Ⅰ.Brief Statements Based on the Unit
As we all know, the earth is an ocean planet and 99% percent of the living space on earth is in the oceans. It is water that makes the ocean such a great place to live in. This unit mainly deals with the properties of water and how the properties of water make the ocean become so important. We learn this unit to help students not only know about the properties of water, but also learn how to use water in a good way. Besides, we learn this unit to let students realize the importance of protecting water. Of course, it is necessary for students to master the important phrases and sentences in the unit. Meanwhile we should review some important usage of Modal Verbs.
Ⅱ. Teaching Goals
1. Talk about water and the ocean.
2. Practise communicative skills.
3. Review Modal Verbs.
4. Write an explanation paragraph.
Ⅲ.Background Information
1. What Lies under the Blue Water?
Just like the houses we live in, the ocean has several “floors” or layers. Different fish live on different layers and are neighbours, though not always friendly ones!
The ocean’s top layer is the sunlit zone(透光层).It goes down to around 200 meters below water. This layer is warm and bright. It is also home to most plants and fish. Many fish in this layer are streamlined, so they can quickly swim from danger and catch food.
The twilight zone(弱光层) is the next layer and is from about 200 to 600 meters below water. Almost no plants grow here.
Many animals in this zone swim up to the surface at night to feed, and move into deeper waters during the day. They also eat each other, so many of them have sharp teeth and very big mouths.
Many fish in this zone don’t have a streamlined body because they lie and wait for prey to come to them.
Below the twilight layer is the midnight zone(无光层).It is from 600 meters to the bottom of the sea.
The water is cold and completely dark. No plants live here but many small animals can.
Many animals in the twilight and midnight zones produce their own lights.The angler-fish(琵琶鱼) is one of them. It has a beautiful light on its head to attract prey!
Maybe you have seen one of the coolest films Finding Nemo (《海底总动员》).Do you remember Marlin, Nemo’s father, “borrowed” light to help Dory read?
That wasn’t a flashlight, it was a fish! They also use light to frighten enemies and to “talk” with each other.
2. Water
A family of six needs over 20 gallons of water a day, just for basic drinking, cooking and keeping clean; but only one in three of the world’s households has a water supply in the home.
Most others get their water from rivers, lakes springs or holes in the ground, or, in town, from stand-pipes shared with hundreds of other families.
Throughout the world’s poorest countries women damage their health and lose hours of every day carrying huge containers of water-up to 44 lbs in weight-often from sources several miles away.
All too frequently they bring home sickness or death, as well as water. Untreated water, which may have come from a muddy hole shared with cattle, can be lethal, especially for young children. To sink a well or pipe water from a natural spring, and maintain the system afterwards, people need access to land with a water source, to capital, equipment and technical know-how. In towns they may need to lobby the local water authority to repair or extend existing systems.
Water is precious, and access to it gives power-to landowners with wells on their land, or to country controlling major international rivers. The demands on the earth’s water resources are growing rapidly, partly as a result of population growth, but even more because industry now uses such huge quantities-it takes 100 000 gallons to produce a car.
Ⅳ.Teaching Time: Five periods
The First Period
Teaching Aims:
1.Learn and master the new words and the useful expressions of this part.
Words: cube, sailor, disadvantages, entertainment
Phrases: come up with, happen to
Useful expressions: The water is being used to/for…
We should/could…
If we…we can…
It would be better…
2. Learn something about water by doing experiment.
3. Do some listening.
4. Improve the students’ speaking ability by talking.
Teaching Important Points:
1. Make the students be free to talk about water.
2. Improve the students’ listening ability by listening.
Teaching Difficult Points:
1. How to finish the task of speaking.
2. How to improve the students’ listening ability.
Teaching Methods:
1. Listening-and-answering activity to help the students go through with the listening material.
2. Individual, pair or group work to make every student work in class.
Teaching Aids:
1. the multimedia
2. the blackboard
3. an empty glass, a bottle of water and a bottle of vegetable oil
Teaching Procedures:
Step Ⅰ Greetings and Lead-in
T: Hello, everyone.
Ss: Hello, teacher.
T: Attention, please. As we all know, every year during the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival in our country, people like to see the lion dance and guess the riddles. Do you like to guess the riddle, then?
Ss: Yes.
T: OK. Now I have a riddle. Please guess it.
(Teacher uses the multimedia to show the riddle on the screen.)
It’s very important to all the animals and plants.
It’s also important to human beings.
It’s liquid at room temperature.
Every day you keep in touch with it.
You can’t live without it.
(a thing)
T: What’s it?
Ss: It’s very easy. It’s water.
T: Yeah, today we will talk about water. Now please tell me what you know about water.
S1: Water is used to drink.
S2: Water can be used to water the flowers.
S3: I think water can be used to make electricity.
Step Ⅱ Warming up
T: Thank you for your ideas. Next we will make some interesting experiments. Maybe you can learn more about water from the following experiments. S4, would you like to come here to help me?
S4: I’d love to.
T: Now, look at Li Lei and me. We will begin. You should watch the experiment carefully and try to tell me what happens and why.
