The Reading / Listening - Penguins - Level 6

The government of Chile has rejected plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would disrupt marine life. The area that was threatened with mining is home to 80 per cent of the world's Humboldt penguin. Other creatures that live in the waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea otters. A mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to extract millions of tons of iron and copper in the north of Chile. It also wanted to build a new port to facilitate the mining process. Chile's Environment Minister told reporters: "I firmly believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of our environmental heritage or cause risk to health, or to unique ecological areas in the world."

Chile's National Mining Society said the decision was bad news for mining and for the country. It said the mining project was essential for the economic development of the region and the country. The controversial mining project would have generated $2.5 billion in revenue. Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full negative impact of the mining project on the local environment. It also questioned the project's finances. The Environmental Minister said: "There are deficiencies in basic information and insufficiencies in mitigation, compensation, and reparation measures, meaning we believe that the eventual impacts have not been properly taken care of."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Penguins - Level 4  or  Penguins - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41007462
  • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-hydropower-idUSKCN1B11CQ
  • http://www.nasdaq.com/article/chilean-government-rejects-controversial-25-bln-copper-and-iron-project-20170821-00566


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. PENGUINS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about penguins. 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?

       plans / mining / marine life / creatures / penguins / port / development / heritage /
       decision / essential / region / revenue / negative impact / finances / information / care

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

3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Students A strongly believe conservation is more important than economic development; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: What damage do these things do to the environment? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Damage

How to stop the damage

Mining

 

 

Fishing

 

 

Logging

 

 

City building

 

 

Golf courses

 

 

Industrial farming

 

 

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

6. CONSERVATION: Rank these with your partner. Put the best important conservation issues at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • water
  • wetland
  • wildlife
  • architectural
  • marine
  • habitat
  • energy
  • soil

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The mining project amounted to trillions of dollars of investment.     T / F
  2. Half of the world's Humboldt penguins live in the proposed mining area.  T / F
  3. A mining company wanted to mine iron and copper.     T / F
  4. Chile's Environment Minister does not believe in development.     T / F
  5. A mining society said Chile's government's decision was bad news.     T / F
  6. The government said the company hadn't shown the full impact.     T / F
  7. The government had no problems with the company's finances.     T / F
  8. The government believes the company did not consider the future.     T / F

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

  1. rejected
  2. disrupt
  3. extract
  4. facilitate
  5. unique
  6. essential
  7. region
  8. revenue
  9. deficiencies
  10. properly
  1. necessary
  2. enable
  3. shortages
  4. upset
  5. income
  6. refused
  7. correctly
  8. distinctive
  9. area
  10. take out

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

  1. rejected plans
  2. it would disrupt
  3. home to 80 per cent
  4. It also wanted to build
  5. at the cost of our environmental
  6. essential for the economic development
  7. generated
  8. the mining company had not shown
  9. There are deficiencies in basic
  10. the eventual impacts have not
  1. of the world's Humboldt penguin
  2. a new port
  3. $2.5 billion in revenue
  4. been properly taken care of
  5. information
  6. for a billion-dollar mining project
  7. heritage
  8. of the region
  9. marine life
  10. the full negative impact

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
creatures
firmly
rejected
ecological
extract
cost
marine
process

The government of Chile has (1) ____________ plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would disrupt (2) ____________ life. The area that was threatened with mining is home to 80 per cent of the world's Humboldt penguin. Other (3) ____________ that live in the waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea otters. A mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to (4) ____________ millions of tons of iron and copper in the north of Chile. It also wanted to build a new port to facilitate the mining (5) ____________. Chile's Environment Minister told reporters: "I (6) ____________ believe in development, but it cannot be at the (7) ____________ of our environmental heritage or cause risk to health, or to unique (8) ____________ areas in the world."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
region
finances
controversial
properly
decision
deficiencies
project
negative

