"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." John F. Kennedy
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson
This week's CST session focuses on 'America', in light of it being 'Independence Day' on 4th July. It could also be used for 'Thanksgiving', which is on 24th November this year.
We invited members to attend the group with a photo of their own American icon - their favourite person, living or dead. After introductions, we asked members to say why they rated that person so highly.
We asked members what they think of America and Americans generally? Have they ever visited or holidayed there? Have they a favourite place to recommend?
We then completed these idioms together ...
Independence DAY
The land of the FREE
Star spangled BANNER
As American as Apple PIE
I'm a Yankee Doodle DANDEE
A dime a DOZEN
More bang for your BUCK
Bite the BULLET
Break a LEG
Piece of CAKE
Jump on the band WAGON
The whole nine YARDS
Let the cat out of the BAG
Spill the BEANS
Take a rain CHECK
It's not rocket SCIENCE
It knocked my socks OFF
Straight from the horse's MOUTH
I couldn't care LESS
Reach first BASE
Ballpark FIGURE
Tell me about IT
Shoot the BREEZE
Blow off STEAM
Call it a DAY
Chill out MAN
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
We then moved on to work through our songs and quiz questions, allowing time for story-telling and reminiscences.
Round 1. History
 | Who discovered the Americas in 1492? What nationality was he? |
 | Which indigenous people were already there? Name some tribes? |
 | What was the name of the ship that took Pilgrims to 'The New World' in 1620? Where in the UK did it set sail from? |
 | Which US President brought slavery to an end in 1863? Which war did he lead the nation through? |
 | He also introduced a day of celebration in November. What is it called? Name these three characters? |
 | What is the national bird of America? What bird was originally chosen to have this honour? |
 | What is the name of this 'House' & where would you find it? |
 | Name the current US President? What is his unwanted nickname? |
 | Who came before him? What reality TV show did he host? |
 | And before him? Where was he born? |
Song break - 'Star Spangled Banner', sung by Whitney Houston - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtdhxqGmWKU
There are 50 states in the USA. How many of them can you name?
Here they are ...
Round 2. American Icons
 | Name this film director? Which cartoon character did he introduce in 1928? |
 | Name this actor? Complete this 1955 film title 'Rebel ...'? |
 | Name this actor? What was his real name? |
 | Name this civil rights activist? What was his famous 1963 speech called? |
 | Name this US President? Who assassinated him in 1963? |
 | Name this actress? What was her real name? Here is Elton John's song about her - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80rHyABCb20 |
 | Name the 1969 space mission? Name the three astronauts? Here is a video of the historic event - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOcDftgR5UQ |
 | Name the singer? What was his nickname? Here is his greatest hit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYwDUonrGFQ |
 | Name the boxer? What was his real name? |
 | Name this TV presenter? Which ex-royals did she recently interview? |
Song break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qftg-4FR-ec
What was his nickname?
More American Icons
Clues:
Escapologist
Comedy duo
Kim Carnes had a hit single about her eyes
She married a Prince
He starred in the 'Road Movies' with Bing Crosby
He starred in the best ever Christmas movie 'It's A Wonderful Life'
He was Superman
Film director
The richest man in the world
She starred as Eva Peron in the movie 'Evita'
He invented the iPhone in 2007
She gives free books to children in the USA and is a Country & Western singer
Round 3. Landmarks
 | Name the Mount? Which four US Presidents are carved into it? |
 | Name the bridge? Name the city? |
 | Name the Canyon? Which river carved it out? (Does anyone fancy taking the 'Skywalk'?) |
 | Name this Statue? What is it made of or why is it green? |
 | Name the city? What four letters originally came after this word? |
 | Name this monument? What date is it associated with? |
 | Name the falls? Name the boat? |
 | Name this prison island? What nickname was given to prisoner Robert Stroud? |
 | Name this bell? In which city would you find it? |
 | Name this tall building? Name the city? What was the 'spike' used for? (It wasn't for the King Kong movie!!!) |
Song break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2595abcvh2M
She also wrote a song about which music festival in 1969?
Round 4. Food & Drink
 | Name this meal? Which 'Golden M' is associated with it? |
 | Name this meal? What name is given to the sausage? |
 | T or F. Coca-Cola used to have cocaine in it as an actual ingredient? |
 | Name these two vegetables? What do Americans call them? |
 | Name these two food items? What do Americans call them? |
 | Name this meal? Which variety is this? |
 | What do the initials 'K.F.C.' stand for? What is the name of the Colonel? |
 | Name this meal? What is the green stuff on top of it? |
 | Name the pie? Where was it first made? |
 | Name the meal? Which syrup is poured on top? |
Song break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8ZbPc-NQxY
The song speaks of "The day the music died ...". Who was 'The Music'?
