The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The government of New Zealand has declared war on countryside pests. It wants to make the country predator-free by 2050. It has set an ambitious target to eradicate all non-native species from the country over the next three decades. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he intends to introduce strategies to cull introduced species, especially predators that threaten New Zealand's native birds. He said: "Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million of our native birds every year, and prey on other native species such as lizards. Along with the rest of our environment, we must do more to protect them." His government has awarded $28 million to a company that will help implement his plans.

Mr Key told reporters: "This is the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we believe if we all work together as a country, we can achieve it." It will take the combined efforts of the private and public sectors as well as community groups. Few people in New Zealand want more of the country's native birds to become extinct. Since European settlers arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and brought with them rats and other predators, New Zealand has lost a huge variety of birds. These include the bush wren, the laughing owl and the mysterious starling. The country's national bird, the kiwi, is currently under threat. Only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/82454116/government-sets-target-to-make-new-zealand-predatorfree-by-2050
  • http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/309439/predator-free-drive-'game-changer'-or-ecological-blunder
  • http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11681006


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. NATIVE SPECIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about native species. 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?

       government / countryside / pests / strategies / predators / rats / lizards / environment
       ambitious / conservation / project / community / extinct / variety / national bird

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

3. CULL: Students A strongly believe all countries should cull non-native species; Students B strongly believe this would be wrong.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. CONSERVATION: What can the following do to protect our environment? Discuss with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  1. Me
  2. Businesses
  3. Big companies
  4. Farmers
  5. Government
  6. Local communities
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. RAT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "rat". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. ANIMALS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important to protect at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • whales
  • bees
  • pandas
  • kiwis
  • elephants
  • ants
  • lizards
  • butterflies

Before reading / listening

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

  1. New Zealand's government has declared a kind of war.     T / F
  2. NZ's government hopes to rid all predators by 2050.     T / F
  3. Rats and other predators kill 25 million New Zealand birds every year.     T / F
  4. New Zealand's government has given $280 million to a company.     T / F
  5. NZ's project is the most ambitious of its kind anywhere in the world.     T / F
  6. The government said community groups are not needed in the project.    T / F
  7. Settlers first arrived in New Zealand in the 1900s.     T / F
  8. Around 50% of kiwi chicks survive to become adults.     T / F

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

  1. declared
  2. ambitious
  3. eradicate
  4. prey on
  5. implement
  6. attempted
  7. combined
  8. huge
  9. under threat
  10. survive
  1. hunt
  2. get rid of
  3. make it
  4. joint
  5. announced
  6. enormous
  7. tried
  8. challenging
  9. carry out
  10. in danger

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

  1. declared war
  2. It wants to make the country predator-
  3. It has set an ambitious
  4. strategies to cull
  5. implement
  6. combined efforts of the private and public
  7. native birds to become
  8. lost a huge variety
  9. The country's national bird, the kiwi, is currently
  10. five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to
  1. of birds
  2. introduced species
  3. extinct
  4. free by 2050
  5. adulthood
  6. under threat
  7. on countryside pests
  8. sectors
  9. target
  10. his plans

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
free
introduced
prey
declared
implement
eradicate
rest
native

The government of New Zealand has (1) ____________ war on countryside pests. It wants to make the country               predator-(2) ____________ by 2050. It has set an ambitious target to (3) ____________ all non-native species from the country over the next three decades. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he intends to introduce strategies to cull (4) ____________ species, especially predators that threaten New Zealand's native birds. He said: "Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million of our (5) ____________ birds every year, and                (6) ____________ on other native species such as lizards. Along with the (7) ____________ of our environment, we must do more to protect them." His government has awarded $28 million to a company that will help (8) ____________ his plans.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
extinct
achieve
adulthood
ambitious
variety
national
efforts
settlers

Mr Key told reporters: "This is the most (9) ____________ conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we believe if we all work together as a country, we can (10) ____________ it." It will take the combined (11) ____________ of the private and public sectors as well as community groups. Few people in New Zealand want more of the country's native birds to become (12) ____________. Since European (13) ____________ arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and brought with them rats and other predators, New Zealand has lost a huge (14) ____________ of birds. These include the bush wren, the laughing owl and the mysterious starling. The country's (15) ____________ bird, the kiwi, is currently under threat. Only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  It has set an ambitious target to eradicate all ______
     a.  non-natives species
     b.  non-native species
     c.  not-native species
     d.  not-natives species

