The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A high school in England has initiated a new policy to allow students to sleep longer in the mornings. The private, $25,000-a-year Hampton Court House school is introducing a 1.30 to 7pm timetable in September. It will become the only school in Britain that starts lessons in the afternoon. Head teacher Guy Holloway said the altered hours should help students get higher grades. He said research on neuroscience shows student productivity increases if they can sleep longer in the mornings. Mr Holloway said: "We want to get students into an environment where they can get quality sleep and their bodies are functioning well." He added: "It's about what works in our community."

The afternoon start is based on research by Oxford University. Researcher Dr Paul Kelley said: "You can't train your system to get up at a practical time." He said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work because it's biological, just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver function. Dr Kelley added: "Anything you do to change the rhythmic systems of your body means your organs become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill….There is no fixing it by giving someone an alarm clock." A student at the school, Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is in favour of the idea. He said students are tired all day, "but as soon as 10 o'clock hits, that's when we…do all our work".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hampton-court-house-private-15k-a-year-3516750#ixzz31NqE6C9O
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1259077/sixth-formers-given-stress-free-late-start
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10818678/School-introduces-no-mornings-policy-for-tired-teenagers.html


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. TEENAGERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about teenagers. 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.

 

initiated / a new policy / sleep longer / higher grades / neuroscience / productivity / research / practical time / biological / rhythmic / alarm clock / in favour of / 10 o'clock

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

3. BEST TIME: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Best time for…

Time

Why?

starting school

 

 

watching a movie

 

 

dating

 

 

taking a shower

 

 

studying English

 

 

flying somewhere

 

 

4. AFTERNOONS: Students A strongly believe it is better for classes to start in the afternoons; 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. LONGER: Rank these with your partner. Put the things you would most like to be longer at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • sleeping time

  • weekends

  • movies

  • lunch

  • shopping hours

  • bath time

  • free time

  • English lessons

6. SLEEP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "sleep". 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.

A public school in England is testing a new start time for students.

T / F

b.

Students will start at 1.30 and finish at 7 o'clock.

T / F

c.

The school's head teacher believes starting later will improve grades.

T / F

d.

The head teacher said students should work in the community.

T / F

e.

The altered timetable is based on research from Cambridge University.

T / F

f.

A researcher suggested we cannot train our body clock.

T / F

g.

The researcher said trying to change your body's rhythm makes you ill.

T / F

h.

The article says a 15-year-old student is against the idea.

T / F

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

1.

initiated

a.

out of step

2.

introducing

b.

efficiency

3.

altered

c.

coach

4.

productivity

d.

amended

5.

functioning

e.

set up

6.

train

f.

for

7.

choosing

g.

repairing

8.

desynchronised

h.

starting

9.

fixing

i.

selecting

10.

in favour of

j.

working

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

1.

allow students

a.

on research

2.

help students

b.

sleep

3.

student

c.

clock

4.

get quality

d.

works in our community

5.

It's about what

e.

of the idea

6.

based

f.

productivity

7.

get up at

g.

over our heartbeat

8.

we have no control

h.

to sleep longer

9.

alarm

i.

a practical time

10.

in favour

j.

get higher grades

GAP FILL

A high school in England has (1) ____________ a new policy to allow students to sleep longer in the mornings. The private, $25,000-a-year Hampton Court House school is (2) ____________ a 1.30 to 7pm timetable in September. It will become the only school in Britain that starts lessons in the afternoon. Head teacher Guy Holloway said the (3) ____________ hours should help students get higher (4) ____________. He said research on neuroscience shows student productivity increases if they can sleep (5) ____________ in the mornings. Mr Holloway said: "We want to get students into an (6) ____________ where they can get quality sleep and their bodies are (7) ____________ well." He added: "It's about what works in our (8) ____________."

 

 

grades
environment
introducing
community
longer
initiated
functioning
altered

The afternoon start is (9) ____________ on research by Oxford University. Researcher Dr Paul Kelley said: "You can't train your (10) ____________ to get up at a practical time." He said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work because it's (11) ____________, just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver function. Dr Kelley added: "Anything you do to change the rhythmic (12) ____________ of your body means your organs become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill….There is no (13) ____________ it by giving someone an (14) ____________ clock." A student at the school, Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is in (15) ____________ of the idea. He said students are (16) ____________ all day, "but as soon as 10 o'clock hits, that's when we…do all our work".

