Проєкт "Nature's Speaking"

Nature’s Speaking

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5WqtuU6JrnXjsGO4WUpJuSVmlDcEgEYb

Procedure:

Objectives:

Students will

•                  Strengthen listening comprehension with authentic video input.
•                  Expand vocabulary around nature, environment, and values.
•                  Practice summarizing and expressing opinions in English.
•                  Connect global themes to local Ukrainian context.
•                  Develop critical thinking through discussion.
•                  Practice teamwork in group projects.
•                  Build confidence in speaking and presenting.

Outcomes:

By the end of the project, students will be able to

•      use the vocabulary concerning the topic
•      create posters with slogans inspired by the videos
•      compare the global video message with a Ukrainian/ local example (e.g., forest near your town, your local river pollution, air in your town, etc.)

Lesson 1

1. Introduction and Warming-up

Prediction: “What do you think the nature/ water/ air/ soil/ forest/ mountain might say to people if it could speak?”

Vocabulary preview: fragile, survive, depend, destroy, pollute/ pollution, clean, powerful, feel, protect, grow, warn/ warning

2. Watching the videos

Watch the videos and think what the nature does for humans and what humans affect nature.

While-watching tasks:

True/ False

(you can do this task either after each video or after the whole series you’ve chosen)

e.g.

•      Earth says it needs people.
•      Pollution and warming destroy nature
•      Soil helps plants grow.
•      Without soil, there is no food.
•      The sky is endless.
•      Pollution makes the sky fragile.
•      Humans need water to survive.
•      Rivers and lakes can be polluted.
•      Cutting trees doesn’t destroy our “green lungs”.

After Watching

Comprehension Questions:

•      What does nature/ water/ air/ soil/ forest do for humans?
•      And how do humans influence nature?
•      Do you agree with the nature’s warning?
•      How do people in Ukraine depend on rivers and lakes?
•      How do Ukrainians depend on the Dnipro?
•      How do farmers in Ukraine depend on soil?
•      How does air pollution affect Ukraine?
•      Why are forests important for humans?

3. Students’ Reflection

1.     What did you learn from nature’s voices?
2.     What can we do in Ukraine to protect our environment?
3.     Which voice spoke to you most strongly and why?

4. Home Assignment

Write down some ideas how we can protect nature (4- 5 sentences)

Lesson 2

Nature Speaks in Ukraine

Objectives:

•      to integrate listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
•      to connect global environmental voices to local Ukrainian contexts.
•      to encourage responsibility and teamwork.

Outcome: A student‑created product (poster or video) that demonstrates understanding and creativity.

1. Warming-up (3- 4 min)

“Which nature voice do you remember best?”

2. Task introduction and group work (12 – 15 min)

• Unite the students in the groups (you can choose your favourite way of grouping but it’s better to mix stronger and weaker students for peer support)
• Small groups of 3 – 4 work best.

Assign roles: a writer, an artist, a speaker and a time-keeper.

Each group is assigned to represent one “voice” (Water, Sky, Soil, etc.) and argues its perspective.

• Students create a poster

Each poster should include a slogan, 3 key facts and 1 local connection.

• Provide your students with language support: sentence starters

•      I believe…
•      My message is…
•      Humans must…
•      As the Soil I say/ want to tell you…
•      I agree because/ I disagree because…

3. Showcase (15 – 18 min)

Groups display posters, speak for one of Nature’s element.

4. Students’ Reflection (8 min)

Hand out the reflection worksheets. Students write individually and then share one idea aloud.

•      What did you learn from nature’s voices?
•      What can people in Ukraine do to protect our environment?
•      One action I can take myself is…

Reflection Starters

•      Nature teaches us that…
•      The most important message for me was…
•      In Ukraine, we can protect nature by…
•      One small action I can take is…
•      I learned that humans depend on…

Collect reflection worksheets for assessment.

5. Summary

“Nature is speaking – are we listening?”

6. Home Assignment

Record simple video “Nature Speaks in Ukraine” (as local natural elements – the Dnipro, the local forest, the local field, the Carpathians, the air of your native place).

It may be a group or an individual product.

Teacher’s Reflection

•      Were the aims of the lesson achieved?
•      Were all students engaged?
•      Was timing suitable?
•      What would you change next time? Why?