Chile's National Mining Society said the (9) ____________ was bad news for mining and for the country. It said the mining (10) ____________ was essential for the economic development of the (11) ____________ and the country. The (12) ____________ mining project would have generated $2.5 billion in revenue. Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full (13) ____________ impact of the mining project on the local environment. It also questioned the project's (14) ____________. The Environmental Minister said: "There are (15) ____________ in basic information and insufficiencies in mitigation, compensation, and reparation measures, meaning we believe that the eventual impacts have not been (16) ____________ taken care of."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) rejected plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would ______ life
     a.  disrupts marine
     b.  disrupted marina
     c.  disrupt marine
     d.  disrupt marina

2)  Other creatures that live in the waters ______ whales
     a.  included blue
     b.  included blues
     c.  include bluish
     d.  include blue

3)  A mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to extract millions ______ iron
     a.  of tomes of
     b.  of tons of
     c.  of tans of
     d.  of tins of

4)  It also wanted to build a new port to facilitate the ______
     a.  mine in process
     b.  mining processes
     c.  mine in proceeds
     d.  mining process

5)  I firmly believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of our ______
     a.  environmental heritage
     b.  environment all heritages
     c.  environmentalism heritage
     d.  environmental heritages

6)  Chile's National Mining Society said the decision was bad news for mining ______
     a.  and of the country
     b.  and for a country
     c.  and for the country
     d.  and from a country

7)  It said the mining project was essential for the economic development ______
     a.  off a region
     b.  of the regions
     c.  of a region
     d.  of the region

8)  The controversial mining project would have generated $2.5 billion ______
     a.  on revenue
     b.  in revenue
     c.  an revenue
     d.  non revenue

9)  Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full ______
     a.  negative impact
     b.  negatively impact
     c.  negative impacted
     d.  negate live impact

10) basic information and insufficiencies in mitigation, compensation, and ______
     a.  reparation measure
     b.  reparation measures
     c.  reparation measured
     d.  reparation measuring

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The government of Chile has rejected plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would (1) ___________________. The area that was threatened with (2) ___________________ to 80 per cent of the world's Humboldt penguin. Other creatures that (3) ___________________ waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea otters. A mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to extract (4) ___________________ of iron and copper in the north of Chile. It also wanted to (5) ___________________ port to facilitate the mining process. Chile's Environment Minister told reporters: "I firmly believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of our environmental heritage or cause risk to health, or (6) ___________________ areas in the world."

Chile's National Mining Society said the decision was (7) ___________________ mining and for the country. It said the mining project (8) ___________________ the economic development of the region and the country. The controversial mining project would have generated $2.5-(9) ___________________. Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full (10) ___________________ the mining project on the local environment. It also questioned the project's finances. The Environmental Minister said: "There are (11) ___________________ information and insufficiencies in mitigation, compensation, and reparation measures, meaning we believe (12) ___________________ impacts have not been properly taken care of."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the Chilean government say the mining project would disrupt?
  2. How many of the world's Humboldt penguins live in the region?
  3. What is the name of the mining company?
  4. What did the mining company want to build to aid the mining process?
  5. What did Chile's Environment Minister say he firmly believed in?
  6. What kind of news did Chile's mining society say the decision was?
  7. How much revenue would the project have generated?
  8. Who said the mining company had not shown the full negative impacts?
  9. What did the Environment Minister question about the project?
  10. What did the Environment Minister say had not been taken care of?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What did the Chilean government say the mining project would disrupt?
a) rivers
b) marine life
c) coral
d) fishing

2) How many of the world's Humboldt penguins live in the region?
a) 18%
b) 88%
c) 82%
d) 80%

3) What is the name of the mining company?
a) Andes Mining
b) Chile Mining
c) Andes Iron
d) Chile Iron

4) What did the mining company want to build to aid the mining process?
a) a port
b) a canal
c) relations
d) factories

5) What did Chile's Environment Minister say he firmly believed in?
a) penguins
b) development
c) mining
d) oceans

6) What kind of news did Chile's mining society say the decision was?
a) bad
b) economic
c) mining
d) fisheries

7) How much revenue would the project have generated?
a) $25 billion
b) $22.5 billion
c) $2.5 billion
d) $3.5 billion

8) Who said the mining company had not shown the full negative impacts?
a) Chile's Environment Minister
b) Chile's Mining Minister
c) Chile's Fisheries Minister
d) Chile's Wildlife Minister

9) What did the Environment Minister question about the project?
a) the future
b) the science
c) the history
d) its finances

10) What did the Environment Minister say had not been taken care of?
a) business
b) penguins
c) the eventual impacts
d) permits

Role play

Role  A – Water

You think water conservation is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their forms of conservation aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): wildlife conservation, marine conservation or soil conservation.

