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Coldest temperature on Earth recorded (12th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Scientists recently found the coldest place on Earth. Satellites measured a temperature of minus 93.2 degrees Celsius on part of Antarctica. Scientists still need to do more tests on the data. The real temperature could be one degree colder. The coldest temperature found before this was also in Antarctica. This was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. Scientist Dr Ted Scambos said: "These very low temperatures are hard to imagine." He explained: "It's almost as cold below freezing as boiling water is above freezing." He added that parts of Antarctica are 50 degrees colder than Siberia. Nowhere on Antarctica is as cold as the Moon. Temperatures there got as low as minus 238 degrees Celsius.

Unfortunately, the record freezing temperatures measured by the satellites won't be in the Guinness Book of Records. The temperatures must be from a couple of meters above the ice. The scientists also have to use a thermometer. The satellites' temperatures were a few centimetres above the ice and they did not use a thermometer. Dr Scambos said he is sure that the temperatures recorded by the satellites are accurate. He also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work properly. He said it was so cold that you cannot breathe the air. When scientists go outside, they must wear a snorkel that goes inside their coat. They breathe the warmer air that is close to their skin.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www. bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25287806
http://www. livescience.com/41817-coldest-places-found-antarctica.html
http://www. stuff.co.nz/science/9499536/Coldest-place-on-Earth-94-7C

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. COLD WEATHER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cold weather. Change partners often and share your findings.

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

scientists / temperature / data / Antarctica / minus / imagine / freezing / boiling / unfortunately / satellites / ice / thermometer / accurate / work properly / breathe

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

3. WEATHER: What can we do to enjoy it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What do you do now?	What could you do to enjoy it?
Freezing cold
Boiling hot
Heavy rain
Thick fog
Strong wind
Snow

4. TEMPERATURE: Students A strongly believe hot is better than cold; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 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. FREEZING: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best things to do when it's freezing at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• go for a walk

• go shopping

• go hiking

• go to a coffee shop

• go home

• go skiing

• go to a movie theatre

• go to bed

6. ANTARCTICA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Antarctica". 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.	Scientists recorded a temperature of minus 92.3 degrees C.	T / F
b.	Scientists need to do more tests because the record might be colder.	T / F
c.	The previous coldest temperature record was in Siberia.	T / F
d.	The temperature on Antarctica is colder than the Moon.	T / F
e.	The record temperature will not go into the Guinness Book of Records.	T / F
f.	Nobody used a thermometer to record the record cold temperature.	T / F
g.	The record temperature in Antarctica was too cold for a thermometer.	T / F
h.	People do not need any help to breathe the air in Antarctica.	T / F

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

1.	recently	a.	reached
2.	do	b.	correct
3.	data	c.	few
4.	hard	d.	information
5.	got	e.	not long ago
6.	freezing	f.	have to
7.	couple	g.	sub-zero
8.	accurate	h.	carry out
9.	must	i.	near
10.	close	j.	difficult

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

1.	Scientists recently found the	a.	to work properly
2.	a temperature of minus	b.	degree colder
3.	The real temperature could be one	c.	breathe the air
4.	These very low temperatures are	d.	water
5.	boiling	e.	is close to their skin
6.	scientists also have	f.	coldest place on Earth
7.	temperatures recorded by the	g.	to use a thermometer
8.	too cold for a thermometer	h.	hard to imagine
9.	He said it was so cold that you cannot	i.	93.2 degrees Celsius
10.	They breathe the warmer air that	j.	satellites are accurate

GAP FILL

Scientists recently found the coldest (1) ____________ on Earth. Satellites measured a temperature of (2) ____________ 93.2 degrees Celsius on part of Antarctica. Scientists still need to do more tests on the (3) ____________. The real temperature could be one (4) ____________ colder. The coldest temperature found before this was also in Antarctica. This was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. Scientist Dr Ted Scambos said: "These very low temperatures are hard to (5) ____________." He explained: "It's almost as cold below freezing as (6) ____________ water is above freezing." He (7) ____________ that parts of Antarctica are 50 degrees colder than Siberia. Nowhere on Antarctica is as cold as the Moon. Temperatures there got as (8) ____________ as minus 238 degrees Celsius.

