Урок "Inventions that have changed the world"

Inventions that have changed the world

Suggested level – B1 – intermediate

Objectives:

• to promote discussion based on the topic of the lesson;
• to practice pupils’ speaking skills;
• to develop pupils’ listening skills;
• to generalise  and share pupils’ knowledge about ancient and modern inventions;
• to develop pupils’ logical thinking, imagination and creativity;

Equipment:

• Handouts with a listening activity;
• Photos of ancient inventions;
• Presentation about modern inventions;
• Posters with short information about inventions of the 19-20 cent.;
• Video about top modern inventions that changed the world;
• Pupils’ pictures of their imaginary inventions.

The Procedure:

1. The Preliminaries of the lesson.                                                                                            

T: We have gathered today to talk about the greatest inventions.  Therefore, the topic of today’s lesson is : “Inventions that have changed the world”. It’s common knowledge that people started creating different things many centuries ago. To start with,  let’s mention what the word “ invention” means. If you consult “Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and Thesaurus” ,  you’ll find such definition: invention – something that has never been made before”. According to “Oxford Wordpower Dictionary” : invention- a thing that has been made or designed by somebody for the first time.                           

( T. reads these 2 definitions from the slides on the board ).

T: Having read the definitions I can’t but ask you a question. In your opinion, when did the first inventions appear on the planet?

( Pupils give their answers)

T: Of course, the first pre-historic inventions were quite primitive, but since the day people learnt about them, their life has  become easier. Speaking about inventions scientists usually claim : “ First was a Wheel”.

2.                      The Main Part

1.           Projects Presentation

T: After the invention of the wheel people started to think how to use it for different purposes. Your homework was to prepare a short project to show how people used the idea of the wheel in ancient times. So, let’s speak how the wheel served mankind in different spheres of their life.

(Pupils come to the board, show slides and speak about ancient inventions).

P1 speaks about water mill

P2 speaks about plough 

P3 speaks about chariot

P4 speaks about compass  

P5 speaks about sundial  

P6 speaks about sandclock

P7 speaks about umbrella

T: To sum up I’d like to tell that the invention of the wheel and other ancient inventions helped people in their everyday life and, of course, they did change the ancient world and it became more civilized.

2.           Watching Video

 T: In your opinion, what inventions were the most important for mankind? Make a list of the most remarkable inventions that changed the world. Then let’s watch a short video which gives the answer to this question. After watching you can compare your ideas with the opinion of the specialists. 

(Pupils watch video and compare their predictions with the opinion of scientists).

3.           Discussion

T: According to the video we have watched, electricity is one of the most important modern inventions. Can you tell why?

(Pupils give short answers).

T: Let’s name important inventions which use electricity and help us in everyday life.

(Pupils name modern gadgets).

T: There are a lot of advantages of having modern gadgets in the house. How about their disadvantages? On the poster you see a list of modern robots. Your task is to complete a table mentioning advantages and disadvantages of every gadget.

(After completing the table pupils share their opinions concerning advantages and disadvantages of modern gadgets and  have a short discussion about how useful modern gadgets are).

T: Summing up your ideas I’d like to tell that we cannot live without gadgets. They have made our life more comfortable and economize the time. Cooking, cleaning, entertainment and all daily functions are done with the use of gadgets. They have taken an essential part in people’s day-to-day lives and being without them would be unimaginable.

4.               Listening.

T: In my opinion, the progress never stops, even  for a minute. Modern inventors introduce more complex and amazing ideas. Today we’re are going to listen to the interview with Ryan Patterson, the inventor of  a new device. Decide which of the sentences are true (T) and which are false (F), according to the recording.

Transcript:

Kathie Holmes

Good afternoon, this is Kathie Holmes in our programme, 'Young and Brainy'. Today I'm going to be speaking to Ryan Patterson, a teenager whose invention may bridge the communication gap between the deaf and those that can hear. Ryan, tell us how it all started.

 Ryan Patterson

It was two years ago. I was waiting to be served at our local Burger King and I noticed a group of customers using sign language to place an order. They were obviously deaf. They communicated with a speaking interpreter and he relayed their choices to a cashier. I thought it would make things easier if they had an electronic interpreter instead. I remembered the idea later, when I was thinking of a new project for a science competition. I called it Sign Language Translator. It consists of a glove which is lined with ten sensors. The sensors detect the hand positions that are used to shape the alphabet of American Sign Language. Then a microprocessor transmits the information to a small portable receiver. The receiver has a screen similar to those on cell phones, and this screen displays the words, letter by letter. In this way people can read the words, even if they don't understand sign language, and people who use sign language can communicate without an interpreter.

Kathie

Are you impressed? So were judges at the 2001 Siemens Science and Technology Competition. The project received top honours, along with a $100,000 college scholarship for the young inventor. And now Ryan's project is already patented.

Ryan, how long did you experiment with the invention before you finally produced the prototype?

Ryan

Around nine months. I started with researching how sign language works. Then I had to figure out how to translate all that electronically. Fortunately, I've always had an interest in electronics. I've liked wiring things together since I was four years old. I also had hands-on experience from my part-time job at a robotic-equipment lab.

Kathie

Did you have problems finding appropriate materials?

Ryan

I'm used to hunting for hardware to build competition robots, but for this project I also had to try on many different gloves. A golf glove turned out to be the best solution. It's soft and flexible and fits closely.

Kathie

According to the National Institute of Deafness, one to two million people in the U.S. are profoundly deaf. And most of them use sign language to communicate. Will your invention make an impact?

Ryan

There was a demonstration at our local deaf community centre and the people were interested. What I have now isn't ready for production. I'm sure it'll be very different by the time it's actually manufactured. But I do hope to see it on the market one day.

1. The idea for the invention occurred to Ryan while working at a Burger King restaurant. T / F
2. The deaf people Ryan saw were showing the cashier what they wanted to order. T / F
3. Ryan used the idea when he entered a science contest. T / F
4. A cell phone is used as the receiver when using the Sign Language Translator. T / F
5. Ryan's invention helps deaf people learn sign language. T/F
6. The invention brought Ryan money to cover the costs of his further education. T/F
7. Ryan had to learn how deaf people use sign language. T/F
8. Ryan had no previous experience of building electronic devices. T/F
9. Ryan had considered various types of gloves for his invention. T/F
10.  Ryan has sold his invention to a deaf community centre. T/F

Key:

1. True.       2.False.      3. True.     4. False.    5. False.    6. True.   7. True.  8. False.  9. True.                               10. False.

5. Meeting with inventors and their gadgets of the future.

T: Would you like to create a new thing to make life easier?

    ( Pupils give their answers.)

T: I’m happy to announce that we’re having 2 guests in our school. I must admit that they agreed to present their  new devices. They think their robots will be helpful and widely used in the future. Let me introduce you Mr. John Wildman and Mrs. Kathy Grey. Let’s greet our guests.

      ( John Wildman and Kathy Grey present their new inventions. Pupils can ask them questions about their work.)

3.   Summing up.

T: Summing  our lesson up, I will ask you a question: can we imagine our life without the inventions we were speaking today? Of course, the answer is “No”. It means that all inventions (ancient and modern) changed the way people live. In other words, they have changed the world.

T: As for the marks, they are ………..

IV.Homework.

T: Your homework  is to write an essay about advantages and disadvantages of modern gadgets.