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When the resource becomes the lesson plan

In the penultimate chapter of  the new edition of The Language Teacher Toolkit (Smith and Conti, 2023), we make the point that, once a teacher has gained experience in a repertoire of go-to activities that work, the main resource used in the lesson effectively becomes the lesson plan. Typically, a written comprehensible text can be the basis of a sequence involving, for example, reading aloud, question-answer, vocab finding, drilling, 'aural gap-fill' or sentence completion, true-false and so on. Another example is where, if you are skilled in using a sentence builder (Conti/EPI-style substitution table), then that table is the basis for a ready-made lesson or lesson sequence.

If you are working with a text book, for example, you don't need to reinvent the wheel provided the source language input is interesting, suitable for the syllabus and at the right level. The source IS the lesson plan. That said, when you write your own material you may be more invested in the plan and it may be more finely-tuned to the needs of your class. Just watch your workload!

I just uploaded to frenchteacher.net a resource on the topic of Net Zero. What topic could be more important? The worksheet provides the lesson plan, as you'll see. The focus is on reading comprehension, vocabulary building and language manipulation, but you can easily add reading aloud, dictation, or extend the resource into a task-based kind of idea, if the class is up to it. (Imagine for example a gifted class producing a 10-step plan for the school to help achieve net zero.)

The resource I wrote is in typical frenchteacher vein - input, intensive exploitation/recycling, output - and is aimed at a good Y10 or Y11 class (about four or five years of French) - CEFR A2/B1. Here it is below. Feel free to use or adapt it.

C’est quoi, zĂ©ro Ă©mission nette ?

« ZĂ©ro Ă©mission nette » signifie simplement que les Ă©missions de gaz Ă  effet de serre sont rĂ©duites aussi proches que possible de zĂ©ro. Les Ă©missions restantes dans l’atmosphère seraient rĂ©absorbĂ©es par les ocĂ©ans et les forĂŞts, par exemple.

Pourquoi est-ce important d’atteindre zĂ©ro Ă©mission nette ?

La science montre que pour stopper les effets les plus graves des changements climatiques et avoir une planète habitable, la hausse de la tempĂ©rature de la planète doit ĂŞtre limitĂ©e Ă  1,5 °C comparĂ© aux tempĂ©ratures prĂ©industrielles. Aujourd’hui (en 2023), la tempĂ©rature Ă  la surface du globe est dĂ©jĂ  supĂ©rieure Ă  1,1 °C par rapport Ă  1800, et les Ă©missions continuent d’augmenter. Pour limiter le rĂ©chauffement de la planète Ă  1,5 °C,  il faut rĂ©duire les Ă©missions de 45 % avant 2030 et arriver Ă  l’objectif de zĂ©ro Ă©mission nette d’ici Ă  2050.

Comment arriver à zéro émission nette ?

La transition vers un monde neutre en carbone est le plus grand dĂ©fi de l’humanitĂ©. Il faut simplement une transformation totale de notre façon de produire, de consommer et de voyager. Le secteur de l’Ă©nergie est responsable d’environ 75% des Ă©missions de gaz Ă  effet de serre produites aujourd’hui. Remplacer l’Ă©nergie polluante produite par des centrales au charbon et au gaz par de l’Ă©nergie produite Ă  partir de sources renouvelables, telles que l’Ă©nergie Ă©olienne ou solaire, rĂ©duira considĂ©rablement les Ă©missions de carbone.

Des efforts sont-ils dĂ©ployĂ©s Ă  l’Ă©chelle mondiale pour arriver Ă  zĂ©ro Ă©mission nette ?

De plus en plus de pays, de villes, d’entreprises et d’autres institutions s’engagent Ă  atteindre l’objectif de zĂ©ro Ă©mission nette. Plus de 70 pays, par exemple les plus grands pollueurs – la Chine, les États-Unis et l’Union europĂ©enne – ont fixĂ© un objectif de zĂ©ro Ă©mission nette qui couvre environ 76 % des Ă©missions mondialesPlus de 3000 entreprises et institutions financières ont fixĂ© objectifs basĂ©s sur la science, et plus de 1 000 villes, plus de 1 000 Ă©coles et universitĂ©s et plus de 400 institutions financières ont rejoint la campagne « Objectif zĂ©ro » et s’engagent Ă  prendre sans dĂ©lai des mesures pour rĂ©duire de 50% les Ă©missions mondiales d’ici Ă  2030.

