English V - Week 11 - World of the Future

 World of the Future

Introduction: In today's class we are talking about positive and negatvie posibilities in the future. Work with your partners to complete the tasks below.

Warm Up: History's Greatest Inventions

Read the chart below with a list of what some historians think are the 10 greatest inventions in the last 1,000 years. What do you think they are? Guess what the inventions might be. Then check your answers.

Click to see full size image.

When you are ready, you can CLICK HERE to check your answers. Now, with your partners decide which of these inventions you think are the 3 most important and why. How have they changed the world? Imagine these inventions didn't exist. How would the world be different?

Task 1: Listening Practice

Listen to a concerned couple discussing possible problems in the future. Click play on the video to hear the conversation. Then click your group link to open your worksheet and complete the tasks.

• Group 1: CLICK HERE
• Group 2: CLICK HERE
• Group 3: CLICK HERE
• Group 4: CLICK HERE
• Group 5: CLICK HERE

Task 2: Agree or Disagree

Read the list of predictions made by experts about the year 2040. Use the phrases in the yellow box to express your opinion about each one. Make sure you give reasons and details to support your opinion. You will have 7 minutes to complete this task. Click play on the timer so you can keep track of the time.

At Home

• Most people will install solar panels or wind turbines on their houses or apartment buildings to generate their electricity.
• People are going to recycle almost 100% of their waste (residuos) and people who don't will have to pay a fine.

Transportation

• Cars that use a lot of gas (ex. 4x4s) will be banned and many people will drive electric cars.
• Low-cost airlines are going to disapear and flights will be much more expensive.

The Environment

• Paper books will no longer be produced to save trees from being cut down, and all books will be electronic.
• Fresh water will be limited in many parts of the world and we will get much of our water from the ocean through desalination plants.

The Weather

• Temperatures worldwide will rise even further. Many ski resorts will close because of a lack (escasez) of winter snow and some beaches and vacation resorts will disappear completely.
• We are going to have even more extreme weather, and heat waves, hurricanes, floods, etc., will be frequent occurrences. 

Task 3 - Drawing the Future 

Click on your group link below. On each page, make 2 or 3 predictions about the future. Then make drawings to represent your predictions. You CAN'T write any text or add photos. Only drawings!

• Group 1: CLICK HERE
• Group 2: CLICK HERE
• Group 3: CLICK HERE
• Group 4: CLICK HERE

Task 4 - Interpreting the Future

Now, click the links of the other groups. Interpret the drawings and write a sentence saying what each drawing possibly means. You can use these phrases to start your sentences.

• They could be saying...
• They might mean that...
• Maybe they think... 

Task 5: World Weather Warnings

Click on your group link below and complete the tasks in your worksheet.

• Group 1: CLICK HERE
• Group 2: CLICK HERE
• Group 3: CLICK HERE
• Group 4: CLICK HERE
• Group 5: CLICK HERE

Task 6: Future Effects of Climate Change

Nowadays, scientists don't talk about global warming. Instead, they talk about climate change because there are many ways that the ways can affect the weather. Some places may get warmer and others colder. Some will get wetter and others will get drier. Now click on the link below and leave audio comments making predictions about how climate change might affect the weather in different parts of Costa Rica and the world. 

World Map: CLICK HERE

Now listen to the comments made by your partners. Use the phrases in the yellow box to express your opinion about each one. Make sure you give reasons and details to support your opinion. 

Task 7: It's Raining Cats and Dogs....and Fish and Worms

Over the centuries there have been many documented incidents of animal rains where animals fell from the sky during a storm. Click your group link and read about a recent case. Then speculate with your partners about the possible explanation.

• Group 1 - Fish Rain: CLICK HERE
• Group 2 - Worm Rain: CLICK HERE
• Group 3 - Worm Rain: CLICK HERE
• Group 4 - Bird Rain: CLICK HERE
• Group 5 - Blood Rain: CLICK HERE

Scientists have proposed several explanations for this phenomena. CLICK HERE to read about a possible reason for these animal rain events.