 

systems
alarm
system
tired
based
fixing
favour
biological

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

A high school in England has initiated ______

 

a.  a new policy
b.  a new policies
c.  a new policing
d.  a new poll icy

2)

the altered hours should help students get ______

 

a.  heighten grades
b.  highest grades
c.  higher grades
d.  hire grades

3)

He said research on neuroscience shows student ______

 

a.  productivity increased
b.  productivity increasing
c.  productivity increases
d.  productivity increase it's

4)

they can get quality sleep and their bodies ______

 

a.  are function in well
b.  are functioning well
c.  are functioning in well
d.  are functions well

5)

He added: "It's about what works ______"

 

a.  in our communities
b.  in our commune a tea
c.  in our community
d.  in our communication

6)

You can't train your system to get up at ______

 

a.  a practical time
b.  a practically time
c.  a practical times
d.  a practical timed

7)

He said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work ______

 

a.  because it's biological
b.  because it's biology call
c.  because it's bio-logical
d.  because it's biology

8)

Anything you do to change the rhythmic systems of your body means your ______

 

a.  organs become desynchronised
b.  organs become synchronised
c.  organs become unsynchronised
d.  organs become synchronicity

9)

There is no fixing it by giving someone an ______

 

a.  alarms clock
b.  alarm clocks
c.  alarms clocks
d.  alarm clock

10)

Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is ______ the idea

 

a.  in flavour of
b.  in favour of
c.  in fervent of
d.  in favoured of

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A high school in England has (1) ___________________ policy to allow students (2) ___________________ the mornings. The private, $25,000-a-year Hampton Court House school is introducing a 1.30 to 7pm timetable in September. It (3) ___________________ school in Britain that starts lessons in the afternoon. Head teacher Guy Holloway said the altered hours should help students (4) ___________________. He said research on neuroscience shows student productivity increases if they can sleep longer in the mornings. Mr Holloway said: "We (5) ___________________ into an environment where they can (6) ___________________ and their bodies are functioning well." He added: "It's about what works in our community."

The afternoon start (7) ___________________ by Oxford University. Researcher Dr Paul Kelley said: "You can't (8) ___________________ to get up at a practical time." He said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work (9) ___________________, just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver function. Dr Kelley added: "Anything you do to change (10) ___________________ of your body means your organs become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill….There is no fixing it by giving someone (11) ___________________." A student at the school, Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is in favour of the idea. He said students are tired all day, "but as soon (12) ___________________, that's when we…do all our work".

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

How much does it cost to send a child to the school?

2.

When will students finish under the new system?

3.

What does the head teacher hope the students will get?

4.

What area of research did the head teacher look at?

5.

What kind of sleep did the head teacher say he wanted students to get?

6.

Where did the research take place?

7.

What two things did the researcher say we cannot control?

8.

What happens when your organs become desynchronised?

9.

What cannot fix desynchronised organs?

10.

When did a student say other students do their work?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

How much does it cost to send a child to the school?

6.

Where did the research take place?

 

a) $25,000 a semester
b) $20,000 a year
c) $25,000 a year
d) $20,000 a semester

 

a) Stanford University
b) Oxford University
c) Harvard University
d) Cambridge University

2.

When will students finish under the new system?

7.

What two things did the researcher say we cannot control?

 

a) 7pm
b) 7.30pm
c) 8.30pm
d) 8pm

 

a) heartbeat and liver function
b) heart rate and brain function
c) health and body functions
d) heart condition and lung condition

3.

What does the head teacher hope the students will get?

8.

What happens when your organs become desynchronised?

 

a) higher grades
b) a degree
c) quality
d) time

 

a) they stop
b) they go crazy
c) we get ill
d) they get stronger

4.

What area of research did the head teacher look at?

9.

What cannot fix desynchronised organs?

 

a) neurosis
b) neuroscience
c) neuropsychiatry
d) neurosurgery

 

a) lasers
b) surgery
c) time
d) an alarm clock

5.

What kind of sleep did the head teacher say he wanted students to get?

10.

When did a student say other students do their work?

 

a) power naps
b) deep sleep
c) uninterrupted sleep
d) quality sleep

 

a) 10pm
b) 9pm
c) 8pm
d) 7pm

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Sleeping time

You think sleeping time is the best thing to be longer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their ideas do not need to be longer. Also, tell the others which of these should not be longer (and why): lunch, weekends or English lessons.

Role  B – Lunch

You think lunch is the best thing to be longer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their ideas do not need to be longer. Also, tell the others which of these should not be longer (and why): sleeping time, weekends or English lessons.

