Unit5 Birdwatchers

Welcome to the unit

Teaching objectives: 1. To introduce common names of birds

                 2. To revise characteristics and appearance in the context of birds

                 3. To exchange information about birds

                 4. To practice speaking, listening, reading and writing

Teaching difficulties: 1. New words and phrases

                  2. How to describe the characteristic and appearance of birds

                  3. To exchange information about birds

                  4. Speaking and writing

Teaching methods: Guessing game, Group work, Discussion

Teaching assistance Tape, Tape-recorder,

Teaching procedure:

Step1. Daily report

Ask one students to give us daily report. It is about two puzzles of two kinds of animals. ( elephant / starfish)

Step2. Revision

Ask students to say something about the tiger by using the phrases given on the screen. ( Appearance, Ability, Character, Food, Danger)

Step3. Presentation

T: We have learned many kinds of animals on land. For example: wolf, fox, bear, panda and so on. Are there any animals that can fly in the sky?

Ss: Birds.

T: Good. There are many kinds of birds in the world. Do you know them? For example: Parrot.

Ss: crane, swan, sparrow

T: Let’s enjoy some pictures.

T: Can you tell me what the name of the bird is?

  Can you describe it?

  New words and phrases: crane, seagull (long-winged, web-footed), sparrow, swallow (long pointed wings, forked tail), swan (thin), golden eagle (brownish, broad wings, hooked beak)

  Ask students to read these new words and phrases after me for three times.

Step4. Pair work

  Ask students to use the phrases to say something about the birds we have learned just now. They can work in pairs. They also can think out more about these birds. For example: What do they eat? Where do they live? Invite several students to say something about them.

Step5. Making up new dialogue

T: We have learned many kinds of birds. Can you tell me which bird you like best and which one do you like least?

T: Which bird do you like best?

S1: I like the parrot best.

T: Why?

S1: Because it has colourful feathers.

T: Which bird do you like lease?

S1: I like sparrow least.

T: why?

S1: Because it isn’t beautiful.

Have students work in pairs and make up a new dialogue. Invite several pairs to show us their dialogues.

Step6. Guessing Game

Have students try to describe one of their favourite birds and let the other students guess.

For example : They are very beautiful. They have white feathers and long thin necks. (swan)

Step7. Listening

T: There are many kinds of birds in the world. Do you want to know more?

Ss: Yes.

T: So we can go birdwatching. Today Hobo and Eddie also want to go birdwatching.

  Now let’s listen to their conversation. While you are listening, you should think about these three questions.

1.      Does Eddie really know what birdwatching means?

2.      Where does he think is the best place to watch birds?

3.      What can he see in that place?

Answer: 1. No, he doesn’t.

2. At the market.

3. Beijing Ducks and roast chickens.

Step8. Reading

Have students read after the tape. They can practise reading with their deskmates.

Step9. Interview

T: Many people like going birdwatching. We call them birdwatchers. Birdwatchers know a lot about birds. Suppose one of you is the birdwatcher. The other students are reporters and they want to know more about birds. Please think out as many questions as possible to ask the birdwatcher. One star for one good question. There are four groups in class. Group 1,2,3,4

For example: Is it interesting to go birdwatching?

           Can you tell me more about the seagull?

           What’s your favourite kind of birds?

Step10. Homework:

1.      Read and recite the new words and phrases

2.      Write an article about one of your favourite birds.