2) Prime Minister John Key says he intends to introduce strategies to ______ species
     a.  cull introduced
     b.  skull introduced
     c.  call introduced
     d.  cult introduced

3)  kill 25 million of our native birds every year, and prey on other native species ______
     a.  such was lizards
     b.  such has lizards
     c.  such as lizards
     d.  such is lizards

4)  Along with the rest of our environment, we must do more ______
     a.  to protect there
     b.  too protect them
     c.  to protects them
     d.  to protect them

5) awarded $28 million to a company that will help ______
     a.  implement his plans
     b.  implant his plans
     c.  imply meant his plans
     d.  imply mint his plans

6)  we believe if we all work together as a country, we ______
     a.  can achieve it
     b.  can achieve its
     c.  can achieve it's
     d.  can achieve bit

7)  the combined efforts of the private and public sectors as well ______
     a.  as community groupies
     b.  as community grapes
     c.  as community groups
     d.  as community gropes

8)  Few people in New Zealand want more of the country's native birds ______
     a.  too become extinction
     b.  two become extinct
     c.  to become extinction
     d.  to become extinct

9)  New Zealand has lost a huge ______
     a.  variety of birds
     b.  various of birds
     c.  varied of birds
     d.  varies of birds

10)  Only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive ______
     a.  to adulthood
     b.  to adult's hood
     c.  to adult hoods
     d.  to adult's hoods

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The government of New Zealand (1) ___________________ countryside pests. It wants to make the country predator-free by 2050. It has set an ambitious target to (2) ___________________-native species from the country over the next three decades. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he intends to introduce strategies (3) ___________________ species, especially predators that threaten New Zealand's native birds. He said: "Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million (4) ___________________ birds every year, (5) ___________________ native species such as lizards. Along with the rest of our environment, we must do more to protect them." His government has awarded $28 million to a company that (6) ___________________ his plans.

Mr Key told reporters: "This is (7) ___________________ conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we believe if we all work together as a country, (8) ___________________." It will take the combined efforts of the private and public sectors as well (9) ___________________. Few people in New Zealand want more of the country's native birds (10) ___________________. Since European settlers arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and brought with them rats and other predators, New Zealand has lost (11) ___________________ birds. These include the bush wren, the laughing owl and the mysterious starling. The country's national bird, the kiwi, is (12) ___________________. Only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood.

Comprehension questions

  1. What has New Zealand's government declared war on?
  2. Over how many decades does NZ want to eradicate non-native species?
  3. What does NZ want to cull?
  4. How many native birds do non-native species kill each year?
  5. How much money has the government given a company?
  6. What must everyone do to make the plan work?
  7. Who else will work on the project besides the private and public sectors?
  8. What did European settlers bring with them?
  9. What has New Zealand lost a huge variety of?
  10. What percentage of kiwi chicks make it through to adulthood?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What has New Zealand's government declared war on?
a) native species
b) cats
c) a neighbour
d) countryside pests

2) Over how many decades does NZ want to eradicate non-native species?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

3) What does NZ want to cull?
a) cats
b) birds
c) native species
d) introduced species

4) How many native birds do non-native species kill each year?
a) 2.5 million
b) 25 billion
c) 25 million
d) 250,000

5) How much money has the government given a company?
a) $27 million
b) $26 million
c) $25 million
d) $28 million

6) What must everyone do to make the plan work?
a) contribute money
b) kill a rat
c) work together
d) write a plan

7) Who else will work on the project besides the private and public sectors?
a) local communities
b) the WWF
c) pest-control experts
d) charities

8) What did European settlers bring with them?
a) potatoes
b) friendship
c) rats
d) ideas

9) What has New Zealand lost a huge variety of?
a) cats
b) birds
c) insects
d) trees

10) What percentage of kiwi chicks make it through to adulthood?
a) 5%
b) 15%
c) 25%
d) 50%

Role play

Role A — Elephants

You think elephants are the most important creatures to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as important. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): butterflies, whales or pandas.

