II: Title of the Topic: OUR WORLD (MODULE 3.

2)

This unit introduces language concepts and vocabulary for talking about our basic needs: food,
water, energy, and air. Our planet Earth is the focus and the conditions necessary for life to
exist. Simple casual relations and conditionals are also introduced in preparation for further
development in levels 3 and 4.

Objectives: A. To be able to understand and use there is to express that something exists,
and it is to express a condition.

B. To be able to understand and use simple comparisons and superlatives in

questions and answers.

C. To be able to understand and use the modals must, can, and would to
express necessity, potentiality, and certainty of causal relationships.

D. To introduce simple conditionals in preparation for later Units.

Presentation of topics in “OUR WORLD”

a. Our Planet Earth
b. Air, Water, and Pollution
c. Questions
d. Focus Exercises
In the first lesson, Our Planet Earth, we present the relationship between the Earth and the Sun: how
life depends on the Sun, and how a change in the distance between the Earth and the Sun would change
the conditions necessary for life to exist.

The second lesson, Air, Water, and Pollution, focuses on our basic needs: water, air, food, and how
pollution threatens our existence. The lesson ends with a call for us all to work together to care for our
beautiful planet.

Learning Points

Amount/quantification (enough, plenty, not enough, the third, one of)

The Earth is one of nine planets. It is the third planet from the sun. The second closest planet to
the sun is Venus. Altogether, there are nine planets. Without enough water, there aren’t
enough plants and trees.

Cause/effect ---- They died out because conditions changed. Polluted air makes us sick.
Automobiles are a major cause of pollution. Conditions must be right for life to exist. Plants
and trees produce the air that we breathe. Without enough water, food can’t grow.
Conditional relations ----- Without water, there would be no life. Conditions must be right for
life to exist. If we were closer to the sun, it would be too hot for us. When conditions are not
right, life cannot exist.

Comparison, -er than, superlatives, -est

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. The second closest planet is Venus. How many planets
are closer to the sun? Two of the planets are closer to the sun than the Earth. Six planets are
farther away. If we were closer to the sun, it would be too hot for us.

Reason ----- They died out because conditions changed. Conditions must be right for life to
exist. Without the sun, would there be life on Earth? Without enough water, food can’t grow,
and people don’t have enough to eat. To take care of the world is to take care of ourselves.

Reference ---- The Earth is one of nine planets that travel around the sun. It is the only planet
where life exists. Millions of years ago, there were forms of life that no longer exist. These
forms of life are now extinct. They died out because conditions changed. Human beings are one
form of life that still lives on this planet. Factories such as this one cause lots of pollution.

Relative pronouns, adjective/adverb clauses (that, where, which)

The Earth is one of nine planets that travel around the sun. The Sun gives us the energy that we
need. Polluted air also kills the plants, which give us clean air. Earth is the only planet where life
exists.

there (existential)
There are nine planets. In some parts of our world, there isn’t enough water. Without the sun,
there would be no life on earth. Millions of years ago, there were forms of life that no longer
exist.

Necessity, potentiality, certainty (must, can, would)

Conditions must be right for life to exist. When conditions are not right, life cannot exist.
Without enough water, food can’t grow. If we were closer to the sun, our planet would burn.
Without water and air, there would be no life.

Key Sentences

Our Planet, Earth (Module 3.2.1)

This is our planet, Earth. It is one of the nine planets that travel around the sun. Earth is the
only planet where life exists. It is the third planet from the sun. Mercury is the closest planet to
the sun. The second closest planet to the sun is Venus.
Altogether, there are nine planets. Two of the planets are closer to the sun than the Earth. Six
planets are farther away from the sun than the Earth.

Our planet is 93 million miles away from the sun. The sun gives us the energy that we need.
The sun is very important to us all. It gives us heat and light. Without it, there would be no life
on Earth.
If we were closer to the sun, it would be too hot for us. Our planet would burn. If we were
farther from the sun, it would be too cold. Our planet would freeze. As you can see, balance in
nature is very important. In nature, small changes can make big differences.

Air, Water, and Pollution (Module 3.2.2)

Besides energy from the sun, we also need water and air. Without water and air, there would
be no life. Without enough water, there are not enough plants and trees. Plants and trees
produce the air that we breathe. We also need water to grow our food. In some parts of our
world, there isn’t enough water. Food can’t grow without enough water, and people don’t have
enough to eat.

Conditions must be right for life to exist. When conditions are not right, life cannot exist. For
example, millions of years ago, some forms of life no longer exist. These forms of life are now
extinct. They died out because conditions changed.

Now, all of us face the problem of pollution. Pollution changes the conditions that we depend
on. Polluted air makes us sick. It’s bad for our health. Pollution also kills the plants, which give
us clean air. Polluted water kills animals and fish. It also poisons our food supply. Automobiles
are a major cause of air pollution. Factories can cause lots of pollution.
care of the world is to take care of ourselves. Let’s work together to keep our world alive and
well.