By Xu Weiliang
Teaching aims
1) Let the student know our mother river.
2) Let them know the importance of protecting the Yangtze River and our environment
Teaching key points
Know the problems the Yangtze River has, find out the causes and the measures should be take.
Teaching methods
1) Listening to get the general idea
2) Ask and answer
3) Writing
Teaching aids
1) A tape recorder
2) A computer
Procedures
Step 1 lead in
Show the students pictures of the Yangtze River. Then ask them questions.
Do you like the Yangtze River?
Why is it important in our country?
Let’s divide the class into four groups. Then try your best to tell about the Yangtze River as much as possible. The group which has more ideas will be the winner.
Competition:
GROUP A:
GROUP B:
GROUP C:
GROUP D:
1. Basic knowledge:
How many provinces does it run across?
How long is the Yangtze River?
Please give the names of the three longest rivers in the world?
Where is the source of the river?
How long is the river navigable by oceangoing vessels?
What are the three gorges?
Would you say something about them?
Where is the Three Gorge Dam?
How long is the Three Gorge Dam?
How high is the Three Gorge Dam?
Do you know anything more about the Three Gorge Dam?
2. Match the pictures with the names:
Please give the names of the bridges over the river as many as you can
Please give the names of the rare fishes in the river as many as you can.
Please give the names of famous cities along the river as many as you can
Step 2 listening
Now since you have some knowledge about Yangtze river, listen to the tape and tell what the passage is talking about
Step 3 reading
This time I want you to read the passage carefully and do the exercises below:
1) Answer the questions:
1. Why do the environmental problems of the Yangtze River draw people’s attention at home and abroad?
Because it is the third longest river in the world and home to a diverse range of fish and animals while many people depend on it for drinking water.
2. What has caused the pollution of the Yangtze River?
Rapid agricultural and industrial development plus huge population growth has resulted in the rising amount of water taken from the river, and the waste being put back into the river.
3. What bad effects has it had on the ecology of the area?
Unsafe drinking water which has led to healthy problems for people living near the river and killing many plants and animals.
4. What have been done to deal with the problem?
Environmental organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem.
5. What has The Green River Organization done?
It educates and advises people on the importance of protecting this great river. It watches the river. It stops the illegal hunting of animals.
6. What has the government done to deal with water and soil preservation?
Two special government projects are also under way to protect the river ,Which work out possible solutions to the many problems, such as the water and soil preservation. result in farmers replacing the crops on their farmland with trees or grassland, and set up a nature reverse for white-flag dolphins
7. What has the government done to save white-flag dolphins?
The reserve was set up on the lower reaches of the river in Zhenjiang. Boats are prohibited from entering this area in order to keep the dolphins safe.
8. What is the good news for the river?
People have finally realized that it is their responsibility to protect this great river
2) Fill in the form
problems unsafe drinking water which has led to healthy problems for people living near the river.
harmful effects on the ecology of the area,
killing many plants and animals.
endangered the wild animal population.
causes Rapid agricultural and industrial development plus huge population growth has meant that not only is the amount of water taken from the river rising, but the waste being put back into the river has also been increasing.
measures set up environmental organizations and projects to deal with the problem
What have been done? The Green River organization educates and advises people on the importance of protecting this great river. Watches the river. Stops the illegal hunting of animals.
Government projects work out possible solutions to the many problems, such as the water and soil preservation. Result in farmers replacing the crops on their farmland with trees or grassland. a nature reverse for white-flag dolphins
Step 4 language points
Now we are familiar with the passage, let me explain some key language points for you.
1. As the third longest river in the world, it is clear to see why the environmental problems of Yangtze River have raised concern both nationally and internationally.
raise 引起；造成
His absence raised fears about his safety. 他的不在引起人们对他安全的担心。
The use of animals in scientific tests raises some difficult ethical questions.
用动物做科学试验引起了一些棘手的道德问题。
A funny remark raises a laugh.
滑稽的话惹人发笑。
2. Rapid agricultural and industrial development plus huge population growth has meant that not only is the amount of water taken from the river rising, but the waste being put back into the river has also been increasing
plus 加, 加上, 和
Three plus two equals five.
三加二等于五。
This work requires intelligence plus experience.
这项工作需要才智和经验。
I found myself plus nearly 100 yuan.
我多得了近一百元。
All the children here are 12 plus.
