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Arrested clock-making teen invited to White House (20th September, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The Texas high school student who was arrested because of a clock he made for school has been invited to the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was led away in handcuffs after his school alerted police that he had brought a homemade bomb to school. He was detained for several hours before authorities realised that what Ahmed had made was just a clock. Within hours of his being released, Ahmed's story went viral. The hashtag IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted hundreds of thousands of times. President Obama tweeted: "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great."

Ahmed's arrest has once again put the spotlight in the USA on the issue of Islamophobia and of how Muslims are perceived and treated. Ahmed said that because of his religion, other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and 'terrorist'. He said the police interrogation made him feel as though he had done something wrong. He said: "I felt like I was a criminal. I felt like I was a terrorist." To add insult to injury, his school suspended him for three days. Ahmed has caught the attention of Silicon Valley heavyweights. Twitter offered him an internship and Google invited him to a science fair and to their campus. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future belongs to people like Ahmed."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://cnnphilippines.com/world/2015/09/18/US-Texas-student-Ahmed-clock-bomb.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/northwest-dallas-county/headlines/20150917-fame-from-arrest-over-clock-puts-teen-in-viral-vortex.ece
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/17/ahmed-mohamed-is-tired-excited-to-meet-obama-and-wants-his-clock-back

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. THE WHITE HOUSE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the White House. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

student / arrested / handcuffs / questioned / authorities / viral / inspire / science / spotlight / Islamophobia / perceived / done something wrong / add insult to injury

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

3. PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT: What can we society to make sure everyone is treated equally? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Inequality based on…	Problems	What we can do
religion
skin colour
disability
accent
wealth
gender

4. GET ALONG: Students A strongly believe all religions and races will get along with each other one day; Students B strongly believe this will never happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. INSPIRE: Rank these with your partner. Put the things we must inspire our goods to do most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• save the environment

• study computer science

• raise a family

• treat others equally

• reject war

• start a business

• give to charity

• forgive

6. CLOCK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "clock". 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.	The high school student went to school in Washington D.C.	T / F
b.	Ahmed was taken away in handcuffs by the police.	T / F
c.	Ahmed had to spend more than one hour in police custody.	T / F
d.	President Obama said more kids should take up science.	T / F
e.	The article said this story takes the spotlight off of Islamophobia.	T / F
f.	Ahmed said he is shocked because no one called him names at school.	T / F
g.	Ahmed's school suspended him for three days because of his clock.	T / F
h.	Mark Zuckerberg said the future belongs to Facebook.	T / F

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

1.	invited	a.	understood
2.	alerted	b.	thought of
3.	detained	c.	asked
4.	realised	d.	provided
5.	inspire	e.	warned
6.	spotlight	f.	make things worse
7.	perceived	g.	motivate
8.	interrogation	h.	held
9.	add insult to injury	i.	focus
10.	offered	j.	questioning

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

1.	led away in	a.	perceived and treated
2.	He was detained	b.	makes America great
3.	Ahmed's story went	c.	injury
4.	We should inspire	d.	viral
5.	It's what	e.	of Silicon Valley
6.	how Muslims are	f.	handcuffs
7.	police	g.	more kids
8.	To add insult to	h.	to people like Ahmed
9.	caught the attention	i.	interrogation
10.	The future belongs	j.	for several hours

GAP FILL

The Texas high school student who was arrested because of a clock he made for school has been (1) ____________ to the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was led away in (2) ____________ after his school alerted police that he had brought a homemade bomb to school. He was (3) ____________ for several hours before (4) ____________ realised that what Ahmed had made was just a clock. Within hours of his being released, Ahmed's story went (5) ____________. The hashtag IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted hundreds of thousands of (6) ____________. President Obama tweeted: "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should (7) ____________ more kids like you to like (8) ____________. It's what makes America great."

inspire
authorities
times
handcuffs
science
invited
viral
detained

Ahmed's arrest has once again put the (9) ____________ in the USA on the issue of Islamophobia and of how Muslims are (10) ____________ and treated. Ahmed said that because of his (11) ____________, other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and 'terrorist'. He said the police (12) ____________ made him feel as though he had done something wrong. He said: "I felt like I was a (13) ____________. I felt like I was a terrorist." To add insult to (14) ____________, his school suspended him for three days. Ahmed has caught the attention of Silicon Valley heavyweights. Twitter offered him an (15) ____________ and Google invited him to a science fair and to their campus. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future (16) ____________ to people like Ahmed."

