UNIT 5

TECHNOLOGY IN THIS UNIT

In Unit 5, students will:
• Discuss technology and its effect on
our lives
• Practice the present continuous
• Give clear directions on how to use
technology

ABOUT THE PHOTO

Technology is always changing. This
A photographer photo shows an early predecessor of
uses a camera with the camera feature we all now take

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flash bulbs to take a for granted built into our phones. The
photo in the 1930s. lightbulbs (flash bulbs) in this photo

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were a huge advancement at the
time, as prior to 1929, flash powder, a

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highly flammable substance, was used
to create artificial light. This unstable

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substance actually resulted in the
deaths of photographers preparing
the flash.

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Ask students about their technology
usage and their knowledge of older
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devices, previewing Who subject/

object questions. Ask: Who takes
pictures with their phone? Who takes
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ACADEMIC Give and follow

directions; identify the topic of a pictures with a camera? Who has a
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paragraph; identify key details in a text landline at their house? Who only has
a cellphone/smartphone? Who prints
AT WORK Understand the impact of pictures? Who keeps digital copies? Who
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technology on a business
likes to talk on the phone? Who prefers to
CIVICS Discuss how technology send text messages? Who do you talk to?
has changed everyday life; read and
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Who do you send messages to?

understand signs
Ask students what else they do with
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their phone, drawing comparisons

between the smartphone and
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older analog devices. Possible

subjects for discussion: calendars
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CCRS Level A: R 1, 2, 3, 5; W 2, 6; L 1; Level B: R 1, 2, 6; W 3, 4; L 1, 2, 3; and appointments; access to music

Level C: R 1, 2; W 4, 6, 9 ; L 1, 2, 3; Level D: R 1, 2; W 4, 6, 9; L 1, 2, 3; and video; access to the news;
Level E: R 1, 2; W 4, 6, 9; L 2 dictionaries and support with English.
You may also choose to ask them
ELPS Level 1 Standards 2, 3, 9, 10; Level 2 Standards 1, 2, 3, 7, 10; about generational differences with
Level 3 Standards 1, 2, 3, 7, 10; Level 4 Standards 1, 2, 3, 7, 10; technology use if they are enjoying
Level 5 Standards 1, 2, 3, 7, 10 the discussion.
CIVICS 12-2; 36-7; 47-1; 47-2; 47-4; 47-7; 48-1; 48-3; 48-9; 50-13
CASAS 0.1.2; 0.1.5; 0.2.1; 0.2.4; 7.4.4; 7.7.1; 7.7.2; 7.7.3; 7.7.4; 7.7.5; 7.7.6

Technology 65

SAMPLE COPY, NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

 A Label the electronic equipment.

A fitness tracker laptop tablet

• Have students label the pictures in game console smartphone virtual reality headset
their books.
• Ask volunteers to read their answers
aloud. ­Correct pronunciation as
necessary.
• Ask students to explain what each
of these items is used for. Prompt
them to match items to functions. virtual reality
Which things can you play music on? 1. smartphone 2. tablet 3. headset
(smartphone, tablet) Which ones can
help you improve your health? (fitness
tracker) Which do people use at work?
(laptop, smartphone) Which can you
use to play games? (game console,

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virtual reality headset)
• Ask students what other electronic

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devices they own and what those 4. fitness tracker 5. laptop 6. game console
items are used for. Write the names of

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the items on the board for students
B Complete the sentences. Then, discuss your answers. Answers will vary.
to copy in their notebooks.

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1. I have / don’t have a laptop.

B 2. I have / don’t have internet access at home.

