Period 1 Reading
The General Idea of This Period：
This period includes Warming up，Reading and Comprehending of Unit 3.It introduces the history and development of computers.From this period the students will learn more about computers.Meanwhile they can learn some reading strategies such as skimming and scanning.
Teaching Aims：
1.Train the students’ reading ability.
2.Learn some useful words and expressions.
3.Learn more about computers.[
Teaching Important Points：
1.Help the students to understand the passage better.
2.Learn how to use some important words and phrases in this passage.
Teaching Dif ficult Points：
1.How to help the students improve their reading ability and understand the passage better.
2.Learn how to use some important words and phrases in this passage.
Teaching Methods：
1.Skimming the passage to get the general idea of the text.
2.Scanning to get the details from the passage.
3.Explanations and practice to help the students master some language points.
4.Discussion to help the students understand better what they’ve learned and to use the knowledge they’ve learned in this period.
Teaching Aids：
1.A tape recorder.
2.A multimedia.
Teaching Procedures：
Step 1 Warming up
1.Greeting the students as usual.
2.In troduce the topic of computers
Show the five pictures （an abacus，a huge computer，a calculator，a PC，a notebook computer）and get the students name them in English.Through this task，students can have a general idea about what they are going to learn.Besides，students are expected to have a discussion about what they have in common while looking at them.And they are required to use the given expressions in their discussion to express their ideas.
T：Boys and girls，today I am going to introduce some machines to you.Now let’s se e whether you can name them in English correctly，and talk about them.Now work together with your partners and try to find out what they have in common.
Two minutes late，five students are asked to talk about them in class.
S1：An abacus is an old calculating machine used in China until now.
S2：A huge computer is built to solve some mathematical problems.But，in my opinion，it is too big.
S3：A calculator is a new calculating machine which can solve a large number mathematical problems.And I think it is very convenient to carry and use，so we often use it.
S4：A PC is a personal computer，which can solve all kinds of problems and is widely used in offices，schools，shops，at homes，etc.now.
S5：A notebook computer is a kind of useful computer which can be taken conveniently like a notebook.But I think it is too expensive.
T：Quite good.It seems that you are all quite familiar with these machines.But can you tell what they have in common?Any volunteers?
S6：Let me try.I think they all calculate something.They can deal with some maths problems.
S7：I believe that they are our good friends.With their help we can finish our work quickly.
S8：The 21th century is the century of information technology.As middle school students，we should try to learn how to use computers.
T：Well，your opinions are all right.Indeed，these machines all can calculate something.What’s more，from the abacus to the notebook computer，there is a long way.But now computers have already changed our lives greatly.But do you know more about computers and can you say something about how computers have changed our lives.
Step 2 Pre-reading
Show the questions on the screen.
T：Now，please have a discussion first，and then I’ll ask some students to report your work.
After a few minutes.
T：Now，who would like to answer the first question?V olunteer!
S9：I’ll have a try.I know that computers have developed from large machines.They have been made smaller and smaller，but work faster and faster.I really can’t imagine what they will be like and whether they can take the place of human beings in the future.
T：Yes，this is really a big problem.I think you are all interested in computers，you may go on studying computers，and perhaps one day you will design your own computers and become the masters of computers.OK!Next question!
S10：I think computers have changed our lives greatly.We use computers widely in our study，in our work.You are using the computer to teach us English，aren’t you?
S11：In my opinion，in the modern society，using the computers means grasping a tool of controlling the world.We may communicate with each other from a very long distance.In short，we can not live freely without them.
T：I agree with you.The computers are becoming more and more important in our lives.But learning m ore about computers is also important，isn’t it?OK，let’s come to the reading passage “Who am I”.
Step 3 Reading
Task 1.Skim the passage for the general idea.
T：Boys and girls，you will be given two minutes to skim the passage and try to find out who “I”am and
get the general idea of this passage.
After two minutes.
T：Time is up.Who would like to tell us who “I”am and give the general idea of the text to the class?V olunteer!
S12：Of course，“I”am the computer.The passage is mainly about the history and development of computers.
S13：The passage is also about the relationship of computers and humans.
Task 2.Scan for the details.
T：Boys and girls，you will be given two more minutes to scan the passage and try to find out the answers to the following questions.Let’s see who can find out the answers most quickly and correctly.
1.Where were you in 1642?
2.What happened to you in 1822?
3.What were you called in 1936?
4.What did you get in the 1960s?
5.What happened to you in the 1970s?
T：Have you finished?
S14：I have.I was in France as a calculating machine in 1642.
In 1822，I was built as an Analytical Machine by Charles Babbage.
I was called “a universal machine”in 1936，as I could solve any mathematical problem.
In the 1960s，I was given a family connected by a network，so that I could share infor mation with others and we could talk to each other.
In the 1970s，I was brought into people’s homes.
T：You are so quick-minded that in such a short time you could find out all the answers to the questions.Your mind really works like a computer!
Step 4 Comprehending
Task 3.Fill in the timeline to remember the facts.
T：But can you memorize facts like a computer?I am afraid you can not.But let’s try to remember the facts in the passage by filing in the timeline on Page 19，which，I am sure，will help you remember the facts easily.
Suggested answers：
Timeline
1642：The computer began as a calculating machine.
1822：The Analytical Machine was built by Charles Babbage.
1936：Alan Turing wrote a book to describe how computers c ould be made.
1960s：Computers had new transistors and became smaller.
1960s：The first family of computers connected to each other.
1970s：Computers were brought into people’s homes.
Now：Computers connect people all over the world together.
T：Have you finished?If so，please check your answers yourself.I’m sure all of you have got them right.Now you can retell the history of computers easily with the help of the timeline，can’t you?Please have a try，boys and girls!
Step 5 Homework
1.Recite the key sentences.
2.Prepare for Learning About Language.
3.Try to retell the text using about 100 words.
Step 6 The Design of the Writing on the Blackboard
Unit 3 Computers
Period 1
The general idea of the text：
Questions
1.Where were you in 1642?
2.What happened to you in 1822?
3.What were you called in 1936?
4.Wh at did you get in the 1960s?
5.What happened to you in the 1970s?
Language points：
1.in common/have... in common （with）...
2.in one’s opinion
3.de al with
4.simple-minded
5.“as”and “with”
6.“There were times when... ”
Step 7 Record after Teaching