Celebration of International Women's Day

🌸 Warm-up questions — 8 March, emotions, beginning of spring

How are you feeling after the difficult events that have happened to you recently?
✨ What does March 8th mean specifically to you?
💐 How are you usually congratulated on March 8th?
🌿 Do you feel that spring is already beginning?
☀️ What emotions does the beginning of spring usually bring you and for what reason?
💬 What have you been doing this week?
📅 Was this week busy or rather calm for you?
💐 Do people around you celebrate the 8th of March? If so, then how?
🎁 Have you ever received flowers or a small gift on the 8th of March?
👭 Do you usually congratulate your friends or relatives on this day?
☕ How did your morning start today? 💭 Have you had any pleasant moments today already?
✨ What are you looking forward to this spring?

Exercise. Read the text, answering the questions after each paragraph.

🌸 Reading text: 8 March, emotions, and the beginning of spring

For many people, the 8th of March is a day connected with different feelings and reflections 🤔. Some women experience joy 😊, gratitude 🙏, and a sense of appreciation 💐 when they receive kind words, flowers, or messages from friends and family. Others may simply feel calmness 😌 and warmth ☀️ because the day reminds them of supportive relationships and respect in everyday life. In many countries this day is not only about celebration but also about noticing the emotions that appear when people express kindness, attention, and recognition.

❓😊 What emotions do you usually experience when someone shows appreciation or kindness?
❓💐 Do small gestures, like flowers or warm messages, influence your mood?
❓🌷 Do you think people express gratitude often enough in everyday life?

The history of International Women’s Day began in the early twentieth century, when women in different countries were fighting for better working conditions 🏭, political rights 🗳️, and greater social recognition 🌍. In 1910, Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of an international day for women at a conference in Copenhagen. The first large observances took place in 1911 in several European countries. Later, the date of the 8th of March became strongly connected with protests in Russia in 1917, when women demanded “bread and peace” during a difficult period of war and shortage. In 1975, the United Nations began officially observing this day around the world.

❓📚 Why do you think it is useful to know the history of international holidays?
❓🌍 Do historical events influence how people celebrate holidays today?

The 8th of March also comes at a time when nature slowly changes and people begin to feel the arrival of spring. The days become longer, the light becomes brighter, and many people notice changes in their mood. Some people feel hope 🌱, optimism ✨, and renewed energy ⚡ when winter ends. Others may simply feel relief 😌 after the cold and dark months. The beginning of spring often brings a quiet sense of motivation 🚶‍♀️ and curiosity 🌼, encouraging people to spend more time outside and to start new activities.

❓🌿 Do you usually notice changes in your mood when spring begins?
❓☀️ Does sunny weather influence how energetic or motivated you feel?

🌸 Exercise. Complete each sentence with the correct part of speech.

