The Fifth Period Reading (Ⅱ)

Teaching goals教學目標

1.Target language 目標語言

a. 重點詞匯和短語

forehead, dot, tap, wire, straw, current, importance, helicopter, triangle, stable, practical, beaten track, dive into, set out (to do), in truth

b. 重點句子 

He found that by pressing his lips against...

He designed a machine that...

Although he will always be known for..., he was...

He realized that by understanding how...

2. Ability goals能力目標

Enable the students to learn about the famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell and his inventions. 3. Learning ability goals學能目標

Help the students learn how the famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell invented telephones.

Teaching important points 教學重點

How the famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell invented telephones.

Teaching difficult points教學難點

Help the students learn what the key is to become a successful inventor.

Teaching methods 教學方法

Listening and fast reading.

Teaching aids 教具準備

A recorder, a projector and a computer.

Teaching procedures & ways 教學過程與方式

Step Ⅰ Revision and lead-in

Check homework: Get the students to put the following sentences into English.

Show the following.

1. 一陣閃電之后，接著就是一聲巨響。

2. 被汽車撞傷的小孩馬上被送到了醫院。

3. 本書是用淺顯的英語寫的，適合初學者。

4. 那位手持鮮花的姑娘也許在等那個被警方帶走的男人。

Sample answers:

1. There was a sudden burst of lightning followed by a terrible noise.

2. The boy hurt by the car was sent to the hospital immediately.

3. This book, written in simple English, is suitable for beginners.

4. The flower-carrying girl may be waiting for the man taken away by the police.

Ask the students “Do you know who invented the telephone?”

S: Yes, a British inventor called Alexander Graham Bell.

T: Good. Everyone knows what an amazing invention telephone is! When we make telephone calls every day, we shouldn’t forget the great inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Today, we’ll learn something more about him.

Step Ⅱ Pre-reading

T: Next, please look at the picture of the great inventor on page 25. First I’d like you to discuss the following questions in groups.

Show the following.

1. What do you know about the inventor?

2. How useful is his invention to human society? Why?

After a few minutes.

T: Now, who’d like to show your answers?

S1: Let me try. I know Alexander Graham Bell was born in Scotland and he was very curious about the world around him when very young. He did many tests to improve what he had invented and he had made many other inventions in his life. As we all know, it is very convenient for people to communicate with each other through telephones. It is certainly true that telephones have become part of our everyday life. Living in this “information age”, we cannot bear a world without the ringing of phones almost anywhere we go.

S2: I think Bell was a very great inventor. He deeply loved his mother who was almost deaf and was determined to do something for the disabled to live a better life. What a great son! I think he was also hardworking because he took a lot of trouble doing many experiments to solve the problems and invented a lot of things. I can’t imagine what the life would be like without telephones. Maybe we will live in a silent world without knowing of the things around us, which is unbearable for us human beings in modern society. And it becomes more and more important to use telephones to receive and send information with the development of modern IT.

…

T: I agree. Alexander Graham Bell is really a famous inventor who has made great contributions to human beings and we are going to learn more about him in the following text.

Step Ⅲ Listening & Reading

Let the students read the four questions first to get a general idea of what should be paid attention to and then play the tape for students to follow and give the answers to the questions. When they finish, let them exchange notes with their partners and find the supporting sentences. Then check the answers with the whole class.

T: Now, please read the first sentence of each paragraph and the key words in bold and then tell me the main idea of it.

After a few minutes.

S: It mainly talks about the life of Alexander Graham Bell and how he made the great inventions.

T: Very good! Next please go through the four questions on page 26 and find the answers after listening.

Ask the students to listen to the recording and try to answer the questions.

Step Ⅳ READING TASK

T: Do you know about the world famous painting “Mona Lisa”?

S: Sure. The woman is very attractive especially with her perfect smile!

T: Do you know who painted the great picture?

S: Yes. His name is Leonardo da Vinci, a great Italian artist.

