The Reading / Listening - Zealandia - Level 3

We were taught at school that there were nine planets, but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not a planet). Now we may have to change our thinking about how many continents there are. We are taught there are seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who study the land and the earth) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a huge, largely underwater landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of this landmass is above water and is what we know as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean. In total, it measures five million square kilometres, which scientists say is big enough to be a continent.

Geologists explained why they think Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research paper and published it in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They argue that the land does not have to be above water for it to be a continent. They said four different points make Zealandia a continent. It is a lot higher than the surrounding area, it has a unique geology, it is easy to find the shape of the continent, and it is a lot thicker than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, said it would be easy to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could pull the plug on the world's oceans" and let the water out. However, it may take some time before scientists agree that there are eight continents.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Zealandia - Level 0,  Zealandia - Level 1   or  Zealandia - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www. bbc.com/news/world-asia-39000936
  • https://www. tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/its-just-cool-isnt-scientists-excited-gigantic-new-global-continent-zealandia
  • http://www. nature.com/news/geologists-spy-an-eighth-continent-zealandia-1.21503


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. CONTINENTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about continents. 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?

       taught / school / planet / continent / land / earth / underwater / ocean / scientists /
       geologists / research / paper / higher / shape / floor / unique / plug / let the water out

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

3. ZEALANDIA: Students A strongly believe Zealandia should be the eighth continent; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. CONTINENTS: What do you know about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Countries

Landscapes

Cultures

Flora & Fauna

Africa

 

 

 

 

Asia

 

 

 

 

Antarctica

 

 

 

 

South America

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

 

 

 

North America

 

 

 

 
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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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5. OCEAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "ocean". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. BEST CONTINENT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America
  • Zealandia
  • Africa
  • Antarctica
  • Asia
  • Australia

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. People at school were taught there were nine planets.     T / F
  2. Scientists said there is a plant called Pluto.     T / F
  3. Over 99 per cent of Zealandia is under water.     T / F
  4. Zealandia is over fifty million square kilometres in size.     T / F
  5. Geologists said a continent can be below water and still be a continent.   T / F
  6. Geologists said a continent needs a unique geology to be a continent.     T / F
  7. A geologist said if the oceans had less water, we could see Zealandia.     T / F
  8. The article said scientists will agree quickly that Zealandia is a continent. T / F

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

  1. taught
  2. thinking
  3. huge
  4. largely
  5. under
  6. published
  7. surrounding
  8. unique
  9. understand
  10. pull
  1. ideas
  2. encircling
  3. mainly
  4. see
  5. remove
  6. educated
  7. special
  8. beneath
  9. printed
  10. enormous

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

  1. We were taught at school that
  2. we may have to
  3. This is a huge, largely
  4. Six per cent of this landmass
  5. big enough
  6. They wrote a research paper
  7. it has a unique
  8. a lot thicker
  9. pull the plug on the world's oceans and
  10. it may take some time
  1. is above water
  2. to be a continent
  3. than the ocean floor
  4. before scientists agree
  5. let the water out
  6. there were nine planets
  7. and published it
  8. change our thinking
  9. geology
  10. underwater landmass

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
land
measures
southern
nine
enough
thinking
above
huge

We were taught at school that there were (1) ____________ planets, but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not a planet). Now we may have to change our (2) ____________ about how many continents there are. We are taught there are seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who study the (3) ____________ and the earth) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a (4) ____________, largely underwater landmass in the (5) ____________ Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of this landmass is (6) ____________ water and is what we know as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean. In total, it (7) ____________ five million square kilometres, which scientists say is big (8) ____________ to be a continent.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
easy
argue
published
time
unique
plug
points
thicker

Geologists explained why they think Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research paper and (9) ____________ it in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They (10) ____________ that the land does not have to be above water for it to be a continent. They said four different (11) ____________ make Zealandia a continent. It is a lot higher than the surrounding area, it has a (12) ____________ geology, it is easy to find the shape of the continent, and it is a lot (13) ____________ than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, said it would be (14) ____________ to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could pull the (15) ____________ on the world's oceans" and let the water out. However, it may take some (16) ____________ before scientists agree that there are eight continents.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  We were taught at school that there were nine planets, but now ______
     a.  there are eighth
     b.  there are eights
     c.  there are eighths
     d.  there are eight

