Period 1
Welcome to the Unit & Word Study
Teaching aims:
1. Experience joyful moments by watching fun comic strip and feel interested in learning English.
2. Learn to read and discuss four respective posters.
3. Talk about laughter and life positively.
4. Students learn to adopt a positive attitude towards life.
Keys & puzzles:
1. Read and discuss four respective posters, and express your own opinions freely.
2. Master new vocabulary
Teaching aids
1. PPT presentation
2. The blackboard
Teaching methods
1. Cooperative learning
2. Communicative learning
Interactive patterns
T—S; S—T; S—S (pair work; group work)
Procedure:
Step 1 Greetings and lead-in
1. make briefly mutual greetings.
Discuss things that make us laugh.
2. Act Mice story.
Dialogue between the mice:
Little mouse: Mummy! Cat! Run, run, run!
Bigger mouse: (‘Take it easy, baby!’ in thought bubble) Miao~~~.
I have told you thousands of times to learn a foreign language is very important!
Little mouse: I see, Mummy.
Step 2 Sharing information about the four Posters
1. poster 1
a. What kind of expression is the man wearing?
b. Where is the man standing?
c. What might he be doing?
2. poster 2
What do critics say about the book in the poster?
3. Move to poster 3.
a. Who are they?
b. Can you tell us something about the Chinese crosstalk?
c. What qualities do you think cross-talk comedians possess?
4. Talking about poster 4.
PPT presents the poster and a question. Students observe the poster and have a group discussion on the question.
a. What can you see in a circus? PPT shows new words help students.
New words: acrobats, riders, clowns and performing animals
b. Have you ever been to a circus?
(Purpose: Via talking about the four posters, students learn how to read pictures and find useful information from them.)
Step 3: Discussion
After we talked about the four posters, which of the above do you think will be the funniest?
Who is your favorite comedian? Why do you like him or her?
Why do people like funny things?
Divide the students into different groups to discuss. Encourage them to use English while talking.
1. Presents pictures of Xiao Shenyang, Pan Changjiang, Chen Peisi, Niu Qun, Feng Gong, Da Shan, Mr. Bean and Charlie Chaplin on the screen. Teacher asks students who they are and who they like best and why.
Questions:
①. Who are they?
②. Of these comedians, who do you like best?
Show some adjectives at the same time: funny, stupid, silly, strange …
My favorite comedian is Song Dandan. She is very talented, versatile and dedicated. As a comedian, she has her own special way of presenting vivid characters on the stage. She can sing, dance, do crosstalk, etc. Once in an interview, she explained her understanding towards her career. According to her, it’s more than making people laugh. It’s about conveying dip meanings of life while entertaining people. I was deeply touched by this.
(Purpose: This will arouse their knowledge of comedy and their impressions of the comedians, and serves as a preparation for the reading. Some students might not recognize Mr. Bean or Charlie Chaplin. It is a good way to encourage them to learn this information gap between western and Chinese culture.)
Discussion: What benefits can laughter bring us?
Life is made up of laughter and tears. And tells students laughter is a bridge that can lead people to health, peace and happiness. It is human nature that people like funny things. We need to have something to laugh about, to release our emotions. According to psychologist, people who are often in a bad mood are likely to develop deadly diseases such as cancer. A hearty laugh can cheer people up and help them get rid of negative feelings.
Laughter is the best medicine.
●Take time to laugh -- it is the music of the soul.
●Laughter is the closest distance between two people.
●A man isn't really poor if he can still laugh.
Step 5 New vocabulary
Purpose: Arouse the students’ awareness of vocabulary building.
Ask the students to give names to the following descriptions.
1. The person who gives instructions to the actors, cameraman etc. in a film or play.
2. All the people who act in a play or film.
3. The words of a play or performance that an actor learns.
4. The written form of a play or film
5. The instructions and advice given on where to stand on the stage.
6. One of the main parts into which a stage play is divided.
7. Plays which are very short.
Further study
Complete the exercise of Part C.
Idioms about smiling & laughing
to laugh one’s head off-----to laugh very hard
The comedy I saw last night made me laugh my head off.
2. to smile on someone---someone is lucky
Luck was smiling on me as I passed the driving test.
3. be laughing all the way to the bank---be in a good situation because you have made a lot of money without making much effort
His uncle left him a lot of money, so he was laughing all the way to the bank
4. be laughed out of court---sth is not accepted for people think it is completely stupid
We can’t propose that! We’d be laughed out of court.
Step 5: Homework
1. Read the article in Part A on page 104 and the one in Part B on page 105 in Workbook.
2. Prepare the Reading part.