Role B — Butterflies

You think butterflies are the most important creatures to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as important. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): elephants, whales or pandas.

Role C — Whales

You think whales are the most important creatures to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as important. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): butterflies, elephants or pandas.

Role D — Pandas

You think pandas are the most important creatures to protect. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as important. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): butterflies, whales or elephants.

After reading / listening

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

'native'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'species'.

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

    • most
    • achieve
    • efforts
    • few
    • lost
    • five
    • war
    • set
    • cull
    • prey
    • protect
    • awarded

    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 - New Zealand to rid non-native pests by 2050

    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 'pest'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What pests are there in your country?
    5. What damage do introduces species do to native species?
    6. What do you think of New Zealand's plan?
    7. How important is it to protect native species?
    8. How sad is it that many animals will be culled?
    9. How successful do you think the war on pests will be?
    10. What does your government do to protect the environment?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What big conservation projects do you know about?
    3. How important is conservation?
    4. Would you like to take part in a project like this?
    5. How sad is it when a species becomes extinct?
    6. How difficult would it be to eradicate pests from your country?
    7. In what way can people be pests?
    8. How can you protect animals under threat in your country?
    9. What do you think of your national animal and bird?
    10. What questions would you like to ask New Zealand's leader?

    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)

    The government of New Zealand has declared war (1) ____ countryside pests. It wants to make the country predator-free by 2050. It has (2) ____ an ambitious target to (3) ____ all non-native species from the country over the next three decades. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he intends to introduce strategies to (4) ____ introduced species, especially predators that (5) ____ New Zealand's native birds. He said: "Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million of our native birds every year, and prey on other native species such as lizards. Along with the rest of our environment, we must do more to protect them." His government has (6) ____ $28 million to a company that will help implement his plans.

    Mr Key told reporters: "This is the most (7) ____ conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we believe if we all work together (8) ____ a country, we can achieve it." It will take the combined efforts of the private and public (9) ____ as well as community groups. Few people in New Zealand want more of the country's native birds to (10) ____ extinct. Since European settlers arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and brought with them rats and other predators, New Zealand has lost a huge (11) ____ of birds. These include the bush wren, the laughing owl and the mysterious starling. The country's national bird, the kiwi, is currently (12) ____ threat. Only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    2. (a)     let     (b)     set     (c)     vet     (d)     bet    
    3. (a)     enunciate     (b)     extricate     (c)     elucidate     (d)     eradicate    
    4. (a)     cell     (b)     cull     (c)     call     (d)     coal    
    5. (a)     threatening     (b)     threatens     (c)     threat     (d)     threaten    
    6. (a)     awarded     (b)     prized     (c)     shielded     (d)     honoured    
    7. (a)     ambitious     (b)     ambitiously     (c)     ambition     (d)     ambitions    
    8. (a)     has     (b)     is     (c)     as     (d)     was    
    9. (a)     secretaries     (b)     sects     (c)     sections     (d)     sectors    
    10. (a)     become     (b)     get     (c)     have     (d)     do    
    11. (a)     variety     (b)     varied     (c)     various     (d)     varies    
    12. (a)     under     (b)     in     (c)     above     (d)     through

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. elrdcdae war on countryside pests
    2. set an buitsomia target
    3. ecitdeaar all non-native species
    4. introduce saetitgrse
    5. dosterarp that threaten
    6. a company that will help emmnlietp his plans

    Paragraph 2

    1. otvcanreison project
    2. we can ihaecve it
    3. yimmuctno groups
    4. a huge rtevaiy of birds
    5. rerlytcnu under threat
    6. five percent of kiwi chicks survive to hudtloaod

    Put the text back together

    (    )     bird, the kiwi, is currently under threat. Only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood.

