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Unit 5 The power of nature
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本单元的中心话题是火山、飓风、地震和洪水等自然灾害，听说读写等语言知识和语言
技能主要围绕“自然灾害”及如何预防和利用自然灾害这一主题进行。本单元引导学生讨
论这些问题，目的在于帮助学生掌握与“自然灾害”这一主题有关的词汇知识，让他们了解
自然界的威力，认识到人类只有保护自然，才能有效地预防自然灾害并改造和利用自然，同
时也培养了他们热爱大自然的情操。
本单元的主要教学内容如下表所示：
类别 课程标准要求掌握的内容
[来源:学*科*网]
话题 volcanoes；crater lakes；cyclones；floods
appoint v.任命；委派 ash n.灰；灰末
wave vi.波动；挥手 n．波涛 hurricane n.飓风；风暴
suit v.适合；使适宜 n．套装 questionnaire n.问卷；调查表
shoot v.射中；射伤 equipment n.设备；装备
panic v.惊慌 n．恐慌 database n.数据库；资料库
guarantee v.保证；担保 helmet n.头盔
[来源:Z,xx,k.Com][来源:学科网] n.潜在性；潜能 adj.可能
potential boot n.靴子
的
anxiety n.担心；焦虑；渴望 candidate n.候选人；候补者
absolute adj.绝对的；完全的 bungalow n.平房；小屋
actual adj.实在的；实际的 typhoon n.台风
anxious adj.焦虑的；不安的 thunderstorm n.雷暴
adv.在旁边；沿着边
[来源:学科网ZXXK] alongside prep.在……旁边；沿 novelist n.小说家
着……的边
absolutely adv.绝对地；完全地 fog n.雾
vi.(指火山)爆发；突然发
erupt document n.文件；证件
词 生
汇 evaluate v.评估；评价；估计 rainbow n.彩虹
v. 泉水般地喷出或涌出
fountain balcony n.阳台
n．喷泉；源泉
tremble vi.摇晃；摇动；颤抖 shot n.射击；枪炮声
n.欣赏；感激；感
sweat vi.出汗 n．汗 appreciation
谢
adj.贵重的；珍贵
bathe vi.洗澡；游泳 precious
的
adj.不舒服的；不
diagram n.图解；图表；示意图 uncomfortable
舒适的
adj.失去知觉的；
volcano n.火山 unconscious
未察觉的
n.火山爆发；(战争等)爆 adj. 多种多样的；
eruption diverse
发 不同的
make one's way 前往 burn to the ground全部焚毁
glance through 匆匆看一遍 attach...to...把……附在……上
compare...with...把……和……做比
vary from...to...由……到……不等
较
a live volcano 一座活火山 be about to do 即将；马上；正要做
part of 部分 run out of 跑出去；用光；耗尽
1out of the way不挡道；不碍事；躲开 look down into向下看
be covered with被……所覆盖，遮掩 take...by surprise使……吃惊
be home to 是……的栖息地；原产
a great diversity of 多种多样的
地
in the distance 在远处；在远方 pick up 拾起；捡起
protect sb./sth.against/from sth.保
on earth 在地球上；究竟；到底；根本
护……不受……的伤害
1.Having_collected_and_evaluated_the_information，I help other scientists to
predict where lava from the volcano will flow next and how fast.(the －ing form)
2.I was_about_to go back to sleep when suddenly my bedroom became as bright
as day.(sb.be about to do sth.when...)
3.The other two climbed down into the crater to collect some lava for later study，
but this_being_my_first_experience，I stayed at the top and watched them.(the －
句
ing form)
型
4.Having_studied_volcanoes_now_for_many_years，I am still amazed at their
beauty as well as their potential to cause great damage.(the －ing form)
5.My job is collecting_information_for_a_database_about_Mount_Kilauea...(the
－ing form)
6.I was appointed as a volcanologist
working_for_the_Hawaiian_Volcano_Observatory(HVO)_twenty_years_ago.(the
－ing form)
情感：喜悦、恐惧、焦虑、惊奇(Emotions：joy，fear，anxiety，surprise)
I became so excited that... I'm looking forward to...
Perfect! You did a good job.
I'm frightened. I was trembling.
功 I was so anxious... I felt very nervous.
能 Oh，my goodness. Oh，no!
I had never felt so happy as... Doesn't that look lovely?
I can't wait... I was never so frightened...
What's happening? What's happened?
What's that noise? Where's the...？
复习－ing形式(Revise the －ing form)
I was appointed as a volcanologist working for the Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory(HVO) twenty years ago.
语法 My job is collecting_information_for_a_database_about_Mount_Kilauea...
