Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Energy Drinks

Energy drinks packed full of caffeine may be harmful for children. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the University of Miami. Study author Judith Schaechter said popular drinks like Red Bull and Monster Energy have no health benefits. Many of the ingredients used to make them are not regulated. Dr. Schaechter warned that children with conditions such as diabetes, mood swings and heart, kidney or liver diseases may have negative reactions to the drinks and could even die after drinking them. Report co-author Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks.” He advised that: “Toxicity surveillance should be improved and regulations of…sales…should be based on appropriate research assessing energy drink safety.”

Nearly a third of American children between the ages of 12 to 14 regularly buy these beverages. Sales are steadily rising in the U.S. from $6.5 billion in 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Sales for 2010 are expected to be much higher. American teens say the drinks help them at school. Tracy Wong, 18, said she needs them because, “it pumps my system full of caffeine. That's why I have energy. Caffeine energizes you and keeps you awake." A Red Bull spokesman said: “Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 160 countries because health authorities across the world have concluded that [it] is safe to consume.” However, it is banned in Germany and Taiwan for containing minute traces of cocaine.

WARM-UPS

1. ENERGY DRINKS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about energy drinks. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

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

energy drinks / harmful / conclusion / health benefits / mood swings / toxicity / beverages / American teens / pumps / caffeine / health authorities / banned / cocaine

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

3. HEALTH BENEFITS: Are these things beneficial of detrimental to children? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

	Beneficial things	Detrimental things
Energy drinks
Video games
Fast food
Following fashion
TV
Mobile phones

4. HEALTH: Students A strongly believe one day everything we buy will be healthy; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. BEVERAGES: Rank these drinks and share your rankings with your partner. Put your favourite at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.

Red Bull
milk
coffee
water

wine
orange juice
Coca Cola
beer

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Energy drinks are definitely harmful to children.	T / F
b.	The drinks Red Bull and Monster Energy have several health benefits.	T / F
c.	A doctor says energy drinks can actually kill children.	T / F
d.	Another doctor says these drinks should be monitored for poisons.	T / F
e.	Around a half of U.S. pre-teens consume caffeine-filled energy drinks.	T / F
f.	Sales of the drinks in the U.S. have fallen over the past two years.	T / F
g.	A Red Bull spokesperson agreed there were safety concerns.	T / F
h.	Red Bull is banned in a few nations because of tiny amounts of cocaine.	T / F

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

1.	packed	a.	monitoring
2	regulated	b.	crammed
3.	conditions	c.	drink
4.	surveillance	d.	drinks
5.	appropriate	e.	pushes
6.	beverages	f.	controlled
7.	pumps	g.	tiny
8.	concluded	h.	illnesses
9.	consume	i.	determined
10.	minute (adj)	j.	suitable

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	drinks packed full	a.	in the U.S.
2	the ingredients used to	b.	swings
3.	mood	c.	full of caffeine
4.	may have negative reactions	d.	research
5.	based on appropriate	e.	cocaine
6.	Sales are steadily rising	f.	of caffeine
7.	Sales for 2010 are expected to	g.	make them
8.	it pumps my system	h.	authorities
9.	health	i.	to the drinks
10.	containing minute traces of	j.	be much higher

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

Energy drinks (1) ____________ full of caffeine may be harmful for children. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the University of Miami. Study author Judith Schaechter said (2) ____________ drinks like Red Bull and Monster Energy have no health benefits. Many of the ingredients used to make them are not (3) ____________. Dr. Schaechter warned that children with conditions such as diabetes, mood (4) ____________ and heart, kidney or liver diseases may have negative reactions to the drinks and could (5) ____________ die after drinking them. Report co-author Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be (6) ____________ of the possible effects of energy drinks.” He (7) ____________ that: “Toxicity surveillance should be improved and regulations of…sales…should be (8) ____________ on appropriate research assessing energy drink safety.”

