Overview:
"The Day After Tomorrow" is a great movie for students to learn both English and Global Citizenship Education (GCE):
English Learning
- Engaging Story: The fast-paced plot with a clear conflict (climate change) and relatable characters keeps students engaged, making them more receptive to learning new vocabulary and grammar.
- Variety of Dialogue: The movie features characters from different backgrounds and professions, offering exposure to a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
- Visual Cues: The spectacular visuals can help students understand the context of the dialogue and the meaning of new words.
Global Citizenship Education
- Climate Change Focus: The movie tackles the very real issue of climate change, raising awareness and promoting discussion about its global impact.
- Collaboration for Survival: The characters' need to work together to survive the disaster highlights the importance of collaboration and global cooperation in addressing global challenges.
- Discussion Starter: The film provides a springboard for discussions on environmental responsibility, sustainable practices, and the role of individuals as global citizens.
Here's how these aspects work together
- While students are following the exciting story and visually stunning special effects, they are also subconsciously absorbing new English vocabulary and sentence structures used to discuss climate change, survival, and teamwork.
- The movie sparks curiosity and encourages students to think critically about the global issue of climate change, making them more invested in learning about it and finding solutions.
Additionally
- The movie uses some scientific concepts, which can be a good opportunity to learn related English terminology.
- The urgency of the situation creates a sense of purpose in learning English, as students may see the language as a tool to understand and address global challenges.
However, it's important to note that the movie's portrayal of climate change is fictionalized and exaggerated. It can be a good starting point for discussion, but students should be encouraged to seek out more factual information on the topic.
Worksheet Contents
“The Day After Tomorrow"
Part 1
Part 1: Vocabulary Match
Match the words with their definitions.
- Destruction __ g. A box with medical supplies for minor injuries
- Account for __ e. Complete ruin or damage
- Survival kit __ f. A loud noise to warn people of danger
- First aid kit __ c. To explain or justify
- Extreme weather __ a. A set of supplies to help in emergencies
- Siren __ d. Making sure everything is current or recent
- Up to date __ b. Severe weather conditions
Part 2: True or False
Write T (True) or F (False) for each statement.
- ___ A survival kit contains food and water.
- ___ Extreme weather is calm and mild.
- ___ A siren is used to alert people of danger.
- ___ Destruction means things are built up.
- ___ A first aid kit has tools for camping.
- ___ "Up to date" means something is old.
Part 3: Fill in the Blanks
Use the vocabulary words to complete the sentences.
- The _____________ caused by the storm was unbelievable.
- We need to _____________ for all the missing supplies.
- Always keep a _____________ in your car for emergencies.
- In case of minor injuries, use the _____________.
- The _____________ warning made everyone seek shelter.
- _____________ can happen during hurricanes and tornadoes.
- Make sure your information is _____________.
8. What causes the extreme weather in the movie?
a) Pollution
b) Sudden climate change
c) Earthquake
d) Volcano eruption
9. How do the characters react to the destruction?
a) They leave town and go home
b) They find a safe place and try to survive
c) They go outside looking for help
d) They do nothing and wait for help
10. What do the characters do to survive the disaster?
a) They stay outdoors and burn fires
b) They use survival kits and help each other
c) They call for help and leave immediately
d) They move to another country
11. What lessons can we learn from the movie about preparing for emergencies?
a) It's not important to be prepared
b) Always have an emergency plan in place
c) Only rely on luck
d) Never listen to warnings
12. How does the movie show the importance of staying informed and having emergency plans?
a) Characters rely on up-to-date information and prepared supplies
b) Characters ignore the warnings
c) Characters leave everything to chance
d) Characters do not do much to prepare, just “wait it out”
13. In your opinion, will a “The Day After Tomorrow” disaster happen during your lifetime?
a) Yes, it is possible
b) No, it is impossible
Why? ____________________________________________________________
Part 2
What did you think about the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow"?
Use the provided vocabulary and idioms to help you express your ideas.
Vocabulary
1. Emotions: scared, worried, amazed, shocked, hopeful, anxious, relieved
2. Reactions: surprised, moved, impressed, frightened, thoughtful, concerned
3. Events: extreme weather, destruction, survival, disaster, emergency, climate change
4. Actions: prepare, react, survive, help, plan, inform
Please describe one scene in the movie as your example to answer each question
1. Which scene in the movie made you feel a strong emotion?
Example: When the tsunami destroyed New York City, I felt shocked.
Example: I felt relieved when they found a safe place to hide.
1. Which scene in the movie made you feel a strong emotion?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Which scene do you remember giving you a strong reaction?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. What was an event that happened that you remember in the movie?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. What actions did the people take during the movie?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Part 3
Use this as a presentation to prepare; don't put on the worksheet
After watching "The Day After Tomorrow," I felt a mix of emotions. The extreme weather and destruction blew my mind. In the scene where the huge storm hits New York, I was on the edge of my seat. It was so frightening and impressive at the same time. Seeing how the characters prepared and helped each other to survive the disaster left me speechless. Their bravery and quick thinking were truly inspiring. The movie also served as a wake-up call about the reality of climate change and the importance of being prepared for emergencies.
