| Lesson objectives
Students will
|
Vocabulary Revision: vocabulary on topic «Environment. Ecological problems». |
| Skills development Students will practice
|
Structures Review of tenses, modal verbs: can, must, should; gerund. |
Procedure
| Stage | Purpose | Classroom management | |
| 1 | Warm-up | to introduce the topic and the goals of the lesson to encourage Ss calling the main ecological problems |
whole class |
| 2 | Mini-Research | to practice answering questions about the ways of protecting nature. | individual |
| 3 | Speaking | to practice speaking about ecological problems and the ways of their solving | individual |
| 4 | Asking and answering questions | to ask and answer questions about local environmental problems | individual whole class |
| 5 | Writing | to write a contract on nature protection | group work |
| 6 | Follow-up | to practice reflecting on the activity Ss took part in | individual |
Warm up
Teacher: My dear friends! Today we have our conclusion lesson on topic «Ecology». We shall discuss many important problems, connected with our topic. You will exchange your opinions about this global problem; we’ll speak how to protect our Earth, how to prevent further pollution of the atmosphere, and what urgent and necessary measures to undertake. I hope our presentation will help you.
Now we’ll watch the presentation called «Environmental protection concerns everyone». Look at the pictures and try to guess what ecological problems they illustrate. (Ss watch the slides of the presentation (Приложение 1) and name the problems of ecology)
Mini-Research
Now everybody will get a questionnaire. Read the questions and tick the answers. Then two students Melnikova Olesya and Gaibadulov Amir will analyze them. You have only two minutes.
| № | Questions | Yes | No |
| 1 | Do you turn off the light when you leave a room? | ||
| 2 | Do you turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth? | ||
| 3 | Do you recycle newspapers? | ||
| 4 | Do you pick up litter you see in the street? | ||
| 5 | Do you use old grocery bags for garbage? | ||
| 6 | Do you use old glass containers? | ||
| 7 | Do you take your own shopping bags to the store? | ||
| 8 | Do you use cloth towels instead of paper ones? | ||
| 9 | Do you recycle aluminum cans? | ||
| 10 | Have you ever received a recycled gift? |
(In two minutes the teacher picks up the sheets and gives them to the group of experts to analyze them).
Speaking
Teacher: Today we have an unusual lesson. We have a conference. Representatives of different professions and layers of our society will speak about ecological problems. Let me introduce our guests to you: Maria Aristova, an ecologist; Maria Babushkina, a student of school №1;Roksana Barkenkhoeva, a manager of the fish-breeding factory; Ekaterina Zaimentseva, a citizen of Krasnyi Yar; Valentina Sokolova, the director of the Astrakhan State Reserve; Kseniya Kobzeva, a doctor.
Our guests are ready to speak. I want you to be attentive and then you’ll be able to ask them your questions.
Let’s begin!
Maria Aristova, an ecologist.
My name is Maria Aristova. I am an ecologist.
Ecology is the science of how living things are related to their environment. Many ecologists are concerned about protecting the environment from air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, littering. Other ecological problems are overcrowding, the problem of energy «leaks», destruction of natural resources, acid rain and pesticides in our food. Let me speak about some of these problems.
The most important problem is air pollution. The main polluters are transport, plants and factories. As a result of air pollution the number of people suffering from cancer, asthma and lung diseases has recently increased.
Another problem is water pollution. Companies dump chemical wastes into water. The rivers are in danger. They are filled with poisons of industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing and nobody will be able to live in our rivers and lakes.
Poisons in food are also very dangerous. Farmers often spray chemicals to protect them against the pests. These chemicals are called pesticides. Scientists have found that pesticides often end up in our food. Pesticides can cause health problems – especially for kids.
Acid rain is a serious problem too. Chemicals called sulfates puff out of coal burning factories around the world. When the sulfates mix with clouds, acid rain falls and harms lakes, rivers and plants – and the creatures that need them. Acid rain is like vinegar or lemon juice. It hurts when it gets in your eyes. It also kills the plants and animals that live in the water. That’s why various kinds of fish are dying too. Acid rain makes the earth more acidic and some kinds of trees can’t live in the soil that is very acidic.
Littering is a problem of our cities, towns, villages. Each person throws away much trash daily. But it would be better if we try to recycle things which we throw in trash. Waste paper, newspapers, unnecessary metal thing must be saved and brought for recycling to special recycling centers. We’ll help to save energy in such a way and to get rid of wastes and pollution associated with the production from raw materials.
I am happy to say that our government, scientists do much to solve ecological problems. The earth is our home. We must take care of it for ourselves and for the generations to come. Everybody must do everything possible to keep the land, the air and the water clean.
Kobzeva Kseniya, a doctor.
Good morning! My name is Kobzeva Kseniya and I am a doctor. The ecological situation has become very acute. It is because of nuclear and hydroelectric power engineering which is very dangerous. People’s careless interaction with it caused environmental disasters. The most horrible disaster which happened in April 1986 befell Belarus and Ukraine and their people. As a result of the Chernobyl tragedy about 18% of the territory of Belarus and Ukraine was polluted with radioactive substances. Great damage has been done to the republic’s agriculture, forests and people’s health.