boiling
data
low
place
degree
added
minus
imagine

Unfortunately, the record (9) ____________ temperatures measured by the satellites won't be in the Guinness Book of Records. The temperatures must be from a (10) ____________ of meters above the ice. The scientists also have to use a (11) ____________. The satellites' temperatures were a few centimetres above the (12) ____________ and they did not use a thermometer. Dr Scambos said he is sure that the temperatures recorded by the satellites are (13) ____________. He also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work (14) ____________. He said it was so cold that you cannot breathe the air. When scientists go (15) ____________, they must wear a snorkel that goes inside their coat. They breathe the (16) ____________ air that is close to their skin.

properly
ice
couple
warmer
freezing
accurate
outside
thermometer

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Satellites measured a temperature of minus ______
	a. 93.2 degree b. 93.2 decrees c. 93.2 degrees d. 93.2 decree is
2)	Scientists still need to do more tests ______
	a. on the date a b. on the data c. on the deity d. on the datum
3)	This was minus 89.2 degrees ______
	a. sell see us b. Celsius c. Centigrade d. Fahrenheit
4)	These very low temperatures are hard ______
	a. too imagine b. two imagine c. true imagine d. to imagine
5)	It's almost as cold below freezing as boiling water ______
	a. is above freezing b. is above freezes c. is above freeze in d. is above frozen
6)	The temperatures must be from a couple of meters ______
	a. above the icicle b. above the ice c. above the iced d. above the icy
7)	The scientists also have to use ______
	a. a thermos meter b. a thermo meters c. a thermometer d. a barometer
8)	he is sure that the temperatures recorded by the satellites ______
	a. are accuracy b. are a cue rate c. are a Kew rat d. are accurate
9)	He said it was so cold that you cannot ______
	a. breathe in the air b. breathe out the air c. breathe the air d. breath the air
10)	They breathe the warmer air that is close ______
	a. to their skinny b. to their skinned c. to their skins d. to their skin

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists recently found (1) ___________________ Earth. Satellites measured a temperature of minus 93.2 degrees Celsius on part of Antarctica. Scientists (2) ___________________ more tests on the data. The real temperature could be one degree colder. The coldest temperature found before (3) ___________________ Antarctica. This was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. Scientist Dr Ted Scambos said: "These very low temperatures are (4) ___________________." He explained: "It's almost as cold below freezing as boiling water is above freezing." He (5) ___________________ Antarctica are 50 degrees colder than Siberia. Nowhere on Antarctica is as cold as the Moon. Temperatures there (6) ___________________ minus 238 degrees Celsius.

Unfortunately, the record freezing temperatures (7) ___________________ satellites won't be in the Guinness Book of Records. The temperatures must be from a couple of (8) ___________________. The scientists also have to use a thermometer. The satellites' temperatures were a few centimetres above the ice and they did not (9) ___________________. Dr Scambos said he is sure that the temperatures recorded (10) ___________________ are accurate. He also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work properly. He said it was so cold that you (11) ___________________. When scientists go outside, they must wear a snorkel that goes inside their coat. They breathe the warmer air that is (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	When did scientists find the record cold temperatures?
2.	What was the record temperature?
3.	What do scientists still need to do?
4.	How much colder is Antarctica than Siberia?
5.	Where was a temperature of minus 238 degrees Celsius recorded?
6.	How far above the ice did the satellites record the temperatures?
7.	What did a scientist say about the satellites' temperature recordings?
8.	What cannot work properly in the coldest part of Antarctica?
9.	What do scientists in Antarctica use to breathe outside?
10.	Where is the warm air that scientists in Antarctica breathe?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	When did scientists find the record cold temperatures?	6.	How far above the ice did the satellites record the temperatures?
	a) yesterday b) 2010 c) recently d) September 23		a) 2.3 metres b) a few centimetres c) 23 millimetres d) exactly one metre
2.	What was the record temperature?	7.	What did a scientist say about the satellites' temperature recordings?
	a) -93.2ºC b) -92.3ºF c) -89.2ºC d) -238ºC		a) they are accurate b) nothing c) they are wrong d) they are too cold
3.	What do scientists still need to do?	8.	What cannot work properly in the coldest part of Antarctica?
	a) more tests b) visit more places c) go to Siberia d) find one degree		a) humans b) satellites c) thermometers d) ice cream machines
4.	How much colder is Antarctica than Siberia?	9.	What do scientists in Antarctica use to breathe outside?
	a) 238 degrees b) 50 degrees c) 89.2 degrees d) they're about the same		a) an air-conditioned helmet b) a thermal scarf c) scuba-diving air tanks d) snorkels
5.	Where was a temperature of minus 238 degrees Celsius recorded?	10.	Where is the warm air that scientists in Antarctica breathe?
	a) inside an iceberg b) the North Pole c) Siberia d) the Moon		a) near their skin b) Florida c) in heated bottles of air d) in solar panels on their clothes

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Go to bed

You think going to bed is the best thing to do in cold weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): going skiing, going to a coffee shop or going shopping.

