Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Consumer Electronics

Children into computers younger than ever

Children are using and owning consumer electronics from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research shows the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets has declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting choosy about what they buy. More and more young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are drawn to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

The study is based on data collected via an online survey to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average of three days per week. Surprisingly, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father of two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He admits to often having to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech savvy that soon Sony will bring out a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s play.

WARM-UPS

1. CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about consumer electronics and children. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

children / market research / computers / trends / DVD players / parents / fear / data / online surveys / averages / consumers / instructions / child’s play

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. GADGETS: With your partner(s), decide which of these gadgets are most important to you. Rank them from first to last. Change partners and share your findings.

television
computer
cell phone
games machine

music player
electronic dictionary
digital camera
other ___________________

4. SAVVY KIDS: What are your feelings about children doing the following: Rank them: 10 = “No problem”; 1 = “No way”.

surfing the Internet
having their own mobile phone
driving a car
cooking burgers in McDonald’s

taking out loans
travelling around the world
policing other children
other ______________________

5. KIDS VS. ADULTS: Brainstorm a list of things kids seem to be able to do better than adults. Discuss the reasons why. Change partners and share your dangers.

6. ELECTRONICS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with electronics. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

7. QUICK DEBATE: Students A strongly believe children should not play video games until they are ten; Students B think children can play video games from any age. Change partners often. When you have finished, share your findings.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	More and more kids are designing and selling computer software.	T / F
b.	The average age at which kids start using gadgets has fallen.	T / F
c.	Young consumers really don’t care what kind of gadgets they buy.	T / F
d.	Young children seem frightened of electronic devices.	T / F
e.	The data were collected from many simple American adults.	T / F
f.	A quarter of parents surveyed don’t buy gadgets regularly.	T / F
g.	A father had to teach his son how to use Sony’s PlayStation.	T / F
h.	Sony will soon bring out a version of its PlayStation for newborns.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	according to	buys
b.	gadgets	confesses
c.	choosy	through
d.	adopt	a piece of cake
e.	fanfare	embrace
f.	via	questioned
g.	surveyed	fuss
h.	purchases	fussy
i.	admits	as stated by
j.	child’s play	machines

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.	from a younger age	about what they buy
b.	the average age at which	latest and greatest digital devices
c.	consumers are also getting choosy	are so tech savvy
d.	Kids are drawn to the	a sample of American adults
e.	adopt it easily and	around him really were child’s play
f.	an online survey to	without fanfare
g.	kids use electronic devices an	than ever before
h.	made no electronics	average of three days per week
i.	Children nowadays	children begin using computers
j.	Robert Junior said all the gadgets	purchases

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Children into computers younger than ever

Children are using and ________ consumer electronics from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research ________ the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets has ________ from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting ________ about what they buy. More and more young children now own a DVD player, ________ video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are ________ to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and ________ it easily and without ________, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

drawn
choosy
shows
fanfare
owning
adopt
portable
declined

The study is ________ on data collected via an online survey to a ________ of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average of three days per week. ________, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents ________ said they had made no electronics purchases during the ________ 12 months. Father of two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He ________ to often having to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech ________ that soon Sony will bring out a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s ________.

surprisingly
savvy
surveyed
admits
based
play
sample
previous

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Children into computers younger than ever

Children are using and owning consumer electronics from a younger age _____________________, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research shows ____________________________ children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets has declined from 8.1 years in 2005 ____________________________. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also ____________________________ they buy. More and more young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are ________________________ greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and _______________________ fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

The study is based on data collected ___________________ to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey ___________________ use electronic devices an average of three days per week. Surprisingly, many of the families ___________________ consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father of two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed ____________________ to buy. He admits to often having to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are ______________________ Sony will bring out a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around ____________________.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘fan’ and ‘fare’.

fan

fare

Share your findings with your partners.
Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:

owning
declined
choosy
drawn
fear
everyday

via
three
regular
amazed
operate
babies

STUDENT GADGETS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about GADGETS in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What do you think about children owning electronic gadgets?
What kind of gadgets did you use when you were a child?
Do you think electronic toys will totally replace traditional toys?
What are the dangers of children using computers from such a young age?
What kinds of toys will children of the future use?
Have you ever feared technology?
What gadgets are part of your everyday life?
What latest and greatest digital devices are you currently interested in?
Are you choosy about the kind of computer, cell phone, video games console… you buy?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article?
Do you like taking part in online surveys?
How much time do you spend using electronic devices?
What is the ultimate gadget for you?
Do you like wandering around electronics stores?
Do you think kids are more tech savvy than you?
What do you think of the idea of a PlayStation for babies?
What would happen if all electronic devices suddenly stopped working?
What do you think really old people think about computers and electronics?
Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