(Teacher puts a bottle of water, a bottle of vegetable oil and an empty glass on the desk.)
T: S4, pour some water and some vegetable oil into the empty glass. Other students, please watch carefully.
( A few seconds later.)
Ss: Fantastic! The liquid in the glass has become two parts.
T: Try to describe it in detail.
S5: Let me try. The part above is vegetable oil and the part below is water. But I don’t know why.
T: Good question. Who’d like to answer his question? (Nobody answers his question.)
T: Perhaps it is a little difficult to answer it immediately. Now you can have a discussion about the reason for it, using what you have learnt in physics.
(Teacher lets students discuss in groups of four. A few minutes later, teacher checks their answers.)
T: Who wants to explain the phenomenon?
S6: I think water is heavier than oil, so vegetable oil is on the top of the water.
T: Who has different ideas?
S7: I think we should say that the density of water is higher than the density of vegetable oil, so the result formed.
S8: What’s the meaning of “density”?
S9:“Density” is “密度” in Chinese.
T: Do you agree with the reason for it?
Ss: Yes. We agree with the idea.
T: As we know, if we pour milk and water into one glass, we can’t tell where water is and where milk is. But just now we poured oil and water into one glass, it is so different now. Do you know why?
Ss: Because oil can’t dissolve in water, but milk can.
T: Very good. Let’s make a summary about the experiment. If we pour vegetable oil and water into one glass, the liquid will become two parts because oil can’t dissolve in water. Since the density of water is higher than vegetable oil, vegetable oil will be on top of the water. Is that clear?
Ss: Yes.
T: Would you like to watch another experiment?
Ss: I’d love to.
T: OK. I’ll perform the next experiment by myself. Look at me. I have a glass of water. Now I’ll cover it with a piece of thick paper. Attention, please.
(Teacher puts one hand on the paper and turns the glass upside down. Then teacher slowly takes his/her hand away from the paper.)
T: What can you see?
Ss: The piece of paper doesn’t fall and the water in the glass doesn’t flow.
T: Yes. You are right. Now you are given a few minutes to have a discussion about the reason for it.
(Teacher gives students a few minutes to discuss, and then checks their answers.)
T: Who can tell us the reason why the piece of paper doesn’t fall and the water doesn’t flow?
S10: I want to have a try. When the glass of water covered with a piece of paper is turned upside down, the pressure from air to the piece of paper is bigger than the pressure from the water in the glass to the piece of paper. So the paper won’t fall and the water won’t flow.
T: Excellent! Thank you for your explanation. I am very glad to see that you are all interested in making experiments. After class, you can carry out another two experiments on Page 17.When you perform them, try to describe what happens and why. OK?
Ss: OK.
T: Now, let’s look at a picture.
(Teacher shows a picture on the screen.)
T: What can you see?
Ss: There is a river in the picture, but it’s very dirty.
T: Anything else?
S11: There are some plastic bags and empty tins on the surface of the river.
T: Yes. We all know water is important to human beings and all the animals and plants. Unfortunately water is being polluted now. What do you think we can do to protect the water on our planet?
(Teacher gives students enough time to prepare. When they prepare, teacher goes among the students to help them to express their ideas correctly.)
Sample answer:
To protect the water on our planet, I think we should save every drop of water and stop throwing rubbish into water. Besides, we should try our best to help the people around us realize the importance of using and protecting our water.
Step Ⅲ Listening
T: Next, let’s do some listening. Turn to Page 18 and look at the Listening part. You can listen to the famous poems about life on the ocean. Listen carefully and write down some key words when you listen. Before you listen, let’s learn two phrases first. Look at the blackboard.
1. happen to
e.g. What happened to you last week?
If anything happens to the machine, please tell me.
2. come up with
e.g. I hope you can come up with a better plan than this.
(Teacher writes them on the blackboard and begins to explain them.)
T: Now listen, please.
(Teacher plays the tape for the first time. Then play it for the second time. During this time, teacher may pause for students to write down the information. Play some parts of the tape one more time if necessary. Finally teacher checks the answers with the whole class.)
Step Ⅳ Speaking
T: In our daily life, water can be used in different ways. Now we’ll talk about the ways in which water can be used. Look at the pictures on Page 18.The six pictures mean six different ways to use water. You can choose one of the pictures to discuss the importance of using and protecting our water, and then try to use some sentences to describe the picture you choose. If you like, you can make a dialogue with your partner about the picture. When you discuss, you may use the questions on the screen to help you.
1. How is the water being used?
2. Is this a good way to use water?
3. Why do we use water in this way?
4. Who benefits from using water in this way?
5. What are some disadvantages of using water in this way?
(Teacher shows the questions on the screen by multimedia and gives students enough time to discuss and prepare.)
Suggested answers:
(Picture 1)We can use water to make electricity, which can give us light and make us feel warm. I think it is a good way to use water.
(Picture 3) Water has a lot of usages and home use is the commonest one. Every day we must drink enough water. In addition, we need a lot of water, just for cooking and keeping clean. Water can help us to keep healthy. But if the waste water from home use is poured into river and soil, it will be harmful for some animals and plants. So we must pay more attention to it.
