Dark Skies is a great thriller, but the ending is a bit disappointing. The movie gave me chills, which I love while watching thrillers. I recommend it. This is an intriguing scene, perfect for modals for speculation.

I. Watch the segment, discuss the questions below, and then check the items that you believe are possible explanations for the  phenomenon in the segment.

1. Describe the phenomenon.

2. What was so peculiar about it?

3. Have you ever heard of anything similar to it? Talk about it.

4. How would you react if you lived in that house?

Which items below are possible explanations for the phenomenon? Write I if you believe it is possible, according to your own opinion. Write C if at least one of the characters believe it is possible. Write B if both characters and yourself believe they are possible explanations.

( ) The birds were contaminated.

( ) It was the start of an outbreak - a sudden beginning of a disease or something else dangerous or unpleasant.

( ) The birds were sick.

( ) It was avian flu.

( ) It happened because of environmental causes, such as hail storms or lightning.

( ) It was caused by fireworks.

II. Rewrite the sentences above, using past modals for speculation.

Ex: The birds might have been contaminated.


III. What MUST have happened, in your opinion? What is the most plausible explanation?Justify your answer.

IV. Rewrite the sentences in II, using past modals for speculation.
 

Ex: The birds might have been contaminated.

2 _______________________________________________
3 _______________________________________________
4 _______________________________________________
5 _______________________________________________
6 _______________________________________________

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DARK SKIES

Answer Key:

Answers will vary, but all of the items in I are possible explanations, according the movie characters.

2. It might have been the start of an outbreak.

3. The birds might have been sick.

4. It might have been avian flu.

5. It might have happened because of environmental causes.

6. It might have been caused by fireworks.

 

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This movie has great music and touching acting. The scene the little boy disappears is perfect for modals for speculation and regrets. I used it for a production, not controlled exercise.

A. Watch the movie segment and write sentences using past modal verbs.

I. Write down 3 sentences saying what might have happened while the boy was lost.



Ex: The boy must have hidden himself somewhere.

1. _____________________

2. _____________________

3. _____________________

II. Write down 3 sentences saying what the main character should not have done.

Ex: He shouldn't have left the boy unattended.

1. ______________________

2. _____________________

3. _____________________

III. Write down 3 sentences saying what he should have done.

Ex: He should have kept an eye on the boy all the time.

1. _______________________

2. _______________________

3. _______________________

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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - CRAZY HEART

Answers will vary.

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If you have never seen this movie, run to the next dvd store and don't hesitate renting it. I love the unexpected ending. This scene is great to practice past modals, but this time answering questions with the target grammar goal.








A. Watch the movie segment and answer the questions using past modals for speculation.





1. The little girl prayed in front of a church. What must/might she have asked for in her prayers?

.................................................................


2. What might have happened after her prayers that made her smile?

.................................................................



3. What might the soldiers have seen in the sky?

..................................................................


4. What might have happened after that scene?

..................................................................



B. Now watch the second segment, which explains what actually happened.
Check whether your guesses were right. Then discuss the questions that follow.











1. What actually happened?


2. Do you believe in miracles? Why (not)?


3. What could have been a possible explanation for the happening?


4. Do you believe this is a true story? Why (not)?


5. Have you ever heard of a miracle you believed actually happened? Tell us about it.

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I just love this movie, which was not such a great blockbuster. The story is clever and I was intrigued by the plot throughout the movie. Although a bit shocking, the scene is perfect to speculate about what happened to the characters. So I used it to practice the use of past modals for speculation.

Watch the video segment and guess what might have happened
to the characters. Check the options you believe are possible
explanations for the characters’ current situation.

( ) Jen took too many tranquilizers in the previous night.

( ) Her daughter had a domestic accident.

( ) Jen hurt her daughter.

( ) Jen’s daughter hurt herself.

( ) Jen’s husband, Jim, didn’t die.

( ) Jim died in a car accident.

( ) Jen hit her head on the floor and can’t remember anything.

( ) One of the children was attacked by a mad dog.

Now rewrite these sentences using past modal verbs to express
probability/ possibility/ impossibility.

Ex:

1 - Jen might have taken too many tranquilizers in the previous night.

2 - Her daughter might have had a domestic accident.

.

How to prepare your own video activity:

Grammar Goal: Past Modals – Speculation/ Impossibility

• Select a segment in which the viewer cannot predict what happened before the scene actually takes place.
• Prepare an exercise with several possible (or impossible) explanations for the puzzle.
• Ask students to rewrite the same sentences, using the grammar point – Might/ Could/ Can’t/ Must + have + past participle.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czu33VpqbCA&feature=youtu.be

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This is one the scariest movies I have ever seen, but the scene isn't. It is, in fact, great to practice past modals for speculations for the main characters have no idea of how they got to that place.



Watch the video segment and guess what might have happened to the characters.


Check the options you believe are possible explanations for the characters to be in such a place.


( ) They were drugged before taken to that room.

( ) Adam was kidnapped while he was sleeping.

( ) Adam had his kidney removed.

( ) A stranger took Lawrence, the doctor, to that place.

( ) A serial killer planned a horrible death for the characters.

( ) Adam and Lawrence went there because they wanted to.

Now rewrite them, using past modal verbs to express probability/ possibility/ impossibility.

Ex:

They might have been drugged before taken to that room.

Adam can’t have had his kidney removed.

A serial killer must have planned a horrible death for the characters.

How to develop your own video acyivity:


• Select a segment in which the viewer cannot predict what happened before the scene actually takes place

• Prepare an exercise with several possible (or impossible) explanations for the puzzle

• Ask students to rewrite the same sentences, using with the grammar goal





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