לומדים אנגלית / קוראים ספרי ילדים

Last week we discussed the use of Graphic Organizers to improve Reading Comprehension.

Our subject today is Utopia.

I will introduce two texts and we will use a graphic organizer to organize the information the texts offer.

Introducing Text No.1

Let's start with an Oral Activity.

• Look at the following cartoon. Click on the link below. (A Perfect World).

A Perfect World

• Describe the cartoon.

The following Vocabulary List may be helpful (Specially for weaker students)

     tiger – נמר

     sheep – כבש

     harmony – התאמה, הרמוניה

     peace – שלווה, שלום

     utopia – עולם מושלם

• What does the cartoon suggest? Where is the idea taken from?
• How do you imagine a perfect, ideal world?
• What is your own private dream world?

Developing class discussion based on the cartoon.

Describe a perfect town / a perfect school / a perfect house / a perfect day.

Text No. 1

We often dream about a perfect world in which all our dreams would come true. Although we know that this utopia has little to do with reality, we still hope to wake up one morning into a perfect world.

In a perfect world there would be no wars and no bloodshed. All people would live in complete peace and harmony. There would be no guards at international borders and people would cross from one country to another without passports. They would even speak the same language – an international language.

The large sums of money that are now spent on the army would then be spent on welfare and education. All people would be equal. There would be no poverty, no illness, no pain.

Unfortunately, this is just a dream. And yet, it is up to us to make a little effort each day, to take one small step at a time and try to turn this country into a better home for all of us.

Working on the text

Read the text carefully.

Click on the link below.

Reality and Utopia

• Add a title at the top of each column: Reality  / Utopia
• Write ideas related to the ideal world in the right column (under the title – Utopia).
• Write parallel facts regarding our reality in the left column (under the title – Reality).

For example:

Wars and bloodshed – No wars and no bloodshed
War, fighting and tension – Complete peace and harmony

• Try to add 2-3 items to each column based on your personal knowledge / experience.
• Find the main idea of every paragraph.
• Can you sum up the text in three sentences?
• Choose a suitable title for the text.

Writing and Language Activities

1. Complete the following sentences according to the text.

• In a perfect world people would …
  and there would …
• There would be more money for …
• As a result, people would be neither …
• Then we may …
• The problem of languages might be solved by …
• This is not a realistic picture, but …
• We wish our dreams …
• No passports would be needed since …
• We still hope for a perfect world even though …
• We must all …

2. Rearrange the sentences that you have just completed in chronological order according to the passage.

3. Choose 3 or 4 sentences that would best sum up the text.

Text No. 2

Introducing Text No.2

Imagine by John Lennon 

Suggestion: Play the song twice, (smartphones will facilitate this activity), while students only listen carefully. Then hand out the lyrics.

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try.
No hell below us,
Above us only sky.
Imagine all the people
Living for today.

Imagine there's no country;
It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too.
Imagine all the people,
Living life in peace.

Imagine no possessions:
I wonder if you can.
No need for grief or hunger
The brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people,
Sharing all the world.

You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us
and the world will be as one.

Working on the text

• Compare this text with the former text.
• Underline the words referring to war and fighting in both texts.
• Underline (Use a different color) the words referring to social and economic issues in both texts.
• Religion is mentioned in Imagine. In what way can religion be related to war and peace?
• Is the song optimistic? Justify your answer.

Homework Assignment

Write 2 – 3 paragraphs about one of the following subjects:

• Describe what you consider to be a perfect teacher. Do you know anyone who comes close to this description?
• Describe a perfect friend. Have you been lucky enough to have an almost perfect friend?
• Describe an ideal family in your eyes.

And that's all for today. More texts and suggestions in my next post.