internship
criminal
religion
belongs
interrogation
spotlight
injury
perceived

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The Texas high school student who was arrested because of ______
	a. a clock he'd made b. a clock he make c. a clock he made d. a clock he'd make
2)	He was detained for several hours before ______
	a. authorities realised b. authorities real sad c. authorities real eyed d. authorities realise
3)	Within hours of his being released, Ahmed's ______
	a. story went vinyl b. story went viral c. story went virus d. story went veneer
4)	The hashtag IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted hundreds of ______
	a. thousands off times b. thousands for times c. thousands of times d. thousand of times
5)	We should inspire more kids like you ______
	a. to like science b. to liking science c. to like sciences d. too like science
6)	Ahmed's arrest has once again put the spotlight in the USA on the ______
	a. issues of Islamophobia b. issued of Islamophobia c. issue of Islamophobia d. issuance of Islamophobia
7)	He said the police interrogation made him feel as though he had done ______
	a. some things wrong b. something wronged c. something wrong d. something wrongs
8)	To add insult to injury, his school suspended him ______
	a. four three days b. for three days c. for free days d. four free days
9)	Twitter offered him an internship and Google invited him to a science fair _______
	a. add to their campus b. and to their campus c. and to that campus d. and to they're campus
10)	Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future belongs to ______."
	a. peoples liked Ahmed b. people like Ahmed c. people liked Ahmed d. peoples like Ahmed

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The Texas high school student who was arrested (1) ___________________ clock he made for school has (2) ___________________ the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, (3) ___________________ handcuffs after his school alerted police that he had brought a homemade bomb to school. He was (4) ___________________ hours before authorities realised that what Ahmed had made was just a clock. Within hours of his being released, Ahmed's story went viral. The hashtag IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted (5) ___________________ of times. President Obama tweeted: "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids (6) ___________________ science. It's what makes America great."

Ahmed's arrest has once again (7) ___________________ the USA on the issue of Islamophobia and of how Muslims are perceived and treated. Ahmed said (8) ___________________ religion, other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and 'terrorist'. He said the (9) ___________________ made him feel as though he had done something wrong. He said: "I felt like I was a criminal. I felt like I was a terrorist." To (10) ___________________, his school suspended him for three days. Ahmed has (11) ___________________ of Silicon Valley heavyweights. Twitter offered him an internship and Google invited him to a science (12) ___________________ campus. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future belongs to people like Ahmed."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	In which U.S. state did the student go to school?
2.	What did the police make Ahmed wear as they took him away?
3.	For how long was Ahmed in police custody?
4.	How long did it take for Ahmed's story to go viral?
5.	What does President Obama want to inspire more kids to like?
6.	What did Ahmed's arrest put the spotlight on in America?
7.	What made Ahmed feel like he had done something wrong?
8.	For how long did Ahmed's school suspend him?
9.	What did Twitter offer Ahmed?
10.	Who did Facebook's creator say the future belonged to?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	In which U.S. state did the student go to school?	6.	What did Ahmed's arrest put the spotlight on in America?
	a) Florida b) Texas c) Washington d) California		a) Islamophobia b) high schools c) clocks d) the White House
2.	What did the police make Ahmed wear as they took him away?	7.	What made Ahmed feel like he had done something wrong?
	a) his school uniform b) a cap c) a T-shirt d) handcuffs		a) a newspaper b) his teachers c) the police interrogation d) his clock
3.	For how long was Ahmed in police custody?	8.	For how long did Ahmed's school suspend him?
	a) several hours b) a day c) overnight d) 36 minutes		a) 3 days b) 2 days c) a week d) indefinitely
4.	How long did it take for Ahmed's story to go viral?	9.	What did Twitter offer Ahmed?
	a) 12 minutes b) a day c) hours d) 36 hours		a) an internship b) money c) support d) advice
5.	What does President Obama want to inspire more kids to like?	10.	Who did Facebook's creator say the future belonged to?
	a) clocks b) science c) inventing things d) the USA		a) clock makers b) Mark Zuckerberg c) all children d) Ahmed

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Save the environment

You think saving the environment is the thing kids should most aspire to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): treating others equally, starting a business or rejecting war.