😊 On the 8th of March, many women feel truly ______ when they hear kind words from people they love. appreciated (adjective) — appreciation (noun) — appreciatively (adverb)
💐 A small bouquet and a sincere smile can create a feeling of deep ______. gratefully (adverb) — gratitude (noun) — grateful (adjective)
🌷 Her message was so warm and thoughtful that it immediately ______ my mood. brightened (verb) — brightness (noun) — bright (adjective)
☀️ With the first sunny days of March, people often become more ______ and energetic. optimistically (adverb) — optimism (noun) — optimistic (adjective)
🌱 The arrival of spring usually brings a sense of quiet ______ after a long winter. renewed (adjective) — renewal (noun) — renews (verb)
😌 After several dark and rainy months, even a short walk outside felt surprisingly ______. relaxing (adjective) — relaxation (noun) — relaxed (adjective)
🌼 The softer light and warmer air filled her with a strange but pleasant ______. hopefully (adverb) — hope (noun) — hopeful (adjective)
💬 He spoke so ______ about the women in his family that everyone listened with respect. admiringly (adverb) — admired (adjective) — admiration (noun)
🌸 For some people, the 8th of March is not only festive but also deeply ______. meaningfully (adverb) — meaningful (adjective) — meaning (noun)
✨ The beginning of spring often ______ people to make new plans and set fresh goals. inspires (verb) — inspiration (noun) — inspiring (adjective)
🌿 After a difficult winter, many people are surprised by their own emotional ______ in spring. strengthened (adjective) — strength (noun) — strongly (adverb)
💖 Her gentle words had a strongly ______ effect on everyone in the room. comforting (adjective) — comfortable (adjective) — comfort (noun)
🌞 As nature changes, people often become more emotionally ______ to beauty and light. responsive (adjective) — response (noun) — responsively (adverb)
🌺 The celebration felt simple, elegant, and emotionally ______. rich (adjective) — richly (adverb) — richness (noun)
🕊️ For many women, true respect is more important than symbolic ______. gestures (noun) — gestural (adjective) — gestured (verb)
🌷 He wanted to speak honestly, but his ______ made him choose his words very carefully. sensitivity (noun) — sensitive (adjective) — sensitively (adverb)
🌤️ The fresh spring air made the whole city look more alive and ______. colourful (adjective) — colourfully (adverb) — coloured (adjective)
🎁 The unexpected gift filled her with childish ______ and sincere delight. excited (adjective) — excitement (noun) — exciting (adjective)
🌱 Even small seasonal changes can have a powerful ______ on our emotions. influence (noun) — influential (adjective) — influenced (adjective)
🌸 Many people associate spring with emotional ______ and inner movement. growth (noun) — growing (adjective) — grown (adjective)
😊 She answered with such ______ that everybody around her started smiling too. warmth (noun) — warmly (adverb) — warm (adjective)
🌼 After the long winter, there was something almost ______ about the first flowers. magical (adjective) — magically (adverb) — magic (noun)
💐 A respectful conversation is often more ______ than formal congratulations. valuable (adjective) — value (noun) — valued (adjective)
☀️ On bright March mornings, even ordinary streets can look unusually ______. beautiful (adjective) — beautifully (adverb) — beauty (noun)
🌿 The change of season gave her the ______ to start something new. confidence (noun) — confident (adjective) — confidently (adverb)
💭 Some holidays encourage people to think more ______ about their relationships and feelings. deeply (adverb) — deep (adjective) — depth (noun)
🌸 The combination of spring, light, and kindness created an atmosphere of quiet ______. joy (noun) — joyful (adjective) — joyfully (adverb)

🌸 Exercise: Complete the sentences with the correct Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.

🏰 Last spring, we (see) Edinburgh Castle for the first time.
🌋 The guide (say) that the castle stood on an ancient volcanic rock.
👣 During the excursion, we (go) slowly through the old stone halls.
🛡️ The heavy walls (dominate) the skyline and impressed every visitor.
📚 Our teacher (tell) us that the fortress witnessed centuries of political change.
❄️ The cold wind (blow) across the castle yard and made us shiver.
😟 At first, I (feel) a little apprehension in the dark dungeon.
🕯️ Then the guide (light) a small lantern, and the room felt less frightening.
😊 After that, a sense of serenity (replace) my earlier unease.
🌤️ Towards evening, the sky (grow) brighter, and the whole city looked softer.
🌸 When spring finally (come), the gardens near the castle looked fresher and calmer.
💐 My friend (send) a postcard from Edinburgh because she loved the atmosphere there.
🤝 We (meet) an elderly historian who spoke beautifully about the castle’s past.
👑 He (teach) us how royalty once lived there despite the freezing winters.
🔥 In the Great Hall, people (rely) on large fireplaces to survive the cold.
🏠 Even in difficult times, the castle (give) the rulers a sense of safety.
😔 One soldier probably (feel) exhaustion after a long winter night on guard.
🧤 Yet the defenders (remain) determined and alert in every season.
🌧️ During one rainy visit, I (slip) on the wet stones but did not fall.
🚶 Later we (stand) outside and admired the view over the city.
☕ After the tour, we (drink) hot tea and talked about the emotions the place created.
💭 I (think) that the castle inspired both awe and melancholy at the same time.
📖 Back home, I (read) more about Scottish history and royal ceremonies.
🌟 Thanks to that trip, my interest in British history (become) much stronger.
😌 For several days, I (feel) unusually calm and reflective after the visit.
🎁 The journey also (give) me a strange sense of anticipation for spring.
🌱 In a week, the first flowers (appear) near my house and reminded me of Edinburgh.
🏰 Since then, the image of the castle (stay) in my memory as a symbol of resilience.
✨ That evening, we (go) home tired but inspired by history and the coming spring.