Preview · the opening missionThis lesson teaches science and English together (CLIL: content and language integrated learning). It is written for students learning English at about CEFR A2–B1.
| Students will… | |
|---|---|
| Science | Measure how much soil rain washes off different model hillsides, and explain that terraces and plant roots slow water down so it carries less soil away. |
| Language: words | Use the key words: soil, slope, steep, flat, terrace, rain, runoff, erosion, roots, wall, fast, slow. |
| Language: speaking | Predict and give a reason: I think the ___ slope will lose the most soil because ___. Compare: The bare slope lost more soil than the terraced slope. |
| Language: writing | Write short advice using should and because, with a number from the data. |
Before the lesson: teach the key words with real objects and gestures (hold a tray flat, then tilt it for steep; rub soil between your fingers; make rain with your fingers). The Key words worksheet has English and Vietnamese, with a space to draw each word.
Look inside the PDF
Sample pages, stamped “preview”. The download is the clean, full lesson.
In the full lesson PDF
- Mission (5 min)
- Predict (5 min)
- Hunt (25 min)
- Reveal (10–15 min)
- Act (10 min)
- Background for the teacher
- Assessment
- Student sheet
- Worksheet: Key words
- Worksheet: Talk about it
- Worksheet: Label the hillsides
- Worksheet: Try it at home
On the student sheet
- My prediction
- Our results
- Class results
- Graph it
- My advice to the village
- Exit ticket
- Key words
- Talk about it
- Label the hillsides
- Try it at home
US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white. The student sheet is on its own page, ready to photocopy.
Free with an account (any 3 lessons), or US$19 / C$25 for all 3 lessons in this unit.
What students show by the end
- Collects fair data
- Explains erosion
- Uses evidence to advise
From the lesson’s rubric, which scores each one as not yet, getting there or got it.
Questions teachers ask
How long does “How do rice terraces stop a mountain washing away?” take?
60 min, or two 35-minute periods. Group size: teams of 3.
How much prep does it need?
20 minutes: cut the cartons open and cut a small spout at one end. Poke 10 to 15 small holes in each rain-bottle cap with a drawing pin. Dig or buy damp garden soil (not dry dust, not wet mud). Find grass turf or moss, or cut kitchen sponges into strips.
What materials do I need?
Shallow trays, foil roasting pans or 1–2 L milk or juice cartons cut open along one side, with a small spout cut at one end; damp garden soil; plastic bottle, 1.5 L, with small holes poked in the cap (the 'rain bottle'); books or wooden blocks to tilt the trays, all the same height (about 8 cm); clear plastic cups to catch the runoff; measuring jug, 500 mL or bigger; and 4 more. Cost: about $15 for a class of 30, using soil from outside and recycled cartons.
Which curriculum standards does it cover?
NGSS (US): 5-PS1-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-2, 3-5-ETS1-2 and 3-5-ETS1-3.
What’s in the lesson PDF?
A teacher guide that walks you through mission, predict, hunt, reveal, act, background for the teacher and assessment, then a student sheet (“My prediction”, “Our results”, “Class results”, “Graph it”, “My advice to the village”, “Exit ticket”, “Key words”, “Talk about it”, “Label the hillsides” and “Try it at home”) on its own page, ready to photocopy. It’s US Letter and prints cleanly in black and white.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. A free account includes any 3 full lessons of your choice, and this can be one of them. After that, this unit is US$19 (C$25) for all 3 lessons, yours to keep, or every lesson is US$79 (C$109) a year.