Teaching material:

Unexplained Mysteries of the Natural World / Module6 /Book 4（外研版）

1st Period: Listening and Vocabulary, writing

Teacher: Chen Bo

Students: Class 27, Senior Two, Haikou No.1 Middle School

Teaching Aids:

computer, overhead projector, blackboard, mikes, videos and pictures, handouts

Teaching Objectives:

1. Train the students’ 4 skills especially listening and writing skills.

2. Help the students gain a good knowledge of the extinction of dinosaurs.

3. Develop the students’ passion for nature.

Strategies:

All the steps will be carried out by competition, predictions, strategies of groups, individual work, class work, discussion etc.

Design:

1. Topic and skill development: skills around topic.

2. Input and output: output based on input.

Teaching Procedures:

1. Make a prediction. (Pictures shown on the projector)

T: Good afternoon, Class! Today, we’ll learn a new module: Unexplained Mysteries of the Natural World. Tell me, what does the word “mysterious” mean?

S1: Unknown?

T: Right! Look at the picture with claws and tail. Guess what kind of creature it is.

S2: Dinosaur…

T: How can you know?

S3: Well, it has a tail, and it looks like a bird.

T: Correct! But can you say something more about it?

S4:……big or small, had appeared in the world for millions of years. They lived on plants or meat, disappeared a long time ago…

T: Excellent! You know plenty about it! Today, our learning objectives are as follows. Let’s go over them.

1. To improve our 4skills especially listening and writing skills.

2. To know more about the extinction of dinosaurs.

3. To gain a passion for nature.

What does “gain a passion for nature” mean in Chinese?

S5: 喜欢自然界。

T: Exactly! Now, our class is divided into A, B Groups. We’ll have a competition. All your efforts will be counted. Winners will be rewarded! Let’s come to Activity 1. You ought to have known their meanings after preparation. Present your answers and then put the sentences into Chinese.

Activity 1: Complete the sentences with the words:

adapt, climate, disappear, extinct, evolve, survive

1) The ______of a country is the type of weather it has.

2) If an animal or plant is ______, it existed a long time ago but doesn’t exist now.

3) When things _________, they no longer happen or exist.

4) When people or animals _______, they don’t die after an accident or an illness.

5) If you can______ to something, you can change in order to make the situation better.

6). When animals or plants ______, they change and develop over a long period of time.

S6: (The answer to) No1 is “climate”. The Chinese meaning is …

No2 is “disappeared”. (The) Chinese meaning is…

T: Well, wait a moment, Boy! Are you sure it is “disappeared”?

S6: Er,  … no, (can it be) “extinct”?

T: Do you agree, Class?

Ss: (All) Yes!

T: Thanks! Any other volunteer?

S7: (The answer to) No3 is “disappear”. The Chinese for it is… No4, “survive”. No5, “evolve”. No6, “adapt”.

T: What’s the Chinese for “evolve and adapt”? Would you please change the 2 sentences into Chinese?

S7: Er…, sorry. No5, “adapt”. No6, “evolve”. (Their) Chinese meanings are …

T: Any different opinions?

Ss: No.

T: Good! Class, you were required to prepare Activity 2 before class. It’s the tape-script of Part 1. Predict the right words from the context. Each group finds a capable candidate, and then writes your predictions on the blackboard.

Today’s topic is a big one--it’s dinosaurs, those strange (2)__________ which ruled the earth for no less than (3)______________, some of them were (4)_________, others were like the infamous（ 名声不好的）Tyrannosaurus Rex (霸王龙), carnivores who (5) ________meat and who (6)__________ the more peaceful plant eating dinosaurs. Not all dinosaurs were big --- some were the size of chickens, and in fact the closest things to dinosaurs living today are actually (7) __________. But the mystery we are going to talk about today is why the dinosaurs suddenly disappeared exactly (8)__________________, and to throw light on (阐明) the subject we’ve invited one of the world’s foremost（最主要的）experts on the subject, from the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, Dr Roger B in field.

(2 students write their answers on the blackboard.)

T: You’ve got creative answers! Boys and girls listen to Part 1 and then find out the right words from the tape-script.

(After listening)

T: Are you clear now? Let’s check them together. I’d like one student from each group to come up and correct the answers.

T: Here are the keys.

1) Mysteries of Nature

2) creatures

3) two hundred million years

4) plant eaters

5) lived off

6) attacked

7) birds

8) 66 million years ago

(After correcting, Teacher checks any possible answers and scores them.)