In a nutshell, "The Day After Tomorrow" hit home for me. It made me realize how crucial it is to stay informed and have an emergency plan. I am now more aware of the impact of climate change and the need to take action to protect our planet and ourselves.
Idioms: The Day After Tomorrow
a. Blew my mind: This means something surprised you greatly, often in a positive way, and made you think differently about something. (It was incredibly shocking and impressive.)
b. On the edge of my seat: This means you were very tense and excited while watching or experiencing something, so much so that you couldn't relax. (I was so gripped by the suspense that I couldn't stay still.)
c. A wake-up call: This means something that serves as a warning or reminder to take action, often because of a negative consequence. (It was a stark reminder of the seriousness of the situation.)
d. In a nutshell: This means to summarize something briefly, capturing the most important points. (To put it simply...)
e. Left me speechless: This means something surprised you so much or was so moving that you couldn't speak. (I was so stunned that I couldn't say a word.)
f. Hit home: This means something resonated deeply with you, often because it was emotionally impactful or relevant to your own experiences. (It really connected with me on a personal level.)
- The movie's idea of a super quick ice age totally ________!
- The destruction caused by the weather __________.
- The movie really _____ how hard it would be to survive in such a harsh environment. I hope it never happens here!
- "The Day After Tomorrow" was as a ______ about how serious climate change is.
- ______, the movie basically says, "Take care of the planet, or things could get crazy like this!"
- I was __________ whole time they were escaping the freezing city.
Please choose 2 idioms and write your own sentences about “The Day After Tomorrow”
7.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Part 4
The movie "The Day After Tomorrow" offers a great opportunity to explore themes of global citizenship education (GCE) with students. Here are some activities and questions you can use:
Activity 1: Climate Change and Global Impact
- Brainstorming: After watching the movie, have students brainstorm the ways in which climate change impacted different parts of the world in the film.
- Research: Divide students into groups and assign each group a different region or country affected by the extreme weather events. Have them research the real-world potential impacts of climate change on that specific location.
- Discussion: Bring the class back together and discuss the findings. How are the impacts of climate change similar or different across different regions?
- Global Citizenship Connection: Ask students to consider how climate change is a global issue and how actions in one part of the world can affect others. How can we work together as global citizens to address this issue?
Activity 2: Disaster Preparedness and Community Action
- Imagineering: Divide students into groups and have them imagine they live in a city or region vulnerable to a specific type of extreme weather event (e.g., floods, hurricanes, heatwaves).
- Planning: Have each group create a plan for how their community could prepare for and respond to such an event. This could include evacuation routes, communication strategies, and resource stockpiling.
- Presentation: Each group can present their plan to the class, highlighting the importance of community action and collaboration in disaster preparedness.
- Global Citizenship Connection: Discuss how concepts of disaster preparedness and community action are relevant to global citizens everywhere. Explore examples of how communities around the world have prepared for and responded to natural disasters.
Discussion Prompts:
- The film depicts a fictional scenario, but what are some real-world examples of extreme weather events caused by climate change?
- What are some of the challenges that countries face in dealing with climate change?
- What are some individual actions we can take to reduce our impact on the environment and promote climate action?
- How can technology be used to monitor and address climate change?
- What are the roles and responsibilities of governments, businesses, and individuals in promoting global citizenship and environmental sustainability?
These are just a few ideas to get you started. By using "The Day After Tomorrow" as a springboard, you can help students develop their critical thinking skills, understand the global impact of climate change, and explore the importance of responsible global citizenship.
Part 5
IELTS Speaking Topics: Bad Weather & Climate Change
Part 1 - Introduction & Interview (just write notes to help you speak)
- Have you ever experienced any extreme weather events?
(floods, typhoons, heatwaves)
________________________________________________________________ - How does the weather typically affect your daily life in your country?
________________________________________________________________ - Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Why?
________________________________________________________________
Part 2 - Long Turn
- Describe a time when your plans were disrupted by extreme weather.
________________________________________________________________ - Talk about an extreme weather event that had a big impact on your community.
________________________________________________________________ - Imagine you're preparing for an upcoming heatwave or snowstorm. Describe how you would get ready.
________________________________________________________________
Part 3 - Discussion
- Do you think extreme weather events are becoming more common? Why/not?
________________________________________________________________ - How can governments and individuals better prepare for extreme weather?
________________________________________________________________ - Some people believe that extreme weather is a consequence of climate change. What's your opinion on this?
_______________________________________________________________ - How can technology help us predict and deal with extreme weather events?
_______________________________________________________________