Role  B – Wildlife

You think wildlife conservation is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their forms of conservation aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): water conservation, marine conservation or soil conservation.

Role  C – Marine

You think marine conservation is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their forms of conservation aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): wildlife conservation, water conservation or soil conservation.

Role  D – Soil

You think soil conservation is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their forms of conservation aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why):  wildlife conservation, marine conservation or water conservation.

After reading / listening

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

'penguin'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'mining'.

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

    • news
    • essential
    • revenue
    • full
    • basic
    • care
    • rejected
    • home
    • blue
    • port
    • believe
    • unique

    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 - Chile stops mining project to save penguins

    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 'penguin'?
    3. What do you think of Chile's decision?
    4. How good is your country at protecting the environment?
    5. How good is the environment for marine life in your country?
    6. What do you know about penguins?
    7. How important is mining as an industry?
    8. What unique ecological areas are there in your country?
    9. How important is development?
    10. How much of your country's environmental heritage has gone?

    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 'mining'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should more governments put the environment over profits?
    5. What do you think of penguins?
    6. What damage does mining do to the environment?
    7. Should Chile have gone ahead with the economic development?
    8. What do you know about Chile?
    9. How do you think penguins might feel about this decision?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the mining company?

    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 Chile has (1) ____ plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would (2) ____ marine life. The area that was threatened with mining is home to 80 per cent of the world's Humboldt penguin. Other (3) ____ that live in the waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea otters. A mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to (4) ____ millions of tons of iron and copper in the north of Chile. It also wanted to build a new port to facilitate the mining process. Chile's Environment Minister told reporters: "I (5) ____ believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of our environmental heritage or cause risk (6) ____ health, or to unique ecological areas in the world."

    Chile's National Mining Society said the decision was bad news for mining and for the country. It said the mining project was (7) ____ for the economic development of the region and the country. The controversial mining project would have (8) ____ $2.5 billion in revenue. Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the (9) ____ negative impact of the mining project on the local environment. It also questioned the project's finances. The Environmental Minister said: "There are deficiencies (10) ____ basic information and insufficiencies (11) ____ mitigation, compensation, and reparation measures, meaning we believe that the eventual impacts have not been properly taken care (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     rejecting     (b)     rejected     (c)     rejection     (d)     rejects    
    2. (a)     rupture     (b)     disrupt     (c)     excerpt     (d)     corrupt    
    3. (a)     creations     (b)     creation     (c)     creatives     (d)     creatures    
    4. (a)     contract     (b)     extract     (c)     retract     (d)     interact    
    5. (a)     firm     (b)     firmly     (c)     flimsy     (d)     films    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    7. (a)     accentuate     (b)     oscillating     (c)     essential     (d)     issuance    
    8. (a)     generating     (b)     generates     (c)     generated     (d)     generation    
    9. (a)     fullest     (b)     full on     (c)     fully     (d)     full    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    11. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    12. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     on

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Chile has rteecedj plans
    2. it would disrupt ireanm life
    3. Other tsraeurce that live in the waters
    4. tetxcra millions of tons
    5. a new port to tlaeitafic the mining process
    6. environmental egtriahe

    Paragraph 2

    1. the mining project was iesenalst
    2. development of the oeingr
    3. The soalctrnreovi mining project
    4. questioned the project's nfncesia
    5. iesiceecidnf in basic information
    6. the utvanele impacts

    Put the text back together

    1  )     The government of Chile has rejected plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would disrupt marine

    (    )     Minister told reporters: "I firmly believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of our environmental

    (    )     Chile's National Mining Society said the decision was bad news for mining and for the

    (    )     and reparation measures, meaning we believe that the eventual impacts have not been properly taken care of."

