Mr. Danoff's FWE 8A Lesson 11

Lesson

 * 1) identify: opinion / fact and argument / conversation
 * 2) Briefly review context.

Focuses

 * 1) Listening Set Skill = 6. Listen for gist in passages and conversations.
 * 2) Listening Curriculum Statement = c) Follow discussion to identify fact/opinion.
 * 3) Speaking Set Skill = A. Awareness of context.

Definition

 * 1) Opinion = What a person thinks.
 * 2) Fact = What a person knows.
 * 3) Context = What a person or people is/are talking about.

Why?

 * Because knowing the difference between fact and opinion is important for making decisions.

Example

 * Hold up a book. Say this book is terrible. fact or opinion? this book is great! fact or opinion? this book is [color of the book]. fact or opinion?

Lesson Question

 * Is this fact or opinion?

Word(s) of the Day

 * 1) endangered
 * 2) * Small number of a type of animal. Near extinction.
 * 3) * Any animal that could possibly disappear for ever is ENDANGERED.
 * 4) extinct [page 117 of Wordlist]
 * 5) * All the animals of that type are extinct.
 * 6) * An group of animals that was once living and is now dead has become EXTINCT.
 * 7) pollute
 * 8) * When people put bad things into the air and water. [Draw smoke stacks & trash in rivers].

Contact Information

 * QQ ID 867996874
 * QQ Name Danoff
 * e-mail danoff.charles@gmail.com

Teaching Materials

 * 1) FUN WITH ENGLISH 8A Textbook
 * 2) Lessons Notebook
 * 3) Stopwatch

Chinese English

 * If the following things are said by a student, address the whole class.
 * No why.
 * Give me!
 * I know! I know!

0) Before the Bell

 * 1) In classroom at least 30 minutes before my first class of the day.
 * 2) Before class, make sure chairs are set up correctly
 * 3) Write Lesson plan, Lesson, Definitions, my contact info, words of the day and that it's OK to say I don't know or No reason on the board.
 * 4) Ask if everyone has their textbooks and pens. If they don't tell them to go get them.
 * 5) Stopwatch ready to go before class.

1) Coversation
6 Minutes
 * If the kids don't respond, ask them the questions directly.
 * 1) Are you tired?
 * 2) Are you hungry?
 * 3) Are you cold?
 * 4) What is happening in the news these days?
 * 5) What did you do in your clubs after school yesterday?
 * 6) Have you watched any good [movies, cartoons, tv shows, ....] recently?
 * 7) Have you read any good [books, comics, articles ....] recently?
 * 8) What class did you just have? What did you learn? Do you like it?
 * 9) what club did you have yesterday? what will you do in your club today?
 * 10) Is it anyone's birthday today in class?
 * 11) Any questions for me? Add that the longer we talk here, the less time we have to spend on the textbook.
 * 12) Do you know why this Thursday is special? A: Thanksgiving!

====2) Thanksgiving Speech ==== 5 Minutes
 * Vocab Words on Board
 * 1) parade
 * 2) * In China, on National Day thousands of people walk.
 * 3) mashed potatoes
 * 4) * You boil potatoes, then stir them in a bowl to make them soft and fluffy.

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in America and Canada. In America it is celebrated every year on the 4th thursday in November. It is called Thanksgiving, because people say thank you or give thanks. You give thanks on thanksgiving for the food you have to eat and your family. In the morning people watch the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. Usually at lunch people party where they invite all of their friends and family: brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

Some traditional foods for Thanksgiving is turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie for desert. After they eat, many people sleep or sit down and watch American football on TV. The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, and many shops have big sales with very cheap prices, so many people go shopping.


 * Notes about Delivering the Speech
 * Ask more difficult questions for higher level classes.
 * Don't ask the questions in sequential order. Ask the easy ones first to give lesser ability students a chance to answer.
 * Questions - Ask in a Row and Columns Game
 * 1) Where do they celebrate Thanksgiving?
 * 2) * America & Canada.
 * 3) When is Thanksgiving in America?
 * 4) * The 4th Thursday in November.
 * 5) Why is it called Thanksgiving?
 * 6) * Because people give thanks.
 * 7) Who comes to the Thanksgiving party?
 * 8) * Friends and family.
 * 9) What do people watch on Thanksgiving morning?
 * 10) * The parade.
 * 11) What are three foods people usually eat on Thanksgiving?
 * 12) * Turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
 * 13) What do many people do after they finish eating on Thanksgiving?
 * 14) * They sleep or watch American football on TV.
 * 15) What is the day after Thanksgiving called?
 * 16) * Black Friday.
 * 17) What do people do on Black Friday?
 * 18) * Go shopping.

3) Joke
2 Minutes
 * Piano joke.

4) Introduction
2 Minutes
 * 1) Point out the Lesson Plan, mention if we move fast, we can get to the game quicker.
 * 2) Tell them my contact info, and say that I am busy. I want to talk to you, but if I can't it is not because I don't like them, it is because I am busy. I like all of you. Please say hello again or e-mail me. E-mail is much better.
 * 3) Mention that if ask a question and they don't know the answer, it's fine to say I don't know. Write No why and No reason ask which is correct if I ask Why? cross out No reason explain that it is Chinese, not English.
 * 4) Words of the Day
 * 5) Homework: Students are to bring something from home to class to talk about. Instruct them to write this down. At the end of the class stand at the door and have the students repeat this or show they have written it down before they are allowed to leave.

