The Happening: Modals for Speculation Might, Could.

Most reviewers criticized this movie, but I am a fan of Shayamalan, the director. All of his films have provided me with very interesting activities because the stories are very creative. I used this scene to practice modals for speculation - possibility.


A. Read the latest news in today's newspaper:












The Honeybees Disappearance:
Apparently, honeybees are disappearing all over the country. Tens of millions of them. Just disappearing. There are no bodies, no sign of them. They're just mysteriously gone.




B. Talk to a partner and come up with at least two different theories about why this might be happening. Be as creative as possible. Use modals for speculation (might, could, must ) to construct your theory.


C. Share your ideas with the whole class. Make sure you use modals for speculation while reporting your theory.


D. Each student votes for the following theories.



1. The most plausible one


2. The most farfetched one


3. The most creative one



E. Count all the votes and check what the class's opinion is.


F. Now watch the movie segment and check whether your ideas and the characters' theories matched.


G. What are the characters' theories? Write them using modals for speculation.


1. ......................................................
2. .....................................................
3. ...................................................
4. ...................................................
5. ....................................................






WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE HAPPENING


Answer Key
Ex: G
1. It might be a disease.
2. It could be a virus or infection.
3. It might be pollution.
4. It could be global warming
5. It might be an act of nature we will never fully understand.