Урок для 8 класу "Education in Great Britain"

Education in Great Britain

8^th form

Learning outcomes:

by the end of the lesson you have to learn new information about schools

 

Objectives:

- to revise and enrich student’s vocabulary on the topic;

- to develop students’ speaking, listening and reading skills;

- to form students’ abilities of critical thinking

 

Equipment: cards, a presentation, a video

 

PROCEDURE

 

Ι. Introduction

Mind Map – What is SCHOOL for you?

 

 II

1. Notify the theme and tasks.
2. Warming-up

A snake  Lessons lunch primary secondary school university kindergarten sports subjects uniform marks

Vocabulary

Nursery schools

Core subjects

Boarding schools

 

3. Video

We know a lot about the Ukrainian schools. But do you know anything about the schools in Britain? When do children start going to school? Have they got extra-school activities? What clubs do they attend?

 Let`s watch about English schools. (Video from Window on Britain https://youtu.be/xCS_ZQZ_7hQ  )

1.                  watching a film
2.                  while watching

 

Watch and tick the activities you see

football

hockey

netball

rugby

chess

cooking

badminton

athletics

music

lunch

 

3.                  after watching

True/false

1.          Most children start primary school at the age of 7 (- 5)
2.          About 20% of 18-year-olds go to university
3.          At most schools students wear uniforms
4.          There are about 22 students in a secondary school class
5.          Students begin learning a foreign language at 15 (- 11)
6.          All students have music lessons (- some)
7.          Most parents in Britain pay for their children’s education (- 8%)

 

4) discussion: What interesting information did you get? 

 

4.Rest time  - a song https://youtu.be/zYqX6gNv7io

 

5. A story-time

 A presentation – (in the Appendix)

 

1.                  watch and read
2.                  while reading – finish sentences (every pupil has 1 card) (in the Appendix)
3.                  after reading a short test

 

1. Education is compulsory between the ages:

       a) 4 and 15    b) 5 and 16   c) 5 and 18

2. Boarding school means that:

      a) It is abroad    b) Students live there   c) There are only boys there.

3. Core subjects in secondary schools are:

     a) English, History, Art   b) Art, Technology, PE  c) English, Maths, Science.

  4. There are … terms in a school year:

     a) 3     b) 4    c) 5

 

4) reading the completed sentences +put them on the Mind Map

5) speaking: What can you say on a topic

Nursery schools or playgroups

Primary schools

Secondary schools

School year

Universities

School day

Marks

 

ΙII.

1. Home task

Vocabulary practice

 

 Match the following words with their definitions.

 

1) a public school (in Britain)	a) a school paid by the government
2) a state school	b) to come to classes
3) a boarding school	c) to get a positive mark at the exam
4) a school leaving party	d) the subjects that pupils choose
5) to fail an exam	e) a very expensive school where you have to pay to attend
6) final school leaving exams	f) to try to answer at an exam
7) to attend classes	g) the last school exams
8) to take an exam	h) a school where the pupils live  as well as study
9) to pass an exam	i) the last school party
10) optional subjects	j) a pupil who misses classes without a serious reason
11) a truant	k) to get a very bad mark at the  exam

1e   2 a  3h   4i   5k   6g   7b   8f   9c   10d   11j

 

2. Evaluation

 

3. Sum up

Answer the following questions about education in Britain

 

1. What age do children start primary school in Britain?

2. What age does secondary education usually start?

3. How long does compulsory secondary education last in Britain?

4. What schools do most children go?

5. What does a typical timetable include?

6. How many children attend fee-paying private schools?

7. What are British public schools famous for?

8. What are the main exams and what age at?

9. Do all people in Britain support the tradition of public schools?

 

Appendix

 

Complete the sentences

 

The education system is divided into 4 stages: nursery, primary, secondary, higher    

 

Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

 

In nursery schools they learn some elementary things, play, have lunch and sleep there.

 

Primary education lasts for 6 years. It is divided into two periods: infant schools ( from 5 to 7 years old) and junior schools (from 7 to 11 years old).

 

When pupils are 7, they study English, PE, Art and Technology, Mathematics, Geography and History.

 

Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years.

 

There are 3 types of state secondary schools: comprehensive, grammar, modern.

 

Most children go to state comprehensive schools. Parents do not pay for their education.

 

English, Mathematics and  Science are called "core" subjects. 

 

At the age of 7, 11 and 14 pupils take examinations in the core subjects.

 

They take ‘O’ Level (Ordinary) and ‘A’ (Advanced) Level Exams.

 

The school year never begins on Monday, so school usually begins on the first Tuesday of September.

 

There are three terms in a school year. Schoolchildren have holidays: Christmas, Easter and

Summer

 

Pupils usually have five lessons five days a week.

 

After school activities include sport, art, book clubs, IT classes, drama and music.

