Going west

Going West

I. TEXT ANALYSIS

1．Text analysis

This unit takes "The Westward Movement" as the topic and aims to make students understand the westward movement of the United States and the American spirit of pioneering and unafraid of hardships through unit teaching. Teach students to use "perseverance", "success" and other communicative terms correctly, learn relevant grammar, and expand students' knowledge horizon. Through the introduction of western culture and history, stimulate students' curiosity, active participation and exploration.

2．Teaching task

Complete the knowledge of this unit, and master the words, grammar, sentence structure and the main idea of the article.

In this unit, students are required to independently complete a short essay (summary). Essays should be around 200 words, double spaced, size 12 font. 

3．Teaching objectives

Knowledge goals

    (1) Students can learn some new words and important expressions.

(2) Students can learn some background about the westward movement of the United States.

Ability goals

(1) Students are able to master the basic abilities of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

(2) Students can master the abilities of information acquisition and knowledge utilization throughout collaborative learning.

Emotional goals  

(1) Students can learn more about the westward movement of the United States and the American spirit of pioneering and unafraid of hardships.

(2) Students can develop their interests of learning English and be confident to communicate with others.

(3) Students can learn to care about classmates more through the discussion.

(4) Through the introduction of western culture and history, stimulate students' curiosity, active participation and exploration.

4．Teaching important points

Learn how to survive on a desert island with limited food, tools and materials. And learn more about the westward movement of the United States and the American spirit of pioneering and unafraid of hardships.

5．Teaching difficult points

Help students learn how to overcome all sorts of difficulties in order to survive.

6．Teaching methods

(1) Task-based learning approach;

(2) Talking;

(3) Discussing;

(4) Writing.

7．Teaching procedures & ways

(1) Students work in groups to show how each group interprets the main idea of the passage by skimming the text and making a list.

(2) The teacher comments on each group's list and gives feedback.

(3) Students modify the list according to the feedback given by the teacher.

(4) The teacher teaches the students to understand the main idea of the text by reading the text and giving examples.

(5) Students write a 200 words summary by using the revised list.

II PROCESSES:

Part 1 Basic knowledge points (teacher explanation 5 minutes)

Fast reading (5minutes)

Teacher questioning: In which order does the writer organize the passage?

Students answer: Character Time and place order etc.

Part 2  Group practice（group cooperation 15 minutes）

Group discussion

Read the text and find out time and place Make a form and fill it in

Examples of teachers

Time: in the spring of 1845

Event: a book gave father the idea

etc.

Student groups work together to produce forms and fill in them (learn to extract valid information) (10minutes)

Teacher Show Example Form and explain (5 minutes)

Part 3 Presentation（15 minutes）

l Teacher invites two groups to show their tables

l Teacher’s assessment:

ü Find out each time point.

ü Conclude events from surroundings, human, and animals.

ü Pay attention to details and to being comprehensive.

Part 4 Presentation（8 minutes）

Teacher leads students to read the passage again and shows the table on the PPT.

Part 5 Homework (2 minutes)

Students are asked to complete a summary of the text independently

Requirements:

It should be based upon the group table and our discussion in the class

It should include the main idea and major processes of their travel

Its words should be around 200 and Times New Roman of 12 font