2)  we may have to change our thinking about how many continents ______
     a.  are there
     b.  their are
     c.  they're are
     d.  there are

3)  Geologists (people who study the land and the earth) now say there is ______
     a.  and eighth continent
     b.  an eight continent
     c.  an eighth continent
     d.  and eight continent

4)  Around 94 per cent of it is ______
     a.  under an ocean
     b.  under the ocean
     c.  underling ocean
     d.  and the ocean

5)  In total, it measures five million square kilometres, which scientists say ______
     a.  is big enough
     b.  is big plenty
     c.  is bigger enough
     d.  it's big enough

6)  They argue that the land does not have to be above water for it to ______
     a.  be the continent
     b.  be a continent
     c.  be all continent
     d.  been a continent

7)  It is a lot higher than the surrounding area, it has a ______
     a.  uniquely geology
     b.  unique geological
     c.  uniquely geological
     d.  unique geology

8)  it is easy to find the shape of the continent, and it is a lot thicker than ______
     a.  the ocean flair
     b.  the ocean flare
     c.  the ocean floor
     d.  the ocean flaw

9)  if you could pull the plug on the world's oceans and ______ out
     a.  wet the water
     b.  let the water
     c.  bet the water
     d.  set the water

10)  However, it may take some time before ______
     a.  science is agree
     b.  scientists argue
     c.  science lists argue
     d.  scientists agree

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

We (1) ___________________ school that there were nine planets, but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not a planet). Now we may have to (2) ___________________ about how many continents there are. We are taught there are seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who study the (3) ___________________) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a huge, (4) ___________________ landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of this landmass is above water and is what we know as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 (5) ___________________ the ocean. In total, it measures five million square kilometres, which scientists say is (6) ___________________ a continent.

Geologists explained (7) ___________________ Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research paper and published it in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They (8) ___________________ land does not have to be above water for it to be a continent. They said four different points make Zealandia a continent. It (9) ___________________ than the surrounding area, it has a unique geology, it is easy (10) ___________________ of the continent, and it is a lot thicker than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, said (11) ___________________ to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could pull the plug on the world's oceans" and let the water out. However, it may take some time before scientists (12) ___________________ are eight continents.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where were we taught that there were nine planets?
  2. What did scientists say was not a planet?
  3. Where is Zealandia?
  4. How much of Zealandia is above water?
  5. How big is Zealandia?
  6. What did geologists write?
  7. How many different points make Zealandia a continent?
  8. What does a landmass need to be thicker than to be a continent?
  9. What did a geologist say you could pull to see Zealandia?
  10. How long will it take for scientists to agree on Zealandia?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where were we taught that there were nine planets?
a) school
b) at a planetarium
c) on the Internet
d) in maths books

2) What did scientists say was not a planet?
a) Jupiter
b) Neptune
c) Pluto
d) Venus

3) Where is Zealandia?
a) in the Indian Ocean
b) in the South Pacific
c) in the North Sea
d) in the Atlantic Ocean

4) How much of Zealandia is above water?
a) sixty per cent
b) sixteen per cent
c) sixty-six per cent
d) six per cent

5) How big is Zealandia?
a) five million square kilometres
b) fifty million square kilometres
c) fifteen million square kilometres
d) 55 million square kilometres

6) What did geologists write?
a) a song
b) instructions
c) a movie screenplay
d) a research paper

7) How many different points make Zealandia a continent?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6

8) What does a landmass need to be thicker than to be a continent?
a) Antarctica
b) the ocean
c) a large volcano
d) the ocean floor

9) What did a geologist say you could pull to see Zealandia?
a) a muscle
b) a shelf
c) a plug
d) a rock

10) How long will it take for scientists to agree on Zealandia?
a) a little longer
b) some time
c) 3 days
d) 3 years

Role play

Role A — Africa

You think Africa is the best continent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their continents. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Asia, Europe or South America.

