Конспект урока на тему "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Geographical position and climate"

LESSON 1



The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Geographical position and climate



           1. Brainstorming: Talk to your partner first, then have a class discussion.



How many countries does the UK include?

Can  you name the main parts of the UK?

What are their capitals?

What do you know about climate of this country? 



2. Read, translate and learn new words.

contiguous – близкий				to distinguish – различать 

to be surrounded – быть окруженным	to comprise – составлять 

latitude – широта 					axis – ось 

to predominate – преобладать 			unsettled – неустойчивый 

mild – мягкий 					wet – влажный 

windy – ветреный 				range – диапазон 

dry – сухой 					slight – небольшой



3. Read and translate the text.

Britain is the term used for the island containing the contiguous nations of England, Scotland and Wales. Great Britain is used to distinguish Britain from Brittania Minor, or Brittany, in France. The term "Great Britain" was officially used only after King James I acceded to the throne of England and Wales in 1603.

England, Scotland and Wales together with the province of Northern Ireland, form the country officially known as "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" or simply the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands, but without the Isle of Man) is a member of the European Union. 

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles. With a population of about 60.0 million people in mid-2009, it is the third most populous island in the world, after Java and Honshū. Great Britain is surrounded by over 1,000 smaller islands and islets. The island of Ireland lies to its west. Politically, Great Britain may also refer to the island itself together with a number of surrounding islands which comprise the territory of England, Scotland and Wales.

All of the island is territory of the sovereign state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and most of the United Kingdom's territory is in Great Britain. Most of England, Scotland, and Wales are on the island of Great Britain, as are their respective capital cities: London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.

Great Britain lies to the northwest of Continental Europe and east of Ireland. It is separated from the continent by the North Sea and by the English Channel, which narrows to 34 kilometres at the Straits of Dover. It stretches over about ten degrees of latitude on its longer, north-south axis, and occupies an area of 209,331 km2, excluding all the smaller surrounding islands of the archipelago. The North Channel, Irish Sea, St George's Channel and Celtic Sea separate the island from the island of Ireland to its west. The island is physically connected with continental Europe with the Channel Tunnel, the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world which was completed in 1993. Geographically, the island is marked by low, rolling countryside in the east and south, while hills and mountains predominate in the western and northern regions. It is surrounded by over 1,000 smaller islands and islets. The greatest distance between two points is 968 km or 1,349 km using the national road network. 

In the UK the large temperature variation creates instability and this is a major factor that influences the often unsettled weather the country experiences, where many types of weather can be experienced in a single day. Regional climates in the United Kingdom are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and latitude. Northern Ireland, Wales and western parts of England and Scotland, being closest to the Atlantic, are generally the mildest, wettest and windiest regions of the UK, and temperature ranges here are seldom extreme. Eastern areas are drier, cooler, and less windy. Northern areas are generally cooler, wetter and have a slight bigger temperature range than southern areas.



4. Complete the sentences.

1) Britain is the term used for the island containing the nations of … .

2) England, Scotland and Wales together with the province of Northern Ireland, form the country officially known as … .

3) Britain is an island situated to the … of Continental Europe.

4) … is the third most populous island in the world, after Java and Honshū.

5) Great Britain is surrounded by over … smaller islands and islets.

6) Most of the United Kingdom's territory is … .

7) Great Britain is separated from the continent by … .

8) The island is physically connected with continental Europe with … .

9) Regional climates in the United Kingdom are influenced by … .

10) … areas are drier, cooler, and less windy.





5. Write down the right answers to the test.

1) The UK includes … parts.

a) 2			b) 3			c) 4			d) 5



2) Great Britain is an island situated to the … of Continental Europe.

a) northeast		b) northwest		c) north		d) south



3) Great Britain is the … largest island in the world.

a) 11th 		b) 6th 			c) 9th 			d) 10th 



4) The island of Ireland lies to Britain’s  … .

a) north		b) west		c) south		d) east



5) The capital of the UK is … .

a) Belfast		b) Edinburgh	c) Cardiff		d) London



6. Express agreement or disagreement with the statements.

1) Great Britain lies to the southwest of Continental Europe.

2) The North Channel, Irish Sea, St George's Channel and Celtic Sea separate the island from the island of Ireland to its south.

3) The climate of the UK is sharply continental.  

4) England, Scotland and Wales together with the province of Northern Ireland, form the country officially known as "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" or simply the United Kingdom.

5) Regional climates in the United Kingdom are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and latitude.



Talk to your partner and answer the questions of exercise 1.



8. Project work:  collect some more information about The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Prepare a presentation.