The Reading / Listening - Air Conditioning - Level 3

A team of engineers has created a super-thin material that could help keep buildings cool. The team is from the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA. Engineers from the university developed the revolutionary new material, that is very thin and can cool objects even under direct sunlight. The material does not need energy to work nor does it need water to help keep things cool. The engineers say the new material could provide an answer to air conditioners, which are expensive to run and need a lot of water. The material is unlike anything found in nature. It is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers thick. That's slightly thicker than the aluminium foil we use for cooking.

The engineers explained how their new material works. They said when it is put on top of something, two things happen. The first thing is that it cools the object underneath by reflecting the sun's rays back into space. At the same time, the second thing happens - the material removes the object's own heat and sends that into the air. An engineer said: "The key advantage of this technology is that it works 24/7 with no electricity or water usage….We're excited about the opportunity to explore potential uses in the power industry, aerospace, agriculture and more." Another researcher said: "Just 10 to 20 square meters of this material on the rooftop could nicely cool down a…house in summer."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Air Conditioning - Level 0,  Air Conditioning - Level 1   or  Air Conditioning - Level 2

Sources
  • https://knowridge.com/2017/02/new-engineered-material-can-cool-roofs-structures-with-zero-energy-consumption/
  • http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/scientists-make-thin-material-that-acts-as-air-conditioner-1.3281871
  • http://www.techtimes.com/articles/196976/20170211/new-material-can-cool-structures-without-consuming-water-and-energy.htm


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. AIR CONDITIONING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about air conditioning. 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?

       team / engineers / buildings / cool / revolutionary / direct / sunlight / expensive /
       material / object / heat / technology / electricity / aerospace / agriculture / summer

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

3. ENGINEERS: Students A strongly believe engineers and scientists will save the world; Students B strongly believe they won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. KEEPING COOL: How can buildings keep these areas cooler? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Problems

Solutions

Shopping malls

 

 

Office buildings

 

 

Apartment buildings

 

 

Schools

 

 

Homes

 

 

Museums

 

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

6. MATERIAL: Rank these with your partner. Put the best kind of material at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • leather
  • bulletproof material
  • denim
  • camouflage material
  • cooling material
  • warming material
  • silk
  • waterproof material

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A team of computer scientists created the super-thin material.     T / F
  2. The super-thin cooling materials does not work under direct sunlight.     T / F
  3. The new material does not need energy and water to work.     T / F
  4. The material is thinner than the aluminium foil we use for cooking.     T / F
  5. The material works by absorbing the sun's rays and keeping the heat.     T / F
  6. The material works all day, every day.     T / F
  7. An engineer is looking forward to seeing the material used in agriculture. T / F
  8. Around 15 square meters on a roof could cool a house in the summer.     T / F

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

  1. super
  2. revolutionary
  3. under
  4. provide
  5. hybrid
  6. object
  7. happens
  8. advantage
  9. potential
  10. just
  1. thing
  2. mixture
  3. benefit
  4. advanced
  5. possible
  6. ultra
  7. only
  8. give
  9. takes place
  10. beneath

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

  1. A team
  2. under direct
  3. The material is unlike
  4. slightly
  5. the aluminium foil
  6. engineers explained how their
  7. reflecting the Sun's rays
  8. The key advantage
  9. the opportunity to
  10. cool
  1. new material works
  2. thicker
  3. explore potential uses
  4. of this technology
  5. anything found in nature
  6. of engineers
  7. sunlight
  8. down a house in summer
  9. we use for cooking
  10. back into space

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
nature
answer
revolutionary
nor
help
foil
expensive
direct

A team of engineers has created a super-thin material that could (1) ____________ keep buildings cool. The team is from the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA. Engineers from the university developed the (2) ____________ new material, that is very thin and can cool objects even under (3) ____________ sunlight. The material does not need energy to work (4) ____________ does it need water to help keep things cool. The engineers say the new material could provide an (5) ____________ to air conditioners, which are (6) ____________ to run and need a lot of water. The material is unlike anything found in (7) ____________. It is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers thick. That's slightly thicker than the aluminum (8) ____________ we use for cooking.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
air
potential
top
removes
nicely
reflecting
square
24/7

