Unit 15 We’re trying to save the manatees!
Part 1: Teaching design (第一部分：教学设计)
Structures: Review of structures
Target language: I think that animals should not live in zoos. I disagree with you. I feel that zoos provide clean and safe places for endangered animals to live.
Vocabulary: manatee, cheetah, kangaroo, chimpanzee, recycle, aquatic, habitat, gentle, aggressive, playful, furry, gray, enormous, strong, spotted, underwater, mangrove, vegetation, swamp, save, environment, educate, public, politely
Learning strategies: Classifying, Listening for specific information
Section A
Goals
● To review structures learned
● To listen and talk about animals
Procedures
Warming up by learning about animals
Animals are living things. Plants can make their own food or
energy from the light of the sun, but animals can't do this.
Animals have to eat plants or other animals to get energy to live.
Some animals eat only plants. We say that these animals are herbivores. Some animals eat onlymeat. We say that these animals are carnivores. Some animals eat both plants and meat. We say that these animals are omnivores. Plants can't move around, but most animals can move around. Animals are divided into groups.
1a Looking and describing
On page 118 in the picture you will see a zoo with animals and visitors. Now choose adjectives listed in the box to describe the six animals.
African elephants
Chimpanzees
Kangaroos Manatees
Cheetahs Polar bears
enormous
noisy playful gentle,
shy
spotted,
fast
Furry,
aggressive
1b Listening and circling
Victor and Ginny are talking about animals. They are describing them with many different words.
Now listen to their talk and circle the words used in 1a to describe the animals.
Tapescript
Boy: Hey, Ginny. What’s that big, furry animal in the pond?
Girl: It’s a polar bear, Victor. They’re kind of aggressive.
Boy: Are they? Looks like they really love water.
Girl: Uh-huh.
Boy: And what do you call those big, gray things in the water?
Girl: They’re called manatees.
Boy: What?
Girl: Manatees. They’re very gentle and very shy.
Girl: They’re cheetahs. The cheetah is the fastest animal on earth
1c Doing groupwork
We humans are animals, too. So we are like animals in some ways. Now in groups of four, you are going to think of an animal that is the same as you are in some ways. Then you are to describe the animal and the others are to guess its name.
A: I am like this animal because I am strong and intelligent. I like water, and I like to eat vegetables.
B: You’re like an elephant.
A: No.
B: You’re like a manatee.
A: Yes!
A: I am like this animal because I am heavy and enormous. I like forests, and I like to go around the mountain.
B: You’re like a chimpanzee.
A: No.
B: You’re like an elephant.
A: Yes!
A: I am like this animal because I like spotted clothing and I run the fastest in my school.
B: You’re like a manatee.
A: No.
B: You’re like a cheetahs.
A: Yes!
2a Listening and matching
A boy is asking a man about animals he likes.
Tapescript
Boy: Can you tell us about the manatees, please?
Man: Sure. We’re trying to save them.
Boy: Why? Are they endangered?
Man: Yes. There used to be a lot of manatees, but now there aren’t very many of them.
Boy: Do you know how many there are?
Man: At this point, there are only about 2, 500 in the U.S. In 1927, it was discovered that they were endangered. Since then, the government has passed laws to protect them.
Boy: Where do they live?
Man: Their favorite habitat is the water under the trees in mangrove swamps.
Boy: And why are they endangered?
Man: Some of the swamps have become polluted. Also, there sometimes isn’t enough food for all of them. As you can see, they’re large. The average manatee is about ten feet long and weighs about 1, 000 pounds. They need about 100 pounds of aquatic feed a day.
Boy: Aquatic feed?
Man: Oh, that’s underwater plants and vegetation. That’s what they eat.
Now listen to their talk and match the words with the definitions in the box on page 119.
1. endangered →b. there aren’t very many of them.
2. mangrove swamps → d. a place where trees grow in water
3. habitat → a. the place where something lives
4. aquatic feed → underwater plants and vegetation
2b Listening and completing
Next you are going to complete the chart on page 119 in the middle. Listen to the talk once more for the necessary information.