Another dangerous problem is the problem of poisons in food. Farmers often spray chemicals to protect them against pests. These chemicals are called pesticides. Pesticides can cause health problems, especially for kids.
The layer of the ozone does not protect the earth from harmful radiation. We’ve got a problem of ozone holes. Ozone holes and sun radiation cause cancer.
People can do more to protect the environment. Scientists are looking for ways to make factories and cars run cleaner. Scientists are figuring out ways to make coal burn more cleanly. The government makes laws to protect the environment. We, doctors, think that:
- Pollution control systems must be introduced
- Some ecologically harmful plants must be removed from the cities;
- More green zones must be created;
- The greenery must be protected and increased;
- Noise in our cities must be reduced;
- Clean air programmes must be modified.
Valentina Sokolova, the director of the Astrakhan State Reserve.
The nature of the delta of the river Volga is unique and unusual. There is much warmth, light and water. There are many small rivers, channels, lakes there .The natural conditions of the delta are good for growing different rare plants, birds, animals and fish. All these riches of nature attracted people - hunters, fishers, poachers. They used these resources for hundreds of years and the number of birds, animals and fish became fewer and fewer.
It was necessary to protect natural riches of the delta. That's why in 1919 the Astrakhan state Reserve was founded in the delta of the Volga. The main task of it was to protect and preserve birds, animals, plants and fish. Many research workers work in the Reserve and they managed to stop the process of exhausting nature.
There are big colonies of different birds in the Reserve, such as ducks, gulls, cranes, pelicans and others. Wild boars, foxes, otters, raccons, mush-rats live there. The waters of the Volga and small rivers are full of fish, such as crucian, carp, sturgeon, vobla and wild carp.
The Reserve is famous for Lotus, one of the beautiful flowers in the world. Lotus is the miracle of the delta. And it's very important for people to protect and preserve plants, animals, birds and fish not only for themselves, but for young generation.
Some plants, birds, fish have become so rare that they have been put into the Red Book of Astrakhan Region. But these species exist in our reserve.
The goal of the reserve is not only to preserve nature but also to study it. That’s why many scientists and students work in the scientific laboratories here.
If you want to know more about our reserve you should read this book about the Astrakhan State Reserve.
Roksana Barkenkhoeva, a manager of the fish-breeding factory.
We live in one of the best places on the Earth. We live in Astrakhan region. It is located in the South of Russia on the great river the Volga. I think that nature of our native place is unique. It is rich in rare species of birds and fish, wonderful plants and animals. I think you’ve heard about such fish as sturgeon. The sturgeon is one of the most ancient alive essences on our planet. The Russian sturgeon is the most valuable fish in the Caspian Sea. Its length can be up to two or more meters. One of the most interesting exhibits of the museum of the Local Lore is a stuffed sturgeon. Its length is 6.5 meters. It weighted 1850 kg. Our sturgeon lives till 45-50 years It can weight 60-65 kgs.. Caviar of the sturgeon is a very valuable product.
But the number of the sturgeon becomes fewer and fewer. A man must help nature to increase the number of this kind of fish. That’s why some fish-breading factories were organized in Astrakhan region. I am a manager of one of such factories. We produce young fish of the sturgeon in our factory. We work together with scientists. We’ve learned to get caviar for the further production of the young fish without killing sturgeons. Some time later when the young fish become bigger and stronger we bring them in special ships in the northern part of the Caspian Sea and let them go.
We work hard to increase the number of the sturgeon but special measures must be taken by our authorities to stop illegal fishing in the delta of the Volga and the Caspian Sea.
Ekaterina Zaimentseva, a citizen of Krasnyi Yar.
I am an ordinary citizen of Krasnyi Yar. I’d like to speak about an ecological problem that is so important for our village. It is the problem of littering. Where people live together, litter is a problem. People don’t always put their garbage in the garbage cans. It’s easier to drop a paper than to find a garbage can for it. But litter is ugly. It makes our village look dirty, and it spoils the view.
The wind blows papers far away. Often they are difficult to catch.
Litter is a health problem, too. Food and garbage bring animals, which sometimes carry diseases. Some people want to control litter. They never throw litter themselves, and sometimes they work together in groups to clean up the city. Look at these pictures. These are streets of our village. They are so dirty.
We want our village to be clean. That’s why we should:
- control litter;
- never throw litter in the streets or into the rivers;
- work together in groups to clean up our village;
- plant trees, flowers near our houses;
- make our village the cleanest and the greenest place in our country.
Maria Babushkina, a student of school №1.