Role B – Treat others equally

You think treating others equally is the thing kids should most aspire to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): saving the environment, starting a business or rejecting war.

Role C –Start a business

You think starting a business is the thing kids should most aspire to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): treating others equally, saving the environment or rejecting war.

Role D – Reject war

You think rejecting war is the thing kids should most aspire to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): treating others equally, starting a business or saving the environment.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'hash' and 'tag'.

hash

tag

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:

high
alerted
within
hashtag
cool
great

once
kids
feel
add
caught
future

AHMED MOHAMED'S CLOCK SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Ahmed Mohamed's clock 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.

AHMED MOHAMED'S CLOCK DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Islam'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	Would a white boy have been arrested if he had made a clock?
5)	What do you think of President Obama's invitation?
6)	What do you think of the action of the police?
7)	Did the school overreact or were their actions because of the current climate regarding security?
8)	How would you feel if Ahmed was your son?
9)	What should the authorities say to Ahmed?
10)	What advice do you have for Ahmed?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Why do different cultures hate and fear each other?
13)	How can we reduce Islamophobia and other racist beliefs?
14)	How much is the press responsible for promoting negative stereotypes?
15)	What should happen to kids who call other kids terrorists?
16)	What racial tensions are there in your country?
17)	Will we all live together peacefully some day?
18)	How will Ahmed's life be different from now?
19)	What else do you know about this story?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Ahmed?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The Texas high school student who was arrested because of a clock he made for school has been invited to the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was (1) ____ away in (2) ____ after his school alerted police that he had brought a homemade bomb to school. He was (3) ____ for several hours before authorities realised that what Ahmed had made was just a clock. Within hours of his being released, Ahmed's story went (4) ____. The (5) ____ IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted hundreds of thousands of times. President Obama tweeted: "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should (6) ____ more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great."

Ahmed's arrest has once again put the (7) ____ in the USA on the issue of Islamophobia and of how Muslims are (8) ____ and treated. Ahmed said that because of his religion, other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and 'terrorist'. He said the police (9) ____ made him feel as though he had done something wrong. He said: "I felt like I was a criminal. I felt like I was a terrorist." To add (10) ____ to injury, his school suspended him for three days. Ahmed has (11) ____ the attention of Silicon Valley heavyweights. Twitter offered him an internship and Google invited him to a science (12) ____ and to their campus. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future belongs to people like Ahmed."

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

1.	(a)	hid	(b)	led	(c)	pad	(d)	wad
2.	(a)	chains	(b)	handcuffs	(c)	unison	(d)	tear
3.	(a)	contained	(b)	maintained	(c)	retained	(d)	detained
4.	(a)	feral	(b)	viral	(c)	vinyl	(d)	dial
5.	(a)	hash browns	(b)	hashtag	(c)	hash sign	(d)	hash
6.	(a)	respire	(b)	conspire	(c)	inspire	(d)	aspire
7.	(a)	limelight	(b)	spotless	(c)	spotlight	(d)	sunlight
8.	(a)	perceives	(b)	perceive	(c)	perceived	(d)	perception
9.	(a)	inculcation	(b)	invitation	(c)	instigation	(d)	interrogation
10.	(a)	medicine	(b)	wound	(c)	salt	(d)	insult
11.	(a)	caught	(b)	took	(c)	threw	(d)	done
12.	(a)	just	(b)	fine	(c)	fair	(d)	objective

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	streared because of a clock
2.	led away in adfsnhcuf
3.	aendedit for several hours
4.	before ruithositae realised
5.	Within hours of his being edrelaes
6.	enpisri more kids
Paragraph 2
7.	the spttiolgh in the USA
8.	the issue of pohmIaibaslo
9.	how Muslims are edivreepc
10.	police trniatgoeroni
11.	his school dsuesndpe him
12.	offered him an htniiprnes

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	'terrorist'. He said the police interrogation made him feel as though he had done something
( )	being released, Ahmed's story went viral. The hashtag IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted hundreds of
( )	Ahmed's arrest has once again put the spotlight in the USA on the issue of Islamophobia and of how Muslims are
( )	detained for several hours before authorities realised that what Ahmed had made was just a clock. Within hours of his
( )	handcuffs after his school alerted police that he had brought a homemade bomb to school. He was
( )	wrong. He said: "I felt like I was a criminal. I felt like I was a terrorist." To add insult to injury, his school
( )	it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great."
( 1 )	The Texas high school student who was arrested because of a clock he made for school has been
( )	invited to the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was led away in
( )	perceived and treated. Ahmed said that because of his religion, other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and
( )	suspended him for three days. Ahmed has caught the attention of Silicon Valley
( )	fair and to their campus. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future belongs to people like Ahmed."
( )	thousands of times. President Obama tweeted: "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring
( )	heavyweights. Twitter offered him an internship and Google invited him to a science

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	Texas was high arrested school student The who .
2.	Led handcuffs school in his police away after alerted .
3.	detained hours realised was several authorities He for before .
4.	was What just Ahmed a had clock made .
5.	science We should inspire more kids like you to like .
6.	the on USA the in spotlight the Put Islamophobia of issue .
7.	had done something wrong Made him feel as though he .
8.	add, his injury him suspended . To Insult to school
9.	the attention Ahmed of has Silicon caught Valley .
10.	people to belongs future The Ahmed like .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The Texas high school student who was arrested / arresting because of a clock he made for school has been invited to the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was led / get away in handcuffs after his school alarmed / alerted police that he had bought / brought a homemade bomb to school. He was retained / detained for several hours before authorities realised that what Ahmed had made was justly / just a clock. Within hours of his being / been released, Ahmed's story went virus / viral. The hashtag IStandWithAhmed has been retweeted hundreds of / for thousands of times. President Obama tweeted: "Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America greatly / great."

Ahmed's arrest has once again put the highlight / spotlight in the USA on the issue of Islamophobia and of how Muslims are perceived / perceptive and treated. Ahmed said that because for / of his religion, other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and 'terrorist'. He said the police interrogation made him feeling / feel as though he had done something wrong / wronged. He said: "I felt like I was a criminal. I felt like I was a terrorist." To add insult to damage / injury, his school suspension / suspended him for three days. Ahmed has caught the attending / attention of Silicon Valley heavyweights. Twitter offered him an internship and Google invited him to a science fair / fare and to their campus. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg said: "The future belongs to people liking / like Ahmed."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ T_x_s h_gh sch__l st_d_nt wh_ w_s _rr_st_d b_c__s_ _f _ cl_ck h_ m_d_ f_r sch__l h_s b__n _nv_t_d t_ th_ Wh_t_ H__s_ by _.S. Pr_s_d_nt B_r_ck _b_m_. _hm_d M_h_m_d, 14, w_s l_d _w_y _n h_ndc_ffs _ft_r h_s sch__l _l_rt_d p_l_c_ th_t h_ h_d br__ght _ h_m_m_d_ b_mb t_ sch__l. H_ w_s d_t__n_d f_r s_v_r_l h__rs b_f_r_ __th_r_t__s r__l_s_d th_t wh_t _hm_d h_d m_d_ w_s j_st _ cl_ck. W_th_n h__rs _f h_s b__ng r_l__s_d, _hm_d's st_ry w_nt v_r_l. Th_ h_sht_g _St_ndW_th_hm_d h_s b__n r_tw__t_d h_ndr_ds _f th__s_nds _f t_m_s. Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ tw__t_d: "C__l cl_ck, _hm_d. W_nt t_ br_ng _t t_ th_ Wh_t_ H__s_? W_ sh__ld _nsp_r_ m_r_ k_ds l_k_ y__ t_ l_k_ sc__nc_. _t's wh_t m_k_s _m_r_c_ gr__t."

