课题:XB1U5 Working the Land
Extensive Reading Vocabulary Expansion
Teaching Objectives
Language Competence: Understand the extended text about "Vertical Farming", master new vocabulary such as vertical, layer, resource-saving, urban, and summarize the core information of the text (advantages and applications of vertical farming).
Cultural Awareness: Learn about the development trend of "urban agriculture", compare differences between traditional agriculture and modern urban agriculture, and broaden international horizons.
II. Key & Difficult Points
Key Points: Extraction of core information from the extended text; integrated application of unit vocabulary and new vocabulary.
Difficult Points: Word-guessing ability from context (e.g., guessing the meaning of layer as "layer" through “Vertical farms grow crops in layers, not on the ground.”); dialectical analysis of "advantages and disadvantages of vertical farming".
III. Teaching Methods
Extensive Reading Method, Contextual Word-guessing Method, Group Discussion Method
IV. Teaching Procedures (45 minutes)
Step 1: Lead-in & Vocabulary Preparation (10 minutes)
Topic Introduction: Show pictures of "vertical farms in cities" (buildings with multi-layered vegetable cultivation), and ask:
“What is different between this farm and traditional farms ” (Guide students to answer "in the city, grow in layers")
“Why do people build such farms in cities ” (Arouse interest and lead to guesses such as "resource conservation, proximity to markets").
Word-guessing Warm-up: Present new vocabulary from the text and guide students to guess meanings through pictures and contextual clues:
vertical: Show pictures of a "vertical ladder" and a "horizontal table", and ask: “Which one is ‘vertical’ ” (vertical)
layer: Show a picture of a "multi-layer cake", and ask: “How many layers does the cake have ” (layer)
The teacher summarizes word-guessing skills from context: Guessing words through pictures, synonym/antonym relationships, attributive clauses, etc.
Step 2: Extensive Reading (20 minutes)
First Reading: Read the text "Vertical Farming" quickly and complete the main idea multiple-choice question:
What is the main idea of the text
A. The history of vertical farming.
B. The advantages and uses of vertical farming.
C. The problems of vertical farming.
Feedback: Students answer (Answer B). The teacher clarifies the text theme.
Second Reading: Read the text carefully and work in groups to complete the "Vertical Farming Information Table":
Aspect Content Text Evidence
Cultivation Method Grows crops in layers (indoors) “Vertical farms grow crops in layers inside buildings.”
Core Advantages 1. Saves water; 2. Saves space; 3. Close to cities “They use 95% less water than traditional farms... They take up less space...”
Application Scenarios Urban areas (cities) “Many vertical farms are built in big cities to supply fresh vegetables.”
Feedback: Check answers as a class. The teacher explains difficult sentences (e.g., “Vertical farming is a resource-saving way to grow food in urban areas.”) and emphasizes the usage of resource-saving (resource-saving) and urban (urban).
Vocabulary Integration: Integrate new vocabulary with old unit vocabulary to form an "Agricultural Model Vocabulary List":
Traditional Agriculture: farmland, plow, harvest
Modern Agriculture: hybrid rice, smart irrigation, vertical farming
Step 3: Post-reading Discussion (12 minutes)
Group Debate: “Is vertical farming better than traditional farming ”
Pros: Focus on advantages (water-saving, space-saving, proximity to cities)
Cons: Focus on challenges (high cost, reliance on electricity, limited crop varieties)
Class Summary: The teacher guides students to draw a "dialectical conclusion" — Vertical farming is a good solution for cities, but traditional farming is still important for large-scale food production.
Step 4: Homework (3 minutes)
Copy 5 new vocabulary words from the extended reading and make 1 sentence for each (e.g., “Vertical farming is popular in urban areas.”).
Write 3 sentences to compare differences between traditional farming and vertical farming (e.g., “Traditional farms need more land, while vertical farms save space.”).
V. Blackboard Design
Using Language: Extensive Reading (Vertical Farming)
1. New Vocabulary:
- vertical (vertical), layer (layer), resource-saving (resource-saving), urban (urban)
2. Text Main Idea: Advantages & uses of vertical farming
3. Key Info:
- How it works: Grow in layers (indoors)
- Advantages: Save water/space, close to cities
- Uses: Supply fresh veggies in cities
4. Discussion Conclusion:
Vertical farming (good for cities) + Traditional farming (good for large-scale) → Both important
VI.Evaluation