• Answer any questions students have
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3. The school has / doesn’t have a computer lab for students.
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about vocabulary.
4. I spend about hours a day on social media.
• Ask students to ­complete the
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sentences individually and then work 5. I have the following electronic device(s):
in pairs to compare their answers.
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• Ask volunteers to share their answers

for ­sentences 4-9 with the class. 6. I’d like to buy the following electronic device(s):
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Then, ­invite ­students to ask each

7. I can use the following software:
other ­questions about what kind of
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­technology they use regularly. 8. My favorite social media site is

9. My favorite app is
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66 Unit 5
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TEACHING TIP CULTURE NOTE

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As you discuss this topic with the
class, write any new vocabulary
that comes up on the board
(for example, game console and
memory card). At the end of
the class, ask students to copy
the list into their vocabulary
notebooks. Review the words at
the beginning of the next class.
It may be helpful to remind students to be
responsible with their use of social media. Let
them know that their digital footprint can leave
a lasting impression. For example, employers
may check this information when evaluating
candidates. Encourage students to use privacy
settings to protect personal information and
discourage posting photos or comments they
would be embarrassed to share in class.

66 Unit 5

SAMPLE COPY, NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

ACTIVE GRAMMAR Present Continuous
ACTIVE GRAMMAR:
I am sending an email. 1. The present continuous talks about an action
Present Continuous
You are ordering a pizza. that is happening now.
He
She
is
(not)
making reservations.
He is using his computer.
2. The present continuous talks about an action
A
that is temporary. • Call on individual ­students to
It is working.
He is living with his brother. make ­affirmative and ­negative
We
They
are playing a video game. (He expects to move soon.) sentences using the words in the
­grammar chart.
A Complete the sentences. Use the present continuous form of the verb. • Read the ­grammar note aloud and
give ­examples of each type of use
1. Li-Ping (write) is writing to her brother. She (email / not) is not emailing him. of the ­present ­continuous, asking
She (text) is texting him. ­students to identify the meaning.
2. Raul (take) is taking a virtual tour of an art museum. He (look) is looking For example: He’s watching TV.
at paintings by Picasso and Dalí. ­(happening right now) He’s learning
are visiting Italian. (temporary action)

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3. Mr. and Mrs. Chan (visit) their friends in the city. They (stay / not)
are not staying in a hotel. They (stay) are staying with their friends. • Have students complete Exercise A
4. Lauren (learn) is learning a new software program. She (take / not) is not taking individually.

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the course at her company. She (attend) is attending a local college. • Ask students to read their sentences

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aloud. ­Review the answers as a class.
B CIVICS Read each sign. Imagine that a person is breaking the rules. What is he or she doing?
• Then, ask students to identify which

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Answers will vary.
­sentences describe something that is
1. NO PHOTOS OR 2. NO CELLPHONES 3. 4. ­happening now and which describe
VIDEO ALLOWED KEEP OFF PLEASE
RECYCLE ­something temporary.
THE GRASS
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B
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He is taking She is talking on a He is walking She is throwing
a photo. cellphone. on the grass. something away. • Point to the first sign and read the
speech bubble aloud.
5. 6. 7. 8.
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NO SMOKING NO FOOD OR DRINK NO LOUD MUSIC PLEASE

IN COMPUTER LAB DON'T LITTER • Have students work in pairs to
complete the exercise.
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• Ask pairs to read their answers.

He is smoking. She is eating in the He is playing She is littering. ­Encourage pairs with different ­answers
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computer lab. loud music.

to read their ­descriptions also.
That man isn’t paying attention to
the sign. He is taking a photo.
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Technology 67 CIVICS
Ask students where they would
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expect to see these signs. Sample

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answers:
MORE ACTION No photos: a museum
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For further practice with the ­present No cell phones: a library

continuous, prepare a set of ­sentences that
describe actions. Write the sentences on note
cards or strips of paper. Invite volunteers to take
a ­sentence and mime the activity for the class
(play charades). The other students will try to
guess what he or she is doing. For example:
You are watching TV.
You are eating a pizza.
You are reading a newspaper.
Keep off the grass: a private home
Please recycle: a park
No smoking: hospitals, airports
No food or drink: computer lab
(given), a museum
No loud music: an apartment building
Please don’t litter: a city street,
a highway

Technology 67

SAMPLE COPY, NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION