The Reading / Listening - Eating Greens - Level 3

Everyone knows that many young children don't like eating their greens. Parents have a hard time getting their children to eat vegetables like broccoli and Brussel sprouts. A new study may have an answer about why this is. The study looked at the eating habits of two- to four-year-olds. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's genes. This means parents do not have to stress out over their children not eating enough vegetables. Many parents worry because they cannot get their children to eat healthily. The study found that changes in two genes can make children dislike greens. The changes put some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them into fussy eaters.

The study found that changes in DNA can affect how some small children taste things differently. These children think many green vegetables taste very bitter. Children without the DNA changes do not think these vegetables are bitter. Natasha Cole, a member of an obesity prevention program at Illinois University, said it was not surprising some children have very a sensitive taste. She said this makes them think things like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could help to find new ways of tackling childhood obesity. Ms Cole says there needs to be more research. She said: "There is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a milk-based diet to foods that the rest of the family eats."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Eating Greens - Level 0 Eating Greens - Level 1   or  Eating Greens - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/091017/not-liking-green-could-be-in-your-genes.html
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4961092/Picky-eating-gene-mutation-discovered-scientists.html
  • https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-picky-eater-nature-nurture-behavior.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. EATING GREENS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about eating greens. 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?

       young children / greens / answer / eating habits / genes / stress / worry / fussy /
       study / DNA / bitter / obesity / research / childhood / sensitive / milk-based diets

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

3. VEGETARIAN: Students A strongly believe a vegetarian diet is the best; Students B strongly believe a vegetarian diet isn't the best.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. CHILDREN: How can we get children to eat more greens? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Vegetable shape

 

 

Vegetable size

 

 

Mixed with other food

 

 

Rewards of toys

 

 

Disguised vegetables

 

 

Sauces

 

 

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

6. VEGETABLES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • tomatoes
  • cabbage
  • Brussel sprouts
  • celery
  • broccoli
  • corn
  • spinach
  • green peas

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says it is easy for parents to get children to eat their greens.  T / F
  2. Researchers looked at the eating habits of ten-year-olds.     T / F
  3. A study said children dislike vegetables because of their jeans.     T / F
  4. The study said that DNA can make children fussy eaters.     T / F
  5. The article says most children thing vegetables are too bitter.     T / F
  6. A researcher wasn't surprised that some children have a sensitive taste.  T / F
  7. The researcher said the study could help fight obesity.     T / F
  8. The researcher said more research was needed.     T / F

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

  1. hard
  2. answer
  3. stress out
  4. found
  5. fussy
  6. affect
  7. bitter
  8. ways
  9. tackling
  10. huge
  1. methods
  2. discovered
  3. sharp
  4. solution
  5. change
  6. fighting
  7. difficult
  8. very big
  9. worry
  10. choosy

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

  1. have a hard time getting their children
  2. the eating habits of two-
  3. parents do not have to stress
  4. The changes put some youngsters
  5. turn them into fussy
  6. changes in
  7. children think many green vegetables
  8. some children have a very sensitive
  9. find new ways of tackling childhood
  10. a milk-
  1. out
  2. eaters
  3. based diet
  4. to four-year-olds
  5. taste very bitter
  6. to eat vegetables
  7. obesity
  8. DNA
  9. off
  10. taste

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
habits
healthily
hard
answer
fussy
stress
youngsters
genes

Everyone knows that many young children don't like eating their greens. Parents have a (1) ____________ time getting their children to eat vegetables like broccoli and Brussel sprouts. A new study may have an (2) ____________ about why this is. The study looked at the eating (3) ____________ of two- to four-year-olds. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's (4) ____________. This means parents do not have to (5) ____________ out over their children not eating enough vegetables. Many parents worry because they cannot get their children to eat (6) ____________. The study found that changes in two genes can make children dislike greens. The changes put some (7) ____________ off trying new food and can turn them into (8) ____________ eaters.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ways
differently
obesity
based
DNA
gap
bitter
things

The study found that changes in (9) ____________ can affect how some small children taste things (10) ____________. These children think many green vegetables taste very bitter. Children without the DNA changes do not think these vegetables are (11) ____________. Natasha Cole, a member of an (12) ____________ prevention program at Illinois University, said it was not surprising some children have a very sensitive taste. She said this makes them think (13) ____________ like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could help to find new (14) ____________ of tackling childhood obesity. Ms Cole says there needs to be more research. She said: "There is a huge (15) ____________ in the research when children [move] from a milk-(16) ____________ diet to foods that the rest of the family eats."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Everyone knows that many young children don't like eating ______
     a.  they greens
     b.  them greens
     c.  there greens
     d.  their greens