The engineers explained how their new material works. They said when it is put on (9) ____________ of something, two things happen. The first thing is that it cools the object underneath by (10) ____________ the Sun's rays back into space. At the same time, the second thing happens - the material (11) ____________ the object's own heat and sends that into the (12) ____________. An engineer said: "The key advantage of this technology is that it works (13) ____________ with no electricity or water usage….We're excited about the opportunity to explore (14) ____________ uses in the power industry, aerospace, agriculture and more." Another researcher said: "Just 10 to 20 (15) ____________ meters of this material on the rooftop could (16) ____________ cool down a…house in summer."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A team of engineers has created a super-thin material that could help keep ______
     a.  buildings cools
     b.  buildings cool
     c.  building cool
     d.  building school

2)  Engineers from the university developed the ______ material
     a.  revolution airy new
     b.  revolutionise a new
     c.  revolutionaries new
     d.  revolutionary new

3)  very thin and can cool objects even under ______
     a.  directed sunlight
     b.  directs sunlight
     c.  direct sunlight
     d.  directly sunlight

4)  The material is unlike anything ______
     a.  funded in nature
     b.  found in nature
     c.  found in natural
     d.  fund in naturism

5)  That's slightly thicker than the aluminium foil we ______
     a.  use for cooking
     b.  useful cooking
     c.  use for cook in
     d.  useful cook in

6)  The first thing is that it cools the object underneath by reflecting ______
     a.  the Sun's rays
     b.  a Sun's rays
     c.  the Sun's ray
     d.  a Sun's ray

7)  the material removes the object's own heat and sends ______
     a.  that into the stare
     b.  that into the bear
     c.  that into the where
     d.  that into the air

8)  The key advantage of this technology is that ______
     a.  it works 20/4/7
     b.  it works 7/24
     c.  it works 24/7
     d.  it works 20/7/4

9)  We're excited about the opportunity to explore potential uses in the ______
     a.  powering industry
     b.  powered industry
     c.  power industrial
     d.  power industry

10)  Just 10 to 20 square meters of this material on the rooftop could nicely cool ______
     a.  down a house
     b.  downer house
     c.  down a horse
     d.  downer horse

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A team of engineers (1) ___________________ super-thin material that could help keep buildings cool. The team is from the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA. Engineers from the university (2) ___________________ revolutionary new material, that is very thin and can cool objects (3) ___________________ sunlight. The material does not need energy to work nor does it need water to help keep things cool. The engineers say the new material could (4) ___________________ to air conditioners, which are expensive to run and need a lot of water. The (5) ___________________ anything found in nature. It is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers thick. That's slightly thicker than the (6) ___________________ we use for cooking.

The engineers explained (7) ___________________ material works. They said when it is put on top of something, two things happen. The first thing is (8) ___________________ object underneath by reflecting the Sun's rays back into space. At the same time, the second thing happens - the material removes the object's (9) ___________________ that into the air. An engineer said: "The key advantage of this technology is that it works 24/7 with no electricity (10) ___________________….We're excited about the opportunity to explore (11) ___________________ the power industry, aerospace, agriculture and more." Another researcher said: "Just 10 to 20 square meters of this material (12) ___________________ could nicely cool down a…house in summer."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who created the super-thin material?
  2. What does the material not need to work?
  3. What could the new material provide an answer to?
  4. How thick is the new material?
  5. What is the new material slightly thicker than?
  6. How many things happen when the material is put on top of something?
  7. What does the material reflect back into space?
  8. How often will this new material work?
  9. What industry was mentioned besides power and aerospace?
  10. How much of the material could cool down a house in the summer?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who created the super-thin material?
a) computer scientists
b) a team of engineers
c) silk workers
d) Microsoft

2) What does the material not need to work?
a) revolutions
b) sunlight
c) answers
d) energy and water

3) What could the new material provide an answer to?
a) engineers
b) the meaning of life
c) air conditioners
d) water

4) How thick is the new material?
a) 50 micrometers
b) 50 mm
c) 15 micrometers
d) 15 mm

5) What is the new material slightly thicker than?
a) water
b) aluminium foil
c) cardboard
d) paper

6) How many things happen when the material is put on top of something?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

7) What does the material reflect back into space?
a) ozone
b) air
c) the Sun's rays
d) water

8) How often will this new material work?
a) 24/7
b) five days a week
c) six days a week
d) during daylight hours

9) What industry was mentioned besides power and aerospace?
a) housing
b) aluminium making
c) engineering
d) agriculture

10) How much of the material could cool down a house in the summer?
a) enough to cover a football field
b) 2 square meters
c) 10 to 20 square metres
d) 24/7

Role play

Role A — Cooling Material

You think cooling material is the best kind of material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their material is not as good . Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): leather, bulletproof material or silk.