Having_worked_hard_all_day，I went to bed early.
Having_experienced_quite_a_few_earthquakes_in_Hawaii_already，I didn't take
much notice.
1.Get students to know about disasters that are caused by natural forces.
2．Have students learn some useful new words and expressions about natural
教
disasters and let them learn effective ways to master them.
学
3．Enable students to express their emotions such as joy，fear，anxiety and
重
surprise.
点
4．Let students get a better understanding of the grammar item：the －ing form.
5．Develop students' listening，speaking，reading and writing ability.
1.Enable students to master the usages of the －ing form.
教学难点 2．Let students learn to write a letter expressing emotions.
3．Develop students' integrative skills.
Periods needed：6
Period 1 Warming Up，Pre－reading，Reading and Comprehending
Period 2 Language Study
课时安排 Period 3 Grammar—the －ing Form
Period 4 Listening and Speaking
Period 5 Reading and Writing
Period 6 Summing Up，Learning Tip and Assessment
2Period 1 Warming Up，Pre－reading，Reading
and Comprehending
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教学内容分析
This is the first teaching period of this unit.The central part of this period is the reading
passage with the name of An Exciting Job showing the students the power of nature.
Warming Up gives two topics for students to discuss ，letting students get some more
knowledge about the power of nature.
Pre－reading provides some questions and a questionnaire to help students focus on the topic
of the reading passage and lead the students to think about any personal experiences of working
outside，such as things about climbing into a live volcano，doing dangerous work，travelling，
taking risks，adventure，studying rocks and so on.
Reading is a first－person account of a volcanologist's experiences.He loves his job very
much because he can help protect ordinary people from one of the most powerful forces on
earth.His job is collecting information for a database about Mount Kilauea and helping other
scientists to predict where lava from the volcano will flow next and how fast.Once，he watched an
eruption and then collected some lava for later study.After many years，he is still enthusiastic
about his job.Reading contains a picture that is an absolutely fantastic sight.After a glance at the
title of the text and the headlines within it we know that it is an account，in which there are many
emotion expressions.Then we can understand the topic of the text and how the information is
organized.
Comprehending consists of three written or oral exercises for the students to do so as to help
the students to get a better understanding of the text，that is to say，to help the teacher to check
how much the students have understood the text.
三维目标设计
Knowledge and skills
1．To know the meanings of the following new words and phrases：diagram(示意图)，
volcano(火山)，erupt(爆发)，eruption(火山爆发)，ash(灰末)，hurricane(飓风)，questionnaire(调
查表)，alongside(在旁边；在……旁边)，equipment(装备)，appoint(委派)，database(数据库)，
evaluate(评估)，wave(波浪)，fountain(泉水般地喷出或涌出；喷泉；源泉)，absolute(绝对的)，
absolutely(绝对地)，suit(一套外衣)，helmet(头盔)，boot(靴子)，potential(潜在性；潜在的)，
actual(实在的)，burn to the ground(全部焚毁)，make one's way(前往)．
2．To learn about some disasters that are caused by natural forces，how people feel in
dangerous situations and the ways in which humans protect themselves from natural disasters.
3．To learn how the information is organized.
4．To develop the students' reading ability by skimming and scanning the passage.
5．To develop the students' speaking ability by talking about natural forces.
Process and methods
1．While doing Warming Up the teacher can lead in the topic of this unit by showing students
some pictures of natural disasters and introducing some technical vocabulary concerning
volcanoes to review and develop students' understanding of what a volcano is.To ask students to
3consider other natural disasters and the ways humans deal with them.
2．During Pre－reading the teacher can go around the classroom and discuss the questions
with several students.This discussion should be student－centered and arouse students' interest in
working outside.The teacher should also ask the students some questions and try to let them have
a general knowledge of volcanoes.
3．While doing Reading and Comprehending，the teacher may first ask the students to read
the text quickly to get the general idea of each paragraph.After reading the passage carefully，
students are encouraged to answer some questions and discuss the text structure.
4．To consolidate the contents of the reading passage，the students should be required to retell
the volcanologist's experiences in their own words at the end of the class.
Emotion，attitude and value
1．To stimulate students' love to nature.
2．To develop students' sense of cooperative learning.
教学重、难点
1．To enable the students to learn about the power of nature and to develop their reading
ability.
2．To enable the students to talk about natural forces.
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Step 1 Warming up
1．Warming up by looking and talking
Show the following pictures to the students and let them know about the power of nature and
talk about them.
Sample expressions：
What happened in the pictures above？Do you know any other natural disasters？Please
work with your partners and make a list of natural disasters(such as earthquake，snowstorm，
flood，drought)．Have you ever seen a volcano?