Role  C – Weekends

You think weekends are the best thing to be longer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their ideas do not need to be longer. Also, tell the others which of these should not be longer (and why): lunch, sleeping time or English lessons.

Role  D – English lessons

You think English lessons are the best thing to be longer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their ideas do not need to be longer. Also, tell the others which of these should not be longer (and why):  lunch, weekends or sleeping time.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

quality

 

sleep

 

 

  • 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:

  • new
  • become
  • higher
  • longer
  • quality
  • works
  • based
  • practical
  • control
  • change
  • 15
  • hits

TEENAGERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about teenagers 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.

TEENAGERS 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 'teenager'?

c)

What are the best hours of the day for you to work?

d)

Do you think starting school after lunch is a good idea?

e)

Should other people start work after lunch too?

f)

Were you productive at school in the mornings?

g)

When is your favourite time to sleep?

h)

Why do some people work better in the morning and others at night?

i)

How would you like to rearrange your daily timetable?

j)

What impact do you think the new school timetable will have?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

What do you think of the time you wake up every morning?

c)

What things do you do best at certain times of the day?

d)

Shouldn't our biological clock make us wake up at sunrise?

e)

What are you like when your body clock gets out of synch?

f)

When are you at your most productive, and why?

g)

What kind of rhythm does your daily life follow?

h)

What do you do when you are tired all day?

i)

What do you think of your alarm clock?

j)

What questions would you like to ask the head teacher?

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

A high school in England has (1) ____ a new policy to allow students to sleep longer in the mornings. The private, $25,000-a-year Hampton Court House school is introducing a 1.30 to 7pm (2) ____ in September. It will become the only school in Britain that starts lessons in the afternoon. Head teacher Guy Holloway said the (3) ____ hours should help students get higher grades. He said research (4) ____ neuroscience shows student productivity increases if they can sleep longer in the mornings. Mr Holloway said: "We want to get students into an environment where they can get (5) ____ sleep and their bodies are functioning well." He added: "It's about what works in our (6) ____."

The afternoon start is based (7) ____ research by Oxford University. Researcher Dr Paul Kelley said: "You can't train your system to get up at a (8) ____ time." He said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work because it's (9) ____, just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver function. Dr Kelley added: "Anything you do to change the rhythmic systems of your body means your (10) ____ become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill….There is no (11) ____ it by giving someone an alarm clock." A student at the school, Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is in favour of the idea. He said students are tired all day, "but as soon as 10 o'clock (12) ____, that's when we…do all our work".

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

1.

(a)

instigated

(b)

initiated

(c)

initialed

(d)

initilaised

2.

(a)

timings

(b)

timed

(c)

timetable

(d)

timer

3.

(a)

altar

(b)

alternating

(c)

alteration

(d)

altered

4.

(a)

by

(b)

on

(c)

for

(d)

as

5.

(a)

quality

(b)

top-notch

(c)

classy

(d)

power nap

6.

(a)

community

(b)

population

(c)

citizenry

(d)

people

7.

(a)

of

(b)

an

(c)

in

(d)

on

8.

(a)

practice

(b)

partial

(c)

practical

(d)

particle

9.

(a)

neuroscience

(b)

physiology

(c)

physics

(d)

biological

10.

(a)

keys

(b)

organs

(c)

notes

(d)

pedals

11.

(a)

fixating

(b)

fixing

(c)

fixative

(d)

fixed

12.

(a)

gongs

(b)

chimes

(c)

smacks

(d)

hits

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

neatdtiii a new policy

2.

a 1.30 to 7pm ettaeilbm

3.

the aeertdl hours

4.

research on cneourniesec

5.

dyurpcvtotii increases

6.

in our iymotnmuc

Paragraph 2

7.

based on ceasrhre by Oxford University

8.

get up at a aripcaclt time

9.

it's iolcloabgi

10.

change the cyrthihm systems of your body

11.

your rangos become desynchronised

12.

in frvoau of the idea (UK) / in ovrfa of the idea (USA)

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

your organs become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill….There is no

(    )

in the afternoon. Head teacher Guy Holloway said the altered hours should help students get higher

(    )

longer in the mornings. The private, $25,000-a-year Hampton Court House school is introducing a 1.30 to 7pm

(    )

they can sleep longer in the mornings. Mr Holloway said: "We want to get students into an environment where they can get

(    )

quality sleep and their bodies are functioning well." He added: "It's about what works in our community."

