Lesson Plan: Working The Land

Lesson Level:     Senior 1                   Duration:  45

Lesson Title:     Working the Land

Grammar and Vocabulary

Words related to farming. .(see examples in plan)

Lesson Objectives

This is predominantly a lesson for student discussions.

Students will be able to discuss various topics relating to agriculture. 

Materials Required

Worksheet (see notes)

(Students can also use Practical Oral English Senior 1 Spring Term Unit 11) 

Preparation

Prepare enough copies of worksheet to give one per group of four students plus one for the teacher. 

Procedure

1 Write “Agriculture” on the board. Elicit meaning. (Farming animals and crops)

Use materials from “Additional material” in notes.

Read the text to the students.

Check the vocabulary.

(soil, grain, focus, harvest, crops)

Lead a discussion on the questions.

Where would you sell your grain and vegetables?

Who would you sell your vegetables and grain to?

How could you water the crops if there is no rain? 

2 Hand out the work sheet.

  Check that students understand Genetically Modified Crops

Tell students to read the first section.

Check the vocabulary.

Tell students in groups to discuss the associated questions. 

3 Get feedback from groups.

4 Read the introduction to the second discussion. “Back To The Land”.

Tell students to read the text.

Check Vocabulary.

(rural communities, humility, turned their backs on, pose)

5. Tell students to complete the “true or false” questions and check the answers

6 Tell students to make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of this lifestyle.

7 Feedback.

Extension task.

The book includes a word search puzzle which may be used as an extension task if necessary.

Notes 

Genetically Modified Crops

Much modern farming uses genetically modified crops.

This means crops (plants such as rice or wheat) that have been changed in some way by scientists.

Maybe they have been changed to provide more food.

Maybe they have been changed to be easier to grow.

Maybe they have been changed to resist disease.

However some people think that scientists shouldn’t do this. They say that we do not know if these GM foods will be bad for our health, They say that scientists do not understand what they are doing.

What do you think?

Should we have genetically modified food?

If we have them should they be clearly labelled so that people know what they are eating?

Are there any good reasons to have GM foods?

Are there any reasons against it?

Back To The Land

Many people believe that the world was better before modern technology and that we would all be healthier and happier if we went back to a simpler life as farmers.

In your group discuss this idea?

Can you see any advantages of giving up things to live on the land?

Can you see any disadvantages?

Now read this text. It is about some people in America called The Amish.

The Amish are a religious group who have turned their backs on much of the modern world. They life a simple farming life and wear plain clothes. They do not have televisions or radios or cars. They do not use telephones or go to the cinema. Some of them have nothing at all that uses electricity.

They live in small rural communities and do not pose for photographs as they say it against their sense of humility. One strange thing is that married men do not shave their beards but also do not have moustaches.

Many of them speak a different language known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch.

They have their own schools which teach their religion along with reading, writing and mathematics but the do not usually teach science.

Now, check that you understand the meanings of these words and phrases.

turned their backs on,    rural communities,     pose,      humility     

Are there any other words or phrases in the text that you did not understand?

Do you think you would like to live this kind of life? Why?

Here are some statements for each one decide if it is true or false?                                                                                

True       False

The Amish are a religious community.

They do not teach biology in school.

Every Amish community uses electricity.

Ammish men have moustaches but not beards.

They speak a French.

They always wear plain clothes.

They do not use cars.

They love to pose for photographs.

Additional Material from text book.

Note: Book also includes following pictures

1.Farmer ploughing with two oxen

2.Ariel view of fields

3.People crop spraying

4.Mixed pulses

5.Mixed vegetables

Speaking and Listening:

You are a farmer. Every day you work 16 hours on your farm to make sure your crops grow well. This is very important because if your crops do not grow well, your family will not have enough money and you may go hungry. Your farm grows many vegetables and grain. You have good soil, but lately there has not been a lot of rain fall. Therefore your focus is to make sure your soil is watered enough, so that your vegetables and grain grow well. You also have to think about how you will sell your vegetables and grain once you have farmed it.

What is good about your vegetables and grain? Why should customers buy your goods? How will you promote your goods (make your goods the one people buy)?