lesson plan with www

Level : Intermediate (Form 4)

Time : 70-80 minutes

Aims : Students are to read and get information on aurora borealis and to practice writing and keeping a blog on aurora borealis

Technical Requirements: One computer per group of 2-3 students, with an internet connection and a web browser. Each students or group should have an e-mail account

Website:
http://www.answers.com/topic/polar-aurora

Preparation:

1. Locate sites offering information on aurora borealis
2. Check sites before the lesson
3. Prepare power point slide show on picture of aurora borealis
4. Prepare worksheet on aurora borealis to be answered by students

Procedure:

1. Show picture of aurora borealis to students using the power point slide show. Ask students on what they know regarding the phenomenon. Explain briefly on the phenomenon of aurora borealis

2. Distribute worksheet on aurora to students. Give students the web address on aurora (http://www.answers.com/topic/polar-aurora). Ask students to open the webpage and read briefly on the phenomenon. Ask students to answer the questions based on the information obtained from the website

3. Discuss the answer with the students. Collect worksheets from students. Ask students to explore the website: listen to the pronunciation, enlarge the images and explore using the links

4. Ask students whether they are familiar with writing a blog. Ask whether they know on how to create a blog and keeping it. Give students the web address on creating a personal blog (http://www.blogger.com/)

5. Show an example of an existing class blog (http://www.aurorasmkjf.blogspot.com/). Guide students on how to create a blog. Show the steps to create an account. Explain on how to publish post and view it. Students can discuss among one another to create a post and publish it

6. Ask students to create a blog on aurora borealis in accordance to these subtopics:

• the definition of aurora borealis
• the mechanism and forms of aurora borealis
• the difference between aurora borealis and aurora australis

7. Discuss any problems that students faced during creating the webpage, with the language, procedure or technology

Follow-up activity:

Make a list of the blog addresses and ask students to check their friends’ blogs whenever they are free. Students can also browse other web pages to add more information to their blog.

Worksheet

1. Define what aurora borealis is.
________________________________________________________

2. Describe the appearance of the aurora.
________________________________________________________

3. Explain how aurora borealis occurred.
________________________________________________________

4. Where can the aurora occasionally be seen and when?
________________________________________________________

5. Clarify on the connection between geomagnetic storms and the equinoxes.
________________________________________________________

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)#Auroral_mechanism
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/weather/aurora/
http://www.answers.com/topic/polar-aurora
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=slv7-msgr&va=aurora+borealis&sz=all
http://www.blogger.com/