 

There is a long lunch break in the afternoon after the third lesson.

 

Marks: A –excellent, B –good, C –satisfactory, D –bad, E – poor

 

Each school has its school colour (usually dark grey, dark blue, brown, dark green or dark red)

 

 

A text on the presentation

 

Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

The education system is divided into 4 stages: nursery, primary, secondary, higher   

Nursery schools. Many British children attend a nursery school from the age of 3, but it is not compulsory.  Children start at 9 a.m. and finish at 3 p.m., they have their lunch at school and a rest in the afternoon. They play, paint, dance and sing and do the same things that all little children do. They learn only elementary things: numbers, colours and letters.

Primary schools. At 5, by law, children start proper school. Primary education lasts for 6 years. It is divided into two periods: infant schools (from 5 to 7 years old) and junior schools (from 7 to 11 years old).

Infant School. There are usually about 35 children in a class, a teacher, and a teacher´s assistant. Sometimes patents can help with painting, reading and practical lessons. Children have the same teacher for one year who teaches nearly all of the lessons in the class. Children don't have real classes, but play and learn through playing, just getting acquainted with the school life.

Junior schools. When pupils are 7 actual studying begins. They do a lot of things in class: 40% of time — English, 15% - PE, 12% - Art and Technology. They also do Maths, Geography and History.

Secondary schools. After six years of primary education children take exams in core subjects and go to a secondary school. Secondary education takes from 5 to 7 years.

There are 3 types of state secondary schools in Great Britain. They are:

  - comprehensive schools, which take pupils of all abilities without exams. In such schools pupils are often put into certain sets or groups, which are formed according to their abilities for technical or humanitarian subjects. Almost all senior pupils (around 90 per cent) go there;
  - grammar schools, which give secondary education of a very high standard. Entrance is based on the test of ability, usually at 11. Grammar schools are single sexed schools;
  - modern schools, which don't prepare pupils for universities. Education in such schools gives good prospects for practical jobs.

8% of British children go to Private Schools (called Public Schools). Another 4% don´t go to school at all. By law parents have the right to educate their children at home, if they can show they can do it properly. The rest go to the Comprehensive School. There are no vocational schools, special art or music or technical schools in Britain. Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years.

Most children go to state comprehensive schools; parents do not pay for their education. It is free. There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain. Most of these schools are boarding, where children both live and study. The education is very expensive. The most famous British private schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

Secondary school children study English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, History, Geography, and a foreign language (usually French or German). A lot of learning is done through project or topic work, with an accent on children finding things out for themselves. They also learn about environment, do art, music and PE. Religious education is also provided. English, Maths and Science are called "core" subjects.  At the age of 7, 11 and 14 pupils take exams in the core subjects.

After five years of secondary education, pupils take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examination ‘O’ level (Ordinary). 60 % of children leave school and go to colleges for further education. 40 % of pupils study for 2 more years for ‘A' (Advanced) Level Exams in two or three subjects which is necessary to get a place at one of British universities. About 10% of pupils take these in 3 subjects only. There are 5 grades of pass - A, B, C, D and E. Mostly they are written exams. Everyone in the country does the same exams on the same days in May and June and then they have to wait until August to find out the results. All universities require the GCSE ‘A’ Level qualifications.

Universities. Universities usually select students basing on their A-level results and an interview. The best universities are the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, London Imperial College, London University College. Among the universities Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and the most famous. Oxford was founded in the 12^th and Cambridge in the 13^th century. After three years of study a university graduate get the Degree of a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Engineering. Many students then continue their studies for a Master's Degree and then a Doctor's Degree (PhD).

School year. The English don't think it is good to start a new thing on Monday, so school year usually begins on the first Tuesday of September. There are three terms in a school year. When the term is over, schoolchildren have holidays: Christmas holidays - 2 weeks, Easter holidays — 2 weeks, summer holidays — 6 weeks.

School day.    Pupils usually have five lessons five days a week. At about four o'clock classes are usually over and pupils go home. Schools offer after school activities such as sports clubs (swimming, football, netball, etc.) ITC (Information Technology) classes, book clubs, art clubs, drama and music. There is a long lunch break in the afternoon after the third lesson. Most children bring their own packed lunch from home. They also can have it in the school canteen or go home.

Marks. A – 90-100 – excellent, B – 80-89 – good, C – 70-79 – satisfactory, D – 60-69 – bad, E – 0-59 – poor. Sometimes «+» (plus) and «-» (minus) are added. 

School uniform. The majority of British school children wear a school uniform. Sometimes this is very formal: a shirt, a tie, a blazer with a school badge on the pocket and dark trousers. Girls also wear a tie but a dark skirt instead of trousers, even in winter. Each school has its school colour (usually dark grey, dark blue, brown, dark green or dark red). Some schools send children home if they are not wearing a uniform or keep them in after school as a punishment.