(Picture 4) In Picture 4, water is being used in industry. Water is very important to industry. It can be used to make paper, cool machine and so on. But the disadvantage is that a lot of water mixed with some poisonous things being poured into the river and the sea. It is dangerous for the living things in the water.
(Picture 6)
A: Do you know how the water is being used in Picture 6?
B: Water is being used for entertainment.
A: Is it a good way to use water?
B: Yes, because it can help people keep fit and enjoy nature. But if people throw rubbish into the water, it will be bad for us.
A: Yes. It is the disadvantage of using water in this way. We must be careful.
Step Ⅴ Summary and Homework
T: Today, we’re mainly learned something about water by doing experiments, speaking and listening. Besides, we’ve learnt some new words and phrases, such as: happen to, come up with, density,…
After class, try to remember them and preview the next part-Reading part. That’s all for today. Goodbye, everyone.
Ss: Goodbye, teacher!
Step Ⅵ The Design of the Writing on the Blackboard
Unit 13 The water planet
The First Period
1.happen to
e.g. What happened to you last week?
If anything happens to the machine, please tell me.
2. come up with
e.g. I hope you can come up with a better plan than this.
The Second Period
Teaching Aims:
1. Learn and master the following words and phrases:
cube,property,range,medium,relatively,dissolve,pure,relationship,mass,float,absorb,bottom,all the way, that is, add…to, mix with, take advantage of, manage to do
2. Improve the students’ reading ability.
3. Enable the students to realize that it is important to protect the water on our planet.
Teaching Important Points:
1. Improve the students’ reading ability.
2. Master the following phrases:
all the way, that is, mix with, take advantage of, manage to do
Teaching Difficult Point:
How do we make the students understand the reading passage better.
Teaching Methods:
1. Discussion before reading to make the students interested in what they will learn.
2. Fast reading to get a general idea of the text.
3. Discussion after reading to make students understand what they’ve learned better.
4. Careful reading to get the detailed information in the text.
Teaching Aids:
1. the multimedia
2. the blackboard
Teaching Procedures:
Step Ⅰ Greetings and Revision
(Greet the whole class as usual.)
T: Yesterday we learnt something about water. Now who can tell me what you learned yesterday?
S1: I learned that water is very important to all the living things on the earth.
T: OK, can you give me the reason why it is important?
S2: Water can be used to wash clothing, to made electricity, to water the farm and so on. Of course, every day we must drink enough water. So water is very important.
T: Anything else?
S3:I know something about water. For example, from the experiments we made yesterday, I know vegetable oil can’t be dissolved by water.
Step Ⅱ Pre-reading and Reading
T: OK. Thank you for your answers to my questions. As we all know, we can’t live without water. But do you know what makes water so important to all the living things?
Ss: No, we don’t know.
T: Maybe we can get the answer to the question after reading the article for today. Before you read, first let’s learn the new words and phrases in the passage.
(Teacher deals with the new words with the whole class.)
T: Now please read the passage quickly to get the general idea and try to use the following structures to make six questions.
(Teacher uses multimedia to show the structures on the screen.)
1. What is/are ______?
2. What does ______ look like?
3. What are different parts of ______?
4. What can ______ be compared to?
5. How does ______ work?
6. What are some examples of ______?
(Teacher gives students five minutes to finish the fast reading and making questions. Five minutes later, teacher asks some students to write their questions on the blackboard.)
1. What are the properties of water?
2. What does the earth look like?
3. What are different parts of the ocean?
4. What can the ocean be compared to?
5.How does the special air-conditioner-the ocean work?
6. What are some examples of species in the ocean?
T: Well done. Who can tell me the general idea of the text?
S4: The passage mainly tells us it is water that makes the ocean so important to all the living things in the world.
T: Good work. Next, let’s read the passage carefully to get more information about water. While you are reading, try to finish the chart in Post-reading on Page 21 and find out the answers to the questions on the blackboard.
(Teacher gives students enough time to read the text and collects their information for the chart.)
Suggested answers:
Property What is it? What is it good for?
Chemical structure Every water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. It is good for the living things in the ocean to absorb the nutrients easily.
Density The density of pure water is 1 000 kg/m3, meaning that one cubic metre of water weighs one thousand kilogram. It is good for marine organisms to take advantage of the density of water.
Heat capacity Heat capacity is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of a substance one degree centigrade. It is good for the earth to keep the temperature steady.
T: Very good. What about the questions on the blackboard?
S5: I think I can answer the first one. The answer is that the properties of water are chemical structure, salinity density, heat capacity and ocean motion.
S6: In my opinion, the answer to the fourth question is that the ocean can be compared to a great place to live in.
T: Do you agree with them?
Ss: Yes.
T: What about other questions?
S7: I think plankton, sharks and whales are examples of species in the ocean.
S8: The answer to the second one is that the earth looks like an ocean planet.
T: You are quite right. Any volunteers?
