Unit 5 Understanding ideas 课件2025-2026学年外研版英语八年级下册

Unit 5 Understanding ideas Looking into nature Learning objectives In this lesson, we will be able to: 1. predict the passage content using “Secrets caught in time” visuals and word cloud. 2. identify the passage’s source and core focus, extract key details (e.g., dinosaur behavior, amber evidence, scientific findings) and interpret comparisons from each paragraph, share insights on nature exploration, and summarise amber’s roles via a diagram to deepen reading comprehension. 3. develop scientific curiosity by simulating a press conference to share discoveries from amber research. 4. grasp the key language points and use them in context correctly. 2 Lead in What do you know about amber? Have you seen any movies about dinosaurs? How were they portrayed? Amber is like “nature’s candy” – it starts as sticky tree resin (like pine tree sap) and hardens over millions of years into golden or orange “stones”. Sometimes it traps insects or plants inside! Yes! Many movies show dinosaurs as big, scary, roaring monsters – like Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. But scientists now know this is not completely accurate! Lead in Look at the title and the pictures. What is the passage about? Use the word cloud to help you. Secrets caught in time unlock discovery change prove a window on the past key secrets of nature a In a popular science magazine about findings in nature. b In a newspaper report on exhibitions about dinosaurs. c In a sci-fi book about travelling 160 million years into the past. Choose where you are most likely to read this passage. Is the passage mainly about dinosaurs, amber, or both? √ The passage is mostly about amber, but it uses dinosaurs as an important example to show amber’s secrets. Read Paragraph 1 and answer the questions. What is the dinosaur doing in this scene? Looking for its next meal / Hunting. What does “feather-covered arms” suggest about this dinosaur’s appearance? It had feathers. Read Paragraph 2 and finish the tasks. Before the discovery After the discovery Dinosaurs looked like ___________________. huge lizards Scientists know dinosaurs had _________________. feathers What evidence changed scientists’ understanding about dinosaurs’ appearance? A piece of amber containing a feathered dinosaur tail from Southeast Asia. Read Paragraph 3 and choose the best answer. What can amber tell us according to the paragraph?_________ A) Only about dinosaur feathers. B) How to make beautiful jewelry. C) That life on earth has changed over time. D) What the weather will be like tomorrow. Why does the author mention the flower found in Northern European amber?_____ A) To show amber can have different colors. B) To prove that flowers used to be bigger. C) To demonstrate climate and species change. D) To advertise a tourist attraction. C C Read Paragraph 4 and answer the questions. How many unknown species have been discovered through amber research? Over 300 species. What did scientists find in the African amber, and why was this discovery significant? 13 ants. Because it changed the belief that ants came from the northern half of the earth. Read Paragraph 5 and answer the questions. What two things is amber compared to in the text? A window and a key. What should scientists do with amber according to the text? They should put more effort into research to unlock more secrets of nature. 1 What do you think of Paragraph 1? Why does the writer begin like this? 2 What are some other ways for you to learn about nature’s secrets? Paragraph 1 leads into the topic of the text. The writer begins with an exciting imaginary scene to catch readers’ attention to make science feel alive and dramatic. Think and share DNA analysis, 3D fossil scanning technology, visiting natural history museums and so on. Amber shows us 1__________caught in time. Amber is a(n) 7 _________on the past, and a key to unlock more secrets of 8_________._________________ It shows us what ancient species looked like. It helps us understand that life on earth has 3______________. It helps us discover new species. 2_____________a piece of amber, scientists know that dinosaurs had feathers. A piece of amber proves that a species of flower grew in Northern Europe ⁴________________years ago. More than 300 5__________species have been discovered. Scientists found a new species of 6_______in a piece of amber from Africa. Complete the diagram with the words and expressions from the passage.  secrets  Thanks to  always changed 35 million  unknown ants window nature 13 Post reading Amber Press Conference Scientists just discovered a new insect trapped in amber. Group A (Scientists):  Explain the discovery using: We found ______ in amber. This proves ______. Group B (Reporters):  "How does this change what we knew before?" Amber teaches us that nature's smallest clues can rewrite history—stay curious, question assumptions, and always look closer to uncover Earth's amazing stories. 1. ...thanks to a piece of amber, scientists now know that this idea is wrong. 结构: thanks to + 名词/代词 解释: 表示 “由于，多亏”（通常指积极原因） 例句: Thanks to the fossil, we learned about ancient plants. 多亏这块化石，我们了解了古代植物。 17 2. Scientists used to believe that ants came from the northern half of the earth. 结构: used to + 动词原形 解释: 表示“过去常常做某事或持有某种观点” 例句: People used to believe the earth was flat. 人们过去认为地球是平的。 He used to collect amber when he was young. 他年轻时常常收集琥珀。 18 3. This species no longer grows in this area. 结构: no longer + 动词 解释: 表示“不再...” 例句: Dinosaurs no longer exist on earth. 恐龙不再存在于地球上。 This plant no longer grows in cold areas. 这种植物不再生长在寒冷地区。 19 4. ...amber may also help us discover if other species have changed over time. 结构: change + over time 解释: 表示“随着时间改变” 例句: Languages change over time.语言会随着时间改变。 The climate has changed over time. 气候已经随时间发生了变化。 20 5. We should put more effort into research. 结构: put effort into + 名词/动名词 解释: 表示“投入精力到...” 例句: They put great effort into finding new fossils. 他们投入大量精力寻找新化石。 We must put more effort into protecting nature. 我们必须投入更多精力保护自然。 21 22 一、用所给短语的适当形式填空 Many people __________ believe that the sun revolved around the earth centuries ago. If you ____________ your studies, you’ll see better results. Scientists hope to ____________ of the deep ocean in the coming years. The puppy happily __________ looking for its favorite toy in the garden. used to put effort into unlock secrets ran around unlock secrets used to run around put effort into 23 二、英译汉 For hundreds of years, people believed that dinosaurs looked like huge lizards. 数百年来，人们认为恐龙看起来像巨型蜥蜴。 2. Thanks to a piece of amber, scientists now know that this idea is wrong. 多亏了一块琥珀，科学家现在知道这个观点是错误的。 3. These beautiful golden stones quietly keep pieces of the past. 这些美丽的金色石头静静保存着过去的片段。 4. Amber is a window on the past, and a key to unlock more secrets of nature. 琥珀是通往过去的窗口，也是解开更多自然奥秘的钥匙。 24 三、 汉译英 1. 科学家通过琥珀发现恐龙有羽毛。 Scientists discovered through amber that dinosaurs had feathers. 2. 这块琥珀来自东南亚。 This piece of amber comes from Southeast Asia. 3. 北欧琥珀中的花朵证明气候曾经不同。 The flower in Northern European amber proves the climate was different. 4. 研究人员应该更努力地研究这些金色石头。 Researchers should put more effort into studying these golden stones. 25 26 Role-play: A journalist interviewing the scientist who found the feathered dinosaur tail, use at least 3 amber-related phrases from the text. Basic homework Practical homework Choose 5 scientific words from the text (e.g., species, unlock, discovery) and write each word’s definition in simple English. Research how another natural material (like ice cores or tree rings) also reveals the earth’s history like amber does. Extended homework 27 null 130355.93 $