The Reading / Listening - Suntans - Level 3

Scientists have developed a drug that can copy the effects of sunlight. The new drug tricks the skin into making it darker and giving us a suntan. The drug makes our body produce more of a natural pigment found in our skin called melanin. A pigment is something in our body that colours our skin. Plants also have pigments that give them different colours. The scientists are from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA. They say their new drug could have many benefits for our health. The biggest benefits could be to prevent skin cancer and perhaps even slow down how old people look. Too much sunlight and getting suntans can give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and give us many wrinkles.

Scientists say the drug can safely give people suntans because there are no damaging UV rays. When people are out in the sun, UV rays slowly burn our skin and damage it. The rays make lighter-skinned people turn red, unless those people use sunblock or cover their skin. The drug makes the body produce more dark melanin, which makes our skin look tanned. Melanin is the body's natural sunblock. Researcher Dr David Fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the most common type of cancer. He said the drug could make our body produce more melanin. This could protect the skin from UV radiation and cancer. He said: "Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Suntans - Level 0 Suntans - Level 1   or  Suntans - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/health-40260029
  • http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/06/could-new-compound-give-you-suntan-without-sun
  • http://www.medicaldaily.com/how-prevent-skin-cancer-drug-tans-skin-just-sun-without-risk-uv-damage-419018


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. SUNTANS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about suntans. 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?

       developed / sunlight / suntan / natural / skin / scientists / health / benefits / wrinkles
       drug / safely / UV rays / sunblock / tanned / cancer / common / protect / lower risk

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

3. DANGEROUS: Students A strongly believe that suntans are dangerous and people should avoid the Sun as much as they can; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SUN: How can we protect ourselves from the Sun's harmful rays? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Protection

Sunglasses

 

Hats

 

Creams

 

Clothes

 

Being outside

 

Drugs

 

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. SUNLIGHT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "sunlight". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. PROTECTION: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to protect our skin at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • sunblock
  • staying indoors
  • long sleeves
  • what we eat
  • drugs
  • parasols
  • caps
  • sunglasses

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A new drug copies the effects of sunlight.     T / F
  2. The drug tricks the skin into producing a skin colouring.     T / F
  3. Researchers said the new drug will not have many health benefits.     T / F
  4. The new drug may slow down the rate at which we get wrinkles.     T / F
  5. The new drug can give people a suntan without needing UV rays.     T / F
  6. UV rays help protect our skin.     T / F
  7. Melanin does not help block the Sun's UV rays.     T / F
  8. The most common type of cancer is lung cancer.     T / F

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

  1. copy
  2. produce
  3. natural
  4. prevent
  5. old
  6. damaging
  7. turn
  8. fight
  9. protect
  10. forms
  1. stop
  2. normal
  3. safeguard
  4. harmful
  5. become
  6. mimic
  7. kinds
  8. aged
  9. make
  10. battle

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

  1. a drug that can copy the effects
  2. The new drug tricks
  3. something in our body that colours
  4. slow down how
  5. give us many
  6. the drug can safely
  7. damaging UV
  8. use sunblock
  9. the most common
  10. a lower risk of all forms of skin
  1. give people suntans
  2. wrinkles
  3. cancer
  4. the skin
  5. rays
  6. of sunlight
  7. our skin
  8. type of cancer
  9. old people look
  10. or cover their skin

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
into
different
wrinkles
effects
something
look
more
benefits

Scientists have developed a drug that can copy the (1) ____________ of sunlight. The new drug tricks the skin (2) ____________ making it darker and giving us a suntan. The drug makes our body produce (3) ____________ of a natural pigment found in our skin called melanin. A pigment is (4) ____________ in our body that colours our skin. Plants also have pigments that give them (5) ____________ colours. The scientists are from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA. They say their new drug could have many (6) ____________ for our health. The biggest benefits could be to prevent skin cancer and perhaps even slow down how old people (7) ____________. Too much sunlight and getting suntans can give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and give us many (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
red
type
cover
forms
safely
protect
natural
rays