Role B — Leather

You think leather is the best kind of material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their material is not as good . Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): cooling material, bulletproof material or silk.

Role C — Bulletproof Material

You think bulletproof material is the best kind of material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their material is not as good . Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): leather, cooling material or silk.

Role D — Silk

You think silk is the best kind of material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their material is not as good . Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): leather, bulletproof material or cooling material.

After reading / listening

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

'super'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'thin'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • top
    • rays
    • time
    • air
    • 24
    • 20
    • team
    • developed
    • even
    • answer
    • glass
    • cooking

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - New, super-thin material cools buildings

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'air conditioner'?
    3. How important is air conditioning to you?
    4. What do you think about what you read?
    5. How do you think the new material will change our life?
    6. Would you wear clothes made from the new material?
    7. What other things can we do to keep buildings cool?
    8. What other things could we use the material for?
    9. What do you do to keep cool?
    10. Is it better to be too cool or too hot?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'cool'?
    3. What are the disadvantages of air conditioners?
    4. What meanings of the word 'cool' do you know of?
    5. How does the new material work?
    6. What are the advantages of the new material?
    7. Why do buildings get hot?
    8. How could the aerospace industry use the new material?
    9. How could the agriculture industry use the new material?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the engineers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A team of engineers has (1) ____ a super-thin material that could help keep buildings cool. The team is from the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA. Engineers from the university (2) ____ the revolutionary new material, that is very thin and can cool objects (3) ____ under direct sunlight. The material does not need energy to work (4) ____ does it need water to help keep things cool. The engineers say the new material could provide an answer to air conditioners, which are expensive to (5) ____ and need a lot of water. The material is unlike anything found in nature. It is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers thick. That's (6) ____ thicker than the aluminum foil we use for cooking.

    The engineers explained how their new material works. They said when it is put on top of something, two things (7) ____. The first thing is that it cools the object underneath by (8) ____ the Sun's rays back into space. At the same time, the second thing happens - the material removes the object's (9) ____ heat and sends that into the air. An engineer said: "The (10) ____ advantage of this technology is that it works 24/7 with no electricity or water usage….We're excited about the opportunity to explore potential (11) ____ in the power industry, aerospace, agriculture and more." Another researcher said: "Just 10 to 20 square meters of this material on the rooftop could nicely cool (12) ____ a…house in summer."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     create     (b)     created     (c)     creation     (d)     creative    
    2. (a)     redevelop     (b)     developed     (c)     development     (d)     develops    
    3. (a)     event     (b)     every     (c)     ever     (d)     even    
    4. (a)     not     (b)     nor     (c)     now     (d)     non    
    5. (a)     juice     (b)     run     (c)     energy     (d)     electric    
    6. (a)     slights     (b)     slight     (c)     slightly     (d)     sleight    
    7. (a)     occurs     (b)     event     (c)     happen     (d)     do    
    8. (a)     reflected     (b)     reflects     (c)     reflecting     (d)     reflection    
    9. (a)     disown     (b)     owned     (c)     owner     (d)     own    
    10. (a)     key     (b)     lock     (c)     chain     (d)     combination    
    11. (a)     uses     (b)     useful     (c)     using     (d)     used    
    12. (a)     up     (b)     on     (c)     down     (d)     over

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. A team of rensgiene
    2. pdeeevdol the revolutionary new material
    3. can cool sjtbcoe
    4. under dtierc sunlight
    5. eenpivesx to run
    6. hysgllit thicker than the aluminium foil

    Paragraph 2

    1. indelexap how
    2. gilenctefr the Sun's rays
    3. reovmes the object's own heat
    4. The key avegdntaa of this
    5. eoexlpr potential uses
    6. the power tisuyndr

    Put the text back together

    (    )     uses in the power industry, aerospace, agriculture and more." Another researcher said: "Just 10 to 20 square

    (    )     and sends that into the air. An engineer said: "The key advantage of this technology is that it works

    (    )     work nor does it need water to help keep things cool. The engineers say the new material could provide an

    (    )     new material, that is very thin and can cool objects even under direct sunlight. The material does not need energy to

    (  1  )     A team of engineers has created a super-thin material that could help keep buildings cool. The team is from

    (    )     thick. That's slightly thicker than the aluminium foil we use for cooking.

