The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Scientists have come up with a revolutionary new use for wood. They have devised a way to make it transparent. This could totally change the way many things in our lives are used and made. See-through wood could one day replace glass and be used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a whole assortment of other building materials. The innovation has come from researchers at the University of Maryland in the USA. They experimented with different ways to extract the chemicals from wood that give it colour. Researcher Liangbing Hu said: "We were very surprised by how transparent it could go. This can really open applications that can potentially replace glass and some optical materials."

The researchers worked with a small block of linden wood. They boiled it in water, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals for about two hours. A molecule called lignin, which gives wood its colour, disappeared during the boiling process. This left behind colourless cells, which effectively made the wood transparent. The see-through wood is a lot stronger and less dangerous than glass. It is better at insulating against the cold and it is biodegradable. Research is still in its infancy and the process can currently only be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that range in thickness between paper-thin and a centimeter thick. The researchers will now focus on applying the process on a much larger scale.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.techtimes.com/articles/158759/20160516/scientists-create-transparent-wood-stronger-more-insulating-glass.htm
  • http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/16/see-through-wood/
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/science/see-through-wood.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. WOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about wood. 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?

       scientists / revolutionary / transparent / see-through / materials / chemicals / glass /
       block of wood / boiled / disappeared / cells / insulating / the cold / thickness / process

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

3. GLASS: Students A strongly believe glass is better than wood; Students B strongly believe wood is better than glass.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SEE-THROUGH: How useful (or otherwise) would these things be if they were see-through? Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Doors
  • Cups
  • Fridges
  • Our body
  • Politicians' minds
  • Small print
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. ONE MINUTE BRAINSTORM: Students spend one minute writing down all of the different words they associate with wood. They share their words with their partner(s) and talk about them. Together, they put the words into different categories.

6. RANKING: Students rank a number of things related to the topic. They change partners often and share their rankings.

  • reading glasses
  • car windscreens / windshields
  • light bulbs
  • marbles
  • windows
  • tables
  • iPhone screens
  • jam jars

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said the new use for wood was revolutionary.     T / F
  2. The article says see-through wood could replace glass.     T / F
  3. Researchers looked at ways to give the wood added colour.     T / F
  4. Scientists were surprised at how transparent the wood became.     T / F
  5. The researchers worked with large blocks of wood.     T / F
  6. The researchers boiled the wood for around two hours.     T / F
  7. Glass is still stronger than the transparent wood.     T / F
  8. The transparent wood changes so it is no longer biodegradable.     T / F

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

  1. come up with
  2. revolutionary
  3. totally
  4. extract
  5. replace
  6. block
  7. transparent
  8. insulating
  9. infancy
  10. applying
  1. remove
  2. substitute
  3. protecting
  4. clear
  5. innovative
  6. carrying out
  7. completely
  8. early stages
  9. create
  10. chunk

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

  1. come up with a revolutionary
  2. devised a way to make it
  3. See-through
  4. a whole
  5. potentially replace
  6. They boiled it
  7. better at insulating
  8. Research is still in its
  9. blocks of wood that range
  10. applying the process on a
  1. infancy
  2. wood
  3. in water
  4. transparent
  5. in thickness
  6. new use
  7. much larger scale
  8. glass
  9. assortment
  10. against the cold

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
replace
revolutionary
innovation
surprised
devised
potentially
assortment
extract

Scientists have come up with a (1) ____________ new use for wood. They have (2) ____________ a way to make it transparent. This could totally change the way many things in our lives are used and made. See-through wood could one day        (3) ____________ glass and be used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a whole (4) ____________ of other building materials. The (5) ____________ has come from researchers at the University of Maryland in the USA. They experimented with different ways to (6) ____________ the chemicals from wood that give it colour. Researcher Liangbing Hu said: "We were very (7) ____________ by how transparent it could go. This can really open applications that can                   (8) ____________ replace glass and some optical materials."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
process
insulating
boiled
range
block
scale
effectively
infancy

The researchers worked with a small (9) ____________ of linden wood. They (10) ____________ it in water, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals for about two hours. A molecule called lignin, which gives wood its colour, disappeared during the boiling (11) ____________. This left behind colourless cells, which (12) ____________ made the wood transparent. The see-through wood is a lot stronger and less dangerous than glass. It is better at (13) ____________ against the cold and it is biodegradable. Research is still in its (14) ____________ and the process can currently only be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that (15) ____________ in thickness between paper-thin and a centimeter thick. The researchers will now focus on applying the process on a much larger (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Scientists have come up with a revolutionary new ______
     a.  uses for wood
     b.  used for wood
     c.  user for wood
     d.  use for wood

2)  This could totally change the way many things in our lives are ______
     a.  used and make
     b.  uses and made
     c.  used and made
     d.  uses and make

3)  used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a whole ______ building materials
     a.  a sort meant of other
     b.  as sort meant of other
     c.  assortment of other
     d.  a sort mint of other

4)  They experimented with different ways to extract the chemicals ______
     a.  from woods
     b.  from woody
     c.  from wood
     d.  from wooded

5)  open applications that can potentially replace glass and some ______
     a.  optical materials
     b.  optically materials
     c.  optic all materials
     d.  opt tickle materials

6)  A molecule called lignin, which gives wood its colour, disappeared during ______
     a.  the boil in process
     b.  the boiling in process
     c.  the boiling processes
     d.  the boiling process

7)  This left behind colourless cells, which effectively made the _______
     a.  wood transparency
     b.  wood transparent
     c.  wood transparencies
     d.  wood trans apparent

8)  It is better at insulating against the cold and ______
     a.  it is biodegradable
     b.  it is biodegrading
     c.  it is biodegraded
     d.  it is biodegrade able

9)  blocks of wood that range in thickness between paper-thin and ______
     a.  a centimeter thick
     b.  a centimeter thickness
     c.  a centimeter thickly
     d.  a centimeter thicket

10)  The researchers will now focus on applying the process on a ______
     a.  much larger scale
     b.  much large a scales
     c.  much larger scaled
     d.  much large a scale

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have (1) ___________________ revolutionary new use for wood. They have devised a way to make it transparent. This could totally change the way many things (2) ___________________ used and made. See-through wood could (3) ___________________ glass and be used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a (4) ___________________ of other building materials. The innovation has come from researchers at the University of Maryland in the USA. They experimented                               (5) ___________________  extract the chemicals from wood that give it colour. Researcher Liangbing Hu said: "We (6) ___________________ by how transparent it could go. This can really open applications that can potentially replace glass and some optical materials."

The researchers worked with (7) ___________________ linden wood. They boiled it in water, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals for about two hours. A molecule called lignin, (8) ___________________ its colour, disappeared during (9) ___________________. This left behind colourless cells, which effectively made the wood transparent. The see-through wood is a lot stronger and less dangerous than glass. It (10) ___________________ against the cold and it is biodegradable. Research is still in its infancy and the process (11) ___________________ be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that range in thickness between paper-thin and a centimeter thick. The researchers will now (12) ___________________ the process on a much larger scale.

Comprehension questions

  1. Who came up with a revolutionary new idea?
  2. What screens did the article say the transparent wood could replace?
  3. What is the name of the university that did this research?
  4. What did the chemicals the researchers extracted give to the wood?
  5. What materials besides glass could the transparent wood replace?
  6. What kind of wood did the researchers work with?
  7. For how long did researchers boil the wood?
  8. What kind of cells remained after the boiling process?
  9. What is wood better at doing than glass against the cold?
  10. How thin was the thinnest wood the researchers tested?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Who came up with a revolutionary new idea?
a) woodcutters
b) scientists
c) forestry experts
d) carpenters

2)  What screens did the article say the transparent wood could replace?
a) car windscreens
b) cinema screens
c) iPhone screens
d) TV screens

3)  What is the name of the university that did this research?
a) Glassland
b) Woodland
c) Disneyland
d) Maryland

4)  What did the chemicals the researchers extracted give to the wood?
a) transparency
b) colour
c) volume
d) smell

5)  What materials besides glass could the transparent wood replace?
a) optical materials
b) biodegradable materials
c) glassy materials
d) waste materials

6)  What kind of wood did the researchers work with?
a) linden
b) cedar
c) pine
d) mahogany

7)  For how long did researchers boil the wood?
a) just under 2 hours
b) 2 hours and 22 seconds
c) exactly 2 hours
d) around 2 hours

8)  What kind of cells remained after the boiling process?
a) bark cells
b) woody cells
c) colourless cells
d) grainy cells

9)  What is wood better at doing than glass against the cold?
a) seeing
b) keeping birds out
c) keeping rain out
d) insulating

10)  How thin was the thinnest wood the researchers tested?
a) a micron-and-a-half thin
b) paper thin
c) as thin as a hair
d) 1mm thin

Role play

Role A —Windows

You think windows are the best things that could be made from transparent wood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things would be no good. Also, tell the others which is the most useless of these (and why): iPhone screens, jam jars or car windscreens.

