Brain Games: In Living Colour

Level: B1+
Age: Young Learners, Teens, Adulst
Theme: Colours, The Brain, Perception

Brain Games is another great National Geographic TV show my students suggested and it really does introduce some thought-provoking concepts to the lessons.  There are loads of really interesting episodes which can be used to engage students and stimulate colourful(!) classroom discussions.

This particular clip is from Season 3 Episode 1 and has some great brain games related to colour. The games involving the beach and castle really surprised me.

Do or Die: Raging Bull

Level: B1+
Age: Teens to Adults
Theme: Animals, Conditionals, Life or Death situations

Do or Die is a great TV series from the National Geographic Channel and so guarantees lots of informative engaging content that can be used in class.

Here are some warm-up questions that I set (copy and past onto preferred presentation program:

1. What are the most popular sports in the USA/Middle East/Europe/Asia?

2. Do you know about any strange sports that are unique to particular countries?

 Gaelic football / Bull fighting / Basque pelota / Highland games

Watch the start of the video clip, did your group mention these sports? 

Answer this question:

3.  How many people a year typically attend the major sports stadiums in North America? 277 million

Stop the video clip

Next section:

4. What are the bulls selectively bread to possess?

Enhanced aggression, strength and stamina

5. What speed can a bull reach when charging?

40 mph

6. What is being hit by bull like?

An 1,100 pound battering ram

What would you do?

Stop video and ask question in pairs / groups

Then show the three options on the clip.

What does flank / bleacher mean?

 

 

Which option would you choose?

Here’s what you should consider.

Q1.  What do loud noises do to the bull? Raise its hearbeat.

Q2.  How far can a large fighting bull toss a full grown man?

More than 30 feet / 10 feet higher than a single story house.

Q3.  How big is a bull’s fight zone? 100 feet

Make your final choice: A, B or C.

Stop clip, students pick final choice and write on mini whiteboards.

Which choice is correct / wrong? Why?

A – Move towards the bull’s flanks: Lateral positioning of eyes, 330 degree panoramic vision, blind-spot behind, bucking bull not appropriate.

B - Wave a Light-Coloured Cloth: matador waves red cape, white has opposite effect? No.  Bulls are colour blind.

C – Run down the bleachers: forelegs shorter than hind legs. Poor depth perception shadows/downwards slopes. 

Who survived!?