    (    )     life. The area that was threatened with mining is home to 80 per cent of the world's Humboldt

    (    )     company called Andes Iron had wanted to extract millions of tons of iron and copper in the north

    (    )     penguin. Other creatures that live in the waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea otters. A mining

    (    )     revenue. Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full negative impact of the mining

    (    )     heritage or cause risk to health, or to unique ecological areas in the world."

    (    )     region and the country. The controversial mining project would have generated $2.5 billion in

    (    )     of Chile. It also wanted to build a new port to facilitate the mining process. Chile's Environment

    (    )     project on the local environment. It also questioned the project's finances. The Environmental Minister said:

    (    )     country. It said the mining project was essential for the economic development of the

    (    )     "There are deficiencies in basic information and insufficiencies in mitigation, compensation,

    Put the words in the right order

    1. -   plans   dollar   for   mining   a   project   billion   Rejected   .
    2. the   penguin   80   of   Humboldt   to   cent   world's   Home   per   .
    3. blue   creatures   in   include   Other   live  waters   whales   that   the  .
    4. the   new   mining   port   process   to   Build   facilitate   a   .
    5. It   at   of   heritage   be   cost   environmental   cannot   the   our   .
    6. development   economic   for   essential   was   project   mining   The   .
    7. full  The   had   the  impact   company  shown   negative  mining  not   .
    8. the   questioned   also   It   finances   project's   .
    9. .   information"  basic  in  deficiencies  are  "There   said:  Minister  The
    10. been   care  eventual   not   taken   The  have   properly  of   impacts   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The government of Chile has rejected / rejection plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would disruption / disrupt marine life. The area that was threatened / threatening with mining is home to 80 per cent of the world's Humboldt penguin. Other creatures / creature that live in the waters include blue whales, fin whales and sea others / otters. A mining company called Andes Iron had wanted to extradite / extract millions of tons of iron and copper in the north for / of Chile. It also wanted to build a new port / part to facilitate the mining process. Chile's Environment Minister told reporters: "I firmly / firm believe in development, but it cannot be at the cost of our environmental heritage or cause risk to health, or to unique ecologically / ecological areas in the world."

    Chile's National Mining Society said the decisions / decision was bad news for mining and for the country. It said the mining projection / project was essential for the economic development of the regional / region and the country. The controversial / controversially mining project would have generated / generates $2.5 billion in revenue. Government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full negative / negatively impact of the mining project on the locale / local environment. It also questioned the project's finances. The Environmental Minister said: "There are / is deficiencies in basic information and insufficiencies on / in mitigation, compensation, and reparation measures, meaning we believe that the eventual impacts have not been properly taken care off / of."

    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 Ch_l_ h_s r_j_ct_d pl_ns f_r _ b_ll__n-d_ll_r m_n_ng pr_j_ct b_c__s_ _t w__ld d_sr_pt m_r_n_ l_f_. Th_ _r__ th_t w_s thr__t_n_d w_th m_n_ng _s h_m_ t_ 80 p_r c_nt _f th_ w_rld's H_mb_ldt p_ng__n. _th_r cr__t_r_s th_t l_v_ _n th_ w_t_rs _ncl_d_ bl__ wh_l_s, f_n wh_l_s _nd s__ _tt_rs. _ m_n_ng c_mp_ny c_ll_d _nd_s _r_n h_d w_nt_d t_ _xtr_ct m_ll__ns _f t_ns _f _r_n _nd c_pp_r _n th_ n_rth _f Ch_l_. _t _ls_ w_nt_d t_ b__ld _ n_w p_rt t_ f_c_l_t_t_ th_ m_n_ng pr_c_ss. Ch_l_'s _nv_r_nm_nt M_n_st_r t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_ f_rmly b_l__v_ _n d_v_l_pm_nt, b_t _t c_nn_t b_ _t th_ c_st _f __r _nv_r_nm_nt_l h_r_t_g_ _r c__s_ r_sk t_ h__lth, _r t_ _n_q__ _c_l_g_c_l _r__s _n th_ w_rld."

