Barbie lesson

Task 1. Warm-up

1. Did you have a favorite toy when you were a child? What was it?
2. What were the most popular toys among boys and girls in your childhood?
3. What are the most beloved toys by kids nowadays?
4. If you had to leave only one toy for your kids to play with, what would it be? Why?

Task 2: Lead-in

1. Do you think that dolls are appropriate only for girls? Why?
2. Did you/your sisters have a doll in your/their childhood? What doll was it?

Watch the video until 0:22 and continue the narrator with your own ideas. Continue watching until 0:38 and check your guesses.

1. Do kids play more with baby or barbie dolls today?
2. What would a real life Barbie look like?
3. Do you think that the scene with breaking dolls shows the reality after the Barbie doll was released?

Task 3. Trailer

Watch the official trailer and answer the questions.

1. What scene does the trailer start with?
2. How is Barbie dressed? What about other people at the beach?
3. Did this trailer bring memories rushing back for you?
4. Are you interested to know what will happen to Barbie and other characters?

Task 4. Vocabulary

Match the words with their definitions and then make sentences with them.

to stay over

boots with a single row of small wheels on the bottom of each

rollerblades

hurt in an accident or attack

literally

in a way that is most basic and obvious

severely

to kick someone off the beach

injured

to stay overnight

to beach someone off

to a big or serious degree

Task 5. Hidden details

Watch the trailer again and tick the things you’ve noticed.

- Life in plastic
- Childhood innocence
- Pointed feet
- President
- A diverse barbie land
- Rollerblades
- Barbie slide
- Dreamhouses
- Splits barbie
- The wizard of Oz

Now watch the video “Top 10 Hidden Details in the Barbie Movie Trailer” to see the details that you haven’t noticed and their meanings.

Task 6. Barbie commercial

Do you know when the first Barbie doll was released and what it looked like?

Watch the first Barbie commercial from 1959.

Consider the following questions as well as you watch:

- What stylistic choices do you see in the commercial (graphics, sounds, word choice, syntax)?
- Is the commercial effective? Why (not)?
- What influence do you think Barbie has had on society?

Watch the video and compare barbies.

How has Barbie changed since the very first up?

Task 7. New Barbie Class

Watch the video and complete the sentences.

- Do you agree with sentences 3 and 4?
- Which Barbie doll do you like more, the old one or the new one? Why?
- Would you like to buy a new Barbie doll for your or your friend’s child? Why (not)?

Task 8. Role-play

Read the situation and role play it with your teacher.

Situation 1. Dolls supporter

You’ve met a friend in the street, and he/she strongly believes that children should no longer play with dolls in today’s technology-rich world. But in your opinion dolls are better than technology for children. You should explain to him/her your opinion. Read the beginning of the dialogue and continue in a similar way. The teacher will play the role of your friend.

Teacher: Hi there! I want to tell you that I have watched a programme about how dolls can be bad for children, and now I suppose that they should no longer play with dolls in today’s technology-rich world. What do you think about it?

You: Well, let me explain…

Situation 2. Technology supporter

You’ve met a friend in the street, and he/she strongly believes that dolls are better than technology for children. But in your opinion children should no longer play with dolls in today’s technology-rich world. You should explain to him/her why it is right. Read the beginning of the dialogue and continue in a similar way. The teacher will play the role of your friend.

Teacher: Hi there! I want to tell you that I have watched a programme about how technology influences children, and now I suppose that dolls are better than technology for children. What do you think about it?

You: Well, let me explain…