What was the most interesting thing you heard?
Was there a question you didn’t like?
Was there something you totally disagreed with?
What did you like talking about?
Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

PLAYSTATION BABY:

Your new job is to market the new PlayStation Baby, a games console for babies aged 6 months or over. Complete this table with your marketing partner(s).

Decisions	Your notes
Slogan
Games
Special features and functions
Colours
The kind of advertising
Educational / developmental value

Change partners and share your ideas.
Decide on an overall winner.

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Children into computers younger than ever

Children are using and owning consumer (1) ____ from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research (2) ____ the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets (3) ____ declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting choosy about what they buy. More and (4) ____ young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are (5) ____ to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without (6) ____, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

The study is (7) ____ on data collected via an online survey to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average (8) ____ three days per week. (9) ____, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father (10) ____ two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He admits to often (11) ____ to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech savvy that soon Sony will bring (12) ____ a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s play.

1.	(a)	electrons	(b)	electrics	(c)	electronics	(d)	electricity
2.	(a)	shows	(b)	showing	(c)	show	(d)	shower
3.	(a)	be	(b)	did	(c)	was	(d)	has
4.	(a)	most	(b)	more	(c)	mostly	(d)	many
5.	(a)	drawn	(b)	painted	(c)	sketched	(d)	doodled
6.	(a)	affair	(b)	airfare	(c)	funfair	(d)	fanfare
7.	(a)	basked	(b)	basted	(c)	based	(d)	bashed
8.	(a)	an	(b)	of	(c)	to	(d)	with
9.	(a)	surprised	(b)	surprisingly	(c)	surprise	(d)	surprises
10.	(a)	by	(b)	and	(c)	with	(d)	of
11.	(a)	having	(b)	have	(c)	has	(d)	had
12.	(a)	down	(b)	up	(c)	out	(d)	in

WRITING:

Write about gadgets for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_______________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about gadgets for kids. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. KIDS’ TOYS POSTER: Make a poster about the toys that were popular with children through the ages. Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the pros and cons of children using electronic devices from increasingly younger ages.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of an electronics company. Ask him / her three questions about PlayStations for babies. Give him / her three pieces of advice about how to make a nice gadget for babies. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. T

c. F

d. F

e. F

f. T

g. F

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	according to	as stated by
b.	gadgets	machines
c.	choosy	fussy
d.	adopt	embrace
e.	fanfare	fuss
f.	via	through
g.	surveyed	questioned
h.	purchases	buys
i.	admits	confesses
j.	child’s play	a piece of cake

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	from a younger age	than ever before
b.	the average age at which	children begin using computers
c.	consumers are also getting choosy	about what they buy
d.	Kids are drawn to the	latest and greatest digital devices
e.	adopt it easily and	without fanfare
f.	an online survey to	a sample of American adults
g.	kids use electronic devices an	average of three days per week
h.	made no electronics	purchases
i.	Children nowadays	are so tech savvy
j.	Robert Junior said all the gadgets	around him really were child’s play

GAP FILL:

Children into computers younger than ever

Children are using and owning consumer electronics from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research shows the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets has declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting choosy about what they buy. More and more young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are drawn to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”

The study is based on data collected via an online survey to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average of three days per week. Surprisingly, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father of two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He admits to often having to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech savvy that soon Sony will bring out a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s play.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - c

2 - a

3 - d

4 -b

5 - a

6 -d

7 - c

8 -b

9 -b

10 -d

11 -a

12 - c

Breaking News English

THE ARTICLE

Children into computers younger than ever

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

WHILE READING / LISTENING

Children into computers younger than ever

LISTENING

Children into computers younger than ever

AFTER READING / LISTENING

STUDENT GADGETS SURVEY

DISCUSSION

SPEAKING

LANGUAGE

Children into computers younger than ever

WRITING:

HOMEWORK

ANSWERS

Children into computers younger than ever

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