S9: Dear teacher. Can you tell us the meaning of the special air-conditioner-the ocean?
T: Maybe it means that there are some similarities between air-conditioner and the ocean.
S9: Thank you. I got it.
T: Then, who can answer the question?
S10: Because the ocean can keep the temperature of the earth steady, some students compare the ocean to a special air-conditioning. I think the ocean keeps the temperature of the earth steady by absorbing and releasing heat.
T: Well done. There is only one question left. Who wants to try?(Nobody answers the question.)
T: Do you think it is a question that the text can’t answer?
Ss: Yeah. We think so.
T: OK. Maybe you are right. But I want to know the reason why you think the passage can’t answer the third question.
Ss: Because there is not any information about the different parts of the ocean.
T: Then, are there any questions you would need to add to “cover” all the information in the text?
S11: I have a question. Why is the water in the ocean always moving?
S12: Since changes in salinity and temperature affect water’s density, the water in the ocean is always moving.
Step Ⅲ Further Understanding and Language Study
T: Well done. I think you are very familiar with the passage. In the passage there are some words and expressions we should master. Now let’s look at the screen. I will give you some explanations about the words and expressions.
1. incredibly adv. (extremely or unusually)
e.g. The water is incredibly hot.
2. available adj.(that can be used or obtained)
e.g. Tickets are available at the box office.
The book is available to all the students.
3. range vi.
range from A to B
e.g. Their ages range from 25 to 50.
His interests ranged from chess to canoeing.
4.But the way the water molecule…
e.g. I don’t like the way (in which/that) he looks at me.
They admired the way (in which/that) she dealt with the crisis.
5. that is (to say) (which means)
e.g. A week later, that is, May 1 is her birthday.
He is a local government administrator, that is, he is a Civil Servant.
6. take advantage of (make use of something well/make use of somebody unfairly)
e.g. They took full advantage of the hotel’s facilities.
She took advantage of my generosity.
7. be sensitive to something (affected easily by something)
e.g. She is very sensitive to other’s words.
(Teacher writes the words, phrases and sentences on the blackboard.)
Step Ⅳ Listening and Reading Aloud
T: Let’s listen to the tape. When I play it for the first time, just listen to it. When I play it for the second time, please listen and repeat. Then read the text aloud. Are you clear about that?
Ss: Yes.
(Te teacher plays the tape for the students to listen. After listening ,the teacher goes among the students and corrects any mistake the students make in pronunciation, stress and intonation.)
Step Ⅴ Summary and Homework
T: Today, we have read a passage about water. As we know, it is very important to all the living things. So we should do all we can to protect water from being polluted. In addition, try your best to retell the passage in your own words. Is that clear?
Ss: Yes.
T: See you tomorrow!
Ss: See you tomorrow!
Step Ⅵ The Design of the Writing on the Blackboard
Unit 13 The water planet
The Second Period
Questions:
1. What are the properties of water?
2. What does the earth look like?
3. What are different parts of the ocean?
4. What can the ocean be compared to?
5.How does the special air-conditioner-the ocean work?
6. What are some examples of species in the ocean?
Words: incredibly, available
Phrases: range from A to B, that is, take advantage of, be sensitive to
Sentences: But the way the water molecule…
The Third Period
Teaching Aims:
1. Review Modal Verbs.
2. Do some exercises to review some important words learnt in the last period.
Teaching Important Point:
Review Modal Verbs.
Teaching Difficult Point:
How do we help the students correctly use the Modal Verbs.
Teaching Methods:
1. Review method to help the students remember all the Modal Verbs they have learnt before and use them correctly.
2. Individual work or group work to make every student work in class.
Teaching Aids:
1. the multimedia
2. the blackboard
Teaching Procedures:
Step Ⅰ Greetings and Revision
(Greet the whole class as usual.)
T: Yesterday we learned a passage about water and now who can retell the passage in your own words?
S1:Let me try.
…
T: Well done. Thank you for your performance.
Step Ⅱ Word Study
T: Now please turn to Page 21.Look at the first part of Word Study. There are some words learnt in the last period, but the letters of these words are in the wrong order. Now I will give you a few minutes to put the letters in the correct order.
(A few minutes later, teacher may ask some students to spell their answers and give the Chinese meaning of each word to all the students. Finally teacher writes the correct words on the blackboard.)
1 otmas atoms
2 tanomu amount
3 sdlio solid
4 oasbrb absorb
5 cgrnetidea centigrade
6 sag gas
7 nhroygde hydrogen
8 yoxgen oxygen
9 assm mass
10 fatol float
T: Good work. Next look at the screen and try to complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the proper words. The first letter has been given and some words can be used more than once. If you need, you can have a discussion with your partner.
(Teacher uses the multimedia to show the following sentences on the screen.)
1. The water molecule is made up of two h_____ atoms and one o_____.
2.Water is a l_____ at room temperature, but it turns into a s_____ when the temperature drops below 0℃ and into a g_____ when heated above 100℃.
3. An a_____ is the smallest part of any living or nonliving thing.
4. Places by the sea often have a s_____ climate that is never too hot or too cold, because water can a_____ and release a lot of heat.