Scientists say the drug can (9) ____________ give people suntans because there are no damaging UV (10) ____________. When people are out in the sun, UV rays slowly burn our skin and damage it. The rays make lighter-skinned people turn (11) ____________, unless those people use sunblock or (12) ____________ their skin. The drug makes the body produce more dark melanin, which makes our skin look tanned. Melanin is the body's (13) ____________ sunblock. Researcher Dr David Fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the most common (14) ____________ of cancer. He said the drug could make our body produce more melanin. This could (15) ____________ the skin from UV radiation and cancer. He said: "Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all (16) ____________ of skin cancer."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Scientists have developed a drug that can copy the ______
     a.  affects of sunlight
     b.  effects of sunlight
     c.  effects off sunlight
     d.  affects off sunlight

2)  The new drug tricks the skin into making it darker and giving ______
     a.  us the suntan
     b.  us a sunny tan
     c.  us a suntanned
     d.  us a suntan

3)  The drug makes our body produce more of a natural pigment ______
     a.  found on our skin
     b.  found in our skin
     c.  found in ours kin
     d.  found in ours skin

4)  Plants also have pigments that give ______
     a.  them difference colour
     b.  them differently colours
     c.  them difference colours
     d.  them different colours

5)  getting suntans can give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and give ______
     a.  us many rankles
     b.  us many wrinkles
     c.  us many twinkles
     d.  us many link calls

6)  Scientists say the drug can safely give people suntans because there are no ______
     a.  damage in UV rays
     b.  damaging you V rays
     c.  damage in your V rays
     d.  damaging UV rays

7)  When people are out in the sun, UV rays slowly burn our skin ______
     a.  and damage it
     b.  and damaged it
     c.  and damaged it
     d.  and dam age it

8)  makes the body produce more dark melanin, which makes our ______
     a.  skins look tanned
     b.  skin looks tanned
     c.  skin look tanned
     d.  skin look tans

9)  Dr David Fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the most ______ cancer
     a.  common type of
     b.  common type off
     c.  commons type of
     d.  commonly type of

10)  Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all ______ skin cancer
     a.  farms of
     b.  firms of
     c.  frames of
     d.  forms of

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have developed a drug that can (1) ___________________ sunlight. The new drug tricks (2) ___________________ making it darker and giving us a suntan. The drug makes our body produce (3) ___________________ pigment found in our skin called melanin. A pigment is (4) ___________________ body that colours our skin. Plants also have pigments that give them different colours. The scientists are from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA. They say their new drug could have many benefits (5) ___________________. The biggest benefits could be to prevent skin cancer and perhaps even slow down how old people look. Too much sunlight and getting suntans can give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and (6) ___________________ wrinkles.

Scientists say the drug can safely give people suntans (7) ___________________ no damaging UV rays. When people are out in the sun, UV rays slowly (8) ___________________ and damage it. The rays make lighter-skinned people turn red, (9) ___________________ use sunblock or cover their skin. The drug makes the body produce more dark melanin, which (10) ___________________ look tanned. Melanin is the body's natural sunblock. Researcher Dr David Fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the most common (11) ___________________. He said the drug could make our body produce more melanin. This could protect the skin from UV radiation and cancer. He said: "Dark pigment is associated with a lower (12) ___________________ of skin cancer."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did scientists develop that can copy the effects of sunlight?
  2. What does a drug trick the skin into doing?
  3. What is it in humans and plants that give them colour?
  4. What could the drug slow down?
  5. What can too much sunlight give us?
  6. What kind of rays did the article say are damaging?
  7. What do UV rays do to our skin?
  8. What is the body's natural sunblock?
  9. What is the most common type of cancer?
  10. What is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did scientists develop that can copy the effects of sunlight?
a) an experiment
b) a leaf
c) a drug
d) melanin

2) What does a drug trick the skin into doing?
a) becoming darker
b) becoming thicker
c) becoming colourful
d) becoming older

3) What is it in humans and plants that give them colour?
a) skin
b) a pigment
c) oxygen
d) dye

4) What could the drug slow down?
a) how dark the skin becomes
b) how fast skin grows
c) research
d) how old people look

5) What can too much sunlight give us?
a) health benefits
b) heat
c) wrinkles
d) sleepless nights

6) What kind of rays did the article say are damaging?
a) X-rays
b) UV rays
c) manta rays
d) gamma rays

7) What do UV rays do to our skin?
a) make it lighter
b) protect it
c) make it safer
d) burn or damage it

8) What is the body's natural sunblock?
a) calcium
b) melanin
c) tanned
d) protein

9) What is the most common type of cancer?
a) lung cancer
b) skin cancer
c) throat cancer
d) bowel cancer

10) What is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer?
a) dark pigment
b) light pigment
c) red pigment
d) new pigment

Role play

Role  A – Drugs

You think drugs are the best things to protect us from the Sun. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): sunglasses, sunblock or what we eat.