Role B — Asia

You think Asia is the best continent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their continents. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Africa, Europe or South America.

Role C — Europe

You think Europe is the best continent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their continents. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Asia, Africa or South America.

Role D — South America

You think South America is the best continent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their continents. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Asia, Europe or Africa.

After reading / listening

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

'planet'

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

    • and 'continent'.

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

    • • 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:

    • why
    • argue
    • four
    • shape
    • pull
    • time
    • nine
    • people
    • seven
    • huge
    • know
    • total

    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 - Zealandia – The eighth continent?

    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 'continent'?
    3. What do you know about the continents?
    4. What do you know about the continent on which you live?
    5. Which is the best continent, and why?
    6. What do you think of Zealandia becoming a continent?
    7. What do geologists do every day?
    8. What is a continent?
    9. What would you like to know about Zealandia?
    10. What do you know about New Zealand?

    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 'planet'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you like about the geology of the Earth?
    5. Asia and Europe are connected, so are they one continent?
    6. What do you think of the name, 'Zealandia'?
    7. Would you like to be a geologist?
    8. What would happen if you pulled the plug on the world's oceans?
    9. Why might it take time for scientists to agree Zealandia is a continent?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the geologists?

    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)

    We were (1) ____ at school that there were nine planets, but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not a planet). Now we may have to change our (2) ____ about how many continents there (3) ____. We are taught there are seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who study the land and the earth) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a huge, (4) ____ underwater landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of this landmass is above water and is (5) ____ we know as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean. (6) ____ total, it measures five million square kilometres, which scientists say is big enough to be a continent.

    Geologists explained why they think Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research paper and published (7) ____ in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They argue that the land does not have to be above water (8) ____ it to be a continent. They said four different points make Zealandia a continent. It is a lot higher than the surrounding area, it has a unique geology, it is easy to find the (9) ____ of the continent, and it is a (10) ____ thicker than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, said it would be easy to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could pull the plug on the world's oceans" and let the water (11) ____. However, it may take (12) ____ time before scientists agree that there are eight continents.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     teaching     (b)     teaches     (c)     teach     (d)     taught    
    2. (a)     thought     (b)     think     (c)     thinks     (d)     thinking    
    3. (a)     be     (b)     are     (c)     have     (d)     is    
    4. (a)     measure     (b)     degree     (c)     largely     (d)     extent    
    5. (a)     that     (b)     where     (c)     what     (d)     such    
    6. (a)     In     (b)     On     (c)     To     (d)     At    
    7. (a)     issue     (b)     it     (c)     which     (d)     paper    
    8. (a)     for     (b)     from     (c)     of     (d)     if    
    9. (a)     ship     (b)     shape     (c)     sharp     (d)     slope    
    10. (a)     lid     (b)     loads     (c)     lot     (d)     land    
    11. (a)     down     (b)     up     (c)     out     (d)     in    
    12. (a)     lots     (b)     any     (c)     many     (d)     some

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. there were nine netlsap
    2. eiggstsolo (people who study the land)
    3. ygrlael underwater
    4. under the naceo
    5. it aeseurms five million square kilometres
    6. … which scientists say is big unheog

    Paragraph 2

    1. wrote a hscreare paper and published it
    2. They uerga that the land…
    3. four etieffrnd points
    4. higher than the gnrdouiusnr area
    5. it has a uieqnu geology
    6. scientists ragee

    Put the text back together

    (    )     underwater landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of this landmass is above water and is what we

    (    )     Geologists explained why they think Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research paper and

    (    )     higher than the surrounding area, it has a unique geology, it is easy to find the shape of the continent, and it is a lot

    (    )     water for it to be a continent. They said four different points make Zealandia a continent. It is a lot

    (    )     five million square kilometres, which scientists say is big enough to be a continent.

    (    )     out. However, it may take some time before scientists agree that there are eight continents.

