My name is Elena Skrebkova I,ve been teaching English for 23 years in a Bratsk-city school .In my teaching activity I always try to use different methods, combine them to achieve the main goal - studying English with pleasure and good productivity. I think it,s very important to be " flexible " ,to use different methodical ways when teaching different groups of children. I try to adopt to a concrete group of children and make them do their best in studying.
My self-education topic is " COMBINATION AND SYNTHESIS of new technologies in teaching of English " . I,ve been studying and combining the traditional method of reproductivity, collective communication method by Dyachenko, so to called " diving into language", Kitaigorodskaya Shatalov,s methods , Ilona Davidova,s methods and the project teсhnology.
I dare to introduce you the working-out of one of the projects I and my children have been through this year- ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT .
It took us 5 lessons to make it in the 8 th grade but this project is valid I think for using in upper classes too and may take more or less time.
According to the Polat,s typology this project is
- Creative
- Mono
- Of the flexible coordination
- Among the pupils of one grade
- Middle-term
According to the Stoller,s classification this project-- models the real life , --needs the researching of the special literature ---presents the " election" on the final lessons (with elements of a role-play)
- middle-term
- needs a big group of pupils(the whole class)
- is half-structural
My pupils and me enjoined when working on this projeсt ( like we did it working on others- " On board a plane " , "Teenagers problems " , " The car of my dream ", Famous people" and some others). The basic book was " Happy English " and we used many additional literature as well. The main advantage of this project is on my opinion that the children of any knowledge range can take part in it and do it with pleasure .
The topic of the project-ELECTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT
AIM -to expand the outlook of the pupils on the following area topics- POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE USA, PRESIDENTS, ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT.
Tasks
Cognitive-pupils get acquainted with the biographies of some presidents, the way they are elected , the political system of the USA.
Learning---
- speech activity-(forming the topic lexical skills ,revising grammar topics- Passive ,Complex and Compound sentences , Interrogative sentences.)
- reading activity-(developing the skills of understanding of complex and compound sentences, chronological sequence of events ,three types of reading )
- audition-(forming the skills of understanding of simple sentences and of questioning)
- writing-(express the own opinion , write reports, speeches etc. )
Developing
- of mental operations-analysis ,comparison, classification, systematization
- of intelligence quality-curiosity ,logic , skills to furnish proofs
- of imagination
- of memory
Educational-forming the self- dignity and the positive relation towards other people dignity , need and the ability to understand different points of view.
LESSON 1 (It,s recommended to give these lessons after reading and studying the text WASHINGTON D.C. p.210-214 Happy English -2)
TOPIC WHO RULES THE USA?
AIM Create the circumstances for pupils to acquaint themselves with the political system of the USA, the role of the President , in the ranging and synthesizing of information .
TASKS
- Forming the lexical skills of reading
- Developing the operative memory
- Educating
The interest to the policy of the English- speaking country and the feeling of self-evidence
Equipment - tables " Political system of the USA " ,sights of Washington D.C., activity sheets with charts ,the list of the basic topic words.
TURN OF THE LESSON
I. Greetings
II. Goaling
Answer, please (T-P1, P2,P3 or P1-P2,P3:.)
-What are we going to talk about ?
-Who can rule a country ?
- Who rules the USA ?
-Is the role of the President important ?
-Where does the American Congress sit ?
-What does the Supreme court do ?
Pupils answer using the knowledge got in the previous lessons. It,s recommended to repeat the basic topic words like
"Rule, adopt a law ,propose, elect ,amend, representative, appoint, consist, determine ,bill ,responsible " etc. The pupils together with the teacher form the goal of the lesson.-to determine the power of the President , Congress , Supreme court.
III. Discussing the power of the main ruling branches of the USA and determining the topic of the project.
1) Teacher-Let,s read the text and find the info about the power of the ruling branches of the USA .Get ready to answer the question -which of them is more important and has got on your opinion more power. ( The text about the political system of the USA you can find in any book about the USA. I used the text in the book AMERICAN STUDIIES p.17-see the sources )
Fill in your activity sheets.
| POWER OF THE CONGRESS | PRESIDENT,S POWER | POWER OF THE SUPREME COURT |
Pupils fill in the activity sheets using the text and the table on the blackboard ( look the attachment n 1)
2) Teacher- Let,s listen and tell which of the power branches does this function
- represents a district -Congress
- makes bills -Congress
- signs the bills -President
- is elected to a 4-year term -President
- can forbid any bill -President
- consists of justices -Supreme Court
- determines whether laws violates the Constitution -Supreme court
- is commander in chief -Supreme Court
- consists of 2 Houses -Congress
- appoints federal judges -President
- is responsible for foreign relations etc. -President
3) Let,s discuss in groups (2-4 pupils) the power authorities .(pupils read or tell about the functions of the ruling branches)
4) Teacher-Let,s make a conclusion.- Name the power branches.
What does the congress (the President ,the Supreme court) do?
Which of them is more important? Express your opinion.
Is it important to elect the " right " president ?
What presidents do you know? etc.
(Teacher together with pupils forms the topic of the project- to prepare the election of the president , pupils form groups and divide up the roles (President ,publicity relation managers, delegates, electors etc.)
IV. Homework- find the additional information and write the essays about the presidents.
V. Reflexion
Teacher-
What have you learned today?
How do you think , does the USA have a good political system ?
Why is the President the most important figure in the country ? etc.