Role B — iPhone Screens

You think iPhone screens are the best things that could be made from transparent wood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things would be no good. Also, tell the others which is the most useless of these (and why): windows, jam jars or car windscreens.

Role C — Jam Jars

You think jam jars are the best things that could be made from transparent wood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things would be no good. Also, tell the others which is the most useless of these (and why): iPhone screens, windows or car windscreens.

Role D — Car Windscreens

You think car windscreens are the best things that could be made from transparent wood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things would be no good. Also, tell the others which is the most useless of these (and why): iPhone screens, jam jars or windows.

After reading / listening

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

'see'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'through'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • boiled
    • disappeared
    • left
    • less
    • infancy
    • much
    • way
    • lives
    • whole
    • extract
    • surprised
    • some

    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 - Scientists make see-through wood

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'wood'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What could we use transparent wood for?
    5. Why might transparent wood be better than glass?
    6. Will demand for transparent wood mean a bigger danger to forests?
    7. How good would unbreakable mobile phone screens be?
    8. How big an innovation do you think this is?
    9. What do we need glass for?
    10. What other things would you like to be transparent?

    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 the process the scientists used?
    3. How dangerous is glass?
    4. When do you think we will start using transparent wood?
    5. How useful is wood?
    6. In what ways might glass be better than transparent wood?
    7. Would you prefer to have transparent wood or glass?
    8. What would a house built from transparent wood be like?
    9. What will the transparent wood industry look like in 50 years?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

     

    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)

    Scientists have come (1) ____ with a revolutionary new use for wood. They have devised a (2) ____ to make it transparent. This could totally change the way many things in our lives are used and made. See-through wood could (3) ____ day replace glass and be used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a whole (4) ____ of other building materials. The innovation has come from researchers at the University of Maryland in the USA. They experimented with different ways to (5) ____ the chemicals from wood that give it colour. Researcher Liangbing Hu said: "We were very surprised by how transparent it could go. This can really open applications that can (6) ____ replace glass and some optical materials."

    The researchers worked with a small block of linden wood. They boiled it in water, sodium hydroxide and other (7) ____ for about two hours. A molecule called lignin, which gives wood its colour, disappeared (8) ____ the boiling process. This left (9) ____ colourless cells, which effectively made the wood transparent. The see-through wood is a lot stronger and less dangerous than glass. It is better at insulating (10) ____ the cold and it is biodegradable. Research is still in its (11) ____ and the process can currently only be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that range in thickness between paper-thin and a centimeter thick. The researchers will now focus (12) ____ applying the process on a much larger scale.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     over     (d)     by    
    2. (a)     how     (b)     mean     (c)     way     (d)     chance    
    3. (a)     once     (b)     only     (c)     one     (d)     own    
    4. (a)     testament     (b)     allotment     (c)     assorted     (d)     assortment    
    5. (a)     extract     (b)     exact     (c)     expect     (d)     extant    
    6. (a)     potential     (b)     potentially     (c)     portent     (d)     potent    
    7. (a)     chemistry     (b)     chemists     (c)     chemical     (d)     chemicals    
    8. (a)     while     (b)     during     (c)     along     (d)     between    
    9. (a)     among     (b)     between     (c)     behind     (d)     front    
    10. (a)     as     (b)     with     (c)     by     (d)     against    
    11. (a)     infant     (b)     infanticide     (c)     infants     (d)     infancy    
    12. (a)     to     (b)     on     (c)     as     (d)     from

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. devised a way to make it rsnattpenar
    2. a whole ssetaomrtn of other building materials
    3. The nvanoiiotn has come from researchers
    4. different ways to rctxeta the chemicals
    5. applications that can lintyapltoe replace glass
    6. some paitclo materials

    Paragraph 2

    1. A ocelumel called lignin
    2. which eifeflycevt made the wood
    3. better at stgnaluiin against the cold
    4. it is oibdegaelabdr
    5. research is still in its ynicnaf
    6. alpgpniy the process on a much larger scale

    Put the text back together

    (    )     day replace glass and be used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a whole assortment of other building

    (    )     with different ways to extract the chemicals from wood that give it colour. Researcher Liangbing Hu said: "We were

    (    )     only be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that range in thickness between paper-

    (    )     thin and a centimeter thick. The researchers will now focus on applying the process on a much larger scale.

