit

Keys:

A — 4

B — 7

C — 5

D — 8

E — 1

F — 2

G — 3

H — 6

I — 9

Task 5

Complete the sentences with the appropriate words: a discount, a consumer, saving, to queue, deal, to slash the prices, a bargain, a sale, go from being in the red to black.

1. I couldn’t afford to buy a new armchair, that’s why I bought a second-hand one, which was a real ___.
2.  Zara store offers a 40% ___ on men’s and children’s wear for their online customers.
3. If you really want to buy that product on Black Friday, you will have ___ for more than 4-5 hours to get into the shop.
4.  On Black Friday due to big discounts and special offers, a lot of shops ___.
5. American ___ are becoming informed about the safety of products made for children.
6. She bought these shoes in the winter ___ that’s why they turned out to be quite cheap.
7. We can afford to buy this expensive watch because of my mother’s ___.
8. A lot of retailers usually ___ by 40% at Christmas.
9. Take our ___ and buy three T-shirts for the price of two ones.

Keys: 

1 — bargain

2 — discount

3 — to queue

4 — go from being in the red to black

5 — consumers

6 — sales

7 — savings

8 — slash the prices

9 — deal

Task 6

Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. Where did Black Friday originate? When does it take place?
2. What does Black Friday mark?
3. What are the advantages of this day?
4. Why have many retailers slashed their prices on this day?
5. In which countries has Black Friday spread?
6. When was the term Black Friday first used?

Keys:

— It originated in the USA and is on the Friday after Thanksgiving day.

— Black Friday marks the start of the Christmas shopping season.

— Consumers make big savings online and get time-limited deals in store.

— To encourage people to buy goods for Christmas.

— It has spread to the UK and China.

It was first used in the 1960s when so many people went out to shop causing traffic accidents and even violence amongst bargain hunting crowds. Another theory behind the name is that Black Friday is the day when shops accounts would go from being in the red to black.

Task 7

Watch the video (01:20 — 02:00) and discuss the questions.

1. How can you describe the situation presented in the video? What’s your attitude towards this crowd and the way they are shopping?
2. Do you think it is worth going shopping despite the queues and the madness?
3. Have you ever experienced or witnessed fighting because of shopping? If yes, tell about it in detail.
4. What would you do to avoid this kind of situation on Black Friday?
5. Is Black Friday popular in your country? Do people look forward to this day for big shopping?

Task 8

Work in pairs. Go to the official website of Black Friday. Find the best offers to spend your 350$ wisely on this day. Decide with your partner what to buy and explain your choices.

Possible words to use: a discount, a consumer, saving, to queue, deal, to slash the prices, a bargain, a sale, go from being in the red to black.