Unit 3 Make it happen! Understanding ideas 教学设计 2025-2026学年外研版（2024）英语八年级上册

Unit 3 Make it happen!
Understanding ideas
I. Teaching Objectives
(1) Language Ability
Comprehend the passage "A helping hand" and identify key details about Easton’s invention process (materials, improvements, motivations).
Use time-order words (first, then, finally) to retell the development of the artificial arm.
Discuss the qualities of inventors (curiosity, persistence, kindness) using examples from the text.
(2) Cultural Awareness
Recognize the value of technological innovation in solving real-life problems.
Understand how young inventors contribute to society through practical creations.
(3) Thinking Ability
Analyze the relationship between an inventor’s actions and their impact on others.
Infer the author’s purpose in highlighting Easton’s decision to share his design for free.
(4) Learning Ability
Use close reading strategies (underlining key events, mapping timelines) to extract information.
Collaborate in groups to summarize and discuss the text.
II. Teaching Key Points
Vocabulary: artificial, 3-D printer, brain signal, improve, weight, download, innovation.
Sentence patterns: "He built... out of...", "At first..., but later...", "His invention helped... by...".
Skills: Retelling a process, analyzing an inventor’s qualities.
III. Teaching Difficult Points
Understanding technical terms (e.g., "brain signals" "3-D printer") in context.
Explaining how Easton’s invention evolved through multiple improvements.
IV. Teaching Procedures
(1) Warm-up (5 mins)
Activity: Review the word cloud from Lesson 1 (design, invent, helping hand).
Ask:
"Based on our predictions, who do you think ‘a helping hand’ refers to What problem might the invention solve "
What inventions do you know Which one do you think is the most useful in daily life
Design Intent: Connect prior predictions to the text and activate interest.
(2) While-reading: Close Reading of "A helping hand" (15 mins)
Activity 1: First Reading (Gist)
Students read the passage quickly and answer:
Who is the main character
What did he invent, and why
Activity 2: Second Reading (Details)
Complete a timeline of Easton’s invention journey:
Age Invention Details Challenges Improvements
14 Built a robotic arm with plastic blocks and fishing line. - -
16 Created an artificial arm using a 3-D printer. It weighed 3.6 kg (too heavy for children). -
23 Developed a lighter arm (0.5 kg) costing $500. - Reduced weight; lower cost.
Activity 3: Third Reading (Deep Understanding)
Highlight sentences showing Easton’s motivations:
"I must lend a hand to people like her."
"He didn’t want to make money from it. He decided to post his design online... for free!"
Design Intent: Guide students to grasp the text structure and key details step by step.
(3) Post-reading: Discussion and Analysis (15 mins)
Activity 1:
1.How would Jenny’s life change with Easton’s invention
Jenny can get a lighter, cheaper artificial arm. It’s easier to use and reduces her financial stress of replacing arms often.
2.What can you learn from Easton
Selfless, creative, hard-working.
Activity 2: Retelling the Invention Process
In pairs, retell the story using time-order words:
"First, Easton built a robotic arm out of... Then, he got a 3-D printer and... Finally, he...".
Activity 3: Critical Thinking
Ask: What does this tell us about the importance of inventions "
Design Intent: Connect text details to broader themes about innovation and kindness.
(4) Consolidation: Role-play (5 mins)
Activity: Students role-play as Easton and Jenny. Easton explains his invention; Jenny shares how it helped her.
Example:
Jenny: "Thank you for your invention! It’s so light and easy to use."
Easton: "I’m glad it helps. I wanted to make something affordable for kids like you."
Design Intent: Reinforce understanding through creative application.
(5) Summary (5 mins)
Summary: Review key events and Easton’s qualities. Emphasize: "Great inventions start with noticing problems and caring for others."
Design Intent: Reinforce learning and prepare for the next lesson’s grammar focus.
V. Homework
Basic Homework
Complete the timeline worksheet with missing details from the passage.
Design Intent: Reinforce comprehension of the invention process.
Improving Homework
Write a short paragraph: "If I were Easton, I would improve the arm by...".
Design Intent: Encourage creative thinking about innovation.
Expanding Homework
Research another young inventor and note 2 similarities with Easton.
Design Intent: Broaden knowledge of real-life innovators.
VI. Teaching Reflection
Check if students can accurately retell the invention timeline using time-order words.
Note difficulties with technical terms (e.g., "brain signals") and provide additional examples.
Evaluate if discussions effectively linked Easton’s actions to his qualities as an inventor.