(Some new words：lava erupt/eruption crater active/dormant/extinct volcanoes...)
2．Warming up by reading the passage below.
Some knowledge about volcanoes
There are thousands of volcanoes all over the world.What makes volcanoes？What happens?
The inside of the earth is very hot.Because it is very，very hot，the rock has melted like ice.It
has become liquid，like water.It is always boiling，like water in a kettle.If you have seen a kettle
boiling，you know that the steam and boiling water try to get out.The very hot melted rock inside t
he earth also tries to get out.Usually it cannot because the outside of the earth is too thick and
strong.
But in some places the outside of the earth is thin and weak.Sometimes a crack(a small
opening)appears.The hot melted rock，which we call “lava”，pushes up through the crack and
bursts through.Steam and gas shoot up into the air and the hot melted lava pours out.Big pieces of
rock may be thrown high into the air.
After a while the volcano becomes quiet again.The melted lava becomes hard.Later the same
4thing happens again and again.Each time more hot lava pours out on top of the cold lava and then
becomes hard.In this way a kind of mountain is built up，with a hole down the middle.Perhaps the
volcano will then be quiet and no more lava will burst out.Perhaps it will start again hundreds of
years later.
Vesuvius is the name of a very famous volcano in Italy.It first came to life many，many years
ago.It was quiet for hundreds of years.Then in the year 79 it suddenly burst.A great cloud of
smoke shot up into the sky with great burning rocks，which fell all around.Hot lava poured down
its sides.About 3000 people were killed.
Step 2 Pre－reading
1.Can you imagine climbing into a live volcano in order to measure the temperature of the
boiling rock inside？Now，read the following passage please.
Why does Tazieff risk his life like this?
Haroun Tazieff，the polish scientist，has spent his lifetime studying active volcanoes and deep
caves in all parts of the world.In 1948，he went to Lake Kivu in the Congo to observe a new
volcano which he later named Kituro.Tazieff was able to set up his camp very closed to the
volcanoes while it was erupting violently.Though he managed to take a number of brilliant
photographs，he could not stay near the volcanoes for very long.He noticed that a river of liquid
rock was coming towards him.It threatened to surround him completely.But Tazieff managed to
escape just in time，he waited until the volcanoes became quiet and he was able to return two days
later.This time，he managed to climb into the mouth of Kituro so that he could take photographs
and measure temperatures.Tazieff has often risked his life in this way.He has been able to tell us
more about active volcanoes than any man alive.
2．Encourage students to talk more about volcanoes by looking at the following pictures.
Step 3 Reading and comprehending
1．Fast－reading：Ask students to skim the passage so as to get the key words and general
idea of each paragraph and answer the question：What's the main idea of the text?
2．Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions.
(1)Why is a volcanologist's job important?
(2)Why is the lava that flows on Mount Kilauea more dangerous than the actual eruption?
(3)Why was it difficult for the writer to walk towards the edge of the crater?
(4)What does the writer find impressive about volcanoes even after studying them for many
years?
(5)What did the author think it was when an eruption occurred?
(6)Why did the scientists look like spacemen?
Suggested answers：
1．This passage is a first－person account of a volcanologist's experiences.The volcanologist
described his exciting job and wrote down his first sight of an eruption.
2．(1)Volcanologists study volcanoes so that they can warn people when the volcano is going
to erupt and so save many lives.
5(2)The lava flows down the mountain and can cover up or burn villages in its path.The rocks
that erupt from the volcano usually don't damage anything because no one lives near the crater.
(3)The author was wearing special protective clothing that made it difficult to walk.
(4)The author finds their beauty and their potential to cause great damage very impressive.
(5)He thought it was an earthquake.
(6)Because they wore white protective suits that covered their whole body.
3．Ask students to scan for detailed information and discuss the following question with their
partners and be prepared to report to the class.
Question：Having learned a little more about the work of a volcanologist，do you think it is
an occupation you would enjoy？Give you reasons.
Suggested answers:
No，I probably wouldn't enjoy this job because I wouldn't have to live in other countries and I
don't like being in dangerous situations，either.Above all，I'm not very good at science.
OR
Yes，I'd love to do a job like this because I would enjoy working outside and I think I would
enjoy the adventure.It would be exciting to meet people from different countries and I would feel
good about helping people avoid danger.
Step 4 Language study
Dealing with any language problem if any(words or sentences students might not
understand)to help the students to have a better understanding of the text.