(    )

The afternoon start is based on research by Oxford University. Researcher Dr Paul Kelley said: "You can't

(    )

timetable in September. It will become the only school in Britain that starts lessons

(    )

time to work because it's biological, just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver

(    )

grades. He said research on neuroscience shows student productivity increases if

(    )

fixing it by giving someone an alarm clock." A student at the school, Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is in favour

1  )

A high school in England has initiated a new policy to allow students to sleep

(    )

function. Dr Kelley added: "Anything you do to change the rhythmic systems of your body means

(    )

of the idea. He said students are tired all day, "but as soon as 10 o'clock hits, that's when we…do all our work".

(    )

train your system to get up at a practical time." He said we are not in control of choosing the best

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

students    to    sleep   longer   Initiated   a    new    policy    to    allow.    

2.

altered    get    help   hours   higher   students   The    grades    should.    

3.

they     Student     can     productivity    sleep    increases    longer    if.    

4.

Get     and    are    sleep    bodies    well    quality    their    functioning.    

5.

community     our     in     works     what     about     It's.    

6.

research     start     on     Oxford     afternoon     based    by    The    is.    

7.

your   You   practical   up   system   can't   time   at   to   train   a   get.    

8.

over     and     We     control     heartbeat     no     our     liver     have.    

9.

systems     the     to     you     change     rhythmic     .     do    Anything

10.

by     Fixing     clock     an     giving     it     someone     alarm     .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A high school in England has ingratiated / initiated a new policy to allow students to sleep longer in the mornings. The private / privately, $25,000-a-year Hampton Court House school is introduced / introducing a 1.30 to 7pm timetable in September. It will become the only school in Britain that starts lessons in the afternoon. Head / Boss teacher Guy Holloway said the alerted / altered hours should help students get higher gradients / grades. He said research on / for neuroscience shows student productivity increases if they can sleep longer in the mornings. Mr Holloway said: "We want to get students into an environ / environment where they can get quality sleep and their bodies are functioning well / good." He added: "It's about what works / gives in our community."

The afternoon start is based in / on research by Oxford University. Researcher Dr Paul Kelley said: "You can't train / coach your system to get up at a practical / practically time." He said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work because it's bibliography / biological, just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver function / functioned. Dr Kelley added: "Anything you do to change the rhythmic systemic / systems of your body means your organs be / become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill….There is no fixing / fixating it by giving someone an alarm clock." A student at the school, Gabriel Purcell-Davis, 15, is in / on favour of the idea. He said students are tired all day, "but as soon as 10 o'clock smacks / hits, that's when we…do all our work".

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)

_ h_gh sch__l _n _ngl_nd h_s _n_t__t_d _ n_w p_l_cy t_ _ll_w st_d_nts t_ sl__p l_ng_r _n th_ m_rn_ngs. Th_ pr_v_t_, $25,000-_-y__r H_mpt_n C__rt H__s_ sch__l _s _ntr_d_c_ng _ 1.30 t_ 7pm t_m_t_bl_ _n S_pt_mb_r. _t w_ll b_c_m_ th_ _nly sch__l _n Br_t__n th_t st_rts l_ss_ns _n th_ _ft_rn__n. H__d t__ch_r G_y H_ll_w_y s__d th_ _lt_r_d h__rs sh__ld h_lp st_d_nts g_t h_gh_r gr_d_s. H_ s__d r_s__rch _n n__r_sc__nc_ sh_ws st_d_nt pr_d_ct_v_ty _ncr__s_s _f th_y c_n sl__p l_ng_r _n th_ m_rn_ngs. Mr H_ll_w_y s__d: "W_ w_nt t_ g_t st_d_nts _nt_ _n _nv_r_nm_nt wh_r_ th_y c_n g_t q__l_ty sl__p _nd th__r b_d__s _r_ f_nct__n_ng w_ll." H_ _dd_d: "_t's _b__t wh_t w_rks _n __r c_mm_n_ty."

