Level: intermediate

Form 9th

Topic: "Inventors and Inventions"

Objectives:

1. to introduce a new vocabulary and practise it in students’ speech;

2. to consolidate conditionals in writing;

3. to develop students’ skills of reading and listening;

4. to encourage students to speak on the topic.

Procedure

1. Orientation                                                 (Slide 1)

T: The basic theme of our lesson today is “Inventors and Inventions”, besides we are to discuss pros and cons of modern technologies.

I hope we’ll have a fruitful cooperation and succeed.

2. Aiming

T: What proverbs do you know on the topic?   (Slide 2)

a) One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.

                                          (Elbert Hubbard)

b) The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.

                                         (B.F. Skinner)

c ) “Necessity is the mother of the invention.

   Experience is the mother of wisdom.

 Imagination is more important than knowledge, for imagination embraces the   world”.                        

                                        (Albert Einstein)

3. Projecting                                                     (Slide 3)

- To begin with I’d like to know the meaning of the word eureka.

It means I have found it.

- What is the origin of this word?            It is of Greek origin.

- When do you we say eureka?               We say it when suddenly discover the 

                                                                 answer to the problem or solve a mystery.                                            - How do we feel when we say eureka?  We feel excited and pleased with something

                                                                 we have discovered.

 

T: Let us discuss the inventors and match them with the objects they have invented.

                                                                            (Slide 4)  

 

        Alexander Graham Bell    -   telephone

       John Logie Baird               -   TV

       Charles Ginesburg            -   camcorder

       Charles Babbage              -   computer

       James T. Russel               -   compact disk

       Alexander Bain               -   fax machine

       Rene Laёnnec                 -   stethoscope

       Thomas Alva Edison      -   light bulb

      Anton van Leewenhock   -   microscope

 

- Which of these inventions do you consider to be the most important and why?

- I consider compact disk to be the most important because it stores the information, takes up less space and makes the information more easily available.

- I guess that computer is the most important because it makes our lives and jobs easier.

- I recon fax machine to be the most important because it sends written information quickly.

- To my mind phone is the most important because it has made verbal communication easier and quicker.

- In my opinion microscope is the most important because it has helped save thousands of lives.

- I suppose TV is the most important because it entertains and educates us.

- I regard light bulb is very important because it is cheap and easy form of lighting.

- I think stethoscope is the most important because it saves lives by detecting defects of body organs.

- I’d like to stress that camcorder is the most important because it allows us to have a permanent record of events.

 

 

 

4. Fulfillment             Reading                                     (Slide 5)

T: Before scanning the text let’s explain the glossary to it.

 

device -                 object that has been invented for a particular purpose.

gadget -                 a small device that does something useful.

socket -                  is a place of a wall that you can put on electric plug into.

patent -                an official document giving the holder the sole right to make use   

                                or sell an invention and preventing others from imitating it.

to patent -             is to obtain such a document.

royalties -            sums paid to the owner of the patent or copyright.

                            e.g. Authors may receive a sum of money for each book sold.

T: Think of the names of any inventions which might merit the cry “Eureka!”

 

                                                                                                 (Slide 6a)

T: The man in the photo is called Willie Johnson and he is an inventor. He is wearing one of his inventions and we are going to read a text about him.

 

- The names of his inventions are on the screen                       (Slide 6b)

Swallet       Tantrum      Wring        Gogglebox          Micropacer

- Scan the text and find out what these inventions are then describe or explain them.

Inventions:

Swallet         -   an electronic wallet which sounds an alarm if a thief cuts the cord

                     around the wearer’s neck.

Tantrum        -  it is an electronic device inside a foam brick.

Wring           -  a bright plastic ring with a watch that you can change round.

Gogglebox   -  gives a personal television a “big screen” effect.

Micropacer  - jogging shoes  which records time and speed over distance.

 

T: Read the text again and mark if the statements are true or false

a.F  b.F   c.T    d.T

 

5. Vocabulary work                                                      (Slide 7, 8)

- Suggest the alternatives for the words or phrases in italics.

a) luxurious                -        very comfortable;

b) converted church  -        a building which is used to be a church but has been

                                       redesigned for another purpose;

c) translate ideas into reality   - make his ideas work or make the actual product;

d) awards                  -   prizes;

e) succession of jobs -  a number of jobs one after another;

f) a runaway success – a tremendous success;

g) a string of inventions – a number of inventions;

h) a tremendous gamble – an enormous risk;

i) a pot of gold               - a financial success.