Role B – Go skiing

You think going skiing is the best thing to do in cold weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): going to bed, going to a coffee shop or going shopping.

Role C – Go to a coffee shop

You think going to a coffee shop is the best thing to do in cold weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): going skiing, going to bed or going shopping.

Role D – Go shopping

You think going shopping is the best thing to do in cold weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): going skiing, going to a coffee shop or going to bed.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

freezing

boiling

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:

place
tests
one
imagine
water
low

book
ice
few
sure
properly
skin

COLD WEATHER SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about cold weather 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.

COLD WEATHER DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'cold'?
c)	Would you like to go to the coldest place on Earth?
d)	What do you do when it's really cold?
e)	Can your body take really cold temperatures?
f)	Why do you think scientists are still testing this data from 2010?
g)	Can you imagine how cold -93ºC is?
h)	Do you prefer very hot weather or very cold weather?
i)	What would you do on a vacation on Antarctica?
j)	What's the weather like in your country?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Do you think the Guinness Book of Records should accept the new record?
c)	What does freezing cold weather do to our body?
d)	What do you wear in cold weather?
e)	What are the good things about cold weather?
f)	What's the coldest you've ever been?
g)	What's the best way to keep warm when it's freezing cold?
h)	What can you do in cold weather that you can't do in hot weather?
i)	What's the best food to eat in cold weather?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

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

Scientists (1) ____ found the coldest place on Earth. Satellites measured a temperature of minus 93.2 degrees Celsius on part of Antarctica. Scientists (2) ____ need to do more tests on the data. The real temperature could be one degree (3) ____. The coldest temperature found before this was also in Antarctica. This was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. Scientist Dr Ted Scambos said: "These very low temperatures are (4) ____ to imagine." He explained: "It's almost as cold below freezing as (5) ____ water is above freezing." He added that parts of Antarctica are 50 degrees colder than Siberia. Nowhere on Antarctica is as cold as the Moon. Temperatures there got as (6) ____ as minus 238 degrees Celsius.

Unfortunately, the record freezing temperatures (7) ____ by the satellites won't be in the Guinness Book of Records. The temperatures must be from a couple (8) ____ meters above the ice. The scientists also have to use a thermometer. The satellites' temperatures were a (9) ____ centimetres above the ice and they did not use a thermometer. Dr Scambos said he is sure that the temperatures recorded by the satellites are (10) ____. He also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work properly. He said it was so cold that you cannot (11) ____ the air. When scientists go outside, they must wear a snorkel that (12) ____ inside their coat. They breathe the warmer air that is close to their skin.

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

1.	(a)	recently	(b)	recent	(c)	resent	(d)	decently
2.	(a)	yet	(b)	already	(c)	still	(d)	ever
3.	(a)	snowier	(b)	hotter	(c)	recorder	(d)	colder
4.	(a)	hardly	(b)	hard	(c)	heady	(d)	hardy
5.	(a)	bowling	(b)	broiling	(c)	bailing	(d)	boiling
6.	(a)	down	(b)	deep	(c)	low	(d)	minus
7.	(a)	taped	(b)	measured	(c)	ruled	(d)	predicted
8.	(a)	of	(b)	about	(c)	for	(d)	each
9.	(a)	few	(b)	couple	(c)	several	(d)	numerous
10.	(a)	accuracy	(b)	acute	(c)	accurate	(d)	accurateness
11.	(a)	breathless	(b)	breathy	(c)	breath	(d)	breathe
12.	(a)	leaves	(b)	goes	(c)	departs	(d)	returns

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	inusm 93.2
2.	one deeerg colder
3.	hard to inmegia
4.	obginli water
5.	above enfgrize
6.	onreweh on Antarctica
Paragraph 2
7.	edurames by the satellites
8.	a oeculp of meters
9.	use a meotreremth
10.	the satellites are rteauacc
11.	work rpeopryl
12.	ehraetb the warmer air

