A 62 My place                                                          

Objectives:

• To understand important causes of environmental issues
• To extend their lexis related to environmental issues
• To extend their knowledge of the main green issues connected to the area they live in

Material:

• Pictures
• Word cards
• Worksheets
• Copies of the questionnaire

Steps:

Show some pictures. Ask the students to find five adjectives to describe the scene in each photograph. Ask:

Which of the scenes is more typical of the landscape near your town?

        

 

Give each pair of students a word card and a flashcard. Ask them to match the word to the picture.  Here are some examples:

           

			oil spillage
	pesticides								desertification
							deforestation
					global warming

 

 

 

 

Ask the students to complete the following sentences using the words in the box:

Insert the methods for protecting our environment in the sentences:

Clean energy – recycling – eco- friendly products – energy saving – renewable energy

1. Turning off the light when you don’t need it is a form of ______________.
2. ________________________ doesn’t pollute our environment.
3. ______________________ means using the same energy again.
4. ___________________________ means using old materials like plastic, paper and glass again.
5. __________________________ don’t pollute the environment.

Discuss with the class the following:

• Which environmental problems are present in Italy?
• Which are the most serious?
• Which are the most dangerous for our health?
• Have you seen or read about a recent environmental problem or disaster? Which one?
• What materials can industry recycle?
• Can you give an example of renewable energy?

Project: “Who cares?”

Explain the task:

You are going to prepare a survey about people’s reactions to the project of building a waste incinerator in the neighborhood of Motta- Italy (students’ hometown). In groups of four prepare a list of 10 questions which you would like to see included in the questionnaire.

Here are some possible topic areas:                                               

• Pros and cons of building an incinerator
• Opinions of environmental activists
• Cost of the project
• Job opportunities
• Attitudes to waste problems in general

When you have finished read out your list to other groups. If you hear any other good questions from other groups add them to your list.

Discuss in your group which is the best order for the questions then write out the final version of the questionnaire.

During the next lesson report back the results of your research. Look for general trends: things that most people agree on and things they don’t, differences between responses of different age groups and sexes. Work together to produce a paragraph summarizing the main opinions. Compare your work with your other groups.

What are your conclusions? Who cares and who don’t?

 

(Activities 2 and 3 adapted from That’s it plus, volume 3, Pearson Italia, p. 39).