swings
based
popular
aware
packed
even
advised
regulated

Nearly a (9) ____________ of American children between the ages of 12 to 14 regularly buy these (10) ____________. Sales are steadily rising in the U.S. from $6.5 billion in 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Sales for 2010 are expected to be (11) ____________ higher. American teens say the drinks help them at school. Tracy Wong, 18, said she needs them because, “it (12) ____________ my system full of caffeine. That's why I have energy. Caffeine energizes you and (13) ____________ you awake." A Red Bull spokesman said: “Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 160 countries because (14) ____________ authorities across the world have concluded that [it] is (15) ____________ to consume.” However, it is banned in Germany and Taiwan for containing minute (16) ____________ of cocaine.

health
much
beverages
traces
keeps
third
safe
pumps

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Energy drinks _____________________ may be harmful for children. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the University of Miami. Study author Judith Schaechter _____________________ Red Bull and Monster Energy have no health benefits. Many of the ingredients used to make them are not regulated. Dr. Schaechter warned that children _____________________ diabetes, mood swings and heart, kidney or liver diseases may have negative reactions to the drinks and _____________________ drinking them. Report co-author Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be _____________________ effects of energy drinks.” He advised that: “Toxicity surveillance _____________________ and regulations of…sales…should be based on appropriate research assessing energy drink safety.”

Nearly a third of American children between the ages of 12 to 14 years old _____________________ beverages. Sales are steadily rising in the U.S. from $6.5 billion in 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Sales for 2010 are _____________________ higher. American teens say the drinks help them at school. Tracy Wong, 18, said she needs them because, “it _____________________ of caffeine. That's why I have energy. Caffeine energizes you _____________________." A Red Bull spokesman said: “Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 160 countries because health authorities _____________________ concluded that [it] is safe to consume.” However, it is banned in Germany and Taiwan for containing _____________________ cocaine.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

energy

drink

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 how they were used in the text:

packed
report
swings
die
aware
sales

third
2009
18
awake
safe
cocaine

STUDENT ENERGY DRINKS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about energy drinks 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.

ENERGY DRINKS DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the phrase ‘energy drink’?
c)	Do you like energy drinks?
d)	What’s the best thing for giving you energy?
e)	Do you think children should be banned from drinking energy drinks?
f)	Why do you think some of the ingredients are unregulated?
g)	What would you tell your 15-year-old child if (s)he was drinking energy drinks?
h)	What can we do to encourage children to drink water, milk and juice instead of energy drinks?
i)	Why are people only now suggesting monitoring these drinks?
j)	Could people sue the energy drinks companies if they become ill?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	How popular are energy drinks in your country?
c)	What do you do if you need to stay awake to study or work?
d)	Are energy drinks a good thing to help people study?
e)	Is caffeine good or bad for you?
f)	Would you like your system to be pumped full of caffeine?
g)	If 160 countries have approved Red Bull, is it safe?
h)	What do you know about the history of energy drinks?
i)	If Red Bull has cocaine in it, why have only two places banned it?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the CEO of Red Bull?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Energy drinks (1) ____ full of caffeine may be harmful for children. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the University of Miami. Study author Judith Schaechter said popular drinks like Red Bull and Monster Energy have no health (2) ____. Many of the ingredients used to make them are not (3) ____. Dr. Schaechter warned that children with conditions such as diabetes, mood (4) ____ and heart, kidney or liver diseases may have negative reactions to the drinks and could (5) ____ die after drinking them. Report co-author Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks.” He advised that: “Toxicity surveillance should be improved and regulations of…sales…should be based (6) ____ appropriate research assessing energy drink safety.”

Nearly a third of American children between the ages of 12 to 14 regularly buy these (7) ____. Sales are steadily rising in the U.S. from $6.5 billion in 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Sales for 2010 are (8) ____ to be much higher. American teens say the drinks help them at school. Tracy Wong, 18, said she needs them because, “it pumps my system full (9) ____ caffeine. That's why I have energy. Caffeine energizes you and keeps you (10) ____." A Red Bull spokesman said: “Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 160 countries because health authorities across the world have (11 ____ that [it] is safe to consume.” However, it is banned in Germany and Taiwan for containing (12) ____ traces of cocaine.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	packs	(b)	packing	(c)	packer	(d)	packed
2.	(a)	benefits	(b)	beneficial	(c)	beneficiary	(d)	beneficiaries
3.	(a)	regulates	(b)	regulated	(c)	regulation	(d)	regulatory
4.	(a)	roundabouts	(b)	see-saws	(c)	swings	(d)	slides
5.	(a)	ever	(b)	event	(c)	even	(d)	evens
6.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	at	(d)	of
7.	(a)	averages	(b)	collages	(c)	leverages	(d)	beverages
8.	(a)	expected	(b)	expects	(c)	expectant	(d)	expectation
9.	(a)	by	(b)	of	(c)	to	(d)	at
10.	(a)	waking	(b)	woken	(c)	awakes	(d)	awake
11.	(a)	conclude	(b)	concludes	(c)	concluded	(d)	conclusive
12.	(a)	minute	(b)	hour	(c)	seconds	(d)	day