5) Page 42 Let's get ready A & B
5 Min
 * 1) Walk around the class, help the students who are struggling.
 * 2) Try to get a dialogue going, ask What do you think about endangered animals? What endangered animals do you like? Is it important to help endangered animals? ... Why? Do you want these? [Point to the products]. Say Well I think ..... Do you think I'm right?

6) Page page 43 Let's listen 1 A - Tapescript Page 90
3 Min
 * 1) Check if they know the meaning of the words guest and speaker.
 * 2) I read it through.
 * 3) Though the answers at the back of the book only say 2, 3, and 4, I think 5 is also an acceptable answer.

7) Page 43 Let's listen 1 B - Tapescript Page 91
4 Min
 * 1) I read it through.
 * 2) Ask if what the speaker is saying are facts or opinions?
 * 3) Ask what is the context of what the speaker is saying?

8) Question Game
Remaining Time
 * 1) Have the students stay in their seats.
 * 2) Write answer and question on the board. Put a question mark below question.
 * 3) As an example write America under answer. Explain that I will give them the answer and they are supposed to come up with the question. For this example they could ask Mr. Danoff where are you from? or What is Barack Obama's country? or In what country do they play the NBA?
 * Note, adapted from “What's the Question” from the Internet Teach English as Second Language Journal.

Extra Time

 * Blue Whale Speech (7 Minutes)

Blue Whales are a type of whale. They are the largest animal humans have ever found. The biggest ones are over thirty meters long, and weigh over 172,000 kilograms. Their tongue weighs about 2,700 kg.

They eat mostly krill, which are like shrimp. They eat about 3,600 kg of krill every day.

Scientists think whales can live for up to 80 years.

About one hundred years ago, there were maybe two to three hundred thousand Blue Whales in one Ocean. But, many people have hunted them. Now they are endangered. Today there are only five to twelve thousand left.


 * Notes about Delivering the Speech
 * Write certain numbers or words on the board after reading it one time if they don't understand.
 * Questions - Ask in a Row and Columns Game
 * What color are Blue Whales?
 * Are Blue Whales big?
 * How long are Blue Whales?
 * How much do Blue Whales weigh?
 * Are Blue Whales bigger than elephants?
 * What do Blue Whales eat?
 * How long can Blue Whales live?
 * Are Blue Whales endangered?
 * How many Blue Whales are left?
 * Competitive Hangman
 * Rows & Columns
 * 20 Questions
 * Ball Self-Introduction Game
 * “How high can you clap?“ Game
 * Simon Says
 * Telephone

g8 c5

 * Notes in AFLS Teaching Journal 3 Back of the Front Cover
 * 1) I was not ready to teach this class and they took full advantadge
 * 2) Was good I kept my cool, didn't lose my temper nor send anoyone around the room and I apologized to that kid
 * 3) again, it is worth trying an alternative with this class. it can't get much worse.

g8 c4

 * Notes in AFLS TJ4 Page 1
 * class was basically perfectly behaved. didn't have a very strong female student, which was too bad.
 * only 2 to 3 kids talked.

g8 c6

 * AFLS TJ4 Page 1
 * class was gobby as ever, but also got through everything
 * boy with glasses's level is higher than I realized, but he's too easily distracted
 * even though only a few kids were involved, i'd say the discussion went quite well

Materials Used Whose Copyright is Owned by Others

 * I used these because it was allowed within the rights given by the people who made the materials.
 * The copyright of this lesson plan does not reflect the copyright of these materials.
 * Please contact the creators to see how it is OK to use their materials.
 * Focuses come from the curriculum section of the 2009/2010 East Meets West China Information Booklet.
 * Joke is from the ITESLJ http://iteslj.org/c/jokes.html
 * Question Game Adapted from “What's the Question” from the ITESLJ. http://iteslj.org/games/9868.html
 * ITESLJ Copyright Notice: http://iteslj.org/copyright.html
 * ITESLJ Contact Information: http://iteslj.org/mail/

Materials Used Which I Made

 * I will likely only use materials I created which I entered into the Public Domain, but read carefully in case I licensed one thing different which may be what you want to re-use.
 * Thanksgiving Speech, which I entered into the Public Domain.
 * Blue Whale Speech, which I entered into the Public Domain.

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank all the 8th grade classes at Anqing Foreign Language School who had this lesson for their participation and feedback. I would also like to thank the Anqing Foreign Language School for allowing me to teach.

Page 44 Let's listen 2 B - Tapescript Page 91
6 Min
 * 1) Ask for student volunteers.
 * 2) Ask the students if the statements are facts or opinions.
 * 3) If they don't know what a fact or opinion is, go over the example.

Page 45 Let's listen 3 A - Tapescript Page 92
4 Min
 * 1) I read it through.
 * 2) Ask the students “What is the context of this conversation?”
 * 3) If they don't remember context, say it is “what people are talking about” and “for example, in Jessica and her Uncle's conversation in 2B, the context was whales.”

