人教版普通高中课程标准实验教科书高二选修8 Unit3 Reading The problem of the snakes Warming Up & Reading Teaching Goals: 1. To learn about the difference between a discovery and an invention. 2.To arouse Ss’ interest in learning about the stages of an invention. 3.To develop Ss’ some basic reading skills. 4.To develop Ss’ ability to discover and solve the problems and cultivate Ss’ creativity and imagination. Teaching Procedures: Step 1. Warming Up Purpose: To arouse Ss’ interest in learning about the difference between a discovery and an invention. 1. Get Ss t to guess what the invention is or who the inventor is in groups. Question 1: It’s made of plastics and metal. It looks like a big box. The invention helps us keep our clothes clean and lighten our work. Suggested Answer:Washing machine. Question 2: The inventor is from America. He is one of the father of inventions. The inventor invented the bulb. Suggested Answer: Edison 2. Get Ss to tell as many the inventions they know as possible in groups. 3. Ask Ss to look at the pictures on P19 and answer the following questions. (1) Which of the pictures is an invention? (2) Which of the pictures is a discovery? 4. Get Ss to discuss the difference between the inventions and a discovery and give a definition of them and give some examples of each category. Suggested Answer: An invention is something produced for the first time through the use of imagination or ingenious thinking and experimentation. A discovery merely makes known something that already exists in nature. A good sentence example: My father discovered my mother in the crowd and invented me later. Step 2. Pre-reading Purpose : To get Ss to be aware of the connection between inventing and the scientific process. 1. Let Ss work in pairs and decided what the first and most important stage is to make an invention. 2. Ask Ss to finish the exercise of Pre-reading on P19 and then check the answer in pairs. Key: 1 Finding a problem 2 Doing research 3 Thinking of a creative solution 4 Testing solution 5 Deciding on the invention 6 Applying for a patent Step 3. Leading-in Purpose: Arouse Ss’ interest in the text and encourage Ss to imagine the content of the text. Ask Ss to predict in pairs the content of the text based on the title and pictures. Step 4. Fast reading Purpose: To get Ss to have a brief understanding of the text 1. Ask Ss to read the text quickly and try to get the main idea of the whole text. Suggested Answer: The text narrates the problem of the snakes and presents the procedures of catching them and applying for a patent. 2. Get Ss to divide the passage and work out the main idea for each part. Part I (Para 1): The discovery of the problem of the snakes. Part II (Para 2～3): The research on the approaches to solve the problem. Part III (Para 4～6): The attempts to catch the snakes. Part IV (Para 7～8): The requirement of getting a patent. Step 5. Intensive reading 1. Ask Ss to read the text carefully and find out which paragraph or paragraphs deal with each inventing process in the passage and find the examples: Suggested Answer: Paragraph Stage Example in this story 1 Find a problem The snake must be __removed_ but not_ __hurt___ 2 Do research Look for _methods_ of removal; the habits of snakes 3 Think of a creative solution Identify __three_ possible approaches: choose _the last one 4,5,6 Test the solution several times Try three_ times to make it work _efficiently_ 7 Apply for a patent Fill in the form and file patent application with the Patent Office 2. Ask Ss to work in pairs and try to tell which of the following statements are true and false. (1) When the writer called up her mother in the country on the phone she was very excited. (2) The writer felt very proud that she had a chance to distinguish herself by inventing something that would catch snakes but not harm them. (3) The first thing the writer tried to do was to catch the snakes. (4) The writer decided to remove the snakes` habitat. (5) The writer used an ice-maker、a bowl、some jelly、ice-cubes、a bucket and a net to catch the snakes. (6) After three attempts, the writer finally caught the snakes and sent them into the wild. (7) The writer himself decided to send her invention to the patent office to get recognition for her successful idea. (8) The criteria are so strict that it is difficult for new ideas to be accepted unless they are truly novel and are really different from everybody else`s. Suggested Answers: (1) F (2) T (3) F (4) F (5) T (6) T (7) F (8) T 3. Ask Ss to take the quiz below and see whether Ss can grasp the details of the text. (1) Why did the writer do so much trap the snakes but not hurt them ? A. Because she wanted to eat the snakes. B. Because she planned to apply for a patent. C. Because she obeyed her parents and wanted to test her new idea. D. Because they were poisonous snakes. (2) The writer set about researching the habits of snakes in order to________ A. know how to drive them off. B. kill them in the easiest way. C. trap them in the easiest way. D. get on well with snakes. (3) The writer placed a frozen bowl over the snakes` habitats because______. A. The snakes were small. B. She knew the snakes were cold-blooded animals. C. She didn’t want to be bitten. D. She wanted to make the snakes passive and caught them easily. (4) Which statement is true according to the text? A. The writer decided to send her invention to the patent office the moment she succeeded catching the snakes. B. The snakes were still as active as before in the first attempt. C. The writer could make a lot of money if she succeed. D. If an application for your product proves to be valid, you can get a patent immediately. . (5) According to the text, which subject do you think can be given a patent? A. A new kind of flower found by a botanist.. B. A new way to make dirty .air clean C. A new poem written by Mr. Li. D.A .new star discovered by a scientist. Suggested Answers: (1) C (2) C (3) D (4) C (5) B 4. It has been stated that the scientific approach to doing experiments and the approach to inventing are very similar. But they are not identical. Get Ss to identify the differences and then show them this chart. Stages Scientific experiments Inventions 1 Find a problem Find a problem 2 Make a question Do research 3 Think of a method Think of a creative solution 4 Collect results Test the solution several times 5 Make a conclusion Decide on the invention 6 Repeat if necessary Apply for a patent 5. According to the form above, get Ss to retell the text. Step 6. Extension Purpose: To develop Ss’s ability to discover and solve the problems and cultivate Ss creativity and imagination. To provide a chance for Ss to apply their creative skills to real tasks. 1. Ask Ss to work in groups and answer the following questions. (1) What’s the writing purpose of the writer? Suggested Answer: The writer wants to inform us of the scientific methods to solve present problems so that we students can not only broaden the horizons but become more skilled in discovering and considering carefully the problems in daily life. We are also encouraged by the writer to be creative and hardworking as well as thinking independently. (2) What should we learn from this text? Suggested Answer: We can learn from the text the way of doing scientific researches and how to apply for a patent. We can also learn that it takes an inventor great determination persistence to achieve his or her ambition and persistence to achieve his or her ambition in life. 2. Get Ss formed in groups of four and discuss some inconveniences they’ve met in their life. They must imagine an invention to solve these inconveniences. After discussion, fill in the following form. Here are some problems for Ss to choose from and Ss can choose their own problem. Remember to include one change to your invention in case it doesn’t work the first time. (This can be done after class.) Problem 1: the apples growing on your apple tree are too high for you to reach them. What can you invent to pick your apples in comfort? Problem 2: You need to make a house but you only have fishing nets and many plastic bottles. How can you solve it? Problem 3: You want to catch fish but not hurt them when you do so. Design a fishing rod that will solve this problem. Patent Application Question Form Name of invention Inventors How do you get the idea? Can you describe your invention?(appearance/ material /cost/manual, etc.) What is its use? Other information (if necessary ) Picture of invention (if necessary) Step 7. Homework 1.Ask Ss to go over the reading text. 2.Ask Ss to preview Learning about Language.