Step 5 Listening，reading aloud and underlining
Ask students to read the passage aloud to the tape and let them pay attention to the
pronunciation of each word and the pauses within each sentence.Tell them to pick out all the
useful expressions or collocations from the passage while reading and copy them to the notebook
after class as homework.
Collocations：make one's way，a live volcano，be about to do，look down into，out of the
way，be covered with，burn to the ground，attach...to...，compare...with...，run out of
Step 6 Structure analyzing
After reading，ask students to discuss the text structure.
Keys for reference：
This passage is a first－person account of a volcanologist's experiences.The volcanologist
described his exciting job and wrote down his first sight of an eruption.The first paragraph
introduces the topic and the theme of the text.The rest of the text presents the information in
chronological order.A feature of an account of a volcanologist's experiences is the abundance of
time expressions.The last sentence of the report functions as a conclusion.In addition，each section
begins with a topic sentence.
Step 7 Retelling
Ask students to talk about the volcanologist's experiences in their own words.Give them
some key words and expressions.Then let them try to retell the passage.
Step 8 Homework
1．Learn the useful new words and expressions in this part by heart.
2．Try to find more pictures showing natural forces and talk about them.
Step 9 Reflection after teaching
________________________________________________________________________
6________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Reading：An Exciting Job
郑晓燕 费县第一中学
本教案获山东省临沂市高中英语优质课评选一等奖
Step Ⅰ：Lead－in
Step Ⅱ：Fast reading：Read the passage An Exciting Job as quickly as you can and try
to get the main idea of the passage.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A．An eruption occurred in Hawaii.
B．A volcanologist's job is exciting.
C．A volcanologist's exciting job and his first sight of an eruption.
D．A sight of an eruption is horrible.
Step Ⅲ：Detailed reading
1．Read the first and the second paragraphs and finish the following tasks.
①Why is a volcanologist's job important?
________________________________________________________________________
②The writer doesn't mind the occasional danger of his job because______.
A．he travels to unusual places and meets interesting people from all over the world
B．he likes the different ways of working
C．he thinks his job the most important
D．he is excited about danger and feels alive
③ As a result of the volcanologist's job，______.
A．other scientists predict the progress of lava from the volcano
B．many people have been warned to leave their homes
C．the eruption causes less damage
D．the eruption may be prevented from breaking out
2．Read the third and the fourth paragraphs and finish the following tasks.
①What made the writer realize that an eruption occurred?
②What does the writer mean by using “lucky” in the sentence “I was lucky enough to have a
much closer look at it”？
A．He felt much safer on the top while the other two scientists climbed into the crater.
B．It was his first sight of an eruption.
C．It was the first time for him to watch the crater.
D．Both B and C.
3．Read the last paragraph and prepare 1－2 questions to ask your partners about it.
Step Ⅳ：Searching reading
1．Analyze the sentence.
7Having collected and evaluated the information，I helped other scientists to predict where the
lava from the volcano will flow next and how fast.
Having collected and evaluated the information是______，在句子中作______；predict后是
由where和how引导的两个______。
2．Which sentence in the test can be replaced by the following one.
The reason why I don't mind that my job is sometimes dangerous is that danger can be
exciting and make me full of energy.
________________________________________________________________________
3 ． I am still amazed at their beauty as well as their potential to cause great
damage.“Potential” means：
A．possibility B．opportunity
4．Translate the following sentence into Chinese.
Having studied volcanoes now for many years，I am still amazed at their beauty as well as
their potential to cause great damage.
________________________________________________________________________
Step Ⅴ：Discussion
Having learned a little more about the work of a volcanologist，what qualities do you think a
volcanologist should have？What quality do you think is the most important？And give your
reasons.
Do you like to be a volcanologist?
Step Ⅵ：Homework
1．For more information about natural forces，you may refer to： http ： //baike.baidu.com
2．Finish the exercises in Discovering useful words and expressions on Page 36.
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Mount Etna
Sicily's greatest natural attraction is also its highest mountain.To the ancient Greeks，Mount
Etna was the realm of Vulcan，god of fire，and the home of the one－eyed monster known as the
Cyclops.At approximately 3350 meters，it is Europe's highest active volcano.The size of the
summit changes with each eruption，and over the centuries a few lava flows have reached the
coast.Over 1200 square meters of Etna's surface is covered with solidified lava.Etna offers skiing
in the winter months and breathtaking hikes in the woods during the summer.There are also a
number of smaller peaks on the slopes of Etna，and some interesting caverns.Since Etna is a strato
volcano，with relatively cool lava temperatures and numerous openings(vents)，nobody ever
knows precisely where on its vast surface the next eruption will be.Etna's long recorded history
has proven invaluable to the world's volcanologists.
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