    (    )     published it in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They argue that the land does not have to be above

    (    )     thicker than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, said it would be

    (    )     study the land and the earth) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a huge, largely

    (    )     a planet). Now we may have to change our thinking about how many continents there are. We are taught there are

    (  1  )     We were taught at school that there were nine planets, but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not

    (    )     seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who

    (    )     know as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean. In total, it measures

    (    )     easy to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could pull the plug on the world's oceans" and let the water

    Put the words in the right order

    1. nine   were   school   were   We   at   there   planets   taught   that   .
    2. how   Change   many   our   continents   thinking   there   about   are   .
    3. land   earth   people   the   the   are   study   and   Geologists   who   .
    4. huge  underwater  the  A   largely  in   Pacific   ,  landmass  southern   .
    5. ,   square   it   kilometres   measures   In   five   total   million   .
    6. research   a   wrote   They   it   published   and   paper   .
    7. to   have  not   does   land  the   that  argue   They   water  above  be  .
    8. surrounding   lot   area   higher   It   than   is   the   a   .
    9. the   let  and   oceans   world's   the  on   plug   the  Pull   out   water   .
    10. may   time   agree   it   some   scientists   ,   take   before   However   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    We were taught / teach at school that there were nine planets, but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not the / a planet). Now we may have to change our thinks / thinking about how many continents there be / are. We are taught there are seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who study the land and the / an earth) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a huge, largely / enlarge underwater landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean. Six per cent for / of this landmass is above water and is what we know / known as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean. In totally / total, it measures five million square kilometres, which scientists say is big enough to do / be a continent.

    Geologists explanation / explained why they think Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research paper and published it on / in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They argue that the land does not have to be higher / above water for it to be a continent. They said four different / difference points make Zealandia a continent. It is a much / lot higher than the surrounding area, it has a unique / uniquely geology, it is easy to find the shape of the continent, and it is a lot thicken / thicker than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, said it would be easy to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could push / pull the plug on the world's oceans" and let the water out / in. However, it may take some time then / before scientists agree that there are eight continents.

    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)

    W_ w_r_ t__ght _t sch__l th_t th_r_ w_r_ n_n_ pl_n_ts, b_t n_w th_r_ _r_ __ght (sc__nt_sts s__d Pl_t_ _s n_t _ pl_n_t). N_w w_ m_y h_v_ t_ ch_ng_ __r th_nk_ng _b__t h_w m_ny c_nt_n_nts th_r_ _r_. W_ _r_ t__ght th_r_ _r_ s_v_n c_nt_n_nts - _s__, _fr_c_, N_rth _m_r_c_, S__th _m_r_c_, _nt_rct_c_, __r_p_, _nd __str_l__. G__l_g_sts (p__pl_ wh_ st_dy th_ l_nd _nd th_ __rth) n_w s_y th_r_ _s _n __ghth c_nt_n_nt - Z__l_nd__. Th_s _s _ h_g_, l_rg_ly _nd_rw_t_r l_ndm_ss _n th_ s__th_rn P_c_f_c _c__n. S_x p_r c_nt _f th_s l_ndm_ss _s _b_v_ w_t_r _nd _s wh_t w_ kn_w _s N_w Z__l_nd _nd N_w C_l_d_n__. _r__nd 94 p_r c_nt _f _t _s _nd_r th_ _c__n. _n t_t_l, _t m__s_r_s f_v_ m_ll__n sq__r_ k_l_m_tr_s, wh_ch sc__nt_sts s_y _s b_g _n__gh t_ b_ _ c_nt_n_nt.

