2012? A presentation of Anelia Georgieva English Language School Ruse, Bulgaria
Dec 24, 2015
Activity 1
Brainstorming the students` awareness on natural phenomena and disasters:
What do you associate the year 2012 with?
Activity 2
Presenting Robert Frost`s poem “Fire and Ice”
It is one of his most popular poems, published in December 1920 in Harper`s Magazine and in 1923 in his Pulitzer-prize winning book New Hampshire.
It discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate.
It is one of Frost's best-known and most anthologized poems.
Some say the world will end in …….…,Some say in ……...From what I've tasted of ……………I hold with those who favour fire.But if it had to perish ………………,I think I know enough of …………To say that for destruction iceIs also …………… And would suffice.
fireice
hate
desire
twice
great
Activity 4
Presenting the four classical elements
Earth, Air, Fire and Water
The concept is hardly a new one.
A Greek philosopher named Empedocles is credited with the cosmogenic theory of these four elements being the root of all existing matter.
Earth:
Earth is considered the ultimate feminine element. The Earth is fertile and stable, associated with birth, life, death, and rebirth. The Earth is nurturing and stable, solid and full of endurance and strength. In colour correspondences, both green and brown connect to the Earth.
Air:
Air is the element of the soul and the breath of life. If you’re doing a working related to communication, wisdom or the powers of the mind, Air is the element to focus on. Air carries away your troubles, blows away strife, and carries positive thoughts to those who are far away. Air is associated with the colours yellow and white.
Fire:
Fire is a purifying, masculine energy, connected to strong will and energy. Fire both creates and destroys. It can heal or harm, and can bring about new life or destroy the old one. The colours are red and orange.
Water:
Water is a feminine energy . It is used for healing, cleansing, and purification and associated with passion and emotion. It is associated with the colour blue.
Questions about the text:
1. What colours are associated with each element?
2. What opposite notions can you find in the text?
3. What abstract notions are the following:
a) the power of withstanding hardship or stress, continuing existence; duration –
b) a source of power or force –
c) the ability to judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight –
d) lack of agreement or harmony –
e)the act of making something clean -
f) ardent love, affection -
endurance
energy
wisdom
trifle
purification
passion
Activity 5
Presenting some phrases with the four elements:
Fire –
set the world on fire - (informal) to cause a great sensation
under fire - being attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism
Ice –
cut no ice - (informal) to fail to make an impression
on ice - in abeyance; pending
on thin ice - unsafe or unsafely; vulnerable or vulnerably
Air –
into thin air - leaving no trace behind
on (or off) the air - (not) being broadcast on radio or television
out of thin air - suddenly and unexpectedly
take the air - to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride
up in the air - a. uncertain b. (informal) agitated or excited
walk on air - to feel elated or exhilarated
Earth –
cost the earth - (informal) to be very expensive
come back or down to earth - to return to reality from a fantasy or daydream
on earth used as an intensifier in such phrases as what on earth, who on earth, etc.
Activity 6
Sorting out the natural phenomena according to the elements:
Natural disasters:
1 Geological hazards
• Avalanche• Earthquake• Lahar• Sinkholes• Volcanic eruption
2 Climatic and atmospheric hazards
• Blizzard• Drought• Hailstorm• Heat wave• Cyclonic storms• Ice storm• Tornado• Climate change• Geomagnetic storm• Flood
3 Wildfire hazard
Activity 7
Matching the phenomena with the definitions:Definitions of natural disasters: An ………………………..is a slide of a large snow or rock mass down a mountainside.
An ……………………………….is a phenomenon that results from a sudden release of stored energy that radiates seismic waves. At the Earth's surface, earthquakes may manifest themselves by a shaking or displacement of the ground and sometimes tsunamis.
A ……………………… is a type of natural disaster closely related to a volcanic eruption, and involves a large amount of material, including mud, rock, and ash sliding down the side of the volcano at a rapid pace.
avalanche
earthquake
lahar
A ………………………. is localized depression in the surface , usually caused by the collapse of a subterranean structure, such as a cave.
