Summary
Delve into the complexities of adulthood with this B2 lesson, examining how neuroscience is reshaping our understanding. Students will explore concepts like gray matter reduction, white matter increase, and cognitive versus emotional maturity through video analysis and discussion. A significant focus is placed on mastering the passive voice – its formation across different tenses and its application in formal scientific writing. Activities range from vocabulary building and comprehension to transforming sentences, writing academic summaries, and preparing for a debate.
Activities
Maturity and adulthood debate: Discuss age-related responsibilities, maturity definitions, cultural transitions to adulthood, and the influence of brain science on legal ages.
Scientific vocabulary: Complete a text about brain changes using key terms like neuroscientists, gray matter, pruning, myelinated, and cognitive.
Passive voice introduction: Watch a video segment to understand how and why passive voice is used in scientific texts, focusing on objectivity and action.
Brain development science: Learn about gray matter reduction and white matter increase during adolescence through video content and answer comprehension questions.
Passive voice forms: Practice transforming active sentences into various passive voice tenses (Present Simple, Present Perfect, Modal, etc.) based on examples.
Cognitive development research: Analyze video content on cognitive abilities, completing sentences using passive voice and discussing its formal effect in scientific statements.
Social and emotional influences: Explore how peer pressure affects teen decision-making and rewrite research findings using passive voice for an academic tone.
Academic writing practice: Fill in an academic paragraph on brain research using appropriate passive structures, including "It + passive" and "Modal + passive".
Waves of maturity: Discuss the concept of "waves of maturity" after watching the video's conclusion, creating passive sentences and considering legal implications.
Scientific report writing: Compose a summary of the video's main findings on brain development and adulthood, utilizing at least eight different passive voice structures.
Debate preparation: Develop arguments for a class debate on lowering the voting age, applying passive voice and academic language to support or oppose the motion.
Grammar consolidation: Correct errors in passive voice sentences related to brain science and create examples of different passive forms based on lesson content.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces terms related to brain science and development. Key vocabulary includes adulthood, maturity, neuroscientists, brain development, adolescence, trajectories, cognitive abilities, gray matter, white matter, pruning (of neural connections), myelinated (axons), and insulation. Understanding these terms is crucial for discussing the scientific aspects of becoming an adult.
Grammar focus
The primary grammar focus is the passive voice. Students will learn its formation (BE + past participle) and its use in scientific and academic writing to emphasize actions or processes rather than the agent. Various tenses are covered: Present Simple Passive, Past Simple Passive, Present Perfect Passive, Present Continuous Passive, and Modal Passive (e.g., can be measured, should be considered). Common academic patterns like "It is believed that..." are also explored.
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