In the world of animals (Internet-aided lesson with National Geographic)

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Author: Hanna Kałamaja
Topic: In the world of animals (Internet-aided lesson with National Geographic)
Level: upper-intermediate / adults

Language practiced: vocabulary connected with animal’s body and natural environment (revision of already learnt vocabulary, studying new prepositions and collocations)

Time allocated: 90 min.
Web site used:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals.html

Anticipated problems: new vocabulary

Procedure:

1. Introduction (warm-up, speaking, and brainstorming): Teacher explains what the lesson is about (about animals and their world) and asks students to think about as many animals as they’re able to think of in English. Teacher notes the students’ answers on the blackboard, grouping them with students under appropriate headings:

|mammals |birds |reptiles |amphibians |insects |
|i.e. |i.e. |i.e. |i.e. |i.e. |
|squirrel |sparrow |crocodille |frog |tick |
|leopard |magpie | | | |
|etc |etc. | | | |

2. (speaking, vocabulary revision) After the short warm-up teacher explains that the lesson concerns mammals only (the first column) and asks the question: what is a mammal? Students own answers. After establishing some facts and before directing students to the web page, teacher asks students to look at mammal section (on the board) and briefly describe the parts of the body of a chosen animal and the habitat it lives in.

3. (learning new pieces of vocabulary, expanding knowledge) Teacher directs students to the web page. They find out whether their definitions of a mammal have been correct. ( at this stage they can either get some new facts or learn new vocabulary). The definition is quite concise, so the teacher should be pre-prepared to answer to all students’ questions concerning vocab.)

4. (writing, selecting info, pair-work) Teacher hands out the fact file sheets with one animal (mammal) for each pair of students (attachment 1). Students fill in the charts according to their knowledge.

5. (note taking, comparing) Students click on A-Z link at the top of the web page. The pairs compare their facts with the on-line ones and either complete up the charts or correct them accordingly.

6. (speaking) At this stage pairs are asked to sound their animal’s voices for other students (on the web page, under most of each mammal fact files there is a voice recorded). Students try to guess what animal the pair of students has worked on. Then, each pair shares some interesting information on their animals with others, using their fact files. At the end of the presentation they surprise ...