    (    )     space. At the same time, the second thing happens - the material removes the object's own heat

    (    )     answer to air conditioners, which are expensive to run and need a lot of water. The material is unlike

    (    )     the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA. Engineers from the university developed the revolutionary

    (    )     meters of this material on the rooftop could nicely cool down a…house in summer."

    (    )     24/7 with no electricity or water usage….We're excited about the opportunity to explore potential

    (    )     The engineers explained how their new material works. They said when it is put on top of something, two things

    (    )     happen. The first thing is that it cools the object underneath by reflecting the Sun's rays back into

    (    )     anything found in nature. It is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers

    Put the words in the right order

    1. thin   material   A   cool  buildings  keep   help   could   that  super   -   .
    2. The   developed   revolutionary   material   university   the   new   .
    3. can  and   thin  very  is  It  sunlight  direct   under  even  objects  cool  .
    4. conditioners  material  an  air   new   provide  to   The  could  answer   .
    5. we   cooking  than   foil  for   thicker   aluminium   use   Slightly   the   .
    6. engineers   The   works   material   new   their   how   explained   .
    7. by  Sun's   cools   underneath   the   It   object   reflecting   rays   the   .
    8. The  24  that  this  key  /  it   technology  advantage  7  works   is  of   .
    9. to  uses  power  opportunity  potential  the  The   explore  in  industry  .
    10. house  This  material  on  the   rooftop  could  nicely   cool   down   a   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A team / teem of engineers has created a super-thin material that could help keep / stay buildings cool. The team is from the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA. Engineers from the university development / developed the revolutionary new material, that is very thin and can cooling / cool objects even under directly / direct sunlight. The material does not need energy to / for work nor does it need water to help keep things / thing cool. The engineers say the new material could provide an answer / solution to air conditioners, which are expensive to run and need / needs a lot of water. The material is unlike anything found in nature. It is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers thick. That's slightly thicken / thicker than the aluminum foil we use for cooking.

    The engineers explained how their new material works / work. They said when it is put on top of something, two things happening / happen. The first thing is that it cools the object underneath as / by reflecting the Sun's rays back onto / into space. At the same time, the second / secondly thing happens - the material removes the object's own heat and sends that into the air. An engineer said: "The lock / key advantage of this technology is that it works 24/7 with no / not electricity or water usage….We're excited about the opportunity to / for explore potential uses in the power industry, aerospace, agriculture and more." Another researcher said: "Just 10 to 20 square meter / meters of this material on the rooftop could nicely cool down / up a…house in summer."

    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)

    _ t__m _f _ng_n__rs h_s cr__t_d _ s_p_r-th_n m_t_r__l th_t c__ld h_lp k__p b__ld_ngs c__l. Th_ t__m _s fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f C_l_r_d_ B__ld_r _n th_ _S_. _ng_n__rs fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty d_v_l_p_d th_ r_v_l_t__n_ry n_w m_t_r__l, th_t _s v_ry th_n _nd c_n c__l _bj_cts _v_n _nd_r d_r_ct s_nl_ght. Th_ m_t_r__l d__s n_t n__d _n_rgy t_ w_rk n_r d__s _t n__d w_t_r t_ h_lp k__p th_ngs c__l. Th_ _ng_n__rs s_y th_ n_w m_t_r__l c__ld pr_v_d_ _n _nsw_r t_ __r c_nd_t__n_rs, wh_ch _r_ _xp_ns_v_ t_ r_n _nd n__d _ l_t _f w_t_r. Th_ m_t_r__l _s _nl_k_ _nyth_ng f__nd _n n_t_r_. _t _s _ gl_ss-p_lym_r hybr_d th_t _s j_st 50 m_cr_m_t_rs th_ck. Th_t's sl_ghtly th_ck_r th_n th_ _l_m_n_m f__l w_ _s_ f_r c__k_ng.