Kind of animal Manatee
Number 2,500 in the US
Habitat the water under the trees in
mangrove swamps
Reason why they are endangered Some of the swamps have become polluted. Also, there sometimes isn’t enough food for all of them.
description The average manatee is about
ten feet long and weighs about
1, 000 pounds. They need
about 100 pounds of aquatic feed a day.
In the end you are going to read the tapescript. While reading, you must try to blacken all the predicates, underline all the expressions and circle all the connectives.
2c Doing pairwork
You are going to interview a zoo attendant. Now use the facts from above activities to role play a conversation between you and the attendant.
A: How big are manatees?
B: They’re about 10 feet long and they weigh about 1,000 pounds.
A: How much do they eat everyday?
B: They need about 100 pounds of aquatic feed a day.
A: What is Aquatic feed?
B: It is underwater plants and vegetation.
A: That’s what they eat?
B: Yes, it is.
A: Are manatees endangered?
B: Yes, they are endangered. But, we’re trying to save them.
A: Wait a moment. Why are they endangered?
B: Because their homes are disappearing.
A: Where do they live?
B: They live in the swamps. And they have become polluted. They are endangered also because there sometimes isn’t enough food for all of them.
A: I am sorry to hear that. There used to be a lot of manatees, but now there aren’t very many of them left, I think.
B: You are right. At this point, there are only about 2, 500 in the
U.S.
A: Are there any laws to protect them.
B: Since 1927 laws have been passed protect them.
A: Thank you for your information.
3a Reading and underlining
Turn to page 120. Disgusted has written a letter to the editor. Now read it to underline the reasons why Disgusted is opposed to zoos. While reading remember to box all the connectives, blacken all the predicates. That’s grammar study.
Dear Editor,
I am writing to say that I am against building a new zoo in our town. Zoos are terrible places for animals to live. I've visited a lot of zoos in my life, and I have never seen one I liked or one that was suitable for animals to live in. Just last week, I visited a zoo and couldn’t believe what I saw. The animals are kept in tiny cages and can hardly move at all. And they are only given food once a day. Is this a good way for animals to live? I don't think so.
Sincerely
Disgusted
3b Reading and writing
A man called Animal Friend wrote a letter to the editor, too. Now read this letter on 120. While reading, underline all the expressions, box all the connectives, and blacken all the predicates. That’s grammar study, too.
Dear Editor.
I visited our zoo yesterday and I was very surprised to find hardly anyone there. Zoos are very important places. They are like living textbooks for young people. They provide homes for many endangered animals, and help to educate the public about caring for them. If we don’t support our zoos, they won't have enough money to take care of so many fine animas. I urge all of your readers to visit our wonderful zoo soon.
Sincerely, Animal friend
4 Debating
Next we are going to have a new activity-to debate.
Let’s make two teams. Team A is to debate against keeping animals in the zoos, and Team B is to debate for keeping animals in the zoos for protection and education of the people.
Useful expressions
I think that… I agree with you.
I believe that… I disagree with you.
I feel that… I agree with…
A: I think that animals should not live in the zoos.
B: I disagree with you. I feel that zoos provide clean and safe places for endangered animals to live.
A: I don’t think so.
B: A zoo is a place where many different species of animal are kept and usually can be seen by members of the public.
A: Why can people go and see the animals in the forest?
B: In that case, more harm will be done to the animals.
A: Kept in the zoos animals are losing their natural nature of living.
B: Most modern zoos are also centers where animals are studied so that more animals in the forest could be saved and protected.
A: Some rare animals are dying out.
B: Yes, they are. Rare animals could be preserved when they are in danger of dying out.
A: You are right in saying that. But I still think that it is not right to put animals in the zoos. They belong to the forest, the river, the sky and the sea.
Closing by learning about Brown Eared-pheasant（褐马鸡）
To end this period we shall turn our attention to a rare animal found almost only in Shanxi, China, Brown Eared-pheasant, or褐马鸡 in Chinese.
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it may have a small population, and although its numbers within protected areas appear to be stable, elsewhere remaining unprotected and isolated populations are declining (potentially rapidly) through ongoing habitat loss and hunting.
