2012?

A presentation ofAnelia Georgieva

English Language School Ruse, Bulgaria

Activity 1

Brainstorming the students` awareness on natural phenomena and disasters:

What do you associate the year 2012 with?

Activity 2

Presenting Robert Frost`s poem “Fire and Ice”

It is one of his most popular poems, published in December 1920 in Harper`s Magazine and in 1923 in his Pulitzer-prize winning book New Hampshire.

It discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate.

It is one of Frost's best-known and most anthologized poems.

Some say the world will end in …….…,Some say in ……...From what I've tasted of ……………I hold with those who favour fire.But if it had to perish ………………,I think I know enough of …………To say that for destruction iceIs also …………… And would suffice.

fireice

hate

desire

twice

great

Activity 4

Presenting the four classical elements

Earth, Air, Fire and Water

The concept is hardly a new one.

A Greek philosopher named Empedocles is credited with the cosmogenic theory of these four elements being the root of all existing matter.

Earth:

Earth is considered the ultimate feminine element. The Earth is fertile and stable, associated with birth, life, death, and rebirth. The Earth is nurturing and stable, solid and full of endurance and strength. In colour correspondences, both green and brown connect to the Earth.

Air:

Air is the element of the soul and the breath of life. If you’re doing a working related to communication, wisdom or the powers of the mind, Air is the element to focus on. Air carries away your troubles, blows away strife, and carries positive thoughts to those who are far away. Air is associated with the colours yellow and white.

Fire:

Fire is a purifying, masculine energy, connected to strong will and energy. Fire both creates and destroys. It can heal or harm, and can bring about new life or destroy the old one. The colours are red and orange.

Water:

Water is a feminine energy . It is used for healing, cleansing, and purification and associated with passion and emotion. It is associated with the colour blue.

Questions about the text:

1. What colours are associated with each element?

2. What opposite notions can you find in the text?

3. What abstract notions are the following:

a) the power of withstanding hardship or stress, continuing existence; duration –

b) a source of power or force –

c) the ability to judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight –

d) lack of agreement or harmony –

e)the act of making something clean -

f) ardent love, affection -

endurance

energy

wisdom

trifle

purification

passion

Activity 5

Presenting some phrases with the four elements:

Fire –

set the world on fire - (informal) to cause a great sensation

under fire - being attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism

Ice –

cut no ice - (informal) to fail to make an impression

on ice - in abeyance; pending

on thin ice - unsafe or unsafely; vulnerable or vulnerably

Air –

into thin air - leaving no trace behind

on (or off) the air - (not) being broadcast on radio or television

out of thin air - suddenly and unexpectedly

take the air - to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride

up in the air - a. uncertain b. (informal) agitated or excited

walk on air - to feel elated or exhilarated

Earth –

cost the earth - (informal) to be very expensive

come back or down to earth - to return to reality from a fantasy or daydream

on earth used as an intensifier in such phrases as what on earth, who on earth, etc.

Activity 6

Sorting out the natural phenomena according to the elements:

Natural disasters:

1 Geological hazards

• Avalanche• Earthquake• Lahar• Sinkholes• Volcanic eruption

2 Climatic and atmospheric hazards

• Blizzard• Drought• Hailstorm• Heat wave• Cyclonic storms• Ice storm• Tornado• Climate change• Geomagnetic storm• Flood

3 Wildfire hazard

avalanche

flood

drought

Activity 7

Matching the phenomena with the definitions:Definitions of natural disasters: An ………………………..is a slide of a large snow or rock mass down a mountainside.

An ……………………………….is a phenomenon that results from a sudden release of stored energy that radiates seismic waves. At the Earth's surface, earthquakes may manifest themselves by a shaking or displacement of the ground and sometimes tsunamis.

A ……………………… is a type of natural disaster closely related to a volcanic eruption, and involves a large amount of material, including mud, rock, and ash sliding down the side of the volcano at a rapid pace.

avalanche

earthquake

lahar

A ………………………. is localized depression in the surface , usually caused by the collapse of a subterranean structure, such as a cave.