First of all let me introduce myself to you. My name is Maria. I am a student. I think that nature of my native place is unique. It is rich in rare species of birds and fish, wonderful plants and animals. But the number of these birds, animals and plants become less and less. You can ask me such a question “Why?” Though all these species are preserved by the law many of them die because of the different ecological problems. They are air pollution, water pollution in my place. Of course there are a lot of projects of modern technology, which can reduce the amount of the wastes into the air and water.
Another problem where many people live together is litter. But litter is ugly. It makes a city or a village looks dirty, and it spoils the view.
These are only some of the problems and we must do our best to solve them. The government of Astrakhan region tries to improve the ecological situation but we, children and teenagers, must help grownups in solving these problems.
What can, we, children do in solving these global problems? I think we can do a lot. Students of our school work on several environmental projects. First of all we study nature of our country and region. We pay special attention to flora and fauna of our place. We also monitor water in the rivers and lakes of our district, study the effects of pollution, hold different experiments. Some of our students are members of the scientific ecological society.
We want to control litter. We never throw litter ourselves and work in groups to clean up our village. Students of our school take part in a project called “Nature Is Asking for Help”. We gather plastic bottles and bags from the streets of our village.
We want our school yard to be the most wonderful place in our village. That’s why we work in the «Green Patrol». We plant trees and flowers and take care of them.
I’d like to tell you about one more project that is called “Blue patrol.” We live in a place where there are many small and big rivers. In spring all these rivers overflow. Some time later rivers return to their former river-beds. But much small fish that were born in spring stay in small lakes of water that are left in meadows after the spring flood. They can die because it is very hot and water evaporates very quickly from these lakes. Students of grades 6, 7, 8 of our schools work in July in “Blue Patrols.” We catch small fish by special nets and let them go into the river. We save millions of small fish in such a way.
I and my friends are rooting for our Earth. We love our home planet. We must take care of it for ourselves and for the next generations. We must leave it clean and healthy for our descendants.
Asking and answering questions
Kotsubinskiy Mikhail, a journalist of the newspaper «Volga»: How can the problem of littering be solved in our region?
Maria Aristova, an ecologist: I think all the citizens of Krasnyi Yar should take part in different recycling programmes.
Sokolova Olesya, a correspondent of the newspaper «Ecologist»: Is your work useful and important?
Maria Babushkina, a student of school №1: Yes, certainly. More and more students work in «Blue Patrol» and «Green Patrol». Look out of the window! Our school yard is becoming better and better. Wonderful trees and flowers have recently been planted by the students of our school.
Kumanova Gulmira, a correspondent of the newspaper «Krasnoyarskiy Vestnik»: Pesticides are often used by the farmers. They are so dangerous for our health. What can be done to protect the population from the harmful influence of pesticides on the human health?
Kobzeva Kseniya, a doctor: Our scientists have found ways to protect the crops without using many pesticides.
Melnikova Irina, a journalist of the TV company «Lotos»: What are the main causes of air pollution in Astrakhan region and what is being done to improve the situation?
Ida Gumarova, a deputy of the State Duma of Astrakhan region: About 70 % of the air pollution comes from transport in our region. Deputies of the Duma are making tougher laws against air pollution. The scientists are looking for ways to make factories and cars run cleaner.
Teacher: I’d like to thank the participants of our conference. Our experts are ready to report about the results of the mini-research.
The results of the mini-research.
The results of our mini-research are the following: all the 15 students of the group turn off the light when they leave a room; only seven students turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth; nobody of the group recycles old newspapers; eight students pick up litter they see in the street; thirteen students use old grocery bags for garbage; five persons use old glass containers for different purposes; ten students take their own shopping bags to the store; all the students use cloth towels instead of paper ones; nobody recycles aluminum cans and nobody of us has received a recycled gift.
Writing
Teacher: My dear friends! I hope our imaginary press conference has been interesting for you. I think you’ll be active members of the movement from the further pollution. But you can help our environment even now. Let’s divide into groups and write a CONTRACT ON NATURE PROTECTION. (Учащиеся делятся на группы по 3-4 человека и составляют текст контракта. Через 2-3 минуты каждая группа зачитывает свой текст.)
CONTRACT ON NATURE PROTECTION.
We, students of grade 9D, promise that we shall help to protect the environment by
- ...
- ...
- ...
- ...
- ...
Date: ...
Following up
Teacher: Thank you for your work at the lesson. Your marks are ……..
Your homework will be to write a letter to your friend in America. Ask him if they take part in any environmental projects and tell him how you protect the environment.
Литература.
- Гроза О. «New Millennium English-9» Обнинск: Титул, 2007.
- Kral Thomas «Creative Classroom Activities» Washington DC, 1999.
- Лозневая Л.К. Урок экологии // Иностранные языки в школе. 2001. № 1.
- Рабкесова В.Я. Защита окружающей среды // Иностранные языки в школе. 2000. № 6.
- Клементьева Т.Б. Книга для чтения к учебному изданию “Счастливый английский-2”. Обнинск: Титул, 1999. 334с.
- Клементьева Т.Б.”Счастливый английский-2 “ Обнинск: Титул, 1999. 446с.