    Th_ _ng_n__rs _xpl__n_d h_w th__r n_w m_t_r__l w_rks. Th_y s__d wh_n _t _s p_t _n t_p _f s_m_th_ng, tw_ th_ngs h_pp_n. Th_ f_rst th_ng _s th_t _t c__ls th_ _bj_ct _nd_rn__th by r_fl_ct_ng th_ s_n's r_ys b_ck _nt_ sp_c_. _t th_ s_m_ t_m_, th_ s_c_nd th_ng h_pp_ns - th_ m_t_r__l r_m_v_s th_ _bj_ct's _wn h__t _nd s_nds th_t _nt_ th_ __r. _n _ng_n__r s__d: "Th_ k_y _dv_nt_g_ _f th_s t_chn_l_gy _s th_t _t w_rks 24/7 w_th n_ _l_ctr_c_ty _r w_t_r _s_g_….W_'r_ _xc_t_d _b__t th_ _pp_rt_n_ty t_ _xpl_r_ p_t_nt__l _s_s _n th_ p_w_r _nd_stry, __r_sp_c_, _gr_c_lt_r_ _nd m_r_." _n_th_r r_s__rch_r s__d: "J_st 10 t_ 20 sq__r_ m_t_rs _f th_s m_t_r__l _n th_ r__ft_p c__ld n_c_ly c__l d_wn _…h__s_ _n s_mm_r."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a team of engineers has created a super-thin material that could help keep buildings cool the team is from the university of colorado boulder in the usa engineers from the university developed the revolutionary new material that is very thin and can cool objects even under direct sunlight the material does not need energy to work nor does it need water to help keep things cool the engineers say the new material could provide an answer to air conditioners which are expensive to run and need a lot of water the material is unlike anything found in nature it is a glass-polymer hybrid that is just 50 micrometers thick that's slightly thicker than the aluminum foil we use for cooking

    the engineers explained how their new material works they said when it is put on top of something two things happen the first thing is that it cools the object underneath by reflecting the Sun's rays back into space at the same time the second thing happens - the material removes the object's own heat and sends that into the air an engineer said "the key advantage of this technology is that it works 24/7 with no electricity or water usage…we're excited about the opportunity to explore potential uses in the power industry aerospace agriculture and more" another researcher said "just 10 to 20 square meters of this material on the rooftop could nicely cool down a…house in summer"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Ateamofengineershascreatedasuper-thinmaterialthatcouldhelpkee
    pbuildingscool.TheteamisfromtheUniversityofColoradoBoulderinth
    eUSA.Engineersfromtheuniversitydevelopedtherevolutionarynewm
    aterial,thatisverythinandcancoolobjectsevenunderdirectsunlight.T
    hematerialdoesnotneedenergytoworknordoesitneedwatertohelpke
    epthingscool.Theengineerssaythenewmaterialcouldprovideanansw
    ertoairconditioners,whichareexpensivetorunandneedalotofwater.T
    hematerialisunlikeanythingfoundinnature.Itisaglass-polymerhy
    bridthatisjust50micrometersthick.That'sslightlythickerthanthealu
    miniumfoilweuseforcooking.Theengineersexplainedhowtheirnewm
    aterialworks.Theysaidwhenitisputontopofsomething,twothingshap
    pen.Thefirstthingisthatitcoolstheobjectunderneathbyreflectingthes
    un'sraysbackintospace.Atthesametime,thesecondthinghappens-t
    hematerialremovestheobject'sownheatandsendsthatintotheair.Ane
    ngineersaid:"Thekeyadvantageofthistechnologyisthatitworks24/7
    withnoelectricityorwaterusage….We'reexcitedabouttheopportunityt
    oexplorepotentialusesinthepowerindustry,aerospace,agriculturean
    dmore."Anotherresearchersaid:"Just10to20squaremetersofthisma
    terialontherooftopcouldnicelycooldowna…houseinsummer."

    Free writing

    Write about air conditioning for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    Scientists will find an answer to all our problems. Discuss.

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    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 air conditioning. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. AIR CONDITIONING: Make a poster about air conditioning. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. WASTE: Write a magazine article about air conditioning being a waste of energy and water. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    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 air conditioning. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep buildings cool in hot weather. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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