Lights Off, Lights On

INTERNET FRIENDS

Module

Relationships

Unit

Friends

Programme Outline

Richard loves remote-control car racing and computer car-racing games. He always wins when playing computer games but not in the real races. He is quite upset about it. While he is deep in thought, a personified computer, Top Model 501, appears and challenges him with more meaningful activities with the computer such as searching the Internet for information and sending e-mail messages to friends. Richard tries his hands at the computer searching for ways to make his racing car a better one. He also gets to know an Internet friend, Billy Simms, who is the son of his mother’s friend, Mrs Simms. Billy shares the same interest and knows a lot about racing cars. Finally, Richard gets his problems solved through meeting his Internet friend in Hong Kong during his visit with his mother.

Guess what happens in the end? Richard and Billy win the remote control car racing and Richard enjoys showing Billy around Hong Kong.

Key Stage Targets

To develop an ever-improving capability to use English

-to establish and maintain relationships in familiar situations (I.D. a)

-to converse about feelings, interests, ideas, experiences and plans (I.D. b)

-to exchange messages such as writing simple letters(I.D. c)

-to interpret and use given information through processes such as matching; and to follow instructions (K.D.b)

Communicative Functions

Give a simple description of oneself and others in terms of name, age, habits and abilities

Examples:

My name is Richard Lee. I am eight years old.

I am studying in Primary 3. I like remote control cars.

I also like cycling and swimming.

Who’s Billy?

Billy Simms. He’s the son of your mother’s friend, Mrs Simms.

Make and respond to simple inquiries

Examples:

Who’s that?

Don’t you know me? I am TM 501, the world famous computer

But don’t I need a stamp?

No, you don’t. And you don’t even need a postman.

It’s all on the Internet

When will I get a reply?

Check the mail tomorrow. You may get a reply then.

Make simple suggestions

Examples:

What about ‘Greetings from Hong Kong’?

What a good idea!

Billy, do you have any plans for your stay in Hong Kong?

No. What would you suggest?

Let’s search the Internet to see what we can find.

Language Skills

Listening

-use visual clues, context and knowledge of the world to work out the meaning of an unknown word and a complete expression

Reading

-use context and knowledge of the world to work out the meaning of an unknown word and a complete expression

-recognize format and language features in non-narrative texts

Writing

-develop written texts by using appropriate format and language features when writing non-narrative texts such as a description and a simple letter

Pre-viewing Activities

Ask pupils what they know about ways of communicating with other people such as telephone, letters, fax, the Internet and whether they like talking to people on the Internet and why. Briefly introduce the programme.
Introduce the following vocabulary/expressions if necessary:

remote-control cars, computer, the Internet, search, Stanley,

Tsing Ma Bridge, Aberdeen.

Post-viewing Activities

In Part I of the COPYMASTERs 1 & 2, pupils are asked to respond to Jenny Green’s letter by making a reply in the format of an e-mail message based on the model given. Teachers have to remind pupils of the format of a message such as the beginning and the ending, and the e-mail address. Pupils are encouraged to send e-mail messages to Friends and relatives abroad should they have access to the Internet.
Pupils complete Part II on the COPYMASTERs 3 & 4. In the quiz, they are first asked to match some places in Hong Kong with their descriptions. After completing the quiz, teachers may ask pupils to tell the major features of each place or relate to their personal experiences to these places. Pupils may do the second part as home assignment for they have to look up a Hong Kong map in order to label the places to show their locations in Hong Kong.

Answers for matching:

Answers for labeling the map:

Follow-up Activities

In Part III of the COPYMASTER 5, pupils may discuss in groups to plan the tour for Jenny by using the information obtained in Part II. They have to consider the locations of the places and the time factor as well. Group leaders are invited to share their plans with the class to include reasons for their choice.

Internet Friends

______

Part I

Looking for an Internet Friend.

Today, your teacher showed your class some letters. Some children from Canada wrote to your school to look for Internet Friends in Hong Kong.

Read this letter from Jenny Green.

Write a reply to Jenny and tell her about yourself.

You can include the following:

a)your name and age

b)your family

c)the class you are in

d)the name of your school

e)the way you get to school

f)what you like to do

COPYMASTER 2

Internet Friends

______

3. Jenny has sent you an e-mail. Read hear message.

COPYMASTER 3

Internet Friends

______

Part I

Newspaper Quiz on Places in Hong Kong

While thinking of the places to show Jenny around Hong Kong, you found a quiz on Places in Hong Kong in the newspaper.

COPYMASTER 4

Internet Friends

______

Mom gave you a letter this morning.

COPYMASTER 5

Internet Friends

______

Part III

Plan the visit for Jenny.

Jenny is coming to Hong Kong next week.

Discuss with your classmates and write down your plan to show Jenny around Hong Kong for three days.

Then fill in the blanks with the names of the places and the day.

Day

Day1 / Places to visit
______
after arriving Hong Kong in the afternoon
Day ______
Day ______
Day ______
Day ______
Day ______/ ______
to use your free tickets for the visit
______
to enjoy the beach
______
to see the night scene in Hong Kong
______
to enjoy seafood with Jenny for dinner
______
to buy Chinese gifts