Unit 3 The world of science
Developing ideas
【教材分析】
In this section, the reading passage is an essay, in which the author questions the authenticity of Franklin’s famous experiment with lightening. The first half part of the essay introduces the principle of the experiment and the educational significance of the story about the lightning experiment. The second half part argues that the story cannot be trusted from scientists’ point of view.
In writing section, students will learn how to write an experiment report with writing help. The sample of an experiment report can help students learn about how to organize a similar passage.
【教学目标】
1. Guide students to understand the text and think about how true the story behind an invention may be.
2. Lead students to understand writing features and argumentation style of essays and help them form their own opinions and develop critical thinking.
3. Guide students to complete reading and writing activities so as to grasp the method of writing an experiment report.
【教学重难点】
1. Guide students to develop their reading comprehension of the essay and focus on how to develop the essay.
2. Lead students to think about how to express their arguments by listing supporting details.
3. Guide students to write an experiment report according to given instructions.
【教学过程】
Step 1 Before reading
1. Have students read the brief introduction of Benjamin Franklin and learn about him.
2. Have students add more information about Benjamin Franklin to share with the class.
Step 2 While reading
1. Have the students read the passage quickly and answer the questions.
1) What did Franklin’s experiment aim to prove
2) What does the new study say about the story of Franklin’s experiment
3) Why does the author mention the story about the apple falling on Newton’s head in the text
2. Read the text again and complete the exercise in Activity 3.
3. Have students think about the following the questions and voice their opinion.
1) How do you understand the statement “...we should not always believe everything we read or hear even if it is a great story”
2) What qualities do you think a great scientist should have
Step 3 Post reading
Work in groups. Have students give a talk about their understanding of the saying “Seeing is believing.” Students complete the exercise step by step under the guidance of Activity 4.
Step 4 Before writing
Lead students to read the instructions for the experiment and answer the questions.
Subject Magic bottle
Materials ...
Procedure
Results ...
1. What will the results of this experiment be
2. What can you learn from this experiment
Step 5 Writing
1. Complete the table with the information in Activity 5.
Introduction Introduce the aim of the experiment. This experiment is designed to... ______________________________.
Main body Describe the materials used in the experiment and explain the procedure. I prepared _______________________________ to do his experiment. Procedure:_________________________________________________________
Conclusion Report the results and what you have learnt. After the experiment, I can draw the conclusion that______________________.
Step 6 Language appreciation
1. Franklin, along with many other scientists, has inspired us and taught us that scientific experiments are important in order to establish the truth and to contribute... inventions.
[句式分析]Franklin, along with many other scientists作主语时,谓语的人称与数与with前面的部分保持一致,“in order to do sth”意为“为了……”,引导“目的状语”,“and to contribute”构成并列性目的状语。
[尝试翻译]富兰克林和许多其他科学家一起启发并教导我们,为了确认真相并有助于后来的科学发现与发明,科学实验是很重要的。
2. More than one account suggests that while Newton was certainly inspired by a falling apple, there is no proof that it hit him on the head.
[句式分析]More than one+单数名词,意为“不止一个……”,作主语时,谓语用“第三人称单数形式”;句中“suggest”意为“表明”,引导宾语从句时,从句的谓语用“陈述语气”,注意suggest表示“建议”引导从句的谓语用“虚拟语气(should +verb)”。名词“proof”后接that-clause为“同位语从句”——同位语从句,指的是在复合句中充当同位语的从句,属于名词性从句的范畴,同位语从句用来对其前面的抽象名词进行解释说明,被解释说明的词和同位语在逻辑上是主表关系。
[尝试翻译]不止一种说法表明,虽然牛顿肯定是受到了一个掉落的苹果的启发,但没有证据表明它击中了他的头部。
Step 7 Homework
1. Review new words and phrases learnt in this period.
2. Polish your experiment report.
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