Extreme Climates (CEFR A2-B1)

Age: 12 - 15

45 – 50 Minutes
Teacher’s Notes
March 2012
Starting off

Before you begin the lesson, translate the title ‘Extreme Climates’ for your
students. The lesson starts with an opportunity for some revision of the basic
weather words in English. During feedback you might want to build up a list on the
WB. With question two, encourage the students to look out of the window and
describe the weather today. For question three, accept a range of ideas for why
students have chosen a particular season. These need not be connected to the
weather or climate.

Vocabulary 1

KEY
1. extremely = very, very
2. below = less than (for temperature)
3. minus = use with temperatures of less than zero
4. plus = use with temperatures of more than zero
5. desert = a very dry place with not many plants or animals
6. soaked = very, very wet

Language Work

Check answers as a class.

KEY
1. given

2. hot plus 38°C

hotter plus 32°C
hottest plus 28°C

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 3. dry 100mm rain per year
drier 25mm rain per year
driest 500mm rain per year

4. wet 5m rain per year

wetter 10m rain per year
wettest 15m rain per year

Before you read

It would be helpful to point out the location of the countries mentioned in this
section on a world map. Without revealing the answers, ask for a few suggestions
open-class before students read and check.

First Reading

This first reading should be a quick one. Encourage students to skim the text and
check their ideas and not to worry about unknown words at this stage. Ask them to
check in pairs before feedback.

KEY
1. c
2. c
3. b
4. a

Second Reading

Students should read more slowly and carefully this time. Again, have them check
in pairs before feedback.

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KEY
1. Europe
2. Antarctica
3. Libya
4. Chile
5. Northeast India

Speaking

This activity is likely to be most successful if you allow the students time to plan
what they are going to say, before they begin to speak. It might also help if you
give your own example answers first, so they know what you expect of them and
can use your ideas as a model.

Extra Activity

This month’s extra activity relies on having a IWB or projector in the classroom, or
on students having access to computers. For further ideas on exploiting the
Interactive Climate and Environment Map, see this month’s teaching tips article.

Follow-on work
For a range of possible follow-on tasks for this lesson, see this month’s teaching
tips article.

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