_hm_d's _rr_st h_s _nc_ _g__n p_t th_ sp_tl_ght _n th_ _S_ _n th_ _ss__ _f _sl_m_ph_b__ _nd _f h_w M_sl_ms _r_ p_rc__v_d _nd tr__t_d. _hm_d s__d th_t b_c__s_ _f h_s r_l_g__n, _th_r k_ds _t sch__l c_ll_d h_m 'b_mb m_k_r' _nd 't_rr_r_st'. H_ s__d th_ p_l_c_ _nt_rr_g_t__n m_d_ h_m f__l _s th__gh h_ h_d d_n_ s_m_th_ng wr_ng. H_ s__d: "_ f_lt l_k_ _ w_s _ cr_m_n_l. _ f_lt l_k_ _ w_s _ t_rr_r_st." T_ _dd _ns_lt t_ _nj_ry, h_s sch__l s_sp_nd_d h_m f_r thr__ d_ys. _hm_d h_s c__ght th_ _tt_nt__n _f S_l_c_n V_ll_y h__vyw__ghts. Tw_tt_r _ff_r_d h_m _n _nt_rnsh_p _nd G__gl_ _nv_t_d h_m t_ _ sc__nc_ f__r _nd t_ th__r c_mp_s. F_c_b__k cr__t_r M_rk Z_ck_rb_rg s__d: "Th_ f_t_r_ b_l_ngs t_ p__pl_ l_k_ _hm_d."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the texas high school student who was arrested because of a clock he made for school has been invited to the white house by us president barack obama ahmed mohamed 14 was led away in handcuffs after his school alerted police that he had brought a homemade bomb to school he was detained for several hours before authorities realised that what ahmed had made was just a clock within hours of his being released ahmed's story went viral the hashtag istandwithahmed has been retweeted hundreds of thousands of times president obama tweeted "cool clock ahmed want to bring it to the white house we should inspire more kids like you to like science it's what makes america great"

ahmed's arrest has once again put the spotlight in the usa on the issue of islamophobia and of how muslims are perceived and treated ahmed said that because of his religion other kids at school called him 'bomb maker' and 'terrorist' he said the police interrogation made him feel as though he had done something wrong he said "i felt like i was a criminal i felt like i was a terrorist" to add insult to injury his school suspended him for three days ahmed has caught the attention of silicon valley heavyweights twitter offered him an internship and google invited him to a science fair and to their campus facebook creator mark zuckerberg said "the future belongs to people like ahmed"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheTexashighschoolstudentwhowasarrestedbecauseofaclockhema
deforschoolhasbeeninvitedtotheWhiteHousebyU.S.PresidentBarack
Obama.AhmedMohamed,14,wasledawayinhandcuffsafterhisschool
alertedpolicethathehadbroughtahomemadebombtoschool.Hewasd
etainedforseveralhoursbeforeauthoritiesrealisedthatwhatAhmedha
dmadewasjustaclock.Withinhoursofhisbeingreleased,Ahmed'sstory
wentviral.ThehashtagIStandWithAhmedhasbeenretweetedhundred
softhousandsoftimes.PresidentObamatweeted:"Coolclock,Ahmed.
WanttobringittotheWhiteHouseWeshouldinspiremorekidslikeyoutol
ikescience.It'swhatmakesAmericagreat."Ahmed'sarresthasonceag
ainputthespotlightintheUSAontheissueofIslamophobiaandofhowMu
slimsareperceivedandtreated.Ahmedsaidthatbecauseofhisreligion,
otherkidsatschoolcalledhim'bombmaker'and'terrorist'.Hesaidthepo
liceinterrogationmadehimfeelasthoughhehaddonesomethingwrong
.Hesaid:"IfeltlikeIwasacriminal.IfeltlikeIwasaterrorist."Toaddinsult
toinjury,hisschoolsuspendedhimforthreedays.Ahmedhascaughtthe
attentionofSiliconValleyheavyweights.Twitterofferedhimaninternsh
ipandGoogleinvitedhimtoasciencefairandtotheircampus.Facebookc
reatorMarkZuckerbergsaid:"ThefuturebelongstopeoplelikeAhmed."

FREE WRITING

Write about Ahmed Mohamed's clock for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

We should inspire more kids to like science. What are the pros and cons of this?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the story about Ahmed Mohamed. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. THE WHITE HOUSE: Make a poster about the White House in Washington D.C. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. RELIGION: Write a magazine article about religious differences. Include imaginary interviews with people who have suffered because of them.

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. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on xenophobia. Ask him/her three questions about the Ahmed Mohamed story. Give him/her three of your opinions on how different religions, cultures and races can get along. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	invited	a.	asked
2	alerted	b.	warned
3.	detained	c.	held
4.	realised	d.	understood
5.	inspire	e.	motivate
6.	spotlight	f.	focus
7.	perceived	g.	thought of
8.	interrogation	h.	questioning
9.	add insult to injury	i.	make things worse
10.	offered	j.	provided

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Texas
2.	Handcuffs
3.	Several hours
4.	Hours
5.	Science
6.	Islamophobia
7.	The police interrogation
8.	Three days
9.	An internship
10.	Ahmed

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Arrested clock-making teen invited to White House (20th September, 2015)

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