5. Soil can a______ water, so it helps keep water from flowing away.
6. Marine scientists study the r_____ between living creatures and their habitat in the ocean.
7. Salt water has a lower f______ point and is heavier than fresh water.
8. Oil has a density lower than 1000 kg/m3, so it will f______ on water.
(Teacher gives students enough time to prepare and then check their answers.)
Suggested answers:
1. hydrogen, oxygen 2.liquid,solid,gas
3. atom 4.steady,absorb
5. absorb 6.relationship
7. freezing 8.float
Step Ⅲ Grammar
T: Up to now we have learnt many modal verbs. Who can tell me what they are?
Ss:…
(Teacher asks some students to write their answers on the blackboard.)
Modal Verbs:
can/ could, may/might, will/would, be able to, must, should, have to, need, shall, ought to, had better.
T: Very good. Then do you know how to use them?
S2:I know “should” can be used to give others some advice.
S3:I know when I want to borrow a book from my friend, I can use “may”.
…
T: Your answers are very good. There is a conclusion about modal verbs on the screen. Let’s look at it.
(Teacher uses the multimedia to show the conclusion on the screen.)
Modal Verbs:
Possibility: can/could, may/might
Ability: can/could, be able to
Requests: can/could, will/would, would like
Necessity: must, have to, have got to, need
Certainty: must, will, should
Permission: can/could, may/might
Suggestions: could may/might, shall
Advice: should, ought to, had better
T: From the chart we can see modal verbs can be classified into eight groups by their usages. Are you clear about the classification?
Ss: Yes.
T: OK. Now look at the first part in Grammar. Finish the exercises. If you need, you can discuss with your partner. In addition you’d better make it clear why you choose A、B、C, or D. Are you clear about the requirements?
Ss: Yes.
(Teacher gives students enough time to finish the exercises. Then deals with them with the whole class.)
T: Are you ready?
Ss: Yes.
T: OK. Who’d like to tell me the answer to the first one?
S4:I think “A” is right.
T: Can you tell us the reason why you choose “A”?
S4: Because the speaker wants to express his/her request. Among A、B、C and D, only A can be used to express request.
T: Very good. What about the second one?
S5:“May” is right, I think, because the sentence is used to ask for permission.
T: Congratulations! Who can answer the third one?
S6:The phrase “wants to” express a state of being necessity. So I think “C” is right.
T: Well done. It’s turn to do the fourth one. Who can try?
S7: I’m not sure, but I want to have a try. Is “C” right?
T: Why did you choose “C”?
S8: I think the first sentence expresses some necessity and the second one expresses guess.
S9: I don’t think so. Because “must” can’t be used in negative sentences to express guess.
S8: Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot it. I see, the correct answer is “D”.
T: Excellent!
…
(Teacher encourages students to show their opinions about each one, and then teacher gives the correct answers and some necessary explanations.)
Suggested answers:
1. A 2.A 3.C 4.D 5.A 6.A 7.A 8.B 9.A
T: You have finished the first part successfully. Now let’s go on with the second part. Do you have confidence to finish it?
Ss: Yes. Of course we have.
T: OK. This is a letter from Mary to John. Maybe John met some problems, so Mary wants to write a letter to help him. But Mary doesn’t know how to use the modal verbs correctly. She wants you to help her finish the letter. Before you finish the letter, read it to get the general idea of it first and then answer the questions on the screen.
(Teacher uses multimedia to show the questions on the screen.)
1. Can you tell from the letter what John’s problem is?
2. Do you agree on the advice that Mary gives to him? Why? What would be your advice?
(Teacher gives students a few minutes to read the letter, and then checks their answers to the questions.)
T: Who’d like to answer the first question?
S10: I want to have a try. In my opinion, John’s problem is that his manager suspected him of stealing something at the meat factory.
T: Well done. Do you agree with him?
Ss: Yes.
T: What about the second one?
S11:I’d like to answer the question. I don’t agree to the advice that Mary gives to him. Because if he finds another job, maybe it means that he really stole something at the meat factory. I think he should tell the manager that he didn’t do it and advise the manager to call in the police to make it clear.
S12: In my opinion, he’d better try to find out who is the real thief to prove that he didn’t do anything wrong.
…
T: I think your suggestions are all very helpful to John and I hope he can find a good way to deal with the problem. Now you are clear about John’s problem. It’s your turn to help Mary finish the letter. Maybe there are more than one answer for some blanks. If you have some difficulties, you can discuss with your partner. Five minutes later, I will check your answers.
Suggested answers:
can/will/should, may
not/might not,must,could/should,might/would,will,might/may/could/would,might,would/could/might,should,will
Step Ⅳ Summary and Homework
T: Today, we’ve reviewed some new words learnt in this unit. In particular, we have reviewed the usages of modal verbs. After class, do more exercises to master them better. Time is up. That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Ss: See you tomorrow.
