LESSON PLAN
TEACHER:
DATE:
FORM:
LEVEL: B2
TITLE OF THE LESSON: Plastic Pollution
TYPE OF LESSON: Mixed (reading, vocabulary, discussion, writing)
SKILLS: Reading, writing, speaking
CLASSROOM INTERACTIONS: Individual work, pair work, group work
TEACHING AIDS: Handouts of the article "A Plastic Ocean,"vocabulary cards
ASSUMPTIONS: Students have some awareness of environmental issues and basic
vocabulary related to pollution.
AIMS: Students will explore the impact of plastic pollution and propose solutions based on
the content of the article.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Students will improve their reading comprehension by analyzing a film review on "A
Plastic Ocean."
2. Students will expand their environment-related vocabulary.
3. Students will engage in critical discussions about global environmental issues and
possible solutions.
4. Students will enhance their writing skills by composing a short reflective paragraph.
1
Reading text:
A Plastic Ocean: a film review A Plastic Ocean is a film to make you think. Think, and then
act. We need to take action on our dependence on plastic. We’ve been producing plastic in
huge quantities since the 1940s. Drink bottles, shopping bags, toiletries and even clothes are
made with plastic. 1) ………………… . What happens to all the rest? This is the question the
film A Plastic Ocean answers. It is a documentary that looks at the impact that plastic waste
has on the environment. Spoiler alert: the impact is devastating. The film begins as a journey
to film the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale. But during the journey the
filmmakers (journalist Craig Leeson and environmental activist Tanya Streeter) make the
shocking discovery of a huge, thick layer of plastic floating in the middle of the Indian
Ocean. 2) ………………… . In total, they visited 20 locations around the world during the
four © 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish years it took them to make
the film. The documentary premiered in 2016, and is now on streaming services such as
Netflix. It’s very clear that a lot of research went into the film. There are beautiful shots of the
seas and marine life. 3) ………………… . We see how marine species are being killed by all
the plastic we are dumping in the ocean. The message about our use of plastic is painfully
obvious. 4) ………………… . In the second half, the filmmakers look at what we can do to
reverse the tide of plastic flowing around the world. They present short-term and long-term
solutions. These include avoiding plastic containers and ‘single-use’ plastic products as much
as possible. Reuse your plastic bags and recycle as much as you can. The filmmakers also
stress the need for governments to work more on recycling programmes, and look at how
technology is developing that can convert plastic into fuel. We make a staggering amount of
plastic. In terms of plastic bags alone, we use five hundred billion worldwide annually. Over
300 million tons of plastic are produced every year, and at least 8 million of those are
dumped into the oceans. 5) ………………… . Once you’ve seen A Plastic Ocean, you’ll
realise the time is now and we all have a role to play.
2
PROCEDURE:
Type of
Lesson Teacher's
No. Time Pupils' Activity Interactio Skill Goals
Stage Activity
n
Introduce the
Activate prior
topic by asking Share prior
knowledge and
5 students what knowledge and Whole
1 Warm-up Speaking engage
min they know opinions on the class
students in the
about plastic topic.
topic.
pollution.
Introduce key
vocabulary
(e.g., pollution,
recycle,
Participate in
documentary, Build essential
Vocabulary vocabulary
10 hazardous) Group Vocabular vocabulary for
2 Introductio activity.
min through work y understanding
n (Describe the
matching the text.
activity on short)
games.
(What games?
-> in the
annexes)
3 Reading 20 Distribute the Read the article Individual Reading Develop
Activity min "A Plastic individually and work, Pair reading
Ocean" article. discuss work comprehensio
Guide students comprehension n and critical
through questions with thinking skills.
reading peers.
sections and
answering
3
comprehension
questions.
(What
questions? ->
in the
annexes!!!!)
Divide the
class into
groups to
discuss
solutions to
plastic Foster
pollution. collaboration,
Discuss in Group
Assign critical
Discussion 10 groups, write work, Speaking,
4 students to thinking, and
and Writing min individually, and Individual Writing
write a written
share ideas. work
paragraph on communicatio
their personal n skills.
actions.(Cards
with possible
problems to
debate and
reflect upon)
Summarize key
Reflect and
takeaways and Reinforce
share ideas for
Wrap-Up encourage learning and
5 individual Whole
5 and students to Speaking promote
min contributions to class
Reflection share personal individual
solving plastic
actions they accountability.
pollution.
can take.