LESSON 2
TOPIC THE GREATEST PRESIDENTS
AIM Create the circumstances for determining who of the Presidents can be called GREAT and why..
TASKS
- forming the skills of speaking and reading
- developing the skills of analysis ,classification ,comparison
- educating the feeling of self - evidence
EQUIPMENT portraits of Presidents ,tables from the previous lesson , cards with the information about Presidents.
TURN OF THE LESSON
I. Greetings
II. Goaling
-What will we discuss today?
-What presidents do you know ?
-What information have you found about them ?
-Who knows how many presidents ruled the USA ?
III. Speaking about Presidents
T---Tell please the information about the Presidents you have found
(Pupils tell or read the short info turn by turn, others are translating the main ideas from their speeches )
2) T---As you know there were 42 Presidents in the USA. Read the short information about every of them and determine what president was on your opinion the greatest and why.
(Every pupil gets a list of 2-3 American Presidents with a short description of their activity-see the sources ; reads it , shares the info with her or his class-mates in the groups with the changeable cast-according to Dyachenko,s method )
3) Teacher-Let,s discuss what Presidents
on your opinion are more respected and why.
P1- I think , George Washington is the greatest because he was the first president and held the country together, gave it a chance to grow.
P2 -On my opinion Thomas Jefferson is a very great president because he made sure the government stayed in the hands of the people.
P3- I consider Abraham Lincoln to be the greatest of all because he held the nation together in its most difficult time and wrote the Emancipation Proclamation etc.
Teacher- Who can agree or disagree with these words?
(Pupils express their opinion)
Teacher - You have determined that the greatest presidents were-----
Let's imagine that we must elect only one of them . Discuss in what way could you make the voting company .
(Pupils speak inside their groups about the voting companies they will make and discuss with the help of the teacher the details of the project .)
IV. Homework-Ex.2 P. 38-39 in the Working BookWork on the project
V. Reflexion
What did you like (dislike at our lesson ) ?
Was it boring or interesting ?
How do you think is the present American President a great person and why ?
LESSON 3
TOPIC HOW CAN WE ELECT THE PRESIDENT ?
AIM Сreate the circumstances for developing speaking activities of pupils and rehearsing of the projects in dialogues .
TASKS
- Forming the skills of speaking and writing
- Develop the imagination
- Preparing the pupils to the presentation of their projects
EQUIPMENT- the scheme
"The road to the Presidency " , the picture "Activities of the power branches " (look the attachment N 2,3)
TURN OF THE LESSON
I. Greetings
II. Goaling
-What are we going to discuss today ?
-Why is it so important to elect the " right" President ?
-Do your parents vote ?
-Will you go to voting when you are grown-ups and why ?
-Do you know how the election is held ?
III. Discussing the road to the presidency
Teacher --Look at the picture and tell Russian about the road to the Presidency ( LOOK ATTACHMENT N 2)
Teacher -How do you think what is the most important for the future President to do on the Road to the White House ?
How can a candidate win delegates, electors ?
What can he promise and do ?
-What does he write in his programme ?
Let,s study the words which a candidate for the Presidency can use in his or her voting company
- Maintain diplomatic relations
- Public safety protect citizens
- Improve stop the violence
- Save natural resources
- National standard of living struggle against drugs spreading etc.
- Conduct researches
(Words are drilled in an usual for the teacher way according to the reproductive method)
Teacher
Let,s imagine that you are a candidate and are interviewed by a correspondent . You,ve got 15 minutes to prepare a voting company , write a candidate,s programme , think over the ways you can win delegates , write some ads etc. Some pupils are correspondents of the famous American newspapers and prepare questions for the candidates. Every pupil must use the topic words , the information from the previous lessons and from the picture on the blackboard . ( Teacher is checking the home exercises while the pupils are making the challenge ) ( look the attachment N3 )
Let,s interview our candidates
(Pupils speak in pairs , the teacher controls and gives advice for the project )
IV. Homework---To prepare the project
- Criteria-Good speaking
- The content of the candidates programme
- The publicity company ( posters, ads , slogans etc. )
- The costumes
- Make-up
- Music (knowledge of the American anthem )
- The playing impression
V. Reflexion
Did you discuss all details with your staff ?
LESSON 4 (-5)
TOPIC THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT (PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECTS )
AIM To create the circumstances for the generalization of the material
TASKS
- To check the level of the developing of the speaking abilities
- To develop the imagination
- To educate the political self evidence and the feeling of the citizenship
EQUIPMENT: Projects of the pupils ( Audio , Ads , Posters , Costumes etc. )
TURN OF THE LESSON
I. Greetings
II. Forming the goal of the lesson
(to listen to all projects , to discuss and appreciate every project , to elect the President )
III. Presentation of the projects
(Every group presents its President , then the electors ( all the pupils ) vote---write the name of the candidate they like on a sheet of paper and put it in a box)
IV. Counting of the votes and declaring of the President .
The newly elected President takes an oath of office
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office
Of the President of the United States, and will to the best
Of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution
Of the United States".
V. Homework - Write the report about the elections as a correspondent , use the direct speech.
VI. Reflexion
Was the election a success ?
Was it amusing to elect a President ?
Do you want to take part in a real election ?
SOURCES (according to their importance)
- Baranovski L. S. Hello, America!, Minsk, 1997
- Pavlotskiy V. M. American Studies Sankt-Petersburg, 2000
- Kaufmann K. I. Happy English-2, Obninsk, 2001
- "Speak out" magazine, №1-6 2003, Longman& Глоса-Пресс