    Ch_l_'s N_t__n_l M_n_ng S_c__ty s__d th_ d_c_s__n w_s b_d n_ws f_r m_n_ng _nd f_r th_ c__ntry. _t s__d th_ m_n_ng pr_j_ct w_s _ss_nt__l f_r th_ _c_n_m_c d_v_l_pm_nt _f th_ r_g__n _nd th_ c__ntry. Th_ c_ntr_v_rs__l m_n_ng pr_j_ct w__ld h_v_ g_n_r_t_d $2.5 b_ll__n _n r_v_n__. G_v_rnm_nt m_n_st_rs s__d th_ m_n_ng c_mp_ny h_d n_t sh_wn th_ f_ll n_g_t_v_ _mp_ct _f th_ m_n_ng pr_j_ct _n th_ l_c_l _nv_r_nm_nt. _t _ls_ q__st__n_d th_ pr_j_ct's f_n_nc_s. Th_ _nv_r_nm_nt_l M_n_st_r s__d: "Th_r_ _r_ d_f_c__nc__s _n b_s_c _nf_rm_t__n _nd _ns_ff_c__nc__s _n m_t_g_t__n, c_mp_ns_t__n, _nd r_p_r_t__n m__s_r_s, m__n_ng w_ b_l__v_ th_t th_ _v_nt__l _mp_cts h_v_ n_t b__n pr_p_rly t_k_n c_r_ _f."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the government of chile has rejected plans for a billion-dollar mining project because it would disrupt marine life the area that was threatened with mining is home to 80 per cent of the world's humboldt penguin other creatures that live in the waters include blue whales fin whales and sea otters a mining company called andes iron had wanted to extract millions of tons of iron and copper in the north of chile it also wanted to build a new port to facilitate the mining process chile's environment minister told reporters "i firmly believe in development but it cannot be at the cost of our environmental heritage or cause risk to health or to unique ecological areas in the world"

    chile's national mining society said the decision was bad news for mining and for the country it said the mining project was essential for the economic development of the region and the country the controversial mining project would have generated $25 billion in revenue government ministers said the mining company had not shown the full negative impact of the mining project on the local environment it also questioned the project's finances the environmental minister said "there are deficiencies in basic information and insufficiencies in mitigation compensation and reparation measures meaning we believe that the eventual impacts have not been properly taken care of"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThegovernmentofChilehasrejectedplansforabillion-dollarminingpr
    ojectbecauseitwoulddisruptmarinelife.Theareathatwasthreatenedw
    ithminingishometo80percentoftheworld'sHumboldtpenguin.Otherc
    reaturesthatliveinthewatersincludebluewhales,finwhalesandseaott
    ers.AminingcompanycalledAndesIronhadwantedtoextractmillionsof
    tonsofironandcopperinthenorthofChile.Italsowantedtobuildanewpo
    rttofacilitatetheminingprocess.Chile'sEnvironmentMinistertoldrepo
    rters:"Ifirmlybelieveindevelopment,butitcannotbeatthecostofouren
    vironmentalheritageorcauserisktohealth,ortouniqueecologicalarea
    sintheworld."Chile'sNationalMiningSocietysaidthedecisionwasbadn
    ewsforminingandforthecountry.Itsaidtheminingprojectwasessentia
    lfortheeconomicdevelopmentoftheregionandthecountry.Thecontro
    versialminingprojectwouldhavegenerated$2.5billioninrevenue.Gov
    ernmentministerssaidtheminingcompanyhadnotshownthefullnegat
    iveimpactoftheminingprojectonthelocalenvironment.Italsoquestion
    edtheproject'sfinances.TheEnvironmentalMinistersaid:"Therearede
    ficienciesinbasicinformationandinsufficienciesinmitigation,compens
    ation,andreparationmeasures,meaningwebelievethattheeventuali
    mpactshavenotbeenproperlytakencareof."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Penguins are always more important than mining. 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 penguins. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. CONSERVATION: Write a magazine article about conservation being more important than mining. 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 penguins. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect their natural areas. 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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