 

Vocabulaire

net zero - ____ _______ ____    means – s______      greenhouse – s____ (m)

near – p____ __       remaining – r_______       would be – s______

to show – m______        rise – h_____ (f)        must – d___

compared with – p___ ______ _  to increase – a________  warming – r_________ (m)

carbon neutral - _____ _- _______   challenge – d____ (m)  way, method – f_____ (f)

to consume – c_________   renewable – r__________   wind (energy) – Ă©_____

to agree to - s’e______ _    business – e________ (f)   polluter - _______ (m)

worldwide – m_______    have joined - ___ r______   campaign – c_______ (f)

 

Questions

1.     How is net zero defined?

2.     If net zero were achieved, how would carbon gas levels reduce overall?

3.     What is the figure 1.5°  all about?

4.     What does the temperature 1.1°  refer to?

5.     In which year is the aim to arrive at net zero?

6.     In what terms is the transition to a carbon neutral described? Explain.

7.     How can energy production be transformed?

8.     Which areas of the world are among the main producers of CO2 emissions?

9.     What have educational institutions and businesses agreed to? Explain.

Starts and ends

Link up the starts and ends of sentences to form correct and accurate sentences

De plus en plus de pays

limiter les Ă©missions de gaz Ă  effet de serre

Il est possible de

sans délai

La température du globe

s’engagent Ă  arriver Ă  zĂ©ro nette

Pour stopper la crise climatique il faut

réabsorbés par les océans, par exemple

Il est nécessaire de transformer comment

continuent d’augmenter

On espère que les gaz restants seront

de transformer la production d’Ă©nergie

Il faut prendre des mesures

a augmenté de 1.1% depuis 1800

Pour le moment les Ă©missions

nous consommons et voyageons

 

Vocab test

Test a partner on the vocab in the article (English to French). Take turns. Who gets the most right answers?

Summary

Summarise in English, in 10 bullet point notes, the contents of the article.

From memory…

Write ten sentences based on the article

Information sourced from un.org/fr/climatechange/net-zero-coalition

 

Answers

1.     Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to near to zero.

2.     Remaining carbon gas would be reabsorbed by oceans and forests, for example.

3.     It is the target rise compared with preindustrial levels, beyond which the planet would be much less habitable.

4.     It is rise in temperature since 1800.

5.     2050

6.     Humanity’s biggest challenge. We need a total transformation in how we produce, consume and travel.

7.     By using more renewable energy (e.g. wind and solar) and less fossil fuel (coal and gas).

8.     Europe (EU and UK), China and the USA.

9.     Join the Objective zero campaign. Campaign. Take immediate measures to reduce by 50% world emissions by 2030.

De plus en plus de pays

s’engagent Ă  arriver Ă  zĂ©ro nette

Il est possible

de transformer la production d’Ă©nergie

La température du globe

a augmenté de 1.1% depuis 1800

Pour stopper la crise climatique il faut

limiter les Ă©missions de gaz Ă  effet de serre

Il est nécessaire de transformer comment

continuent d’augmenter

On espère que les gaz restants seront

réabsorbés par les océans, par exemple

Il faut prendre des mesures

sans délai

Pour le moment les Ă©missions

nous consommons et voyageons

 

Example notes

·       Net zero means reducing carbon emissions to near zero by 2050

·       Remaining excess gas cab be reabsorbed by oceans and forests for example

·       Global average temperature rise must be limited to 1.5°

·       Rise so far is 1.1°

·       Net zero is humanity’s greatest challenge

·       We need to transform how we produce, consume and travel

·       Energy production accounts for 75% of carbon emissions

·       Energy must come from renewables, not fossil fuels

·       Biggest polluters are China, USA and Europe

·       Many ducational institutions and business have joined the net zero campaign


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