H A P P Y VA L E N T I N E ' S D A Y

4C Comprehension Skills + Strateg ies

Adr ienne Thompson
Feb 14, 2024
A G E N DA

1. Valentine's Day – Cultural Traditions

2. Vocabulary
3. Review Skills
▪ Predicting
▪ Main Ideas
▪ Details
4. New Skill – Reading charts and graphs
DISCUSSION

In groups, discuss the following questions …

1. Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

2. How do you celebrate where you are from?
3. Do you have special traditions?
4. Have you ever received a gift that you cherish?
5. Do you think Valentine's Day is a commercialized holiday?
V- D A Y C U S T O M S I N
C A N A DA

W hat do people do?

• Give letters, cards, gifts, etc.
• Romantic dinner or stay at a hotel
• Weekend getaway or vacations

W ho do we celebrate with?
• Often a person we have or want a romantic
relationship with.
• Family, friends, by ourselves!
V- D A Y C U S T O M S I N C A N A D A

School
• Decorate the classrooms
• Students exchange cards and treats
• Valentine's Day party or dance
Stores
• Valentine's Day themed products. Ex. Cakes, cookies, candy, toys, etc.
P ublic L ife
• Schools, businesses, organizations, post offices and stores are open as
usual.
• Public transport services run to their usual timetables.
• Restaurants and hotels may be busy as many people take out their
partner for a romantic meal or night away in a hotel.
COMMON SYMBOLS
V I D E O – S A I N T VA L E N T I N E ' S
DAY

The History of Saint Valentine's Day

1. What law did Claudis II make? Why?
2. Who was Saint Valentine? What did he do?
3. What happened to Saint Valentine due to his actions?
4. How did Valentine's Day become a celebration of love?
T H E H I S T O RY O F
VA L E N T I N E ' S D A Y
1. What law did Claudis II make? Why?
• No soldiers were allowed to get married.
• He wanted a strong army.

2. Who was Saint Valentine? What did he do?

▪ A bishop
▪ He let soldiers get married in his church (against the law)

3. What happened to Saint Valentine due to his actions?

▪ He was arrested and sentenced to death on February 14th.

4. How did Valentine's Day become a celebration of love?

▪ On the day he died, he wrote a love letter and signed it "From your
Valentine".
▪ Ever since, lovers send each other messages on February 14th, with the
same signature!
V O C A B U L A RY
LIST

1. Tradition
2. Affection
3. Mischief
4. Indulgence
5. Iconic
6. Cherished
7. Synonymous
8. Root
9. Commercialized
10. Essence
11. Tech-savvy
TRADITION

Definition: A practice or custom passed down from generation

to generation.

Valentine's Day is a tradition celebrated worldwide, symbolizing

love and affection between partners, friends, and family
members.
AFFECTION

Definition: A feeling of fondness

or love towards someone.

The elderly couple showed

affection for each other by holding
hands as they walked through the
park.
MISCHIEF

Definition: Playful or naughty

behavior that is not harmful.

The boy caused mischief by

drawing on the wall with crayons.
INDULGENCE

Definition: Allowing oneself to

enjoy a pleasurable activity
without restraint.

Eating a box of chocolates was her

indulgence on Valentine's Day,
bringing her simple joy and
satisfaction.
ICONIC

Definition: Widely recognized

and widely regarded as a symbol.

The iconic red roses symbolize

love and passion, making them a
popular choice for Valentine's Day
bouquets.
CHERISHED

Definition: Reassured or deeply

appreciated.

The cherished memories of their

first Valentine's Day together still
brought a smile to their faces after
many years.
SYNONYMOUS

Definition: Having a similar meaning or being closely related.

In many cultures, the dove is synonymous with peace and

tranquility.
RO O T

Definition: The origin or foundation of something.

The traditions passed down from generation to generation are

the root of our cultural identity.
COMMERCIALIZED

Definition: Altered or adapted for sale and profit.

Valentine's Day has become overly commercialized, focusing

more on expensive gifts than genuine expressions of love.
ESSENCE

Definition: The fundamental nature or quality of something.

The essence of Valentine's Day lies in the heartfelt connections

shared between loved ones.
T E C H - S AV V Y

Definition: Knowledgeable and skilled in using technology.

My friend is very good with computers and phones; he's really

tech-savvy.
PREDICTIONS

Make predictions about the

reading based on:

• Titles
• Subtitles
• Charts
• Graphs

W hat do you think it will be

about?
READING AND
COMPREHENSION

1. Read the article.

2. Work in groups. Take notes.

▪ What is the main idea(s)?
▪ Find the important details.
▪ Sha re your a nswers on the boa rd.

3. Complete the T/F questions.

T/F ANSWERS

1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False – They are often involved, but not always.
5. False - The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in the 19th century.
6. False - "Galentine's Day" emphasizes the importance of all types of love.
7. True
8. False – Valentine's Day is celebrated in various ways worldwide.
9. True
10. False - Its commercial aspects have expanded over the years.
R E A D I N G G R A P H S A N D C H A RT S

Reading charts and graphs is like understanding pictures that show information.

W hat a re Cha rts a nd Gra phs?

• Charts and graphs are visual tools that help us see and understand information quickly.
• They use pictures like bars, lines, or pie slices to represent numbers or f acts.

W hy a re They Importa nt?

• Charts and graphs make information easy to grasp.
• They show trends, patterns, and comparisons more clearly than just numbers and words.
T Y P E S O F C H A RT S A N D G RA P H S

• Line charts show how things change over time.

• Bar graphs compare different things.
• Pie charts display parts of a whole.
PRACTICE(PG. 69)

How to Rea d Cha rts a nd Gra phs:

Step 1
• Look at the title to understand what the chart or graph is about.
Step 2
• Check the labels on the sides to know what the numbers represent.
• Example: "Number of Units" or "Percentage (%).
Step 3
• Examine the symbols (bars, lines, slices) to see the data visually.
• Example: A higher bar means more sales.

L ook at the cha rt. W hat does it show?

R E A D T H E C H A RT + G R A P H

1. Answer the following questions using the cha rt.

1. In 2024, what was the total spending on Valentine's Day, combining gifts, dining out,
and experiences?
2. Which category had the highest increase in spending from 2022 to 2024?
3. Based on the chart, describe the overall trend in Valentine's Day spending from 2022 to
2024.
4. How might the trends in Valentine's Day spending influence businesses or the economy?

2. Create 3 questions based on the gra ph in the reading.

C H A RT A N S W E R S + E X A M P L E S

1. $6.2 B

2. 2023 – 2024

3. People spend more each year!

4. Increases their profit.

Example Questions

1. Based on the graph, do people spend more money on their friends or their
family?

2. How much is the average spend cost for husbands on Valentine's Day?
W hy Reading Charts Matters?

• It saves time and helps us understand information faster.

• It makes data more interesting and memorable.

T H A N K YO U !