Round 5. American Movies
 | Name the 1939 movie? Name the two characters & actors? |
 | Name the 1960 movie? Where was it set (thinking the hotel)? Who directed it? |
 | Name the 1961 movie? Name the character & actress? |
 | Name the 1972 movie? Name the character & actor? |
 | Name the 1977 movie? Name the two characters? Which date is the film associated with? |
 | Name the 1978 movie? Name the two characters & actors? |
 | Name the 1981 movie? Name the character & actor? |
 | Name the 1985 movie? Name the two characters? What car did he time travel in? |
 | Name this 1993 movie? Name the two actors? Where did they finally meet in the movie? |
 | Name this 1997 movie? Name the two characters and actors? |
Song break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZYhVpdXbQ
Name the three actors?
Final Round. Americanisms
What are the American words for ...
- Dummy
- Tap
- Petrol
- Noughts & Crosses
- Full stop
- Autumn
- Toilet
- Football
- Tick
Final Singalongs ... Ask members to choose which ones to sing
What was Dorothy's dog's name?
Who did she co-star with in several rom com movies?
What was his chimp's name?
Which English city did his brother sing about?
What was Louis Armstrong's nickname?
What trousers did he sing about?
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
We made a paper chain, using a template so that everyone could make their unique 'Happy Shiny Person'.
As we made them, we listened to songs of member's choice from American artists.
REFRESHMENTS
Buy a box of 'Dunking Donuts' to share ...
ANSWERS
Round 1
Christopher Colombus / Italian
Native American Indians / Navajo, Cherokee, Sioux, Apache Nations etc
'Mayflower' / Plymouth Hoe
Abraham Lincoln / American Civil War
Thanksgiving / Charlie Brown, Snoopy & Woodstock ('Peanuts')
Bald Eagle / Turkey
'The White House' / Washington D.C.
Joe Biden / 'Sleepy Joe'
Donald Trump' / 'The Apprentice USA'
Barack Obama / Hawaii
Round 2
Walt Disney / Mickey Mouse
James Dean / 'Rebel Without A Cause'
John Wayne / Marion Robert Morrison
MLK Martin Luther King / "I Have A Dream ..."
JFK John Fitzgerald Kennedy / Lee Harvey Oswald (In Dallas)
Marilyn Monroe / Norman Jean Mortenson
'Apollo 11' / Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin & Michael Collins
Elvis Presley / 'The King Of Rock & Roll'
Muhammed Ali / Cassius Clay
Oprah Winfrey / Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
'Old Blue Eyes'
Harry Houdini, Laurel & Hardy, Bette Davis
Grace Kelly, Bob Hope, James Stewart
Christopher Reeve, Stephen Spielberg, Bill Gates (worth $99.8 billion - he has given much of his 'Microsoft' fortune to charity. Elon Musk is now Number 1)
Madonna, Steve Jobs, Dolly Parton
Round 3
Mount Rushmore / George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt & Abraham Lincoln
Golden Gate Bridge / San Fransisco
Grand Canyon / Colorado
Statue of Liberty / Copper
Los Angeles / 'HollywoodLAND'
Ground Zero / 9/11 2001
Niagara Falls / 'Maiden Of The Mist'
Alcatraz / 'The Birdman Of Alcatraz'
'The Liberty Bell' / Philadelphia
'Empire State Building' / New York (Which was originally called New Amsterdam) / Airships (but it became too dangerous to fly them into the city due to the skyscrapers being built at the time)
'Woodstock'
Round 4
Hamburger / 'McDonald's'
Hot Dog / Weiner or Frankfurter
True. The first bottles of 'Coke' contained 3.5 grams of Cocaine
Courgette - Zucchini & Aubergine - Eggplant
Spring Onions - Scallions & Coriander - Cilantro
Pizza / Pepperoni
'Kentucky Fried Chicken' / Colonel Sanders
Nachos / Guacamole (Avocados)
Key Lime Pie / Florida - Key West
Pancakes / Maple Syrup
Buddy Holly
Round 5
'Gone With The Wind' / Rhett Butler - Clark Gable & Scarlett O'Hara - Vivien Leigh
'Psycho' / 'Bates Motel' / Alfred Hitchcock
'Breakfast At Tiffany's' / Miss Holly Golightly - Audrey Hepburn
'The Godfather' / Vito Corleone - Marlon Brando
'Star Wars' / Darth Vadar & Luke Skywalker / 4th May ("May the force (4th) be with you!")
'Grease' / Sandy Olsson - Olivia Newton-John & Danny Zuko - John Travolta
'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' / Indiana Jones - Harrison Ford
'Back To The Future' / Doc Brown & Marty McFly / DeLorean
'Sleepless In Seattle' / Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan / The viewing platform of 'The Empire State Building'
'Titanic' / Jack Dawson - Leonardo DiCaprio & Rose DeWitt - Kate Winslet
Don O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds & Gene Kelly
Pacifier, Faucet, Gas
Tic Tac Toe, Period, Fall
Restroom, Soccer, Check
Toto
Rock Hudson
Bubbles
'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool'
'Sachmo'
'Forever In Blue Jeans'
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