A ……………………………..is the point in which a volcano is active and releases its power, and the eruptions come in many forms.
A ………………………is a severe winter storm icy and windy conditions characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy snow.
………………… is defined as a shortage of water and crop failure that results when the rainfall is very less than the normal. A drought is an abnormally dry period when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban or environmental water needs.
sinkhole
volcanic eruption
blizzard
Drought
A ……………………….is a natural hazard where a thunderstorm produces numerous hailstones which damage the location in which they fall. Hailstorms can be especially devastating to farm fields, ruining crops and damaging equipment.
A ……………………………… is a hazard characterized by heat which is considered extreme and unusual in the area in which it occurs.
……………………….., tropical cyclone, and typhoon are different names for the same phenomenon: a cyclonic storm system that forms over the oceans. It is caused by evaporated water that comes off of the ocean and becomes a storm.
hailstorm
heat wave
Hurricane
An …………………….. is a particular weather event in which precipitation falls as ice, due toatmosphere conditions.
A ………………… is a natural disaster resulting from a thunderstorm. Tornadoes are violent, rotating columns of air which can blow at speeds between 80 km/h and 480 km/h, and possibly higher.
A …………………..is an uncontrolled fire burning in wildland areas. Common causes include lightning and drought but wildfires may also be started by human negligence or arson.
ice storm
tornado
wildfire
Activity 8
Brainstorming students with beautiful phenomena:
What beautiful natural phenomena can you think of?
• Rainbows• Northern lights• Glaciers• Geysers• Crater lakes• Caves• Deserts• Stone formation
Activity 9 Matching words to their meaningsEnglish words of Greek origin:
a) air 1. disorder and confusionb) Gaia 2. a prediction of the futurec) hydro 3. a chronological record of eventsd) pyro 4. gases that form the earth's atmospheree) a symbol 5. the sacred book of Christianityf) a phenomenon 6. a soulg) a catastrophe 7. fireh) chaos 8. wateri) a prophesy 9. the Earthj) Apocalypse 10. a signk) The Bible 11. an unusual fact or occurrencel) History 12. a sudden disasterm) an angel 13. a divine messenger from Godn) a psyche 14. The Book of Revelation
Activity 10
Presenting the fifth element through a song:
The fifth element – the spirit, heart, love
What a wonderful world! Louis Armstrong
What a wonderful world! Louis Armstrong
I see trees of ……………….,………….. roses too.I see them bloom,for me and you. And I think to myself,what a wonderful world!
I see skies of …………………,And clouds of ……………….The …………………… blessed day,The …………………. sacred night.And I think to myself,What a wonderful world!
greenred
bluewhite
brightdark
The colors of the rainbow,So pretty in the skyAre also on the faces,Of people going by,I see friends shaking hands.Saying, "How do you do?"They're really saying, "I love you".I hear babies cry,I watch them grow,They'll learn much more,Than I'll ever know.And I think to myself,What a wonderful world!Yes, I think to myself,What a wonderful world!Oh yeah!
Some questions about the lyrics exercising students` listening skills and initiating a conversation about beauty in our lives revising vocabulary on colours, symbols, abstract nouns, positive notions.
1. What makes the world a wonderful place is …...
2. Synonyms of “wonderful”
3. What colours are there in the lyrics?
4. What are the colours of the rainbow?
5. What symbols of beauty are there in the lyrics?
6. What symbols of beauty can you think of?
7. What do people do and say when they are happy?
8. What positive things do you often think to yourself?
9. What human values and attitude can help people survive?
10. What can you personally do to make this world a better place?
Various other types of activities suitable for the topic:
• true/ false statements;• multiple choice answers; • fill in the gaps; • spot the words; • list the images; • spot the difference; • a memory cloze; • a dictation; • writing a picture description;• beginnings and endings of sentences;• some project work – jig saw puzzles; • presenting grammar – future tenses, to be going to,
modals;• miming and association games