Giáo án A Closer Look 2

Ss activate prior knowledge of energy sources and energy-saving actions, and get ready to notice the present continuous form.

T shows a picture of a classroom with lights and a fan switched on, then a picture of a family turning off lights. T asks Ss to look at the pictures and guess what is happening now. Ss use vocabulary: renewable, solar, wind power, coal, save energy.
Guiding questions:

• What can you see in the picture?
• Is the family saving energy now?
• Which energy sources are renewable? Which are non-renewable?

Ss name at least three energy-related actions in the pictures, for example “They are turning off the lights.” and classify the energy sources: renewable (solar, wind power) and non-renewable (coal). T writes the title of the lesson on the board: Energy sources – A Closer Look 2.

Ss identify the structure am/is/are + verb-ing, form negatives and questions, and compare the present continuous with the present simple.

T presents the grammar box “Understand the pattern”:

• Affirmative: S + am/is/are + verb-ing
• Negative: S + am/is/are + not + verb-ing
• Question: Am/Is/Are + S + verb-ing?
  T uses the example “The students are checking the lights now.” and the routine sentence “They check the lights every day.”
  Spelling rules: write → writing, run → running.
  Stative verbs: know is normally not continuous in this meaning.
  Task: Ss complete the example from the lesson: Look! The students ___ the lights. (check)

Ss write the structure correctly in notebooks and complete the example: Look! The students are checking the lights.
Key knowledge Ss record:

• Use the present continuous for actions happening now or temporary activities around now (signal words: now, at the moment, look, listen).
• Use the present simple for routines (every day).
• Negative: put not after be, e.g. We are not touching electrical wiring.
• Question: put be before the subject, e.g. Are they using solar power now?

Ss read the text on family energy-saving habits, identify present continuous forms in context, and distinguish actions that are happening now from measured results.

T gives Ss the short text: “My family is trying to use energy more carefully at home. We are opening the curtains when daylight is enough for reading. We are switching off lights in empty rooms and asking whether fans are still needed. My father is checking which appliances we use most often. We are not touching electrical wiring or switching off essential equipment. These are practical habits, but we have not yet measured how much electricity they save.”
Ss use Worksheet 1 to complete the tasks.

Ss complete Worksheet 1 with the answers below:

• Present continuous forms found in the text: is trying, are opening, are switching, are asking, is checking, are not touching, are not switching off.
• Actions that are happening now: opening the curtains, switching off lights in empty rooms, checking the appliances, not touching electrical wiring.
• The family has not yet measured how much electricity they save.
  Key takeaway: The text uses the present continuous to describe current efforts, and it does not claim measured savings.

Ss practise choosing the correct form, completing sentences with the correct verb-ing form, reordering words and judging grammar.

T uses the exercises from the lesson (with answers) on the NeoEdu page or the projector. Ss work individually for 4 minutes, then in pairs for 3 minutes.
Exercises:

1. Look! The students ___ the lights. A. check yesterday; B. is checking; C. are checking; D. checks
2. Mai ___ a report at the moment. A. write; B. is writing; C. writes yesterday; D. are writing
3. ___ they using solar power now? A. Are; B. Do; C. Does; D. Is
4. Choose the correct negative. A. We not are waste electricity.; B. We do not wasting electricity.; C. We are not waste electricity.; D. We are not wasting electricity.
5. He ___ (be) turning off the fan now. They are ___ (make) a poster.
6. Put the parts in the correct order: The students / are / saving energy / at school.
7. Judge the grammar: a) Look! The students are checking the lights. b) Look! The students checks the lights.

Answer key:

1. C (Look signals an action happening now; plural subject uses are.)
2. B (Mai is singular; use is + writing.)
3. A (Present continuous questions start with be.)
4. D (Be + not + verb-ing forms the negative.)
5. is; making (drop the final e in make before -ing.)
6. The students are saving energy at school.
7. a) Correct (Đ); b) Incorrect (S), because the plural subject needs are: The students are checking the lights.

Ss use the present continuous to write about their own family’s current energy-saving actions in a realistic and honest way.

T asks Ss to write 60–80 words about how their family is saving energy at home. Ss include current actions and reasons, and do not invent measured savings.
Guiding questions:

• What is your family doing to save energy now?
• Why are you doing these actions?
• Are you measuring how much electricity you save?
  Assessment (10 points): task/content 4; relevant organisation 2; grammar/vocabulary 3; spelling/punctuation 1.

Ss write a short paragraph of 60–80 words. A sample answer:
“My family is trying to use energy more carefully at home. My mother is turning off the lights when we leave a room. We are closing the windows when the air conditioner is on. My brother is checking the fans every evening. We are not wasting water or electricity. These habits help us save energy, but we have not measured how much electricity we save yet.”
This is one possible answer, not an automatic key.