    (    )     three decades. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he intends to introduce strategies to cull introduced

    (    )     free by 2050. It has set an ambitious target to eradicate all non-native species from the country over the next

    (    )     include the bush wren, the laughing owl and the mysterious starling. The country's national

    (    )     believe if we all work together as a country, we can achieve it." It will take the combined efforts of the private

    (    )     of the country's native birds to become extinct. Since European settlers arrived in the mid-nineteenth

    (    )     century and brought with them rats and other predators, New Zealand has lost a huge variety of birds. These

    (    )     and public sectors as well as community groups. Few people in New Zealand want more

    (    )     as lizards. Along with the rest of our environment, we must do more to protect them." His government

    (    )     of our native birds every year, and prey on other native species such

    (    )     species, especially predators that threaten New Zealand's native birds. He said: "Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million

    (    )     has awarded $28 million to a company that will help implement his plans.

    (    )     Mr Key told reporters: "This is the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we

    1  )     The government of New Zealand has declared war on countryside pests. It wants to make the country predator-

    Put the words in the right order

    1. pests  of  declared   countryside  government  has   on  The  NZ   war  .
    2. 2050   It   wants   to   make   the   country   predator   -   free   by   .
    3. has  native  all target  set species  non-  to  an It  eradicate  ambitious .
    4. native   Especially   that   NZ's   birds   predators   threaten   .
    5. His   awarded   million   company   has   $28   a   government      to   .
    6. as   all  it  we   a   work   If   can   country  together   we   achieve   ,   .
    7. efforts  combined  the  take will  It  sectors public  and private  the  of  .
    8. in   arrived   settlers  nineteenth  European  Since  century  mid-   the  .
    9. the  , bird  national  country's  The  threat  under  currently   is  , kiwi  .
    10. five   of   survive   Only   cent   chicks   adulthood   per   kiwi   to   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The government of New Zealand has declared warring / war on countryside pests. It wants to make the country predator-free by 2050. It has setting / set an ambitious target to eradicate / escalate all non-native species from the country over the next three decades / decadence. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says he intends / intents to introduce strategies to cull introduced species, especially predatory / predators that threaten New Zealand's native birds. He said: "Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million of our native birds every year, and pray / prey on other native species such as / has lizards. Along with the rest of our environment, we must do more to protect them." His government has awards / awarded $28 million to a company that will help implement his / this plans.

    Mr Key told reporters: "This is the most ambitious / ambition conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we belief / believe if we all work together as a country, we can achieve / kerchief it." It will take the combed / combined efforts of the private and public sectors as well as community groups. Few people in New Zealand want more of the country's native birds to become extinction / extinct. Since European settlers arrival / arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and brought / bought with them rats and other predators, New Zealand has lost a huge variety / various of birds. These include the bush wren, the laughing owl and the mysterious starling. The country's nationally / national bird, the kiwi, is currently under threat. Only five per cent of kiwi chicks / chucks survive to adulthood.

    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)

    Th_ g_v_rnm_nt _f N_w Z__l_nd h_s d_cl_r_d w_r _n c__ntrys_d_ p_sts. _t w_nts t_ m_k_ th_ c__ntry pr_d_t_r-fr__ by 2050. _t h_s s_t _n _mb_t___s t_rg_t t_ _r_d_c_t_ _ll n_n-n_t_v_ sp_c__s fr_m th_ c__ntry _v_r th_ n_xt thr__ d_c_d_s. N_w Z__l_nd's Pr_m_ M_n_st_r J_hn K_y s_ys h_ _nt_nds t_ _ntr_d_c_ str_t_g__s t_ c_ll _ntr_d_c_d sp_c__s, _sp_c__lly pr_d_t_rs th_t thr__t_n N_w Z__l_nd's n_t_v_ b_rds. H_ s__d: "R_ts, p_ss_ms _nd st__ts k_ll 25 m_ll__n _f __r n_t_v_ b_rds _v_ry y__r, _nd pr_y _n _th_r n_t_v_ sp_c__s s_ch _s l_z_rds. _l_ng w_th th_ r_st _f __r _nv_r_nm_nt, w_ m_st d_ m_r_ t_ pr_t_ct th_m." H_s g_v_rnm_nt h_s _w_rd_d $28 m_ll__n t_ _ c_mp_ny th_t w_ll h_lp _mpl_m_nt h_s pl_ns.