Role  B – Sunglasses

You think sunglasses are the best things to protect us from the Sun. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): drugs, sunblock or what we eat.

Role  C – Sunblock

You think sunblock is the best thing to protect us from the Sun. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): sunglasses, drugs or what we eat.

Role  D – What We Eat

You think what we eat are the best things to protect us from the Sun. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why):  sunglasses, sunblock or drugs.

After reading / listening

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

'sun'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'tan'.

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

    • damaging
    • burn
    • red
    • cover
    • type
    • lower
    • copy
    • giving
    • something
    • benefits
    • slow
    • wrinkles

    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 suntan drug could prevent skin cancer

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'drug'?
    3. How healthy is sunlight?
    4. What are the bad things about sunlight?
    5. How does sunlight make you feel?
    6. What do you think of suntans?
    7. Would you take the new drug?
    8. What do you do to stay young looking?
    9. Do you worry about wrinkles?
    10. How ell do you think the drug will work?

    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 when you hear the word 'sunlight'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do people want a suntan?
    5. What do you know about UV rays?
    6. What do you know about skin cancer?
    7. How can we educate people about the dangers of UV rays?
    8. How long will it be before we have drugs to cure everything?
    9. What do you do to look after your skin?
    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 (1) ____ a drug that can copy the effects of sunlight. The new drug tricks the skin into making it darker and (2) ____ us a suntan. The drug makes our body produce more of a natural pigment found (3) ____ our skin called melanin. A pigment is something in our body that colours our skin. Plants also have pigments that give them (4) ____ colours. The scientists are from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA. They say their new drug could have many benefits for our health. The biggest benefits could (5) ____ to prevent skin cancer and perhaps even slow down how old people look. Too much sunlight and getting suntans can give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and give us many (6) ____.

    Scientists say the drug can (7) ____ give people suntans because there are no damaging UV rays. When people are out (8) ____ the sun, UV rays slowly burn our skin and damage it. The rays make lighter-skinned people turn red, (9) ____ those people use sunblock or cover their skin. The drug makes the body produce more dark melanin, which makes our skin (10) ____ tanned. Melanin is the body's natural sunblock. Researcher Dr David Fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the (11) ____ common type of cancer. He said the drug could make our body produce more melanin. This could protect the skin from UV radiation and cancer. He said: "Dark pigment is associated (12) ____ a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     developing     (b)     developed     (c)     developed     (d)     develops    
    2. (a)     giving     (b)     gives     (c)     given     (d)     gave    
    3. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     by     (d)     of    
    4. (a)     different     (b)     difference     (c)     differential     (d)     differences    
    5. (a)     become     (b)     been     (c)     being     (d)     be    
    6. (a)     wrings     (b)     winks     (c)     winkles     (d)     wrinkles    
    7. (a)     safely     (b)     safety     (c)     safest     (d)     safes    
    8. (a)     over     (b)     on     (c)     up     (d)     in    
    9. (a)     unless     (b)     useless     (c)     lesser     (d)     less    
    10. (a)     looks     (b)     look     (c)     looked     (d)     looking    
    11. (a)     much     (b)     most     (c)     many     (d)     main    
    12. (a)     with     (b)     without     (c)     within     (d)     wither

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. copy the effects of ihtgnlsu
    2. makes our body uerdpoc more
    3. a taunalr pigment found in our skin
    4. have many fietbesn for our health
    5. rpveent skin cancer
    6. give us many ilsnkerw

    Paragraph 2

    1. there are no aanmggid UV rays
    2. people use onbskclu or cover their skin
    3. the drug could help gifht skin cancer
    4. the most omconm type of cancer
    5. protect the skin from UV iodairatn
    6. caietassod with a lower risk

    Put the text back together

    (    )     Scientists say the drug can safely give people suntans because there are no damaging UV rays. When people are out

    (    )     in the sun, UV rays slowly burn our skin and damage it. The rays make lighter-skinned people turn red, unless

    (    )     give them different colours. The scientists are from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA. They say their

    (    )     our skin look tanned. Melanin is the body's natural sunblock. Researcher Dr David Fisher said the drug could

    (    )     give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and give us many wrinkles.