    1  )     Scientists have come up with a revolutionary new use for wood. They have devised a way to make it

    (    )     materials. The innovation has come from researchers at the University of Maryland in the USA. They experimented

    (    )     hydroxide and other chemicals for about two hours. A molecule called lignin, which gives wood its colour, disappeared

    (    )     at insulating against the cold and it is biodegradable. Research is still in its infancy and the process can currently

    (    )     the wood transparent. The see-through wood is a lot stronger and less dangerous than glass. It is better

    (    )     during the boiling process. This left behind colourless cells, which effectively made

    (    )     applications that can potentially replace glass and some optical materials."

    (    )     The researchers worked with a small block of linden wood. They boiled it in water, sodium

    (    )     very surprised by how transparent it could go. This can really open

    (    )     transparent. This could totally change the way many things in our lives are used and made. See-through wood could one

    Put the words in the right order

    1. new  use  for  wood  Scientists have  come   up  with  a  revolutionary  .
    2. have   make   devised   it   a   transparent   way   They   to   .
    3. extract   to   ways   Different   wood   from   chemicals   the   .
    4. could   were   by   it   We   surprised   transparent   go   very   how   .
    5. that   potentially   glass   applications   can   replace   Open   .
    6. with   block   wood   worked   small   linden   researchers   a  of   The   .
    7. The  dangerous  less   and  stronger  lot  a   is  wood  through  -   see  .
    8. the   cold   It   is   better   at   insulating   against   .
    9. thickness  between  paper  -  thin  and  a  centimeter  thick  Range  in  .
    10. scale   applying   on   larger   on   process   much   Focus   the   a   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have come down / up with a revolutionary new use for wood. They have devised / revised a way to make it transparent. This could total / totally change the way many things in our lives are used and made. See-through wood could one / only day replace glass and be used in windows and tables, for iPhone screens, and in a whole assorted / assortment of other building materials. The innovation / innovative has come from researchers at the University of Maryland in the USA. They experimented with different ways to extant / extract the chemicals from wood that give it colour. Researcher Liangbing Hu said: "We were very surprising / surprised by how transparent it could go. This can really / real open applications that can potentially replace glass and some optical / optician materials."

    The researchers worked with a small block of linden wood. They boiled it in / by water, sodium hydroxide and other chemical / chemicals for about two hours. A molecule called lignin, which gives / giving wood its colour, disappeared during the boiling pretext / process. This left behind colourless cells, which effectively made the wood transparency / transparent. The see-through wood is a lot stronger / strength and less dangerous than glass. It is better at insulating / insulated against the cold and it is biodegradable. Research is still in its infancy / fancy and the process can currently only be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that large / range in thickness between paper-thin and a centimeter thick. The researchers will now focus on / at applying the process on a much larger scale.

    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 h_v_ c_m_ _p w_th _ r_v_l_t__n_ry n_w _s_ f_r w__d. Th_y h_v_ d_v_s_d _ w_y t_ m_k_ _t tr_nsp_r_nt. Th_s c__ld t_t_lly ch_ng_ th_ w_y m_ny th_ngs _n __r l_v_s _r_ _s_d _nd m_d_. S__-thr__gh w__d c__ld _n_ d_y r_pl_c_ gl_ss _nd b_ _s_d _n w_nd_ws _nd t_bl_s, f_r _Ph_n_ scr__ns, _nd _n _ wh_l_ _ss_rtm_nt _f _th_r b__ld_ng m_t_r__ls. Th_ _nn_v_t__n h_s c_m_ fr_m r_s__rch_rs _t th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f M_ryl_nd _n th_ _S_. Th_y _xp_r_m_nt_d w_th d_ff_r_nt w_ys t_ _xtr_ct th_ ch_m_c_ls fr_m w__d th_t g_v_ _t c_l__r. R_s__rch_r L__ngb_ng H_ s__d: "W_ w_r_ v_ry s_rpr_s_d by h_w tr_nsp_r_nt _t c__ld g_. Th_s c_n r__lly _p_n _ppl_c_t__ns th_t c_n p_t_nt__lly r_pl_c_ gl_ss _nd s_m_ _pt_c_l m_t_r__ls."