    Mr K_y t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "Th_s _s th_ m_st _mb_t___s c_ns_rv_t__n pr_j_ct _tt_mpt_d _nywh_r_ _n th_ w_rld, b_t w_ b_l__v_ _f w_ _ll w_rk t_g_th_r _s _ c__ntry, w_ c_n _ch__v_ _t." _t w_ll t_k_ th_ c_mb_n_d _ff_rts _f th_ pr_v_t_ _nd p_bl_c s_ct_rs _s w_ll _s c_mm_n_ty gr__ps. F_w p__pl_ _n N_w Z__l_nd w_nt m_r_ _f th_ c__ntry's n_t_v_ b_rds t_ b_c_m_ _xt_nct. S_nc_ __r_p__n s_ttl_rs _rr_v_d _n th_ m_d-n_n_t__nth c_nt_ry _nd br__ght w_th th_m r_ts _nd _th_r pr_d_t_rs, N_w Z__l_nd h_s l_st _ h_g_ v_r__ty _f b_rds. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ th_ b_sh wr_n, th_ l__gh_ng _wl _nd th_ myst_r___s st_rl_ng. Th_ c__ntry's n_t__n_l b_rd, th_ k_w_, _s c_rr_ntly _nd_r thr__t. _nly f_v_ p_r c_nt _f k_w_ ch_cks s_rv_v_ t_ _d_lth__d.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the government of new zealand has declared war on countryside pests it wants to make the country predator-free by 2050 it has set an ambitious target to eradicate all non-native species from the country over the next three decades new zealand's prime minister john key says he intends to introduce strategies to cull introduced species especially predators that threaten new zealand's native birds he said "rats possums and stoats kill 25 million of our native birds every year and prey on other native species such as lizards along with the rest of our environment we must do more to protect them" his government has awarded $28 million to a company that will help implement his plans

    mr key told reporters "this is the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world but we believe if we all work together as a country we can achieve it" it will take the combined efforts of the private and public sectors as well as community groups few people in new zealand want more of the country's native birds to become extinct since european settlers arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and brought with them rats and other predators new zealand has lost a huge variety of birds these include the bush wren the laughing owl and the mysterious starling the country's national bird the kiwi is currently under threat only five per cent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThegovernmentofNewZealandhasdeclaredwaroncountrysidepests.I
    twantstomakethecountrypredator-freeby2050.Ithassetanambitio
    ustargettoeradicateallnon-nativespeciesfromthecountryoverthen
    extthreedecades.NewZealand'sPrimeMinisterJohnKeysaysheintend
    stointroducestrategiestocullintroducedspecies,especiallypredatorst
    hatthreatenNewZealand'snativebirds.Hesaid:"Rats,possumsandsto
    atskill25millionofournativebirdseveryyear,andpreyonothernativesp
    eciessuchaslizards.Alongwiththerestofourenvironment,wemustdo
    moretoprotectthem."Hisgovernmenthasawarded$28milliontoacom
    panythatwillhelpimplementhisplans.MrKeytoldreporters:"Thisisthe
    mostambitiousconservationprojectattemptedanywhereintheworld,
    butwebelieveifweallworktogetherasacountry,wecanachieveit."Itwill
    takethecombinedeffortsoftheprivateandpublicsectorsaswellascom
    munitygroups.FewpeopleinNewZealandwantmoreofthecountry'sna
    tivebirdstobecomeextinct.SinceEuropeansettlersarrivedinthemid-
    nineteenthcenturyandbroughtwiththemratsandotherpredators,Ne
    wZealandhaslostahugevarietyofbirds.Theseincludethebushwren,th
    elaughingowlandthemysteriousstarling.Thecountry'snationalbird,t
    hekiwi,iscurrentlyunderthreat.Onlyfivepercentofkiwichickssurvivet
    oadulthood.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All countries should kill non-native species for conservation purposes. 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 New Zealand's plan. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. NATIVE SPECIES: Make a poster about the native species under threat in your country. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. CULL: Write a magazine article about culling all non-native species. 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 conservation. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect native species. 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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