SECTION B
Goals
To learn to talk about recycling
To learn to read about recycling
Procedures
Warming up by learning about recycling
Recycling is the reuse of materials that would otherwise be considered waste. Recycled materials can be derived from pre-consumer waste (materials used in manufacturing) or post-consumer waste (materials discarded by the consumer).
1a Thinking and ranking
If all animals are endangered, if the earth is endangered, then we are endangered. What can we do to save the endangered animals, the endangered earth, and us human beings?
Now go to page 121, to rank the items in the box from the easiest to the most difficult.
5 Stop riding in cars
4 Recycle books and paper
1 Turn off the lights when you leave the room
2 Turn off the shower while you are washing your hair
3 Don’t use paper towels or napkins
1b Doing pairwork
In pairs you are going to talk to compare your answers.
A: Recycling paper is really easy.
B: I agree. But it’s hard to stop riding in cars.
A: Turning off the lights when you leave the room is not difficult at all.
B: I agree. But there are some people who always leave their lights on when they are away.
A: Turning off the shower while you are washing your hair is not difficult to do.
B: No, it isn’t difficult to do. I don’t use paper towels or napkins.
A: Really? I have to learn from you to better protect our planet.
2a Listening and checking
Julia and Jack are talking saving on the energy and others.
Tapescript
Boy: Hey, Julia. Don’t forget to turn off the lights. It saves electricity.
Girl: Oh, I know. I usually do that. I was just in a hurry. How come you’re so interested in the environment, Jack?
Boy: I always have been. Lots of people think there’s nothing they can do, but I just read this book about it, and there are lots of things the average person can do.
Girl: Like what?
Boy: Well, you should turn off the shower when you’re washing your hair.
Girl: Oh, I’d never do that!
Boy: You wouldn’t?
Girl: No, I have very short hair. I’m only in the shower for a few minutes.
Boy: Well, every minute helps.
Girl: What else does it say?
Boy: It says you should take your own bags when you go food shopping.
Girl: Oh, that’s not difficult. I can do that. What else?
Boy: Hmmm. Here’s a good one. It says people should stop riding in cars and start riding bikes.
Girl: Oh, I’ll never do that! Can you see me riding 45 minutes to and from school every day?
Boy: Well, I think the environment is really important. Besides, I like riding my bike.
Girl: Yes, and you also live close to school!
Listen to their talk and check√ the things that Julia and Jack talk about.
Things Julia and Jack talk about Things Julia is doing now Things Julia will do in the future Things Julia would never do
√Turning off the lights √
√Turning off the shower √
Stopping using paper napkins
√Taking your own bags when shopping √
√Not riding in cars ×
√Riding a bike
Recycling paper
2b Listening again and checking
Listen again to check √the things that Julia is doing now, the things she will do in the future, and the things she would never do.
Finally you are supposed to read the tapescript for language study. While reading try to blacken all the predicates, circle all the connectives and underline all the expressions.
2c Doing pairwork
We learned a lot from what Julia and Jack talked about. Now in pairs role play a conversation using the information from the chart above to say what is true for you.
A: We really shouldn’t use paper napkins, you know.
B: I know. I stopped using them last year.
A: We should fall into the habit of turning off the lights when we go out.
B: I have been doing that ever since I started schooling.
A: We had better turn off the shower when we are washing our hair.
B: I have never done that before, and I will never do that in the future, either.
A: Why, are you not a good citizen?
B: Yes, I am a good citizen. You see I keep very short hair. I am only in the shower for a few seconds.
A: And we should take our own bags when shopping.
B: I agree with you. Next time I go shopping to Meet All Supermarket I will refuse to accept the plastic bags that are offered there.
A: What about not riding in cars?
B: What? Not riding in cars to school?
A: Yes, you may take the school bus to and from school.
B: All right. I agree not to ride in the cars.
3a Reading and making up questions
Next we are going to read. Turn to page 122 now. What does the article The house of trash talk about? It tells about Amy Winterbourne. After reading the article, you will go to interview her. So while reading write down five questions you would like to ask her.