A ……………………………..is the point in which a volcano is active and releases its power, and the eruptions come in many forms.

A ………………………is a severe winter storm icy and windy conditions characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy snow.

………………… is defined as a shortage of water and crop failure that results when the rainfall is very less than the normal. A drought is an abnormally dry period when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban or environmental water needs.

sinkhole

volcanic eruption

blizzard

Drought

A ……………………….is a natural hazard where a thunderstorm produces numerous hailstones which damage the location in which they fall. Hailstorms can be especially devastating to farm fields, ruining crops and damaging equipment.

A ……………………………… is a hazard characterized by heat which is considered extreme and unusual in the area in which it occurs.

……………………….., tropical cyclone, and typhoon are different names for the same phenomenon: a cyclonic storm system that forms over the oceans. It is caused by evaporated water that comes off of the ocean and becomes a storm.

hailstorm

heat wave

Hurricane

An …………………….. is a particular weather event in which precipitation falls as ice, due toatmosphere conditions.

A ………………… is a natural disaster resulting from a thunderstorm. Tornadoes are violent, rotating columns of air which can blow at speeds between 80 km/h and 480 km/h, and possibly higher.

A …………………..is an uncontrolled fire burning in wildland areas. Common causes include lightning and drought but wildfires may also be started by human negligence or arson.

ice storm

tornado

wildfire

Activity 8

Brainstorming students with beautiful phenomena:

What beautiful natural phenomena can you think of?

• Rainbows• Northern lights• Glaciers• Geysers• Crater lakes• Caves• Deserts• Stone formation

northern lights

rainbow

caves

Activity 9 Matching words to their meaningsEnglish words of Greek origin:

a) air 1. disorder and confusionb) Gaia 2. a prediction of the futurec) hydro 3. a chronological record of eventsd) pyro 4. gases that form the earth's atmospheree) a symbol 5. the sacred book of Christianityf) a phenomenon 6. a soulg) a catastrophe 7. fireh) chaos 8. wateri) a prophesy 9. the Earthj) Apocalypse 10. a signk) The Bible 11. an unusual fact or occurrencel) History 12. a sudden disasterm) an angel 13. a divine messenger from Godn) a psyche 14. The Book of Revelation

Activity 10

Presenting the fifth element through a song:

The fifth element – the spirit, heart, love

What a wonderful world! Louis Armstrong

What a wonderful world! Louis Armstrong

I see trees of ……………….,………….. roses too.I see them bloom,for me and you. And I think to myself,what a wonderful world!

I see skies of …………………,And clouds of ……………….The …………………… blessed day,The …………………. sacred night.And I think to myself,What a wonderful world!

greenred

bluewhite

brightdark

The colors of the rainbow,So pretty in the skyAre also on the faces,Of people going by,I see friends shaking hands.Saying, "How do you do?"They're really saying, "I love you".I hear babies cry,I watch them grow,They'll learn much more,Than I'll ever know.And I think to myself,What a wonderful world!Yes, I think to myself,What a wonderful world!Oh yeah!

Some questions about the lyrics exercising students` listening skills and initiating a conversation about beauty in our lives revising vocabulary on colours, symbols, abstract nouns, positive notions.

1. What makes the world a wonderful place is …...

2. Synonyms of “wonderful”

3. What colours are there in the lyrics?

4. What are the colours of the rainbow?

5. What symbols of beauty are there in the lyrics?

6. What symbols of beauty can you think of?

7. What do people do and say when they are happy?

8. What positive things do you often think to yourself?

9. What human values and attitude can help people survive?

10. What can you personally do to make this world a better place?

Various other types of activities suitable for the topic:

• true/ false statements;• multiple choice answers; • fill in the gaps; • spot the words; • list the images; • spot the difference; • a memory cloze; • a dictation; • writing a picture description;• beginnings and endings of sentences;• some project work – jig saw puzzles; • presenting grammar – future tenses, to be going to,

modals;• miming and association games

Thank you for your attention!