Smartphone zombie. A lesson plan ideas

The idea of this english lesson came to me after one of the online webinars for teachers about technology at the lesson. When I first heard about such a phenomenon as smartphone zombie, I thought it's a joke. Nevertheless, it turned out to be true. And this is how the idea of making a lesson about smobies came to my mind.

Who is it a SMOBIE?

First, you have to understand what it is. A smobie is a blending of two words 'a smartphone' and 'a zombie' - a pedestrian who walks slowly without paying attention to the surroundings because it is focused on his/her smartphone.

Next a few words about the second picture of a boy on the bike who is probably writing something on his phone. He is from Holland. What is important here is that according to statistics, the majority of teenagers in Holland are taken to hospitals due to accidents that happen because they ride a bike and play games on the phone or exchange messages.

Going back to the picture with the road sign. It's in Sweden. There appeared a road sign warning drivers of the people with smart phones crossing the road.

How can we use these photos at the lesson?

Let's work out a lesson plan.

1. We start with asking pupils to describe the picture of a boy on the bike with as many verbs as you can. (ride, watch, type, drive, listen and so on...) It could be a good idea to make a list of them, first in pairs/grooups, then on the board.
2. Ask them to think of a problem that a picture may illustrate. What country can he be from?
3. Introduce the idea of a smartphone zombie ask students how they understand the expression SMARTPHONE ZOMBIE? How can it be connected with the picture? Show them the other picture with a road sign and ask for their ideas, what do they see and how the undestand the road sign. Ask them in what country it can be. What do 2 photos have in common?
4. Does the same problem occur in your country? And does it happen to you to cross the road preoccupied with your smartphone rather than traffic?
5. Let them think of the possible solutions to this modern problem and invent their own road sign warning drivers about smobies in their country. Let them point on the map of your city where such signs would be a must.

If you are interested in other curious ideas for the lesson go HERE

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