 

T: Let’s have a short discussion of the text.                             (Slide 9)

1. Was Willie Johnson a scientist?
2. What did he rely on?
3. What did he do 20 years ago?
4. How did he make his living?
5. Did he always win?
6. How does he describe inventing?
7. What is every inventor’s dream?
8. What does his talent lie in?

Answers:

1. No, he wasn’t. He had no scientific background.
2. He relies on design companies and technical experts to translate his ideas into reality.
3. He had a succession of jobs before he became an inventor.
4. He struggled to make his living with the string of inventions from cardboard furniture to a trailer that converted into a boat.
5. No, he didn’t. Sometimes he did well but for each idea that makes him money he might lose on three or four.
6. He describes inventing as a tremendous gamble.
7. The inventor’s dream is to collect a percentage of the sales in royalties.
8. His talent lies in taking technological advances and putting them to creative ideas that other people haven’t thought.

 

6. Grammar                                                                       (Slide 10)

 T: Another step of our work is to practice grammar.

Make sentences as in the example.

If Past Simple,  would + Indefinite /bare Infinitive

 

What would you do if you saw somebody stealing the money?

If I saw somebody stealing money, I would call the police.

 

If Past Perfect, would + Perfect Infinitive

 

      If there hadn’t been a problem with the engine his train wouldn’t have been late.

 

7. Listening comprehension                                               (Slide 11)

 

T: Now we shall listen to the cassette.

 

Task: In Britain there are mail order companies dedicated to the introduction of the very newest products in the market place and to the encouragement of inventors who need a “launch-pad” for their ideas.

You’ll listen to the interview with the manager of one of these mail-order companies about some of the products, which made it into their catalogue and some which were rejected.

                                                                                     (Slide 12) a picture

T: Complete the grid.                                                   (Slide 13) a table

 

Name of product	Accepted   Yes/ No	Reason     given of any
1.jumbo rain gauge   2.self-balancing drinks holder   3.car shaped slippers     4.aerated jeans   5.spectacles for dogs   6.luminous animal collars     7.jumping balloon   8.motor-powered roller skates	Yes   Yes     Yes     No   No   No     No   No	It is so big that it is easy to read from the house when it raining. People are tired of the kind of mess they get when their passengers spill drinks. Basically we think that the slippers might appeal to people looking for a bit of fun. We don’t think that anyone would buy them. They kept falling off when we tried them on some dogs. The material used to reflect the light was radioactive and dangerous to animals. It is filled with a special gas and would be far too dangerous. They are far too dangerous.

 Answer the questions:

         What criteria do they use for producing the brochure?

               1. It should be humorous and fun to read.

               2. It should be a new way of looking at on existing problems.

          What criteria do they use for deciding on which products they accept?

               1. Consideration whether the product will sell or not.

               2. Safety is an important consideration.

8. Speaking on the dialogues

T: One of you is an executive of a company that specializes in selling new inventions. Another one is an inventor of a product who wants to persuade you to sell their products.

9. Another point of our discussion is pros and cons of modern technologies.

Break up into groups.

One give the pros and another one the cons.                     (Slide 14)

 

 

 

 

