Lesson made on June 20, 2025
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Reading Lesson:
When the movie Jaws came out 50 years ago in 1975, it scared a lot of people and made sharks seem like dangerous monsters that love to eat humans. The film shows a giant great white shark attacking swimmers and fishermen, and for a long time, you don’t even see the whole shark–just its fin and the bloody water. This made the suspense even scarier.
Jaws became a huge hit and started the idea of the summer blockbuster movie. It also made many people afraid of sharks. Some even started shark-hunting contests, thinking the animals were evil killers. But real great white sharks are not as big or as cruel as the one in the movie. Scientists say that shark bites are usually accidents. Sharks might mistake a person for a seal or other food, but they almost never eat people on purpose.
Before Jaws, sharks were not seen as very important. But as more people started surfing and diving, they had more chances to meet sharks in the ocean. Then the fear grew, and movies like Jaws made it worse.
Over time, though, people became more interested in learning about sharks instead of just fearing them. Scientists have discovered that sharks help keep ocean life in balance. They are powerful animals, but they do not hunt humans for fun.
Now, many people want to protect sharks because their numbers are going down, mostly from overfishing. We can admire and respect sharks–but we still need to be careful around them.
Comprehension Quiz:
Speaking and Writing Activities:
– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.
– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.
1. Have you ever seen a wild animal in real life? What was it like?
2. What is something you were afraid of as a child? Do you still feel the same way now?
3. Have you ever seen a movie that scared you a lot? What was it, and what made it scary?
More Reading Practice:
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is a famous American movie director and producer. He became well known after making the movie Jaws in 1975. It was about a great white shark that attacks people near a beach town. The movie was very exciting and scary, and it became a huge success. Jaws made Spielberg famous and helped change how movies were made and shown in theaters.
After Jaws, Spielberg made many other popular movies, like E.T., Jurassic Park, and Indiana Jones. His movies are known for their strong stories, emotions, and imagination. Some of his films also teach important lessons or show real events from history, like Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.
Today, Steven Spielberg is still making movies. He is respected all over the world for his talent and for the way he changed the movie business.
Great White Sharks
Great white sharks are large, powerful fish that live in the ocean. They have a white belly and a grey back, which helps them hide from other animals in the water. Great white sharks are known for their sharp teeth and strong jaws. They eat animals like seals, sea lions, and fish.
These sharks can grow very big–some are as long as a car. They are fast swimmers and can sometimes jump out of the water when they attack their prey.
People used to think great white sharks were monsters because of movies like Jaws. But in real life, they are not trying to hurt people. Shark attacks are rare, and most of the time, the shark lets go after one bite because it realizes the person is not food.
Great white sharks are important for the ocean. They help keep other animal populations balanced. Today, they are in danger because people sometimes kill them or take too many fish from the ocean. Scientists are trying to protect them so they don’t disappear.
Video: 1975 Jaws movie trailer
ESL lesson about whales attacking boats