Pumping systems

Authors: Dr Omer Hayban Omer, Abdelmahmoud Mohammed Ahmef, Nazar Abdelhadi Elmona,Amna Hussein Omer Hussein and Mussab Hassan Ibrahim Fegiri (Sudan)  | Published on 1 March 2023

 

Level: B1

Time: 45- 60 minutes

Objective: To enable learners to use the present simple to describe processes.

Starter: Before reading the short statements below, show the class the heart and centrifugal pump pictures to stimulate and motivate them.

Say: “A pump is a part of every system for moving fluids from one place to another. The heart pumps blood through arteries, veins and capillaries across the body. The surface centrifugal pump, on the other hand, pumps water through pipes to household water taps.”

Stage 1: Language Focus: Present Simple  

Describing Processes

Split students into two groups to swap information on their existing knowledge of water and blood circulation.

Examples:

1. The heart pumps blood throughout the body
2. Arteries carry blood to all parts of the body.
3. Veins collect the blood from the body.
4. Blood enters the heart through arteries.
5. The lungs oxygenate the blood.
6. Capillaries bridge arteries and veins.
7. Centrifugal pumps move fluid by using centrifugal force to generate velocity of the liquid. 
8. Fluid enters the pump through the suction nozzle, into the eye of the impeller. 
9. The impeller vanes catch the fluid and rotate it until it exits the pump on the discharge side.

Stage 2: Form

On the board, explain the structures and the habitual actions’ adverbials of the present simple tense.  

Positive:

(3d Person Singular) + infinitive without to +…S. 

The heart pumps blood throughout the body.

Centrifugal pumps move fluid.

Negative:

(3d Person Singular) +Does not infinitive without to: 

            The heart does not pump water throughout the body.

            Centrifugal pumps do not move blood.

Questions:

Yes / No Questions.

Does (3d Person Singular) + infinitive without to? 

         Does the heart pump blood throughout the body?

        Do Centrifugal pumps move fluid?

Wh- Questions.      

 Wh- + Does+ (3d Person Singular) + infinitive without  to ?

       How does the heart pump blood throughout the body? 

      How do Centrifugal pumps move fluid?

Stage Three: Use

The present simple is used to express facts.

       The heart pumps blood around the body

        Engineers draw pumps on pieces of paper.

Stage 4: Feedback

Check learners’ understanding of how to form the Present Simple.

Grammar Check: (1): Use the present simple by putting the verbs in brackets in the correct grammatical forms.

1. The heart ...........................................(beat) 72 times per minute.
2. The centrifugal pump ..........................(not work) without power source.
3. Arteries .........................................(not pump) blood.

Grammar Check: (2):

In pairs, students practise the structures of the simple present as in the example below:

Example: My heart beats fast.

  My heart does not beat fast.……………

  Does your heart beat fast?

  How often does your heart beat fast?

1. The heart works regularly.

2. The centrifugal pumps pump liquids.