    (    )     cancer. He said: "Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer."

    (    )     prevent skin cancer and perhaps even slow down how old people look. Too much sunlight and getting suntans can

    (    )     darker and giving us a suntan. The drug makes our body produce more of a natural pigment found in our

    (    )     help fight skin cancer - the most common type of cancer. He said the drug could make our body produce

    (    )     skin called melanin. A pigment is something in our body that colours our skin. Plants also have pigments that

    (    )     new drug could have many benefits for our health. The biggest benefits could be to

    (    )     more melanin. This could protect the skin from UV radiation and

    1  )     Scientists have developed a drug that can copy the effects of sunlight. The new drug tricks the skin into making it

    (    )     those people use sunblock or cover their skin. The drug makes the body produce more dark melanin, which makes

    Put the words in the right order

    1. effects   the   copy   can   that   drug   a   Developed   sunlight   of   .
    2. it   new   the   making   The   tricks   into   darker   drug   skin   .
    3. our   in   Something   skin   our   colours   that   body   .
    4. drug   They   could   say   have   their   many   new   benefits   .
    5. and   many   our   old   us   Make   look   give   wrinkles   skin   .
    6. can   Scientists   safely   say   give   the   people   drug   suntans   .
    7. The   skinned   rays   people   make   turn   lighter-   red   .
    8. melanin   body   The   produce   drug   more   makes   dark   the   .
    9. from   skin   the   protect   could   This   radiation   UV   .
    10. all   forms   of   skin   cancer   Associated   with   a   lower   risk   of   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have developed / developing a drug that can copy the affects / effects of sunlight. The new drug tricks / tracks the skin into making it darker and given / giving us a suntan. The drug makes our body produce more of a natural pigment found on / in our skin called melanin. A pigment is something in our body that colours our skin. Plants also have pigments that give them different / difference colours. The scientists are from the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA. They say their new drug could have much / many benefits for our health. The biggest benefits could be to prevent skin cancer and perhaps ever / even slow down how old people look. Too much / many sunlight and getting suntans can give us skin cancer, make our skin look old and give us many wrangles / wrinkles.

    Scientists say the drug can safety / safely give people suntans because there are no / known damaging UV rays. When people are out in / up the sun, UV rays slowly burn our skin and damage them / it. The rays make lighter-skinned people turn red, unless those people use sunblock nor / or cover their skin. The drug makes the body produce / producing more dark melanin, which makes our skin look / looking tanned. Melanin is the body's natural sunblock. Researcher Dr David Fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the most / much common type of cancer. He said the drug could make our body produce more melanin. This could protect a / the skin from UV radiation and cancer. He said: "Dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all forms / firms of skin cancer."

    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_ d_v_l_p_d _ dr_g th_t c_n c_py th_ _ff_cts _f s_nl_ght. Th_ n_w dr_g tr_cks th_ sk_n _nt_ m_k_ng _t d_rk_r _nd g_v_ng _s _ s_nt_n. Th_ dr_g m_k_s __r b_dy pr_d_c_ m_r_ _f _ n_t_r_l p_gm_nt f__nd _n __r sk_n c_ll_d m_l_n_n. _ p_gm_nt _s s_m_th_ng _n __r b_dy th_t c_l__rs __r sk_n. Pl_nts _ls_ h_v_ p_gm_nts th_t g_v_ th_m d_ff_r_nt c_l__rs. Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ fr_m th_ M_ss_ch_s_tts G_n_r_l H_sp_t_l _n th_ _S_. Th_y s_y th__r n_w dr_g c__ld h_v_ m_ny b_n_f_ts f_r __r h__lth. Th_ b_gg_st b_n_f_ts c__ld b_ t_ pr_v_nt sk_n c_nc_r _nd p_rh_ps _v_n sl_w d_wn h_w _ld p__pl_ l__k. T__ m_ch s_nl_ght _nd g_tt_ng s_nt_ns c_n g_v_ _s sk_n c_nc_r, m_k_ __r sk_n l__k _ld _nd g_v_ _s m_ny wr_nkl_s.