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	of minus 93.2 degrees Celsius on part of Antarctica. Scientists still need to do more tests
( )	Guinness Book of Records. The temperatures must be from a couple of meters above the
( 1 )	Scientists recently found the coldest place on Earth. Satellites measured a temperature
( )	also in Antarctica. This was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. Scientist Dr Ted Scambos said: "These very low
( )	on the data. The real temperature could be one degree colder. The coldest temperature found before this was
( )	centimetres above the ice and they did not use a thermometer. Dr Scambos said he is sure that the temperatures recorded
( )	properly. He said it was so cold that you cannot breathe the air. When scientists go
( )	by the satellites are accurate. He also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work
( )	than Siberia. Nowhere on Antarctica is as cold as the Moon. Temperatures there got as low as minus 238 degrees Celsius.
( )	temperatures are hard to imagine." He explained: "It's almost as cold below freezing as boiling
( )	ice. The scientists also have to use a thermometer. The satellites' temperatures were a few
( )	Unfortunately, the record freezing temperatures measured by the satellites won't be in the
( )	outside, they must wear a snorkel that goes inside their coat. They breathe the warmer air that is close to their skin.
( )	water is above freezing." He added that parts of Antarctica are 50 degrees colder

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	degrees Satellites measured a temperature of minus 93.2 .
2.	still do on Scientists to tests data need more the .
3.	colder could be The one real degree temperature.
4.	are These hard very to low imagine temperatures.
5.	water is above freezing As cold below freezing as boiling.
6.	Record satellites the by measured temperatures freezing.
7.	centimetres Temperatures above were the a ice few.
8.	a thermometer to work They would be too cold for.
9.	it was so cold that you cannot breathe He said.
10.	air close skin warmer is their The that to.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Scientists recently / recent found the coldest place on Earth. Satellites measured a temperature of minus / minuses 93.2 degrees Celsius on part of Antarctica. Scientists still needy / need to do more tests on the data. The real temperature could be once / one degree colder. The coldest temperature found before this was / were also in Antarctica. This was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius. Scientist Dr Ted Scambos said: "These very lowered / low temperatures are hard to / for imagine." He explained: "It's almost as cold under / below freezing as boiling water is above freezing." He added that parts of Antarctica are 50 degrees colder than Siberia. Nowhere / Everywhere on Antarctica is as cold as the Moon. Temperatures there / these got as low as minus 238 degrees Celsius.

Unfortunately, the records / record freezing temperatures measured by the satellites won't be in / on the Guinness Book of Records. The temperatures must be from a / the couple of meters above the ice. The scientists also have to use / usefully a thermometer. The satellites' temperatures were a few centimetres above the ice and they did not use a thermos / thermometer. Dr Scambos said he is sure / assure that the temperatures recorded by the satellites are accuracy / accurate. He also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work prosperously / properly. He said it was so cold that you cannot breathe the air. When scientists go outside, they must wear a snorkel that goes / comes inside their coat. They breathe the warmer air that is close / closely to their skin.

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)

Sc__nt_sts r_c_ntly f__nd th_ c_ld_st pl_c_ _n __rth. S_t_ll_t_s m__s_r_d _ t_mp_r_t_r_ _f m_n_s 93.2 d_gr__s C_ls__s _n p_rt _f _nt_rct_c_. Sc__nt_sts st_ll n__d t_ d_ m_r_ t_sts _n th_ d_t_. Th_ r__l t_mp_r_t_r_ c__ld b_ _n_ d_gr__ c_ld_r. Th_ c_ld_st t_mp_r_t_r_ f__nd b_f_r_ th_s w_s _ls_ _n _nt_rct_c_. Th_s w_s m_n_s 89.2 d_gr__s C_ls__s. Sc__nt_st Dr T_d Sc_mb_s s__d: "Th_s_ v_ry l_w t_mp_r_t_r_s _r_ h_rd t_ _m_g_n_." H_ _xpl__n_d: "_t's _lm_st _s c_ld b_l_w fr__z_ng _s b__l_ng w_t_r _s _b_v_ fr__z_ng." H_ _dd_d th_t p_rts _f _nt_rct_c_ _r_ 50 d_gr__s c_ld_r th_n S_b_r__. N_wh_r_ _n _nt_rct_c_ _s _s c_ld _s th_ M__n. T_mp_r_t_r_s th_r_ g_t _s l_w _s m_n_s 238 d_gr__s C_ls__s.

