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The Steam Engine: Powering the World

Episode of the series Amazing Inventions

CEFR: A2, B1

In this episode

Illustrated slideshow (62 images)
Glossary
Comprehension quiz (45 questions)
18 cultural notes

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Extract: the first 30 seconds of the episode. The full episode lasts 5 min 12 s.

Level

The episode

The invention behind the Industrial Revolution. A problem in England's coal mines leads to a clever invention: engineers learn to use the power of steam, and their new engines power factories, trains and a whole new world.

Episode worksheets (2)

Student sheet In your teacher account
Teacher sheet In your teacher account

Teaching guide

Objective & content

This documentary episode explains how the steam engine developed, from flooded coal mines in England to factories and trains. It follows Thomas Savery (1698), Thomas Newcomen (1712), James Watt, who added a condenser in 1765, and Matthew Boulton, who helped build Watt's engines, and it ends with Richard Trevithick's first train. The grammar focus is the past simple, regular and irregular, used to tell a story in order. The vocabulary covers inventions and transport (steam, coal, cylinder, piston, condenser). Learners practise listening comprehension and an explanation of how steam makes a wheel turn ("When water boils, it becomes steam.").

Materials & prerequisites

A student sheet and a teacher sheet (PDF and HTML) in the episode printables.
Learners should already know the present simple and basic time expressions with years.

Possible adaptations

Lower levels: Offer segmented listening and additional visual aids.
Advanced levels: Encourage an oral summary and a debate in English on the theme.
Large groups: Organise group work with differentiated roles.

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