Version 0.1 Nov 11, 2009

 * 1) Chose the textbook questions to use in a meeting with Mr. Brown.

Version 0.2 November 22, 2009 2:30 PM

 * 1) Added the lesson plan format from 7A Lesson 8 ver 0.2.
 * 2) Added a Blue Whale speech.

Version 0.3 Finished: November 24, 2009 6:28 PM

 * 1) added “# What did you do in your clubs after school yesterday?
 * 2) Have you watched any good [movies, cartoons, tv shows, ....] recently?
 * 3) Have you read any good [books, comics, articles ....] recently?“ to the conversation questions.
 * 4) updated the Thanksgiving speech and questions to ver 0.21
 * 5) added “Try to get a dialogue going, ask “What do you think about endangered animals?” “What endangered animals do you like?” “Is it important to help endangered animals? ... Why?” “Do you want these?” [Point to the products].“ to “Page 42 Let's get ready A & B“.
 * 6) Added note “[Skip #8 for classes of lesser ability]“ because it's difficult and without it is probably just enough textbook for those classes. For higher level classes, keep it because it is challenging and won't vex their patience, too much.
 * 7) Added “Homework: Students are to bring something from home to class to talk about.“ to the Introduction.
 * 8) Edited the language of the Blue Whale speech slightly.
 * 9) Added “Ask in a Row and Columns Game“ to the questions sections following the speeches.
 * 10) Added “Notes about Delivering the Speech“.
 * 11) Added “# Write certain numbers or words on the board after reading it one time if they don't understand. Then read it again. # Ask more difficult questions for higher level classes. # Don't ask the questions in sequential order. Ask the easy ones first to give lesser ability students a chance to answer.“ to “Notes about Delivering the Speech“.
 * 12) Added “# How long are Blue Whales?
 * 13) How much do Blue Whales weigh?“ to the Blue Whale Speech questions.
 * 14) Changed “Acknowledgments & Notes“ to “Materials Used Whose Copyright is Owned by Others“, “Materials Used Whose Copyright I Control“, “Acknowledgments“ and “Notes“
 * 15) Added details to “Materials Used Whose Copyright is Owned by Others“ “### I used these because it was allowed within the rights given by the people who made the materials.
 * 16) The copyright of this lesson plan does not reflect the copyright of these materials.
 * 17) Please contact the creators to see how it is OK to use their materials.“
 * 18) Added details to “### I will likely only use materials I created which I entered into the Public Domain, but read carefully in case I licensed one thing different which may be what you want to re-use.“
 * 19) Added “I would like to thank all the 8th grade classes at Anqing Foreign Language School who had this lesson for their participation and feedback. I would also like to thank the Anqing Foreign Language School for allowing me to teach.“ to “Acknowledgements
 * 20) Changed the name of “Versions“ section to “Changelog“ and added Version to the beginning of each Version name. Previously it'd just been 0.1 or 0.2.
 * 21) Moved “Additional Questions & Instructions for This Lesson“ above “Changelog“.
 * 22) Added spaces between the different versions in the Changelog for clarity of reading.
 * 23) Added “Chinese English“ section with “ # If the following things are said by a student, address the whole class. ## “No why.” ## “Give me!” ## “I know! I know!”“
 * 24) Changes below done on 23 Nov after editing 7A Lesson 9.
 * 25) Changed “Materials Used Whose Copyright I Control“ to “Materials Used Which I Made“ because after I enter things into the Public Domain I no longer control their copyright, I believe..
 * 26) Changed Copyright to “As the writer and copyright holder of this document, I, Charles Jeffrey Danoff, enter it into the Public Domain.”
 * 27) Added “### If I used something created by you and you would like me to not or change the attribution, please let me know.” to “Materials Used Whose Copyright is Owned by Others”.

Version 0.4 November 25, 2009
12:23 - 25 PM & 7:17 - 7:36 PM
 * 1) added additional definitions to endangered & extinct that I got from Mr. Brown, as alternative ways to explain the words to the kids.
 * 2) added What class did you just have? What did you learn? Do you like it? what club did you have yesterday? what will you do in your club today? to the Conversation.
 * 3) improved the Thanksgiving speech
 * 4) added new answers for the joke.
 * 5) clarified the introduction instructions
 * 6) took out Page 44 Let's listen 2 B and Page 45 Let's listen 3 A because the classes today were not getting to these.
 * 7) moved the “Blue Whale“ speech to extra time, because i haven't had time to cover it in class.
 * 8) added Ask if what the speaker is saying are facts or opinions? Ask what is the context of what the speaker is saying?
 * 9) added Copyright Owners of Materials section.

Version 0.41 24 & 25 Aug 2010

 * Made it Mediawiki formatting friendly.
 * Removed selected extraneous information for the sake of brevity.
 * Removed the copyright notice, because those implications are more clear depending on where the document is published online.

Contact Information
I am actively seeking feedback on how to improve this lesson, please edit it, leave a note in the talk pages or email me at, danoff.charles@gmail.com