Step Ⅴ The Design of the Writing on the Blackboard
Unit 13 The water planet
The Third Period
Words:
atom, amount, solid, absorb, centigrade gas, hydrogen, oxygen, mass, float
Modal Verbs: can/could, may/might, will/would, need, must, have to, shall, should, ought to, had better
The Fourth Period
Teaching Aims:
1. Review the useful expressions learnt in this unit by practising.
2. Improve the students’ reading ability by reading the material.
3. Improve the students’ writing ability.
4. Enable the students to realize that it is important to protect the estuary.
Teaching Important Points:
1. Improve the students’ reading ability by reading the material.
2. Improve the students’ writing ability.
Teaching Difficult Point:
How to improve the students’ integrating skills-reading and writing.
Teaching Methods:
1. Fast reading to go through the reading material.
2. Inductive method to help students write a paragraph successfully.
Teaching Aids:
1. the multimedia
2. the blackboard
Teaching Procedures:
Step Ⅰ Greetings
Greet the whole class as usual.
Step Ⅱ Revision
T: Yesterday we did some practice about modal verbs. Now let’s do some more exercises to see if you have mastered them. Please look at the screen.
(Teacher uses multimedia to show the exercises on the screen.)
Fill in the blanks using must/might/may/can/could and their negative forms.
1.-I saw Mary in the street yesterday.
-You ______ have seen her. She is still in Australia.
2.-Could I use your bike?
-Yes, of course you ______.
3. The ground is wet. It ______ have rained last night.
4. A machine ______ think for itself. It ______ be told what to do.
5. Tom, don’t play with the valuable bottle. You ______ break it.
Suggested answers:
1. can’t 2.can 3.must 4.can’t,must 5.may/might
Step Ⅲ Fast Reading
T: Good work. But if we want to use the modal verbs correctly, we must practise them as often as possible. Today we will read another passage. The ocean is very important to all the living things, which is known to us, and I think we have also known about the reason why the ocean becomes so important-because of the properties of water, the ocean is very important. The passage we will read is also about water. It deals with “the body of water”.Are you interested in the topic?
S1:Yes.But what is the meaning of “the body of water”?I think water has no body.
T: Good question. I think you can get the answer to the question by yourself. Now let’s read the passage. While you are reading, try to make clear what is the main idea of each paragraph. Besides, try fast reading, it is helpful to improve your reading ability.
(Teacher gives students a few minutes to read the passage.)
T: Have you finished your reading?
Ss: Yes.
T: Wang Lin, are you clear about “the body of water”?
S2:Yes.I think “the body of water” means the main part of water.
T: You are great! Now who’d like to tell me the main idea of the first paragraph?
S3: An estuary is the body of water where a river meets the ocean.
T: Right, thank you for your answer. What about the second one?
S4: Let me try. The general idea is that estuaries are great places for nature’s young.
T: Wang Ping, tell me the main idea of the third paragraph, please!
S5: I’m not sure. I think the third paragraph tells us estuaries are important to animals and plants, so we should try our best to protect them from environmental pollution. Am I right?
T: Yes. Congratulations! There is only the last paragraph left. Who can try?
S6: I think the main idea of the last paragraph is that estuaries are also important to human beings because they not only provide recreation and education for us but also contribute to the economy.
Step Ⅳ Discussion and Explanation
T: The general idea of the passage is very clear to us now. Now let’s re-read the passage carefully. While you are reading, try to find out the answers to the questions on Page 23.If you need, you can have a discussion about them. Then I’ll check your answers.
(Teacher gives students enough time to read the passage. At the same time, teacher goes among them and helps them express their own opinions in English correctly.)
Suggested answers:
1. Tides provide energy for the ecosystem, and estuaries are protected from waves and storms by islands. In addition nutrients arrive in estuaries from both the land and the ocean. So estuaries are great places for nature’s young ones.
2. Density means the quality of being dense. In other words, there are more living creatures than any other habitat on earth.
3. Estuaries can make our water clean by absorbing nutrients and pollutants from water coming from inland sources.
4. The function that estuaries can absorb pollutants and nutrients makes estuaries very sensitive to environmental pollution.
5. Estuaries can provide recreation and education for human beings. Besides, estuaries also contribute to the economy. So they are very important to human beings.
T: Well done. Now you are very familiar with the passage.
To understand the passage better, I will explain some important phrases .Please, look at the blackboard.
(Teacher writes the following phrases on the blackboard.)
1.provide…for
e.g. The company will provide food and drink for them.
2. have an opportunity to do something
e.g I had no opportunity to discuss the problem with her yesterday.
3. a variety of
e.g. He left for a variety of reasons.
There are a variety of patterns for you to choose from.
4. contribute to
e.g. His work has contributed to our understanding of this difficult subject.
Step Ⅴ Writing
T: Up to now, we have learnt a lot about water and known the properties of water and importance of estuaries. Now you are given an opportunity to check if you know a lot about water. Look at the questions on the screen.
(Teacher uses multimedia to show the questions on the screen.)