T: Did the two perform a good job? Wonderful handwriting! I’m surprised! How can you figure out all the answers correctly! Well, Group A gets 5 points, Group B 8 points. Let’s give them a big hand, shall we? (Whole class clap!)

T: Well, from what we did just now, we obtain a listening Strategy. Who volunteers to translate it into Chinese?

Good listeners make predictions(做预测) using what they know about the topic to correct their listening comprehension, when the listening material is different from their prediction.

S8:（Slowly get the Chinese translation with Teacher’s help）

T: Good. Please keep in mind. It’s always helpful in listening. Let’s move to the next. Activity4: Match the words below with the pictures on the projector.

volcanic eruption, crater, dust cloud, galaxy, meteorite, seeds, nuts

S9: (Volunteer to match the pictures with the right words. Teacher corrects and scores the groups.)

T: Since you have no problems with the words. Let’s do something challenging! Please go through the statements before listening.

(Time is given to go over the statements.)

( ) 1. A meteorite hit the earth.

( ) 2. Dinosaurs were unable to adapt to the changes of the climate.

( ) 3. More mammals(脯乳动物) ate up dinosaurs’ eggs.

( ) 4. They killed each other.

( ) 5. Volcanic eruptions.

( ) 6. Cancer caused by radiation from a dying star.

( ) 7. Another planet struck the earth.

( ) 8. Dinosaurs only gave birth to male ones in freezing weather.

(Before listening, deal with No 6 and 8)

T: Who is an expert in geography? What does a dying star mean in Chinese?

S10: (Explain in Chinese) 白矮星--陨落的行星

T：Good, thank you! Now, listen to Part 2 and tick out (√) the explanations that are given for the extinction of the dinosaurs.

(After listening) Will you report your answers? Any volunteer?

S11: I think, (Statements) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are given.

T: Thanks! Does anyone disagree?

S12: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.

T: Well, whose answers are correct? Do you need once more?

Ss: Yes!

T:( After the 2nd listening) Now class, are you sure about the answers?

Ss: (All answer) 1, 2, 4, 5, 6!

T: Smart boys and girls! Both score 5 points. The following game is Hot. It is Super-quiz! Today’s topic is dinosaurs! The one who stands first gets a chance to answer. If you give a right answer, you get 3 points. If you don’t get it correctly, your members can help you. But if you fail, you lose 3 points. Ready? go!

S13: (Stands up first!) No4.

T: Good. Read the 2 questions and answer them.

S13: Theory Two: Dinosaurs were unable to adapt to the changes of climate.

Question1. What caused the changes in the climate?

S13: Perhaps the meteorite hit the earth and led to the disappearance of life. Finally it caused the changes of climate. People don’t know exactly what caused the changes.

T: Well-done! Go on.

S13: Question 2. Why couldn’t dinosaurs adapt to cold climate?

S13: The climate was cold. They had no furs to keep warm. Or they might have stopped evolving, and unable to adapt to changes in the climate.

T: Good. Any make-up?

S14: Dinosaurs were 冷血动物（cold-blooded animals）.They can’t survive the changes.

T: Thanks, clever boy! Now, Group A get another 6 points! Give them congratulations, shall we? (All clap) Next, ready?

S15: (Stands up first!) No, 2.

T: Oh! Read and answer.

S15: Theory 3: They killed each other.

Question1. Do you think dinosaurs were friendly?

S15: I think some were friendly. They lived off plants and lived in groups. They helped each other.

T: Anyone else has more?

S16: Maybe others had to kill and fight for a living.

Question 2.Why did dinosaurs kill each other?

S16: Maybe, they killed each other for food, space or mates.

T: Excellent! We can see you have a good knowledge in dinosaurs. Group B scores another 6 points. Let’s give them a big hand!

T: Now comes the last round of Super-quiz! One, two, start!

S17: (Quickly standing up) No1

T: Good! Let’s come to the questions.

S17: Theory 5 Cancer caused by radiation.

Question1How did dinosaurs get cancer?

S17: Due to the radiation coming from a dying star somewhere in our galaxy. The radiation was strong and bad. Slowly it caused cancer.

T: Good point! Next, please!

S17: Question 2. Do you think cancer could end the lives of all the dinosaurs? Why?

