Do the green thing!

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Reading

environment lesson plan

<span style="color: #ff0000;">Warning! There is a short but graphic reference to making love in this video, so make sure it's okay for your students!</span>

LESSON OVERVIEW

This environment lesson plan is based on the TEDTalk by Andy Hobsbawm titled “Do the green thing”. It concerns a very important issue of environment protection. The speaker introduces his idea of a creative approach to promoting nature preservation.

B2 / Upper Intermediate45 minStandard LessonPremium Plan

VOCABULARY AND DISCUSSION

The first task of the worksheet is synonym-matching of the vocabulary which then helps students discuss some points in the second exercise. There are such words and phrases as combat, contaminate, preserve, severe or at stake. Then, there is a picture of some methods of environment protection that can help students to come up with ideas. They have to answer questions about their attitudes towards the environment and their country’s initiatives.

READING AND VIDEO

The next task focuses of filling the gaps in the text which is about the service “Do The Green Thing”. After that, there is one discussion point to make students speculate whether the service can be useful. Finally, students watch the video and go into a discussion exercise that concerns the talk itself and aspects mentioned in it. Moreover, if you need some inspiration or additional materials for your lesson, you can check the website http://dothegreenthing.com/ . You can see there unusual and creative ideas to make us care about the environment more.

WORKSHEETS

Comments

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  1. Karen

    I should have watched the video before playing it to a class of teenagers – I’m sorry, I’m not prudish but … the sexual content was totally inappropriate for an ESL class for teens. Signed, Embarrassed Unprepared Teacher.

    1. Justa

      Oh, don’t be so harsh for yourself. It ain’t so bad, just a short story. You could have selected our Colour Psychology lesson, and that could’ve been a bit of a snafu 🙂 On a serious note, our lesson plans are designed for adults and we sometimes choose topics/videos which are not the standard ESL coursebook things! Still hope the lesson went fine.

  2. Tanya Stevens

    I THINK to say there is a There is a short reference to making love in this video….. is a bit if an understatement it talks about porn, spreading legs and penatration I think the premise of the video is great but your warning is not accurate

    1. Stan

      Well, let’s get to details. We’ve put “short reference” there as there are literally 3 sentences in the video that may be seen inappropriate, out of a total of around 450 words. The fragment we are debating is as follows:
      “Let’s go there and make love. In the tent.” Ford undressed. She spread one leg, and then the other. Gusty entered her boldly and made love to her rhythmically while she filmed him, because she was a keen amateur pornographer.”
      And that’s about it. Honestly, we haven’t even noticed that before a comment from Karen. The expression “make love” is not pornographic for us, the reference to speading legs makes sense with the visuals and it is rather funny. What’s left is the phrase “entered her boldly” which I guess might be a bit visual but… All in all, it’s part of a promo video that encourages people to walk – there’s no focus on sex or pornography, and the sentences quoted above in my opinion are just there for the fun effect.

      Nevertheless, I let you all be the judge of it. Watch the video yourself before deciding to use it in your classroom.

    2. Phillipa Engels

      I do have to agree with this. This content isn’t inherently inappropriate, but I do agree that the warning should be a little clearer. Perhaps “a short but graphic reference” would be enough.

      1. Stan

        Thanks for this suggestion – I’m updating the description right now.

  3. Alice

    hmmm, I would recommend watching the video first before using it . I mean, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the lesson, And I fully understand why you say “embarrasses and unprepared” , yes, you are right!

  4. Lignum Nyelviskola

    I was fascinated by the Green things and this is a current issue that we have to deal with. Thank you!!

  5. HAWAIKI

    hi, I think it’s more about creativity and climate change than the green thing or sex/porn/make love. Sure, the language is a bit R-rated, so to speak, and I expected to hear more about the means to be green. Interesting nevertheless.

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