1. Why does an ice cube float?
2. What will happen to a piece of metal if you put it in water?
3. Why do so many species live in estuaries?
4. Why have so many cities been built by estuaries?
T: Now imagine that your science teacher asks you to choose one of the questions and write a paragraph to explain it. Use what you learn from this unit and what you know about nature and science to write the paragraph. You must be careful to explain it to make your explanations easy to understand. You’d better look at the tips on Page 24 before you write. It’s of great help to your writing.
Possible samples:
(Question 3)
Salt water from the ocean and fresh water from the river mix together in an estuary. The mixing of fresh and salt water creates a unique environment filled with life of all kinds. Here, animals can enjoy all the benefits of the oceans without having to face many of its dangers and nutrients arrive in estuaries from both the land and the ocean. So there are so many species living in estuaries.
(Question 4)
Estuaries are great places for nature’s young. If many cities are built by estuaries, we can enjoy fishing, swimming and having fun on the beach and scientists and students have endless opportunities to study a variety of life in the habitat. What’s more, estuaries also contribute to the economy through tourism and fishing. So many cities have been built by estuaries.
Step Ⅵ Test
T: In this unit, we’ve learnt some important phrases. Now I’ll give you a test to check whether you’ve mastered them or not. Look at the screen, please.
(Teacher uses multimedia to show the test on the screen and gives students a few minutes to finish them. Then checks their answers.)
1.The children’s age ______(在5岁至15岁之间).
2.______(她处理这个问题的方法) is very good.
3.A week later,______（也就是),Oct 1 is National Day.
4.He ______(充分利用了) multimedia in the class.
5.The little girl ______(对温度很敏感).
6.His actions ______(使他受到尊敬).
7.He ______(设法完成了工作) with very little help.
Suggested answers:
1. range from 5 to 15
2. The way she deals with the problem
3. that is
4. took advantage of
5. is very sensitive to temperature
6. made him respected
7. managed to get the work done
Step Ⅶ Summary and Homework
T: Today, we’ve done some reading and writing. We’ve also reviewed some useful expressions in this unit. After class, go over all the important points we have learnt in this unit. That’s all for today. Class is over.
Step Ⅷ The Design of the Writing on the Blackboard
Unit 13 The water planet
The Fourth Period
Phrases: provide…for, have an opportunity to do, a variety of, contribute to
The Fifth Period
Modal Verbs
Teaching Aims:
1. Review the important usages of modal verbs.
2. Sum up the different situations of modal verbs.
Teaching Important Point:
How do we use modal verbs correctly.
Teaching Difficult Point:
How do we choose modal verbs correctly.
Teaching Methods:
1. Review method to master the important usages of modal verbs.
2. Inductive method and comparative method to master the important and difficult points.
Teaching Aids:
1 .the multimedia
2. the blackboard
Teaching Procedures:
Step Ⅰ Greetings
Greet the whole class as usual.
Step Ⅱ Revision
T: In this unit, we have done some practice about modal verbs. As we know, modal verbs have several points in common which make them quite different from other verbs. Now, please discuss the points in common among modal verbs in groups of four. After a while I will check your answers.
(Teacher gives students enough time to discuss, and then collects their answers and sums them up.)
Modal Verbs:
1. Modal verbs are used when we say that we expect things to happen or that things are possible, or necessary, or impossible, or improbable, or when we describe things that didn’t happen, or that we are not sure whether they happened.
2. Modal verbs have no -s on the third person singular. Questions and negatives are made without “do”.
3. Modal verbs have no infinitives.
4. Modal verbs have no past forms.“Could” and “would” are used with past meanings in some cases.
5. Modal verbs can be used with perfect infinitive to talk about things which didn’t happen, or which we’re not sure about.
Step Ⅲ Revision of the Important Usages of Modal Verbs
T: Good work. As we all know, modal verbs can be classified into eight groups according to their usages. Today we will review some important usages of modal verbs. Firstly, let’s review the modal verbs that can be used to express “possibility”.Please tell me which modal verbs can be used to express “possibility”.
Ss: Can/could/may/might all express “possibility”.
T: When they express “possibility”,they are not quite the same.“Can” is used to talk about theoretical possibility. If we want to talk about the actual chances of something happening, or being true, we use “could/may/might”.Besides,“can” is sometimes used to talk about present “possibility”,but only in questions and negative sentences. Is that clear?
Ss: Yes.
T: Now, let’s do some exercises to master them better. Look at the screen and try to finish the sentences as soon as possible.
(Teacher uses multimedia to show the sentences on the screen.)
Fill in the blanks using can/could/may/might.
1. Would you like to answer the phone? It ______ be your sister.
2. The part of the country ______ be very warm in September.
3.______ it be Lily?
4. It ______(not) be true.
5. You ______ be right.
Suggested answers:
1. could/may/might 2.can 3.Can 4.can’t 5.may/might/could
T: Besides “possibility”,can/could/may/might are also used to express “permission”.Yes?
Ss: Yes. But we are not sure about how to use them.
T: It doesn’t matter. I will give you some explanation.“Can” is the commonest one of the four, and “could” is rather more hesitant than “can”.“May” and “might” are used in a more formal style. They often suggest respect.“Might” is more hesitant and is not very common. Besides, when we give permission, we usually use “can” and “may”,but not “could” and “might”.When we report permission,“may” is not usually used. Are you clear about it?
