Objectives:
to broaden students' knowledge of the topic to develop students'
creative abilities
to help learners consolidate and develop their vocabulary by active
using
the words, expressions and proverbs given
to practise students' reading and speaking skills
Warm up
Make up a cinquaint WEATHER.
Introducing the Topic
Vocabulary
A) Hot weather
It's a hot (close, stuffy, dusty, muggy) day. The air is humid. The heat
is unbearable (oppressive). There's hardly a breath of air! Not a leaf is
stirring. It's 30 (degrees) in the shade. It's 30 (degrees) above zero. The
temperature is rising (going up).
Cold weather
It's getting chilly. What a cold, frosty day! It's extremely (bitterly,
beastly) cold out.
Snow is falling. There's a heavy (thick) snowfall.
Cold weather has set in. The thermometer is at zero. The barometer is
falling.
It's been a hard (severe, mild) winter. But spring is in the air.
B) Supply as many attributes as possible.
1. It's a_day,
evening, morning.
2. We've had
a_rainfall (rain, snowfall)
3. It's raining_.
4. What_weather.
5. We're in for a
spell of_weather.
6. The heat is_.
C) Proverbs and expressions
for a season — на протяжении времени
in season (for something) — своевременно
in season and out of season — кстати, между делом
out of season — некстати
rash season — горячая пора
to be in season — дозреть
everything is good in its season (there is a time for everything) —
каждому свое
Reading
Read the text and fill in the information from the text into the table.
What I know
What I want to know
What I've learnt
ABOUT THE WEATHER
(A group of students visit a meteorological Observing Station; M — meteorologist.)
S. What are the factors that determine tomorrow's weather?
M. These are so variable and complex that I can assure you the task of
meteorologist is not an easy one. Precise forecast for a particular region can
be made up to 24 hours ahead and sometimes longer by taking into account the
peculiar character of that region, whether coastal, high or low, industrial,
whether it is sheltered by mountains or forests, and many others.
S. Weather forecasts are now a regular feature of TV broadcasts. The
weather Bureau supplies the information, and sometimes it supplies the wrong
information, to put it mildly.
M. Oh, come now, don't be so severe.
S. I have a list of scientific terms that are unknown to me. Perhaps,
you wouldn't mind telling us just what the stratosphere is. I think it has
something to do with weather.
M. The layer of the earth's atmosphere which begins about 9 to 11 km
above the earth is known as the stratosphere. Weather phenomena, as commonly
understood, do not occur in the stratosphere.
S. Then where do they occur?
M. Nearly all weather phenomena occur in the lower level of the atmosphere
up to a height of about 11 km, 9 km at the poles and 17 km at the equator.
This is the region of most interest to the forecaster studying temperature,
humidity, wind-speeds and the movements of air masses.
Any more questions?
S. None. Now, all of us seem to be interested mostly in weather today.
whether coastal — if it is on the coast
to put it mildly — to say it with mild words
Relaxation
Guess the riddle: What is the worst sort of weather for mice and
rabbits? (A storm when it rains cats and dogs.)
Work in groups
The students read weather forecast and make up their own one.
WEATHER FORECAST
1. Sunny weather with occasional showers. The temperature is 25 degrees
above zero. The wind is from the west.
2. Rain. Wind moderate to strong. An east wind is blowing, 5 metres a second.
The atmospheric pressure is....
3. Cold weather and snow in Kharkiv region. The temperature is — 20.
Wind from the north-east. A blizzard is possible.
Reading
Read the text and discuss different seasons of the year.
WHICH SEASON DO YOU LIKE BEST?
A. In my opinion, the best season in Europe is spring. In May the
weather is finest, and all nature is loveliest. The trees put forth little buds
and new leaves; the meadows grow green again; the flowers begin to bloom.
B. I like summer. In fact, I prefer it to any other season. By the end
of June, when the days become considerably warmer, summer has come. If the heat
gets too oppressive, we can go and bathe. In summer, the hot sun ripens the
corn and fruit. And what pleasure can compare with that of watching the
glorious sunrise and sunset! Clouds? Rain? Well, well, it isn't always cloudy,
and there's no such thing as perpetual rain.
C. Strange as it may seem, I like autumn. There are some drawbacks, I admit,
the shortest days and the longest nights for instance. The weather also leaves
much to be desired. But is there anything more beautiful than an Indian summer
— when we have one! Oh, I know what you want to say. The November fogs, and
mist, and sleet are not pleasant things. But what should we do without apples,
pears grapes, which ripe in September and October and maybe picked. As for me,
I could not get along without fruit and nuts, for the sake of these I'm willing
to put up with some discomforts.
D. When autumn is over and winter sets in, I don't mind it at all. I
know it's a season of snowstorms and ice, of frozen rivers and ponds and of
slippery streets. But think of skating on the ice or skiing in the country, and
sledging, of course. In snowy days tobogganing is my favourite pastime. Then
tWnk of the joy of the children! At the first heavy snowfalls they are out
making snowmen and playing snowballs. Of course, if the winter is severe, one
must take care not to get frost-bitten. To me, winter has its own peculiar
interest and beauty, and there is no reason to feel bored to death when there
are interesting books, TV programmes and computer games.
Speaking
A) Which season do you like most? Why?
B) Speak about the pastime and sports of each season.
Options
Additional bits of information
1. February, when first introduced into the Roman calendar, about 713 B.
C., was the last month of the year and preceded January It was not until 450
B.. that it became the second month.
2. In the Roman calendar, March (named after Mars, the god of war) was
the first month. May, named after the goddess Maia, was the third month.
September was the 7th month; the name was changed several times by different
emperors, but none of the new names survived for long. October was the 8th
month. November was the 9th month, but from 713 B.C., when January and February
were added, it became the 11th month. December was originally the 10th month of
the year.
Homework
Make up weather forecast for the next day.
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