_nf_rt_n_t_ly, th_ r_c_rd fr__z_ng t_mp_r_t_r_s m__s_r_d by th_ s_t_ll_t_s w_n't b_ _n th_ G__nn_ss B__k _f R_c_rds. Th_ t_mp_r_t_r_s m_st b_ fr_m _ c__pl_ _f m_t_rs _b_v_ th_ _c_. Th_ sc__nt_sts _ls_ h_v_ t_ _s_ _ th_rm_m_t_r. Th_ s_t_ll_t_s' t_mp_r_t_r_s w_r_ _ f_w c_nt_m_tr_s _b_v_ th_ _c_ _nd th_y d_d n_t _s_ _ th_rm_m_t_r. Dr Sc_mb_s s__d h_ _s s_r_ th_t th_ t_mp_r_t_r_s r_c_rd_d by th_ s_t_ll_t_s _r_ _cc_r_t_. H_ _ls_ s__d th_t th_y w__ld b_ t__ c_ld f_r _ th_rm_m_t_r t_ w_rk pr_p_rly. H_ s__d _t w_s s_ c_ld th_t y__ c_nn_t br__th_ th_ __r. Wh_n sc__nt_sts g_ __ts_d_, th_y m_st w__r _ sn_rk_l th_t g__s _ns_d_ th__r c__t. Th_y br__th_ th_ w_rm_r __r th_t _s cl_s_ t_ th__r sk_n.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

scientists recently found the coldest place on earth satellites measured a temperature of minus 932 degrees celsius on part of antarctica scientists still need to do more tests on the data the real temperature could be one degree colder the coldest temperature found before this was also in antarctica this was minus 892 degrees celsius scientist dr ted scambos said "these very low temperatures are hard to imagine" he explained "it's almost as cold below freezing as boiling water is above freezing" he added that parts of antarctica are 50 degrees colder than siberia nowhere on antarctica is as cold as the moon temperatures there got as low as minus 238 degrees celsius

unfortunately the record freezing temperatures measured by the satellites won't be in the guinness book of records the temperatures must be from a couple of meters above the ice the scientists also have to use a thermometer the satellites' temperatures were a few centimetres above the ice and they did not use a thermometer dr scambos said he is sure that the temperatures recorded by the satellites are accurate he also said that they would be too cold for a thermometer to work properly he said it was so cold that you cannot breathe the air when scientists go outside they must wear a snorkel that goes inside their coat they breathe the warmer air that is close to their skin

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ScientistsrecentlyfoundthecoldestplaceonEarth.Satellitesmeasu
redatemperatureofminus93.2degreesCelsiusonpartofAntarctica
.Scientistsstillneedtodomoretestsonthedata.Therealtemperatur
ecouldbeonedegreecolder.Thecoldesttemperaturefoundbeforeth
iswasalsoinAntarctica.Thiswasminus89.2degreesCelsius.Scienti
stDrTedScambossaid:"Theseverylowtemperaturesarehardtoima
gine."Heexplained:"It'salmostascoldbelowfreezingasboilingwat
erisabovefreezing."HeaddedthatpartsofAntarcticaare50degrees
colderthanSiberia.NowhereonAntarcticaisascoldastheMoon.Tem
peraturestheregotaslowasminus238degreesCelsius.Unfortunate
ly,therecordfreezingtemperaturesmeasuredbythesatelliteswon't
beintheGuinnessBookofRecords.Thetemperaturesmustbefroma
coupleofmetersabovetheice.Thescientistsalsohavetouseatherm
ometer.Thesatellites'temperatureswereafewcentimetresabovet
heiceandtheydidnotuseathermometer.DrScambossaidheissuret
hatthetemperaturesrecordedbythesatellitesareaccurate.Healsos
aidthattheywouldbetoocoldforathermometertoworkproperly.He
saiditwassocoldthatyoucannotbreathetheair.Whenscientistsgoo
utside,theymustwearasnorkelthatgoesinsidetheircoat.Theybrea
thethewarmerairthatisclosetotheirskin.

FREE WRITING

Write about cold weather for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It's better to be too cold than too hot. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 cold weather. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. RECORD COLD: Write a magazine article about the record cold temperatures. Include imaginary interviews with people who love the cold and people who love the heat.

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 a weather expert. Ask him/her three questions about cold weather. Give him/her three of your opinions on cold 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	recently	a.	not long ago
2.	do	b.	carry out
3.	data	c.	information
4.	hard	d.	difficult
5.	got	e.	reached
6.	freezing	f.	sub-zero
7.	couple	g.	few
8.	accurate	h.	correct
9.	must	i.	have to
10.	close	j.	near

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Recently
2.	Minus 93.2 degrees Celsius
3.	More tests
4.	50 degrees
5.	The Moon
6.	A few centimetres
7.	They were accurate
8.	Thermometers
9.	A snorkel
10.	Close to the skin

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

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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Coldest temperature on Earth recorded (12th December, 2014)

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