这里所有的孩子都大于十二岁
3. Nor is it good news for the fish and wildlife that live in or along the river.
[与neither, not 连用, 或与 no, never 等表示否定的词连用]也不
It is neither hot nor cold in winter here.这里冬天既不热也不冷。
There is neither river nor stream nearby.附近既无河流也没小溪。
He does not do it, nor does he try.他没有做, 也没尝试一下。
She can't get there at four, nor can I.
她不能在四点钟到那里, 我也不能。
Not a man nor a child was to be seen in the village.
在村子里, 无论大人小孩一个也看不见。
I never saw him again, nor did I hear from him.
我再也没有见到他, 也没有收到过他的信。
4. Thankfully, many people have recognized the importance of protecting the Yangtze River and environmental organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem.
recognize 认出,认清, 认识到
I recognized Peter although I hadn't seen him for 10 years.
虽然我有10年没看到彼得了，但我认出了他。
I don't recognize this word -- what does it mean?
我不认识这个单词，它的意思是什么？
Many fail to recognize that all these things are in danger of being denied.
许多人没有看到这一切正处于失去的危险之中
5. Two special government projects are also under way to protect the river.
under way
在进行中, 发生; 在航行中
Preparations are well under way
准备工作正在开展
6. The projects focus on problems along the crops on the Yangtze River such as water conversation.
focus on使集中于焦点；集中
to focus one's mind on work
集中精力于工作
You must try to focus your mind on work and study. (喻)
你应该努力把思想集中在工作的学习上。
All eyes were focused on the speaker. (喻)
大家的目光都集中在发言人身上。
7. The organization also watches the river and stops the illegal hunting of animals which had been a major problem and which has endangered the wild animal population
endanger 危及，危害
The polluted air in the city is badly endangering the health of the residents.城里被污染的空气正严重地危及居民的健康。
buying speculative stocks endangered her financial security.
购买投机性股票而使她在金融方面冒风险
8. The Yangtze River is home to a diverse range of fish and animals including the white-flag dolphin, a rare Chinese mammal which depends on the Yangtze River for survival.
a range of buildings 一排楼房
a range of pictures 一系列画片
a large range of motors for sale 一长排待售的汽车
a wide rage of temperature 气温变化很大
the range of the nightingale 夜莺的生长区
the annual range of temperature 每年的温度变化范围
a wide range of knowledge 广博的知识
the range of one's voice 音域
9. The second environmental project includes a nature reverse for white-flag dolphins, one of the most endangered animals in the world.
reverse 倒退；倒转
He reversed the car. 他倒车。
翻转 She reversed the paper.
她把纸翻过来。
改变；使成相反的东西 He reversed the judgment and set the prisoner free after all.
他撤销了原判，终于释放了囚犯。
10. Boats are prohibited from entering this area in order to keep the dolphins safe.
常与from连用）
prohibit 禁止；不准
Smoking is strictly prohibited in the process of handling explosive materials.
"在处理易爆物时,严格禁止吸烟。"
妨碍；阻止；使不可能
His small size prohibits his be coming a policeman.
他的个子太小使他无法当警察。
Step 5 writing
In this period, we have learned the problems about Yangtze river and know the causes and solutions. We should try our best to protect the river and our environment. Now can you write a report about Yangtze river since you have known the situations. Now work in groups and write a report.
Planning
Work in small groups. Discuss what you read on the previous page, briefly discuss the questions below and then decide on a topic for your report. Have it approved by your teacher.
What do you think are the biggest environmental problems in China?
What is the Chinese government doing to protect the environment?
The topic for our report will be _____________________________.
Discuss the tasks listed below and decide which group members will be responsible for each task. Write the names beside the work each member is going to do. ( Remember, two or three people can work on the same task!
Research _______________________________________________
Write the outline _________________________________________
Write the report __________________________________________
Preparing
Members responsible for doing research need to find information from various sources on the topic you have chosen. The group should discuss the information found, and decide what to include in the report and what to leave out.
Those responsible for writing the outline should organize the information the group has decided to use and write an outline for the report using that information. The outline should be approved by the whole group.
Producing
Group member who are writing the report will have to it based on the outline.
All group members should edit the report before it is passed on to another group for editing. Your group will be editing another group’s report at the same time.
While editing, you should read the report closely and look for the following:
sentence structure organization punctuation
vocabulary grammar spelling
During the editing stage, correct any mistakes you find and offer suggestions to the group on how they can improve their report. Ask for comments on your report as well.
Presenting
The report should be rewritten and checked once more for mistakes.
Present your report to the class.
Put your report up on the display wall of your classroom for everyone to see.
Step 6 homework
Revise the report after class and present it to the class.