S17: Hard to say, but perhaps dinosaurs got cancer as time went by. They would die out in a long time.

S18: I think (It is) unlikely. If dinosaurs died of cancer, radiation might cause death to the others (as well).

T: Quite true! Of course, this is only a prediction! Let’s award the gifted students 8 points! (Whole class clap)

T: Last, we’ll have a discussion. Share your opinions with your partner, and then demonstrate in class. “Which theory do you think is the most likely, and why?” (3min)

Some related phrases and words:

the most widely accepted theory, meteorite, … hit the earth with such force that it create a huge dust cloud, extremely hot …,fire spread…, be destroyed…, stop the sunlight from getting through, …there be no light, no heat, and no food…, be unable to adapt to, climate change, disappear, extinct, stop evolving, survive, volcanic eruption, send out huge clouds of dust , cut off the light, more mammals(脯乳动物), seeds, nuts, steal eggs, give birth to male baby dinosaurs , because of freezing weather, no fur to keep warm, cancer caused by radiation from a star ,galaxy, fantastic（怪异的）, go for, for, can’t agree more…

T: (After discussion) Does Anyone want to share?

S19: …

S20: …

(The bell rings)

T: It’s a pity time is limited. I’d like you to organize your ideas into a short passage.

“Which theory do you think is the most likely, and why?”

Before you write, make sure what makes a good writing.

Accurate expression(准确).

Substantial(充实) .

Coherent (连贯).

Pure English(地道).

Clean handwriting.

T: Please hand in your writing tomorrow. Now count the points. Group A is the winner! Let’s give them a big clap! These are the gifts for winners. Share with the class. Good-bye, everyone!

Ss: Good-bye. Teacher!

点评：海口市教育研究培训院/吴允秀

从本节课的教学设计中可以看出陈波老师具有相当的教学功底和一定的教学经验，显示出良好的教学素质和强烈的课改意识。整节课课堂教学结构合理、层次清晰、疏密有致，对教学过程中各个环节都能有机地衔接、自然过渡；能面向全体，因材施教，重视语言运用能力的培养，教学手段先进，教法灵活多样，新颖独特，别具一格；课堂练习合理，能显示主线，有层次、梯度和弹性。以“教师为主导、学生为主体、活动为主线”的指导思想较为明显。改变了传统的单向式、静听式的课堂结构，代之以多向立体式现代课堂结构。多向的信息反馈、学生大胆发言、互相讨论、求知欲旺盛。

本节课具有以下5个特点：用7个字概括为“清、活、强、好、谐”。

1、从教学程序上看，本课体现了一个“清”字。从warming up—redaction-- presentation --practice--application等活动，教学思路清晰，由浅入深，步步推进。各个教学各环节紧密相连，过度自然，严谨有序，精彩场面每每迭出，令人赏心悦目，颇有异彩分呈之感。

2、从教学方法上看，本课呈现了一个“活”字。教师教学方法活，学生学法活。集中表现在教师通过对教学内容的认真设计，安排了形式多样的任务活动，有whole class, group work, pair work, individual, prediction, listening, speaking, writing 等训练形式，人均活动量大，次数多，训练到位，让学生在完成任务活动中学习和运用语言。此外，陈老师还努力通过利用多媒体教学手段创设多种多样的语言情景，融图象、声音、语言为一体的“三维”空间。活动多形式，快节奏，学生学习英语积极高，参与活动意识强，体现了新课程标准所倡导的“语言学习中要让学生通过参与、体验、合作、探究、讨论交流等不同活动让学生在”做“中学，在做中用，在用中学”的新理念。

3、从教学技能方面看，本课体现了一个“强”“字。教师自始自终用英语进行组织教学，英语语音、语调准确，语言表达流利、通顺、自然，创设语言环境，突出语言教学的的实践性。显示了较强的教学基本功和驾驭课堂和教材的能力。

4、从教学效果上看，得出了一个”好“字。从整节课中，我们看到学生积极参与，活动密度大，学生是在一个 “听一听、看一看、说一说、比一比、想一想、做一做”等活动中学习语言，学生对本节课的内容掌握得比较好。达到了预期的教学目标。真正体现了面向全体学生的教育思想。

5、从教学的特色上看，本课展现了一个 “谐”字。即师生双边关系和谐融洽。教师笑容可鞠，亲切自然，和颜悦色的面部体势语言无疑为学生营造了轻松愉快祥和的气氛。