    Sc__nt_sts s_y th_ dr_g c_n s_f_ly g_v_ p__pl_ s_nt_ns b_c__s_ th_r_ _r_ n_ d_m_g_ng _V r_ys. Wh_n p__pl_ _r_ __t _n th_ s_n, _V r_ys sl_wly b_rn __r sk_n _nd d_m_g_ _t. Th_ r_ys m_k_ l_ght_r-sk_nn_d p__pl_ t_rn r_d, _nl_ss th_s_ p__pl_ _s_ s_nbl_ck _r c_v_r th__r sk_n. Th_ dr_g m_k_s th_ b_dy pr_d_c_ m_r_ d_rk m_l_n_n, wh_ch m_k_s __r sk_n l__k t_nn_d. M_l_n_n _s th_ b_dy's n_t_r_l s_nbl_ck. R_s__rch_r Dr D_v_d F_sh_r s__d th_ dr_g c__ld h_lp f_ght sk_n c_nc_r - th_ m_st c_mm_n typ_ _f c_nc_r. H_ s__d th_ dr_g c__ld m_k_ __r b_dy pr_d_c_ m_r_ m_l_n_n. Th_s c__ld pr_t_ct th_ sk_n fr_m _V r_d__t__n _nd c_nc_r. H_ s__d: "D_rk p_gm_nt _s _ss_c__t_d w_th _ l_w_r r_sk _f _ll f_rms _f sk_n c_nc_r."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have developed a drug that can copy the effects of sunlight the new drug tricks the skin into making it darker and giving us a suntan the drug makes our body produce more of a natural pigment found in our skin called melanin a pigment is something in our body that colours our skin plants also have pigments that give them different colours the scientists are from the massachusetts general hospital in the usa they say their new drug could have many benefits for our health the biggest benefits could be to prevent skin cancer and perhaps even slow down how old people look too much sunlight and getting suntans can give us skin cancer make our skin look old and give us many wrinkles

    scientists say the drug can safely give people suntans because there are no damaging uv rays when people are out in the sun uv rays slowly burn our skin and damage it the rays make lighter-skinned people turn red unless those people use sunblock or cover their skin the drug makes the body produce more dark melanin which makes our skin look tanned melanin is the body's natural sunblock researcher dr david fisher said the drug could help fight skin cancer - the most common type of cancer he said the drug could make our body produce more melanin this could protect the skin from uv radiation and cancer he said "dark pigment is associated with a lower risk of all forms of skin cancer"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistshavedevelopedadrugthatcancopytheeffectsofsunlight.Th
    enewdrugtrickstheskinintomakingitdarkerandgivingusasuntan.The
    drugmakesourbodyproducemoreofanaturalpigmentfoundinourskin
    calledmelanin.Apigmentissomethinginourbodythatcoloursourskin.P
    lantsalsohavepigmentsthatgivethemdifferentcolours.Thescientists
    arefromtheMassachusettsGeneralHospitalintheUSA.Theysaytheirn
    ewdrugcouldhavemanybenefitsforourhealth.Thebiggestbenefitscou
    ldbetopreventskincancerandperhapsevenslowdownhowoldpeoplelo
    ok.Toomuchsunlightandgettingsuntanscangiveusskincancer,make
    ourskinlookoldandgiveusmanywrinkles.Scientistssaythedrugcansaf
    elygivepeoplesuntansbecausetherearenodamagingUVrays.Whenpe
    opleareoutinthesun,UVraysslowlyburnourskinanddamageit.Theray
    smakelighter-skinnedpeopleturnred,unlessthosepeopleusesunbloc
    korcovertheirskin.Thedrugmakesthebodyproducemoredarkmelani
    n,whichmakesourskinlooktanned.Melaninisthebody'snaturalsunblo
    ck.ResearcherDrDavidFishersaidthedrugcouldhelpfightskincancer-
    themostcommontypeofcancer.Hesaidthedrugcouldmakeourbodypr
    oducemoremelanin.ThiscouldprotecttheskinfromUVradiationandca
    ncer.Hesaid:"Darkpigmentisassociatedwithalowerriskofallformsofs
    kincancer."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Suntans are dangerous and unhealthy looking. We should avoid them. 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 this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. SUNTANS: Write a magazine article about suntans being bad for us. Give reasons why we should stay out of the sun 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 suntans. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on why we should stay out of the sun. 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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