People vote for Tree of the Year

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

England's annual Tree of the Year contest will soon take place. An environmental charity runs it. Over 200 trees were nominated but judges reduced that number to ten. Some of them are in England's most historic places. One tree is in Sherwood Forest, famous for Robin Hood. A local newspaper wrote: "The legend of Robin Hood was infused within this mighty tree." Another is the tree that gave Sir Isaac Newton the idea for his theory on gravity.

The charity started in 1972 to protect Britain's forests. It has 400,000 supporters. They give money to help the country's forests. Its website says: "Our vision is a UK rich in woods and trees, enjoyed and valued by everyone." The charity wants to protect old forests, restore damaged ones, and fight for those in danger. It hopes people all over England will visit woods, plant trees, and enjoy the many benefits of trees and forests.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-tree-makes-shortlist-englands-8002028
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tree-of-the-year--newton-s-apple-tree-and-robin-hood-s-oak-among-contenders-for-title-172249840.html#1xA2zWN
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/our-story/

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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	An environmental charity	a.	historic places
2.	Over 200 trees	b.	of Robin Hood
3.	in England's most	c.	were nominated
4.	A local	d.	theory on gravity
5.	The legend	e.	newspaper
6.	the idea for his	f.	runs it

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The charity started	a.	forests
2.	money to	b.	in woods and trees
3.	Our vision is a UK rich	c.	benefits of trees
4.	valued	d.	help the country's forests
5.	protect Britain's	e.	by everyone
6.	enjoy the many	f.	in 1972

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

England's annual Tree of the Year contest (1) ___________________. An environmental (2) ___________________. Over 200 trees were nominated but judges (3) ___________________ ten. Some of them are in England's most historic places. One tree is in Sherwood Forest, famous for Robin Hood. A local newspaper wrote: "(4) ___________________ Robin Hood was infused (5) ___________________ tree." Another is the tree that gave Sir Isaac Newton the idea for (6) ___________________.

The (7) ___________________ to protect Britain's forests. It has 400,000 supporters. They (8) ___________________ the country's forests. Its website says: "Our vision is a UK (9) ___________________ trees, enjoyed and valued by everyone." The charity wants (10) ___________________ forests, restore damaged ones, and (11) ___________________ in danger. It hopes people all over England will visit woods, plant trees, and enjoy the (12) ___________________ trees and forests.

TREES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about trees 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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