WRITING

Write about energy drinks 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 out more about energy drinks. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ENERGY DRINKS: Make a poster about energy drinks. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. HEALTHY?: Write a magazine article about this news. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against energy drinks.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the Red Bull spokesman. Ask him three questions about energy drinks. Give him three of your opinions on them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	packed	a.	crammed
2	regulated	b.	controlled
3.	conditions	c.	illnesses
4.	surveillance	d.	monitoring
5.	appropriate	e.	suitable
6.	beverages	f.	drinks
7.	pumps	g.	pushes
8.	concluded	h.	determined
9.	consume	i.	drink
10.	minute (adj)	j.	tiny

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	drinks packed full	a.	of caffeine
2	the ingredients used to	b.	make them
3.	mood	c.	swings
4.	may have negative reactions	d.	to the drinks
5.	based on appropriate	e.	research
6.	Sales are steadily rising	f.	in the U.S.
7.	Sales for 2010 are expected to	g.	be much higher
8.	it pumps my system	h.	full of caffeine
9.	health	i.	authorities
10.	containing minute traces of	j.	cocaine

GAP FILL:

Energy drinks harmful to kids

Energy drinks (1) packed full of caffeine may be harmful for children. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the University of Miami. Study author Judith Schaechter said (2) popular drinks like Red Bull and Monster Energy have no health benefits. Many of the ingredients used to make them are not (3) regulated. Dr. Schaechter warned that children with conditions such as diabetes, mood (4) swings and heart, kidney or liver diseases may have negative reactions to the drinks and could (5) even die after drinking them. Report co-author Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be (6) aware of the possible effects of energy drinks.” He (7) advised that: “Toxicity surveillance should be improved and regulations of…sales…should be (8) based on appropriate research assessing energy drink safety.”

Nearly a (9) third of American children between the ages of 12 to 14 regularly buy these (10) beverages. Sales are steadily rising in the U.S. from $6.5 billion in 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Sales for 2010 are expected to be (11) much higher. American teens say the drinks help them at school. Tracy Wong, 18, said she needs them because, “it (12) pumps my system full of caffeine. That's why I have energy. Caffeine energizes you and (13) keeps you awake." A Red Bull spokesman said: “Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 160 countries because (14) health authorities across the world have concluded that [it] is (15) safe to consume.” However, it is banned in Germany and Taiwan for containing minute (16) traces of cocaine.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - a

3 - b

4 - c

5 - c

6 - b

7 - d

8 - a

9 - b

10 - d

11 - c

12 - a

Breaking News English

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Energy Drinks Harmful to Kids (15th February, 2011)

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

WHILE READING / LISTENING

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

AFTER READING / LISTENING

STUDENT ENERGY DRINKS SURVEY

ENERGY DRINKS DISCUSSION

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

WRITING

HOMEWORK

ANSWERS

Energy drinks harmful to kids

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Sean Banville's Book

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My 1,000 Ideas e-Book	Breaking News English HOME \| HELP MY SITE \| 000s MORE FREE LESSONS	My 1,000 Ideas e-Book

Breaking News English

PRINT

13-Page PDF Handout - with all-skills activities

LISTEN

MP3 (2:08 - 1,024KB)

Energy Drinks Harmful to Kids (15th February, 2011)

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

WHILE READING / LISTENING

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

AFTER READING / LISTENING

STUDENT ENERGY DRINKS SURVEY

ENERGY DRINKS DISCUSSION

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

WRITING

HOMEWORK

ANSWERS

Energy drinks harmful to kids

Help Support This Web Site

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You

13-Page PDF
Handout - with
all-skills activities