Lesson 4

Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Education

Overview

  • Course: English - Impact 2
  • Grade: 8
  • Semester: 2
  • Unit: 8
  • Lesson: 4 - Reading - The Power of Snow

Lesson Objectives

  • By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
    • Discuss and read about Jimmy Chin’s experiences during a natural disaster.
    • Identify and learn new vocabulary from the reading passage.

Natural Disasters

  • Students are instructed to write as many natural disasters as possible, with some examples given as guidance:
    • Typhoon
    • Avalanche
    • Lightning Storm
    • Volcanic Eruption
    • Earthquake
    • Hurricane
    • Flood

Vocabulary Development

  • Students will look at the following words and guess their meanings with contextual examples:
    • Eventually: At the very end; finally.
    • Example: "Eventually, I did get better and returned to work."
    • Scream: To cry or say something loudly and usually on a high note.
    • Example: "She tried to scream, but no sound came out."
    • Terrified: Very frightened.
    • Example: "He's terrified of being bitten by a snake."
    • Sense: The ability to understand, recognize, value, or react to something, also refers to any of the five physical abilities to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
    • Example: "She also lost her sense of smell."

Vocabulary Definitions Comparison

  • The meanings of the vocabulary words are compared with students' guesses:
    • Eventually: At the very end; finally.
    • Scream: To cry or say something loudly and usually on a high note.
    • Sense: Ability to understand and recognize physical sensations.
    • Terrified: Very frightened.

Tasks and Practice

Task 1
  • Circle the correct choice in the following sentences:
    1. He has no sense / scream of responsibility.
    2. The new design will eventually / terrified replace all existing models.
    3. I’m sense / terrified of the dark.
    4. Had she heard a woman eventually / scream?
Task 2
  • Complete the following sentences with the appropriate vocabulary word:
    1. Yoga gives me a sense of inner calm.
    2. Eventually, I did get better and returned to work.
    3. You're brave, but you’re terrified as well.
    4. She tried to scream, but no sound came out.
Self-Assessment Criteria
  • Self-check if:
    • Correct tense is used.
    • Spelling is correct.
    • Punctuation is appropriate (full-stops, commas).
Task 3
  • Students are to create sentences using the words:
    • Words: sense, eventually, scream, terrified.
    • Possible answers:
    1. Jimmy Chin was terrified; he thought he would die.
    2. They eventually became friends.
    3. He also had a sense of responsibility about it.
    4. She wanted to scream and cry.
Task 4 and Reading
  • Students are to guess and circle answers in relation to Jimmy Chin:
    1. Where is Jimmy Chin from? (UK / USA) - He is from USA.
    2. What does he like doing? (skiing / cycling) - He likes skiing.
    3. Who was Jimmy with during the incident? (his son / his friends) - He was with his friends.

Reading Passage

  • Jimmy Chin's Experience:
    • Jimmy describes a near-death experience from an avalanche while skiing on April 1, 2011, in the Tetons, Wyoming.
    • He experienced the immense force of snow, visualizing it as weighing thousands of airplanes falling around him.
    • He was pushed down the mountain, stating, "The snow pushed me again down the mountain and I thought that the force of the snow would destroy me."
    • The avalanche carried him approximately 600m (2000 ft) down the slope before he emerged unharmed at the bottom of the valley.
    • His friends initially believed he was dead until they found him alive.
    • He emphasizes the importance of living a meaningful life, stating, "Life is a gift, so use it wisely."
    • Chin recounts skiing since a young age and his affinity for outdoor expeditions worldwide, but came closest to death in his home country.
Task 5
  • Answer after reading:
    1. What sport has Jimmy been doing longer - climbing or skiing? - Skiing.
    2. What were Jimmy’s friends doing while he was skiing? - They were watching from a safe area.
    3. What does Jimmy think is important in life? - To live life with meaning and use it wisely.
Task 6
  • Personal Reflection Questions:
    1. What is the scariest experience you have ever had? How has it changed you?
    • Examples might include personal stories or reflections on experiences with animals or dangerous sports.

Conclusion

  • The lesson concludes and thanks the students for their participation.
  • Reminders about safety and self-assessment in relation to engaging in dangerous sports and respecting nature.