1、Unit 4Astronomy: the science of the stars教材分析和教材重组教材分析本单元的主要内容是边缘科学、地球生命的起源，万有引力、黑洞和太空旅行等天文学知识。通过本单元的学习，培养学生对科学的兴趣，激发学生探究科学的热情。1. Warming Up 部分共有三组问题，第一组问题引导学生讨论边缘科学(Frontier Science)，即以两种或多种学科为基础而发展起来的科学。例如，生物化学是以生物学和化学为基础的边缘科学。第二组问题探讨科学研究的方法。第三组问题让学生思考要成为真正的科学家所必须掌握的技能。2. Pre-reading 部分主要让学生弄清楚什么是
2、科学思想，什么是宗教信仰或文化传统。学生总喜欢听故事或讲故事，在探讨生命的起源的科学道理之前，让学生交流一下有关宇宙的起源的种种传说，既有趣味性，又能调动学生的相关知识，激活学生的思维。3. Reading 部分讲述了地球上生命的起源。水的形成使得地球有别与其他星球，它使得地球上生命的诞生成为可能。科学家认为，地球上的生命首先诞生于水中，上百万年后，陆地上才长出绿色植物，随后出现了陆栖动物和水陆两栖动物。最初的动物靠孵化繁衍后代，后来出现了哺乳动物，人类也随之诞生了。文章最后讲述的现象发人深省：The earth may become too hot for the lives on it.它
3、关系到地球上生命的未来。4. Comprehending 部分通过四个选择填空题检测学生对本文核心问题的理解：地球上生命的起源和延续需要哪些条件?随后通过排序的方式帮助学生弄清本文的行文线索，也就是地球上生命的起源和发展历程。最后提出两个问题，考查学生的深层理解和推断能力。5. Learning about Language 部分首先通过英文解释帮助理解课文中的生词，然后，通过短文填空、词语分类等形式将这些词语用于一个相关的情境中。语法部分也是采用先发现后应用的学习方法。先通过到课文中找句子，让学生认识主语从句，然后，设置一个用手机发短信息的情境，让学生进行简单句与主语从句之间的转换练习。最后
4、设置情境来复习第三单元出现的表语从句。6. Using Language 部分综合训练听说读写的能力。听力部分的内容介绍三位科学巨匠，不仅通过听力填表的形式训练学生捕捉细节的能力，还通过四选一的形式帮助学生找主题思想。在解释对与错的过程中，教师可以适当地介绍一下概括主题的方法。阅读部分是一个科幻小故事，通过“我”和“ 我的朋友”乘宇宙飞船登月球的经历，介绍了重量、失重和地球引力等科学道理。说和写部分以 Visiting the moon 为话题，要求学生讨论登月球需要携带的物品和在月球上可能遇到的困难，并要求学生找出克服这些困难的方法。教师可以根据课本上的提示，向学生介绍“先分述后总结”的写作
5、方法。提出问题的解决方案时，要求学生选用适当的“指示”用语。教材重组1. 将 Warming Up，Pre-reading，Reading 与 Comprehending 整合在一起上一节“阅读课”。2. 将 Learning about Language 和 Workbook 的 using words and expressions 及 using structures 整合在一起上一节“语言学习课”。3. 将 Using Language 设计为一节包括听说读写在内的“综合技能课（一） ”。4. 将 Workbook 的 READING AND LISTENING 和 TALKING 结
6、合在一起上一节“听说课”。5. 将 Workbook 的 LISTENING TASK，READING AND WRITING TASK 和SPEAKING TASK 设计为一节“综合技能课（二） ”。课时分配1st Period Reading2nd Period Language study3rd Period Integrating skills()4th Period Listening and Speaking5th Period Integrating skills( )Part 1: Teaching Design(第一部分：教学设计)Period 1: A sample les
7、son plan for reading(HOW LIFE BEGAN ON THE EARTH)AimsTo develop the students reading abilityTo learn something about astronomyProceduresI. Warming up by learning vocabularyGood morning, class! Today, w are going to take Unit 4 Astronomy: the science of the stars. Before we read the text, lets turn t
8、o page 99 and get familiarized with the vocabulary first. Pay attention to the making of the word. Study the prefixes, roots and suffixes in the words.Astronaut Yang LiweiII. Pre-reading1. Looking and sayingHave you ever wondered how the universe began? Well Im sure you may have many answers to this
9、 question, but I have one that perhaps, you may not have heard of yet. I will be giving you my theory on this subject. Now look at the screen and listen to me telling you something exciting.科学家透露：宇宙可能有两个我们的宇宙和一个“隐藏的“ 宇宙共同 “镶嵌“在“五维空间“中。在我们的宇宙早期，这两个宇宙发生了一次相撞事故，相撞产生的能量生成了我们宇宙中的物质和能量。 2. Talking and sha
10、ringDo you know how the universe began?In the 1920s in California, astronomer Edwin Hubble observed distant galaxies using an extremely powerful telescope. He made two mind-boggling(unbelievable) discoveries. First, Hubble figured out that the Milky Way isnt the only galaxy. He realized that faint,
11、cloud-like objects in the night sky are actually other galaxies far, far away. The Milky Way is just one of billions of galaxies. Second, Hubble discovered that the galaxies are constantly moving away from each other. In other words, the universe is expanding. The biggest thing that we know about is
12、 getting bigger all the time. A few years later, Belgian astronomer Georges Lematre used Hubbles amazing discoveries to suggest an answer to a big astronomy question: “How did the universe begin?” III. Reading1. Listening and reading aloudNow please listen to the recording and then read the text alo
13、ud. Pay attention to how the native speaker is reading along and where the pauses are within each sentence. I will play the tape twice and you shall read aloud twice, too.2. Reading and underliningNext you are to read and underline all the useful expressions or collocations in the passage. Copy them
14、 into your notebook after class as homework.Collocations from HOW LIFE BEGAN ON THE EARTHa cloud of energetic dust 具有能量的尘埃, combine into合成, move around the sun 环绕太阳运转, become violent 变得激烈, the solid surface 固体表面, explode loudly 猛烈爆炸, in time 及时，最终, produce the water vapor 产生水蒸汽, make the earths atmo
15、sphere 构成了地球的大气层, cool down 冷却, on the surface 在表面, be different from与不同, go round the sun 环绕太阳运转, disappear from从消失, stay on存留在, show ones quality显现某人的特性, dissolve harmful gases 分解，溶解有害气体, become part of变成的一部分, develop life 发展生命, grow in the water 在水里生长, fill with用来填充，充满了, encourage the development
16、 of鼓励的发展 , millions of years later 几万年以后, live on land 在陆地上生活, live in the sea 在海里生存, grow into forests 长成森林, produce young 生出幼仔, lay eggs 下蛋 , animals with hands and feet 长着手脚的动物, spread all over the earth 遍布全世界 , develop new methods 发展了新的方法, grow food 种植, move around 迁徙, go by 过去，推移, take care of在
17、意，照看好, putinto把带入，放入, preventfrom防止做, escape from into从逃离到, become hot 变热, depend on.依靠，依赖，取决与, solve a problem 解决一个问题3. Reading and understanding difficult sentences Skim the text and identify the difficult sentences of each paragraph. You may put your hand up if you have any questions. 4. Reading
18、and transferring informationRead the text again to complete the table below, HOW LIFE BEGAN ON THE EARTHWhat was the earth like after the “Big Bang”?Why was the earth different?How was life developed on earth?What did small clever animals do? 5. Reading and translatingAs you have read the text times
19、, you can surely put it into Chinese. Wang Hongqin, will you be the first to have a try, of putting the first paragraph into Chinese.IV. Closing downClosing down by doing exercisesTo end the lesson you are to do the comprehending exercises 2 and 3 on pages 26 and 27. Closing down by having a discuss
20、ionHow Did the Universe Begin?There are only three possible answers to this question. 1It was created by something larger than itself since the first law of thermodynamics(热力学) says that energy cannot be created, only changed.The universe had to be created by something outside itself, because of the
21、 same law. We also know that man could not have created it. 2It was begun by chance (or accident); or3The answer is not sure.Shown this way, the question is:Additional MaterialsComplete the summary of the story with one word in each blank.HOW LIFE BEGAN ON THE EARTHAfter the “Big Bang” came a 1 of e
22、nergetic dust, the earth. Dust combined into a ball, moving 2 the sun. The earth became violent. Then it 3 loudly. In time, the water vapor was produced, making the earths atmosphere 4 down. Water then appeared on the 5 . The earth was to be different from other planets going round the 6 . Water dis
23、appeared from other planets. But it stayed on 7 . Small plants began developing 8 the water.Years later green plants came into 9 . The air then was 10 with oxygen.Millions of years later, small 11 animals were found to be living on the 12 , in the sea. They spread all over the earth, moving 13 the e
24、arth, putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which 14 heat from escaping from earth into space. In the end the earth may become too hot to live 15 .（Keys: 1. cloud 2. around 3. exploded 4. cool 5. surface 6. sun 7. earth 8. in 9. being 10. filled 11. clever 12. land 13. around 14. preve
25、nts 15. upon）Comprehension questions1. What forms the earths atmosphere?A. Carbon dioxide, oxygen. B. Carbon dioxide, oxygen, poisonous gas.C. Water vapour, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen. D. Water vapour, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and other gases.2. Can you tell what is the “special qualit
26、ies” of the earth according to the passage?A. The earth goes around the sun. B. The earth was solid shape which was last.C. There are animals and human beings live on it. D. Water remains on the surface of the earth.3. What kind of factor improve the progress of life?A. Water forms on the earths sur
27、face. B. Green plants began to appear on land.C. The air is full of carbon dioxide. D. Animals began to appear such as insects, amphibians, est.4. What is the main idea of this passage?A. It tells us how does life begin to appear on the earth. B. It tells us why does green plants grow before animals
28、.C. It tells us water plays an important role in the development of life. D. D. It tells us carbon dioxide is the reason why living beings will die in the future,5. The author infers us that if we want to the life continue on the earth, what should we do?A. We should produce more carbon dioxide to c
29、ause global warming.B. We should solve the problem of global warming as soon as possible.C. We should bear less people and think about a new way to grow more crops.D. We should be worthy of water.(Key: DDBAB)Notes to some difficult sentences1. After the “Big Bang ” the earth was just a cloud of ener
30、getic dust.随着“轰隆” 一声巨响，地球就成为一个云团，充满着具有能量的尘埃。Big Bang(big-bang cosmology) 大爆炸宇宙学。2. It exploded loudly with fire and rock, which were in time to produce the water vapour, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and other gases, which were to make the earths atmosphere. 它（地球）巨大的爆炸喷出了烈火与岩石，最终产生了水蒸汽、二氧化碳、氧、氮和其
31、他多种气体，从而形成了地球的大气层。in time: sooner or later; eventually 迟早；最后。Ill see him in time. 总有一天我会遇见他。in time(for sth/ to do sth) : not late 及时；不迟。She will be back in time to prepare dinner. 她来得及回来准备晚饭。in/out of time: in/not in the correct time 合/不合节怕。The audience clapped in time to the music. 观众合着音乐的节拍拍手。（st
32、h）be to (do): (something) will definitely happen, or it must happen 不可避免要发生或必须发生。They said goodbye, little knowing that they were never to meet again. 他们彼此说了再见，几乎不知道再也不可能见面了。She is to be honored for this great work. 她（一定）会因这部著作而获得荣誉。Mr. Clark said to his daughter, “You are to be home by 10 oclock at
33、 the latest.” 克拉克先生对他的女儿说：“你必须在 10 点之前到家。 ”3. Nobody knew that it was going to be different from other planets going round the sun. 谁也不知道地球会别于环绕太阳运转的其它行星。（sb/sth）be different from: not like someone or something else in one or more ways 与不同。City life is quite different from country life. 都市生活与乡村生活是非常
34、不同的。注意：（1）强调 different 时用 very, much, quite, entirely, totally 等词。 （2）有时，美语口语中用 than，英语口语中用 to 来代替 from。going round the sun 为现在分词短语，作定语，表示一般的动作。例如：Men breaking the law will be punished.Men who break the law will be punished. 违法的人要受到处罚。现在分词短语作定语，也可以表示进行的动作。例如：Can you see the girl dancing with your bo
35、yfriend?Can you see the girl who is dancing with her boyfriend? 你能看见与男友跳舞的那个姑娘吗？4. It allowed the earth to dissolve harmful gases, which had become part of the earths atmosphere, into the oceans and seas. 它使地球把曾经存在于大气层中的有害气体溶解在海洋里。allow to do 允许某人做某事。如：Her parents wont allow her to stay out later th
36、an 11:00 in the evening. 她父母不允许她晚上在外逗留超过 11 点。Please allow me to explain that I did not have any idea about his arrangement. 请允许我解释，我事先不知道他的安排。但要注意：“准许做某事” 应当是 allow doing 不是 allow to do。如：They shouldnt allow parking in this street. Its too narrow. 他们不应该允许在这条街上停车，街道太窄了。Walking on the grass is not al
37、lowed. 不许踩踏草坪。5. This encouraged the development of early shellfish and all sorts of fish. 这为早期贝类及其他各种鱼类的发育进一步创造了条件。encourage 鼓励；促进；怂恿Father encouraged him to study physics but he prefers maths.父亲鼓励他学物理，但他更喜欢数学。He encouraged me to learn dancing. 他鼓励我去学跳舞。名词后缀-ment 加在动词之后表示：1)行为，例如：argument, betterme
38、nt, development, treatment.2)结果，例如：arrangement, statement, settlement.3) 工具，例如：instrument, pavement.6. They produced young generally by laying eggs. 它们一般是通过孵蛋而繁衍后代的。by doing 用于说明做某事的手段，方式。如：I dont think she can help him by just giving him money. 我认为她光靠给钱是帮不了他的。He used to make his living by painting.
39、 他以前是靠画画为生。7.They are putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which prevents heat from escaping from the earth into space.他们把过多的二氧化碳释放到大气层中，这使得地球上的热不能释放到太空中去。prevent from doing 阻止某人做某事。如：His heart trouble did not prevent him (from) going to class the next day. 他的心脏病痛没能阻止他第二天去上课。Nothing
40、can prevent their plans (from) being carried out. 什么也不能阻止他们的计划得以实施。8. Whether life will continue on the earth for millions of years to come will depend on whether this problem can be solved. 在未来的数百万年中，生命能否在地球上延续取决于这个问题能否得到解决。(sth) depend on (sth else): something might only happen or be true if the c
41、ircumstances are right for it 取决于；决定于。如：“Will you go fishing this afternoon?” “Well, it all depends on the weather.” “你今天下午去钓鱼吗？” “得看天气。 ”for millions of years to come 中不定式 to come 作定语，与前面的名词之间有逻辑上的主谓关系，例如：She is the last person to do such a thing. 她是最不像做这种事的人。【高考链接】主语从句一、由 what（whatever，whoever）等代词
42、引导的主语从句。What they are after is money. 他们追求的是金钱。Whatever was said here must be kept secret. 这里说的话都应当保密。二、由连词 that 引导的主语从句。其中 that 一般不可省略，但若用 it 作形式主语， that 从句后置时，则可省略。为避免头重脚轻，我们倾向用 it 开头，后接 be，seem 等。如果句子是疑问形式，就只能用带 it 的结构。That money doesnt grow on trees should be obvious.金钱不能从树上长出来是显而易见的。It is obvio
43、us（that）money doesnt grow on trees .显而易见，金钱是不能从树上长出来的。Has it been announced when the planes are to take off？飞机什么时候起飞宣布了没有？注意：1）选用 what 还是用 that 引导主语从句要根据关联词在从句中是否担任成分而定。且what（以及 whatever，whoever 等）引导的主语从句一般不用 it 作形式主语。What he said is true.他说的是真的。 （what 在其引导的主语从句中作宾语。 ）That China is a great socialist
44、 country is well known.（=Its well known that）众所周知，中国是一个伟大的社会主义国家。 （that 在其引导的主语从句中不作任何成分，也无词义，只起连接作用。 ）2）it 引导的强调句与 it 作形式主语的复合句不可混淆。it 引导的强调句是用来对句中某一成分加以强调，其结构为：“It is（或 was）+强调部分+that（或 who）” 强调句去掉 It is（或 was）that（或 who）框架后，剩余部分为一个完整的句子。It was I that(who) met Mary in the street yesterday.是我昨天在街上遇
45、见了玛丽。(强调主语)3）常见的用 it 作形式主语的复合句结构：*It is+形容词（ necessary，strange ，important，wonderful ，possible ，likely，等）+that 从句，从句中常用虚拟语气。Its necessary that he write something in English.他用英语写点东西是必要的。Its strange that she did not go to school yesterday.奇怪的是她昨天没去上学。*It is+名词（a fact，a pity ，no wonder，good news，等）+tha
46、t 从句Its a pity that she should have said so.真遗憾她竟然会这么说。*It is+过去分词（ said，reported，decided ，unknown 等）+that 从句Its said that our English teacher will go abroad next week.据说我们英语老师下周要去出国。*It +不及物动词（seems，appears，happens， matters 等）+that 从句It seems that she is in great need of help.看来她急帮忙。4）主语为从句时，一般要用单数
47、谓语动词形式；但如果引导的从句作主语、代表复数概念（常可从表语上看出）时，谓语动词则常用复数形式：What we need is water. 我们需要的是水。What we need are useful books. 我们需要的是有用的书。三、由连接代词或连接副词（或 if, whether）引导的主语从句。When they will come hasnt been made public.他们什么时候回来还没有宣布。Whether Ill attend the meeting hasnt been decided.=It hasnt been decided whether(if) I
48、ll attend the meeting.我是否参加会议还未决定。【高考链接】1 ._well go camping tomorrow depends on the weather. A. If B.Whether C.That D.Where 2._she couldnt understand was_fewer and fewer students showed interest in her lessons. A .What；why B.That；what C.What；because D.Why；that 3._ leaves the room last ought to turn
49、off the light. A.Anyone B.The person C.Whoever D.Who 4.These wild flowers are so special I would do_I can to save themA.whatever B.that C.which D.whichever5. It is pretty well understood _ controls the flow of carbon dioxide in and out the atmosphere today. A. that B. when C. what D. how6._we cant get seems better than _we have. A. What; what B. What; that C. That; that D. Th