Th_ _ft_rn__n st_rt _s b_s_d _n r_s__rch by _xf_rd _n_v_rs_ty. R_s__rch_r Dr P__l K_ll_y s__d: "Y__ c_n't tr__n y__r syst_m t_ g_t _p _t _ pr_ct_c_l t_m_." H_ s__d w_ _r_ n_t _n c_ntr_l _f ch__s_ng th_ b_st t_m_ t_ w_rk b_c__s_ _t's b__l_g_c_l, j_st l_k_ w_ h_v_ n_ c_ntr_l _v_r __r h__rtb__t _nd l_v_r f_nct__n. Dr K_ll_y _dd_d: "_nyth_ng y__ d_ t_ ch_ng_ th_ rhythm_c syst_ms _f y__r b_dy m__ns y__r _rg_ns b_c_m_ d_synchr_n_s_d w_th __ch _th_r _nd th_s _s wh_r_ p__pl_ g_t _ll….Th_r_ _s n_ f_x_ng _t by g_v_ng s_m__n_ _n _l_rm cl_ck." _ st_d_nt _t th_ sch__l, G_br__l P_rc_ll-D_v_s, 15, _s _n f_v__r _f th_ _d__. H_ s__d st_d_nts _r_ t_r_d _ll d_y, "b_t _s s__n _s 10 _'cl_ck h_ts, th_t's wh_n w_…d_ _ll __r w_rk".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a high school in england has initiated a new policy to allow students to sleep longer in the mornings the private $25000-a-year hampton court house school is introducing a 130 to 7pm timetable in september it will become the only school in britain that starts lessons in the afternoon head teacher guy holloway said the altered hours should help students get higher grades he said research on neuroscience shows student productivity increases if they can sleep longer in the mornings mr holloway said "we want to get students into an environment where they can get quality sleep and their bodies are functioning well" he added "it's about what works in our community"

the afternoon start is based on research by oxford university researcher dr paul kelley said "you can't train your system to get up at a practical time" he said we are not in control of choosing the best time to work because it's biological just like we have no control over our heartbeat and liver function dr kelley added "anything you do to change the rhythmic systems of your body means your organs become desynchronised with each other and this is where people get ill…there is no fixing it by giving someone an alarm clock" a student at the school gabriel purcell-davis 15 is in favour of the idea he said students are tired all day "but as soon as 10 o'clock hits that's when we…do all our work"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AhighschoolinEnglandhasinitiatedanewpolicytoallowstudentstosleeplongeri
nthemornings.Theprivate,$25,000-a-yearHamptonCourtHouseschoolisi
ntroducinga1.30to7pmtimetableinSeptember.Itwillbecometheonlyschoolin
Britainthatstartslessonsintheafternoon.HeadteacherGuyHollowaysaidthealt
eredhoursshouldhelpstudentsgethighergrades.Hesaidresearchonneuroscien
ceshowsstudentproductivityincreasesiftheycansleeplongerinthemornings.M
rHollowaysaid:"Wewanttogetstudentsintoanenvironmentwheretheycangetq
ualitysleepandtheirbodiesarefunctioningwell."Headded:"It'saboutwhatwork
sinourcommunity."TheafternoonstartisbasedonresearchbyOxfordUniversity
.ResearcherDrPaulKelleysaid:"Youcan'ttrainyoursystemtogetupatapracticalt
ime."Hesaidwearenotincontrolofchoosingthebesttimetoworkbecauseit'sbiol
ogical,justlikewehavenocontroloverourheartbeatandliverfunction.DrKelleya
dded:"Anythingyoudotochangetherhythmicsystemsofyourbodymeansyouro
rgansbecomedesynchronisedwitheachotherandthisiswherepeoplegetill….Th
ereisnofixingitbygivingsomeoneanalarmclock."Astudentattheschool,Gabriel
Purcell-Davis,15,isinfavouroftheidea.Hesaidstudentsaretiredallday,"butas
soonas10o'clockhits,that'swhenwe…doallourwork".

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast starting classes in the afternoon and in the morning. Which is best? Why?

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

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

4. AFTERNOON CLASSES: Write a magazine article about afternoon classes for schools. 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 education expert. Ask him/her three questions about teenagers. Give him/her three ideas about how to make them study better. 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:

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  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
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  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

initiated

a.

set up

2.

introducing

b.

starting

3.

altered

c.

amended

4.

productivity

d.

efficiency

5.

functioning

e.

working

6.

train

f.

coach

7.

choosing

g.

repairing

8.

desynchronised

h.

out of step

9.

fixing

i.

selecting

10.

in favour of

j.

for

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

$25,000 a year

2.

7pm

3.

Higher grades

4.

Neuroscience

5.

Quality sleep

6.

Oxford University

7.

Heartbeat and liver function

8.

We become ill

9.

An alarm clock

10.

10pm

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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