The house of trash
You have probably never heard of Amy Winterbourne, but she is a most unusual woman. She lives in a house that she built herself out of trash. Well, the stuff used to be called trash, but now it’s called “recycled” material. The windows and doors came from old buildings around the town that were being pulled down. The walls are made from old glass bottles that are glued together. The roof is made from discarded tiles. And the fence is built out of used soda cans. Amy recently won an award from the Help Save Our Planet Society. The president Jackson Smith said, “Amy is an inspiration to us all.”
And what does Amy do in her spare time? She makes model toys out of old TVs, and sells them to raise money for the Children’s Hospital.
Questions to be asked of Amy Winterbourne
1.What are you, Ms Amy Winterbourne?
2.Why did you built your house out of trash?
3.What award did you win?
4.What do you think of the saying that “Amy is an inspiration to us all.”?
5.What do you do in your spare time?
3b Looking and completing
On page 122 are two pictures. Now look at then, and complete the article below, using phrases like “made from” and “used to be ”.
Joe Winterbourne loves the clothes his mother made for him. At school, everyone calls him Mr. Recycling. His hat is made from used umbrella. His shoes are made from used rugs. His trousers used to be his school bags. And look at his watch! It used to be his clock! He made it smaller and ties it around his wrist as a watch. In short in Mr. Recycling’s house everything is recycled objects.
4 Making a survey of Mr. or Ms Recycling
Recycling is a way to save our planet and ourselves. Next we shall make a survey to find out who recycles the most in our class. Then we can take a class vote.
Do you…?
Recycle paper? Turn off the lights when away? Turn off the shower when wash hair? Recycle water? Ride a bike shopping or sightseeing? Send mobile phone message instead of calling? Build houses out of trash?
Just for fun!
Part 2: Teaching Resources (第二部分：教学资源)
I.What is recycling?
Recycling is the reuse of materials that would otherwise be considered waste. Recycled materials can be derived from pre-consumer waste (materials used in manufacturing) or post-consumer waste (materials discarded by the consumer).
II. What is reuse?
One form of recycling is the reuse of goods, especially bottles. Reuse is distinguished from most forms of recycling, where the good is reduced to a raw material and used in the making of a new good (e.g. crushing of bottles to make glass for new bottles). Refillable bottles are used extensively in many European countries; for example in Denmark, 98% of bottles are refillable, and 98% of those are returned by consumers. These systems are typically supported by deposit laws and other regulations.
III. Elephants
Elephants are the largest living land mammals. The largest elephant known was a male shot in Angola in 1974. It weighed 12 tonnes (13.5 tons).
An elephant child is called a calf. At birth, a calf can have a weight of 100 kg (225 pounds). The baby elephant develops for 20 to 22 months inside its mother. No other land animal takes this long to develop before being born.
IV.Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, often abbreviated to chimp, is the common name for two species in the genus Pan.
The better known chimpanzee is Pan troglodytes, the Common Chimpanzee, living in West and Central Africa. Its cousin, the Bonobo or Pygmy Chimpanzee (Pan paniscus), is found in the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The boundary between the two species is formed by the Congo River.
V. Kangaroo
A kangaroo is any of several large macropods (the marsupial family that also includes the wallabies, tree kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons and the quokkA: 45 species in all). The term kangaroo is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to all members of the macropod family. Kangaroos are native to the continent of Australia, while a number of tree kangaroos are found in New Guinea.
VI. Manatees
Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus) are large aquatic mammals sometimes known as sea cows. The Trichechidae differ from the Dugongidae in the shape of the skull and the shape of the tail. Manatees' tails are paddle-shaped, while the Dugong's is forked. It is an herbivore, spending most of its time grazing in shallow waters.
VII. The Cheetah
The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family (Felidae) that hunts by speed rather than by stealth or pack tactics.
It is the fastest of all terrestrial animals and can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph) in short bursts.
VIII. The polar bear
The polar bear (scientific Latin name Ursus maritimus), also known as white bear or northern bear, is a large mammal of the order Carnivora (meat eaters), family Ursidae (bears). Polar Bears prey on seals.