    G__l_g_sts _xpl__n_d why th_y th_nk Z__l_nd__ _s _ c_nt_n_nt. Th_y wr_t_ _ r_s__rch p_p_r _nd p_bl_sh_d _t _n th_ G__l_g_c_l S_c__ty _f _m_r_c_'s J__rn_l. Th_y _rg__ th_t th_ l_nd d__s n_t h_v_ t_ b_ _b_v_ w_t_r f_r _t t_ b_ _ c_nt_n_nt. Th_y s__d f__r d_ff_r_nt p__nts m_k_ Z__l_nd__ _ c_nt_n_nt. _t _s _ l_t h_gh_r th_n th_ s_rr__nd_ng _r__, _t h_s _ _n_q__ g__l_gy, _t _s __sy t_ f_nd th_ sh_p_ _f th_ c_nt_n_nt, _nd _t _s _ l_t th_ck_r th_n th_ _c__n fl__r. N_ck M_rt_m_r, _ g__l_g_st _t GNS Sc__nc_ _n N_w Z__l_nd, s__d _t w__ld b_ __sy t_ _nd_rst_nd th_t Z__l_nd__ _s _ c_nt_n_nt, "_f y__ c__ld p_ll th_ pl_g _n th_ w_rld's _c__ns" _nd l_t th_ w_t_r __t. H_w_v_r, _t m_y t_k_ s_m_ t_m_ b_f_r_ sc__nt_sts _gr__ th_t th_r_ _r_ __ght c_nt_n_nts.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    we were taught at school that there were nine planets but now there are eight (scientists said pluto is not a planet) now we may have to change our thinking about how many continents there are we are taught there are seven continents - asia africa north america south america antarctica europe and australia geologists (people who study the land and the earth) now say there is an eighth continent - zealandia this is a huge largely underwater landmass in the southern pacific ocean six per cent of this landmass is above water and is what we know as new zealand and new caledonia around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean in total it measures five million square kilometres which scientists say is big enough to be a continent

    geologists explained why they think zealandia is a continent they wrote a research paper and published it in the geological society of america's journal they argue that the land does not have to be above water for it to be a continent they said four different points make zealandia a continent it is a lot higher than the surrounding area it has a unique geology it is easy to find the shape of the continent and it is a lot thicker than the ocean floor nick mortimer a geologist at gns science in new zealand said it would be easy to understand that zealandia is a continent "if you could pull the plug on the world's oceans" and let the water out however it may take some time before scientists agree that there are eight continents

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Weweretaughtatschoolthattherewerenineplanets,butnowtherearee
    ight(scientistssaidPlutoisnotaplanet).Nowwemayhavetochangeourt
    hinkingabouthowmanycontinentsthereare.Wearetaughttherearese
    vencontinents-Asia,Africa,NorthAmerica,SouthAmerica,Antarctic
    a,Europe,andAustralia.Geologists(peoplewhostudythelandandthee
    arth)nowsaythereisaneighthcontinent-Zealandia.Thisisahuge,lar
    gelyunderwaterlandmassinthesouthernPacificOcean.Sixpercentoft
    hislandmassisabovewaterandiswhatweknowasNewZealandandNew
    Caledonia.Around94percentofitisundertheocean.Intotal,itmeasure
    sfivemillionsquarekilometres,whichscientistssayisbigenoughtobeac
    ontinent.GeologistsexplainedwhytheythinkZealandiaisacontinent.T
    heywrotearesearchpaperandpublisheditintheGeologicalSocietyofA
    merica'sJournal.Theyarguethatthelanddoesnothavetobeabovewate
    rforittobeacontinent.TheysaidfourdifferentpointsmakeZealandiaac
    ontinent.Itisalothigherthanthesurroundingarea,ithasauniquegeolo
    gy,itiseasytofindtheshapeofthecontinent,anditisalotthickerthanthe
    oceanfloor.NickMortimer,ageologistatGNSScienceinNewZealand,sa
    iditwouldbeeasytounderstandthatZealandiaisacontinent,"ifyoucoul
    dpulltheplugontheworld'soceans"andletthewaterout.However,itma
    ytakesometimebeforescientistsagreethatthereareeightcontinents.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Teachers should now teach there are eight continents. 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 Zealandia. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. CONTINENTS: Make a poster about continents. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. ZEALANDIA: Write a magazine article about Zealandia and whether it should become the eighth continent. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    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 continents. Ask him/her three questions about Zealandia. Give him/her three of your opinions on whether Zealandia should be the eighth continent. 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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