Ss: Yes.
T: Then try to finish the following exercises, please.
(Teacher shows the exercises on the screen.)
1.-______I use your phone?
-Yes, of course. You ______.
2.______ you come into the meeting room without showing a passport?
3. Mary said that I ______ borrow her car.
Suggested answers:
1. Can/Could/May/Might; can/may
2. Can
3.might/could（“Might” and “could” can be used after a past verb.)
T: Next, which modal verbs do you think are necessary to review?
Ss: The modal verbs expressing “necessity”.They are very important.
T: Yes, I agree with you. We can use “must/have to/have got to/need” to express “necessity”.But about how to use them, I want you to review them by understanding the following sentences by yourselves. Look at the sentences on the screen.
(Teacher shows the sentences on the screen, and then asks some questions.)
1.I really must study hard.
2.You must be here by 3 o’clock.
3.You have (got) to go and see the manager.
4.You needn’t work on Sundays.
T: From the sentences, who can tell me the difference between “must” and “have to”?
S1:I want to have a try. When “must” is used, the necessity comes from the speaker. If the necessity comes from “outside”,“have (got) to” is more common.
T: Congratulations! Do you know how to use “need”?
S2:I think in negative sentences,“don’t need to”,“needn’t” or “don’t have to” is used to say that there is “no necessity”.
T: Please give me an example. OK?
S2:I know the reason why you were late. You needn’t try to explain.
T: Thank you. In addition, I want to tell you “have got to” is used instead of “have to” in informal English. Is that clear?
Ss: Yeah.
T: Now look at the blackboard.(Write the following on the blackboard.)
1. It must have rained last night, for the ground is wet.
2. You can’t have seen him yesterday, for he is still in Australia.
3. You could have told me he was coming.
4. She is very late. She may have missed the bus.
T: These sentences have something in common. Who can tell me what it is?
Ss: The modal verbs in these sentences are used together with perfect infinitives.
T: Very good. Then let’s review the modal verbs used together with perfect infinitives.
S3: When should we use modal verbs together with perfect infinitives?
T: When we talk about the past, we can use the structure, but it has a special meaning. It is used for speculating (thinking about what possibly happened) or guessing (thinking about how things could have been different).Have you got it?
Ss: Yes. Thank you.
T: Now let’s do some exercises to consolidate the usage of the structure.
1. I told Sally how to get there, but perhaps I ______for her.
A. had to write it out
B. must be have written it out
C. should have written it out
D. ought to write it out
2. You didn’t let me drive. If we ______ in turn, you ______ so tired.
A. drove; didn’t get
B. drove; wouldn’t get
C. were driving; wouldn’t get
D. had driven; wouldn’t have got
3.-I want to know why she is late.
-She ______ the early bus.
A. could miss
B. can have missed
C. may have missed
D. might miss
4.-I stayed at a hotel in New York.
-Oh, did you? You ______ with Barbara.
A. could have stayed
B. could stay
C. would stay
D. must have stayed
5. The light is still on. He ______ to turn it off when he ______ the room.
A. may forget; leave
B. must have forgotten; left
C. may forget; have left
D. could have forget; left
(Teacher shows the exercises on the screen and gives students enough time to finish them, and then checks their answers and gives them some necessary explanation.)
Suggested answers:
1. C 2.D 3.C 4.A 5.B
T: Now, it’s turn to review modal verbs expressing “advice”.Who’d like to tell me which modal verbs we can use to express “advice”?
S4:I think we usually use “should/ought to/had better” to give “advice”.
T: Yes. In most cases, both “should” and “ought to” can be used with more or less the same meaning. However, there is a very slight difference. When we use “should”,we give our own subjective opinion.“Ought to” had a rather more objective force, and is used when we are talking about laws, duties and regulations. Are you clear about that?
Ss: Yes.
T: Who wants to give us an example using “should” and “ought to” expressing “advice”?
S5: People ought to vote even though they don’t agree with any of the candidates.
T: Well done. What about “should”?
S6: Let me try. You should see “Hero”-it’s a great film.
T: Thank you for your good performance. Do you know how to use “had better”?
Ss: Yes. When we use “had better”,we don’t usually mean that the action recommended would be better than another one. We simply mean that he/she ought to do it.
T :Please make up a sentence using “had better”.
S7: You’d better hurry up, if you want to get to the factory on time.
T: Good example!
Step Ⅳ Summary and Homework
T: Up to now, we have reviewed modal verbs which express possibility, necessity, permission, advice and modal verbs used together with perfect infinitives. They are all very important. After class, try to do more exercises to master them better. That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Ss: See you tomorrow.
Step Ⅴ The Design of the Writing on the Blackboard
Unit 13 The water planet
The Fifth Period
Modal Verbs
1. It must have rained last night, for the ground is wet.
2. You can’t have seen her yesterday, for she is still in Australia.
3. You could have told me he was coming.
4. She is very late. She may have missed the bus.
Record after Teaching