T: Do you think Leonardo da Vinci is really a good painter? What else do you know he is famous for?

S: Of course. As far as I know, he is an Italian artist, scientist, and engineer. And an all-round genius whose paintings and inventions changed the world. As he intended to be a painter by profession he carefully studied drawing from life. Besides, he made designs for mills, working machines and engines that could be driven by water power. In a word, he is a true Renaissance man.   

T: Good. Leonardo da Vinci is in fact an outstanding talent in many fields. Now, I’d like you to read a passage entitled WAS LEONARDO DA VINCI JUST A PAINTER? And then work with your partner to complete Exercises 1 and 2.

Sample answers:

1. Because painting did not always provide a steady income when he was young so he had to develop his drawing skills to earn money in other ways and he learnt to design whatever his employer wanted.

2. Because he had developed a new attitude towards machines. He realized that by understanding how each separate machine part worked, he could improve them and combine them in different ways to improve existing machines.

3. While he was studying under Verrochio, Leonardo observed and used a variety of machines. By studying and drawing the machines, Leonardo gained knowledge about their design and structure. His drawing skills enabled him to produce clear drawings of his mechanical ideas easily, many of which can still be used to create perfect working machines. The use of mechanical gears was his most interesting part and he came up with numerous inventions based on the gear.

4. His understanding of machines for his painting was more important because by understanding how each separate machine part worked, he could improve them and combine them in different ways to improve existing machines, which lead to a lot of inventions.

T: As we all know, one of the remarkable things about Leonardo da Vinci was his natural ability in so many subjects. Are you as clever as Leonardo? I’d like you to make a comparison about da Vinci and you yourself and find out by filling in the chart in Exercise 2.

Sample answers:

T: Well, you may like or dislike some subjects. However, I firmly believe all of you have certain natural ability in some areas. You can offer more evidence to fill in the chart after class. But now, let’s have a discussion about the questions in Exercise 3. Now, work with your partner and I’d like some of you to show your opinions.

Five minutes later.

S1: Leonardo managed to earn his living in two ways, i.e. by painting pictures and designing cities, canals, bridges, weapons, bicycles, helicopters, automobiles and some working machines. I am only familiar with the way of painting because I am interested in drawing pictures and I enjoy painting myself. As a girl, I am least happy with the knowledge of machinery and I am a bit worried about it because with the development of modern industry, more and more advanced machines will be produced and I will fall behind the times if I don’t try to know some information about them. I will read more books and go to visit workers in the factories so as to learn more about how modern machines are designed and how they work.

S2: Unlike Leonardo, who was very good at drawing skills and made a living partly by them, I have no talent in painting. However, I know something about the design of bridges, bicycles and automobiles, by which Leonardo once earned his living. I am least happy with the knowledge of drawing and I am very worried about it because I have to develop the skills of drawing if I decide to learn more about the design of bridges, bicycles and automobiles. I have to learn from my art teacher and practise drawing lines and figures every week in my spare time so that I can have a better sense of drawing and designing certain products.

S3: Leonardo used to earn his living by painting pictures and designing cities, canals, bridges, weapons, bicycles, helicopters, automobiles and some working machines. I am familiar with painting pictures because I took an interest in it when I was a boy, but I am least happy with designing cities, canals and weapons. I’m rather worried about it because they are very important skills for us to live a healthy and peaceful life. I decide to learn more about geography and history so as to make our cities more beautiful and provide the citizens with a better environment. And I am determined to work hard and get well prepared for learning military engineer when I enter college.

T: Very good! I am glad to see you are eager to learn a lot in order to realize your dreams in the future. I really feel proud of you. And I believe your dreams will come true if you make great efforts. Well, a good beginning is half done. I hope you can start from now and here. Make good plans and lay a solid foundation for the future use. OK? May your dreams come true soon!

Step Ⅴ Homework

1. Ask the students to write a short passage about da Vinci.

2. Preview Writing in Using Language and WRITING TASK in the workbook.