Pros	Cons
I. 1.The paraffin lamp was replaced by the electric lamp, the horse-drawn coach was replaced by the car; 2.New inventions appear, our homes are equipped with gas, water and electricity;     3.We would find if difficult to live without a telephone, a washing machine, vacuum cleaner, electric cooker, micro oven or refrigerator;     4.The production of food, clothes and household equipment is much easier;       5. The treatment of diseases is more effective.     II. Electricity 1. The rise of science and the industrial revolution which started in Great Britain in the second half of the 18th century opened new frontiers of technology and completely changed people’s way of life.      The invention of electricity was very important because it led to the arrival of the washing-machine, the vacuum cleaner, the dish washer and so on. These inventions are marvelous because they have extended human freedom and it’s incredible that they created so much free time. They have made a revolution in our housework. 2. We should be economical to shrink our electricity bill. 3. And the scientists should develop new ways of energy such as solar energy and wind mills.         4. In this case you can contact the local power company. In case of power cut always keep a torch, a candle or matches handily.	I. 1. The electricity has become very expensive…. Cars pollute the atmosphere; 2.The development of nuclear power, pesticides and the plastic industry have introduced serious hazards into the environment; 3.We have to use every invention carefully because the same inventions which save human life can also be used to produce dangerous weapons or chemicals which may threaten our planet; 4.Another problem that the “machine age” has brought us is pollution and waste disposal; But the food is getting more and more unhealthy and tasteless; 5. We have a lot of incurable illnesses which have appeared recently and are widely spread.     1. But using washing powders and liquids pollute our land and water. Consequently we have problems with shortage of drinking water and marine life die and fertile layer of soil is ruined.                     2. Electricity has become very expensive for people to pay. 3. Electricity can’t be one of the greatest friends but one of the deadliest enemies. Everybody heard about the explosion at Chernobyl nuclear station which contaminated our land and brought about spread of incurable diseases and birth of retarded children. 4. We can often observe fallen power lines after the storm. They are dangerous for people’s life because that can get electricity shock.
T: Let’s switch over to more intellectual life. Computers and the Internet help you to do many things that you couldn’t do before. They have changed our way of life. The explosion of computer technologies has resulted in a rush to install computers in every classroom and to wire every school to the Internet.
1. Computers give us the opportunities to prepare for reports and write essays. we don’t have to read piles of books and it saves our time. 2.It helps us to watch a good film or to listen to music.       3.Computers are widely used in education. First of all they perform administrative functions such as data recording or book keeping. Secondly they play an important role in teaching, understanding of computers is especially important for young generation. The future of modern society depends greatly on computerization. 4. Computers are having an enormous impact on science and technology. Complicated mathematical calculations can be performed in minutes. Also data gathering, testing and analysis have been improved in computer use.     Computers are also being used in medicine. They are very helpful in medical diagnosis, patent monitoring and general hospital administration. In the banking and finance system they have replaced paper for nearly all accounting.	1. We don’t read books because we can find all information in the net.     2.Many people have become computer and Internet addict. They spend a lot of time playing computer games. They give up their hobbies and don’t socialize with their friends. 3. We can express our concern at the harm that is being caused to children who have access to offensive information on the Internet.           4. Having access to the keyboard and computer some people do not even have to leave their homes to do their daily work and to communicate with the world outside, which in turn may lead to isolation and frustration.      Telephone companies are going bankrupt because of the expansion of the Internet.      Sitting in front of the computers for a long time tells on our sight.      The art of writing letters is dying. People become antisocial.
Cars.
1. Cars have given us freedom. We can go wherever we want and whenever we want. 2. a) They take us from door to door we don’t have to stand in long queue to buy tickets. b) If we fit our cars with petrol filters there won’t be so many exhaust fumes. 3. Cars bring us independence. We should rely on other people whether they want to travel. 4. They fill our streets and roads are getting wide to accommodate them.   5. a) Travelling by car is comfortable. We get to our workplaces, to do our shopping, to go out to the theatre. b) We should drive our cars using solar energy or water energy.   6. You can  call a breakdown service or a road rescue service.        The conclusion is that for every machine, that comes along to give us more free time something else comes along to fill it.	1. But they bring about traffic jams, so it is impossible to get about in rush hour.   2. But they pollute the atmosphere by emitting exhaust fumes into the atmosphere.       3. They bring about traffic jams, so it is impossible to get about in rush hour.   4.But they expanded until the pavements and invaded formerly green spaces, lawns, flowerbeds. 5. But parking spaces have become huge areas of land used by empty cars waiting for hours on end for their passengers and they take a lot of petrol which is expensive.      Using cars a lot brings about shortage of natural resources. 6. Travelling by car is very dangerous. You can get into accident or the car may break down.     The best way out is to use unleaded patrol, use public transport more or change cars for bicycles.

 

10. Evaluation and marks.

 

11.Home assignment: