Hello
If you had a topic "Murphy s law" and you had to work on it in the classroom for 90 minutes, what would you do?
I have a text on Murphy s law, I thought to teach the children time clauses.
My idea: work on the text for 45 minutes and then introduce time clauses which they have to find in the text. However I need more ideas on activities. How to introduce the topic, text? Pupils are 18-19 very lazy-I can't have any kind of discussions, or ask for some opinion because I am not going to get anything.
Hello! It sounds like you have a challenging situation with your students. Here are some ideas on activities and approaches that you can use to work on the topic of Murphy's Law and time clauses within your classroom for 90 minutes:
1. Introduction to the Topic: Start by introducing the concept of Murphy's Law. You can explain that it is a popular saying that suggests that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. You can provide some examples or anecdotes to make it more relatable.
2. Pre-Reading Activity: Before diving into the text, engage the students with a pre-reading activity. You can provide them with a short checklist or set of questions related to Murphy's Law and ask them to discuss in pairs or small groups. This will activate their prior knowledge and get them thinking about the topic.
3. Reading the Text: Allocate around 15-20 minutes for the students to read the text on Murphy's Law. You can provide them with a worksheet or set of comprehension questions based on the text to keep them engaged and focused while reading.
4. Vocabulary Exercise: After the students have read the text, you can introduce some key vocabulary related to Murphy's Law. Provide the definitions and ask the students to match the words with their meanings or use them in example sentences. This will help them better understand the text.
5. Time Clauses Exercise: Make a list of sentences from the text that include time clauses (e.g., "When something can go wrong, it will."). Write these sentences on the board or prepare a handout for the students. Ask them to identify the time clauses in the sentences. You can provide some guidance initially and then gradually increase the difficulty level.
6. Rewriting Exercise: Give the students a few sentences from the text that contain time clauses and ask them to rewrite them using different time clauses (e.g., changing "When" to "If" or vice versa). This will help them practice manipulating time clauses and understanding how they can affect the meaning of a sentence.
7. Consolidation Activity: Wrap up the lesson by asking the students to write a short paragraph or a few sentences related to Murphy's Law, using as many time clauses as they can. Encourage creativity and provide positive feedback on their efforts.
Remember to keep the instructions clear and concise, and provide plenty of examples throughout the lesson to help your students understand how time clauses work. Also, consider incorporating visual aids, such as diagrams or infographics, to make the lesson more engaging. Good luck with your class!