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs w_rk_d w_th _ sm_ll bl_ck _f l_nd_n w__d. Th_y b__l_d _t _n w_t_r, s_d__m hydr_x_d_ _nd _th_r ch_m_c_ls f_r _b__t tw_ h__rs. _ m_l_c_l_ c_ll_d l_gn_n, wh_ch g_v_s w__d _ts c_l__r, d_s_pp__r_d d_r_ng th_ b__l_ng pr_c_ss. Th_s l_ft b_h_nd c_l__rl_ss c_lls, wh_ch _ff_ct_v_ly m_d_ th_ w__d tr_nsp_r_nt. Th_ s__-thr__gh w__d _s _ l_t str_ng_r _nd l_ss d_ng_r__s th_n gl_ss. _t _s b_tt_r _t _ns_l_t_ng _g__nst th_ c_ld _nd _t _s b__d_gr_d_bl_. R_s__rch _s st_ll _n _ts _nf_ncy _nd th_ pr_c_ss c_n c_rr_ntly _nly b_ d_n_ _n 10cm by 10cm bl_cks _f w__d th_t r_ng_ _n th_ckn_ss b_tw__n p_p_r-th_n _nd _ c_nt_m_t_r th_ck. Th_ r_s__rch_rs w_ll n_w f_c_s _n _pply_ng th_ pr_c_ss _n _ m_ch l_rg_r sc_l_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have come up with a revolutionary new use for wood they have devised a way to make it transparent this could totally change the way many things in our lives are used and made see-through wood could one day replace glass and be used in windows and tables for iphone screens and in a whole assortment of other building materials the innovation has come from researchers at the university of maryland in the usa they experimented with different ways to extract the chemicals from wood that give it colour researcher liangbing hu said "we were very surprised by how transparent it could go this can really open applications that can potentially replace glass and some optical materials"

    the researchers worked with a small block of linden wood they boiled it in water sodium hydroxide and other chemicals for about two hours a molecule called lignin which gives wood its colour disappeared during the boiling process this left behind colourless cells which effectively made the wood transparent the see-through wood is a lot stronger and less dangerous than glass it is better at insulating against the cold and it is biodegradable research is still in its infancy and the process can currently only be done on 10cm by 10cm blocks of wood that range in thickness between paper-thin and a centimeter thick the researchers will now focus on applying the process on a much larger scale

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistshavecomeupwitharevolutionarynewuseforwood.Theyhav
    edevisedawaytomakeittransparent.Thiscouldtotallychangetheway
    manythingsinourlivesareusedandmade.See-throughwoodcouldon
    edayreplaceglassandbeusedinwindowsandtables,foriPhonescreens,
    andinawholeassortmentofotherbuildingmaterials.Theinnovationhas
    comefromresearchersattheUniversityofMarylandintheUSA.Theyexp
    erimentedwithdifferentwaystoextractthechemicalsfromwoodthatgi
    veitcolour.ResearcherLiangbingHusaid:"Wewereverysurprisedbyho
    wtransparentitcouldgo.Thiscanreallyopenapplicationsthatcanpoten
    tiallyreplaceglassandsomeopticalmaterials."Theresearchersworked
    withasmallblockoflindenwood.Theyboileditinwater,sodiumhydroxid
    eandotherchemicalsforabouttwohours.Amoleculecalledlignin,which
    giveswooditscolour,disappearedduringtheboilingprocess.Thisleftbe
    hindcolourlesscells,whicheffectivelymadethewoodtransparent.Thes
    ee-throughwoodisalotstrongerandlessdangerousthanglass.Itisbett
    eratinsulatingagainstthecoldanditisbiodegradable.Researchisstillini
    tsinfancyandtheprocesscancurrentlyonlybedoneon10cmby10cmblo
    cksofwoodthatrangeinthicknessbetweenpaper-thinandacentimet
    erthick.Theresearcherswillnowfocusonapplyingtheprocessonamuch
    largerscale.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Transparent wood is better than glass. 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 the research on transparent wood. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. TRANSPARENT WOOD: Write a magazine article about transparent wood replacing glass. 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 trees. Ask him/her three questions about transparent. Give him/her three of your concerns about how transparent wood might be bad for the environment. 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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