2)  It found that not liking greens is because of a ______
     a.  child's jeans
     b.  child's dunes
     c.  child's genies
     d.  child's genes

3)  This means parents do not have to stress out over their children not ______
     a.  eating enough
     b.  eaten enough
     c.  eat in enough
     d.  eat thing enough

4)  Many parents worry because they cannot get their children ______
     a.  too eat healthily
     b.  to eat healthily
     c.  to eaten healthily
     d.  to eat healthy

5)  The changes put some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them ______
     a.  onto fussy eaters
     b.  into fussy eaters
     c.  unto fussy eaters
     d.  as to fussy eaters

6)  changes in DNA can affect how some small children taste ______
     a.  things different
     b.  thing differences
     c.  things differently
     d.  thing differently

7)  These children think many green vegetables ______
     a.  tastes very bitterly
     b.  taste very bitter
     c.  tasted very bitter
     d.  taste very bitterly

8)  said it was not surprising some children have a very ______
     a.  sensitivity taste
     b.  sensitive tastes
     c.  sensitive taste
     d.  sensitively tasted

9)  She said the new research could help to find new ways of ______ obesity
     a.  taking childhood
     b.  tackle in childhood
     c.  tack cling childhood
     d.  tackling childhood

10)  There is a huge gap in the research when children move from a ______
     a.  milk-based diet
     b.  milk-baste diet
     c.  milk-pasted diet
     d.  milk-basted diet

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everyone knows that many young children don't (1) ___________________ greens. Parents (2) ___________________ getting their children to eat vegetables like broccoli and Brussel sprouts. A new study may have an answer (3) ___________________ is. The study looked at the eating habits of two- to four-year-olds. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's genes. This means parents do not have (4) ___________________ over their children not eating enough vegetables. Many parents worry because they cannot get their children to eat healthily. The study found that changes (5) ___________________ can make children dislike greens. The changes put some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them into (6) ___________________.

The study found that changes in DNA (7) ___________________ some small children taste things differently. These children think many green vegetables (8) ___________________. Children without the DNA changes do not think these vegetables are bitter. Natasha Cole, (9) ___________________ an obesity prevention program at Illinois University, said it was not surprising some children (10) ___________________ sensitive taste. She said this makes them think things like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could help to (11) ___________________ of tackling childhood obesity. Ms Cole says there needs to be more research. She said: "There is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a (12) ___________________ to foods that the rest of the family eats."

Comprehension questions

  1. What two vegetables were mentioned?
  2. How old were the children the study looked at?
  3. What can't many parents get their children to do healthily?
  4. How many genes did the research say changed children's tastes?
  5. What kind of eaters do some youngsters become?
  6. What do changes in DNA change in some children?
  7. What kind of prevention program is Natasha Cole a member of?
  8. What kind of taste do some children think vegetables have?
  9. What did Natasha Cole say there needs to be more of?
  10. What kind of diets do children move from?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What two vegetables were mentioned?
a) cabbage and Brussel sprouts
b) lettuce and cabbage
c) broccoli and Brussel sprouts
d) Brussel sprouts and corn

2) How old were the children the study looked at?
a) two to four
b) two to five
c) two to seven
d) two to ten

3) What can't many parents get their children to do healthily?
a) eat
b) sleep
c) cook
d) wash the dishes

4) How many genes did the research say changed children's tastes?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

5) What kind of eaters do some youngsters become?
a) bored
b) unhealthy
c) healthy
d) fussy

6) What do changes in DNA change in some children?
a) their
b) their taste
c) their height
d) their personality

7) What kind of prevention program is Natasha Cole a member of?
a) obesity prevention
b) taste prevention
c) DNA prevention
d) a cooking programme

8) What kind of taste do some children think vegetables have?
a) sweet
b) sour
c) bitter
d) savory

9) What did Natasha Cole say there needs to be more of?
a) DNA
b) bitterness
c) food
d) research

10) What kind of diets do children move from?
a) milk-based diets
b) vegetarian diets
c) Mediterranean diets
d) fruit-based diets

Role play

Role  A – Broccoli

You think broccoli is the best vegetable. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their vegetables. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): corn, tomatoes or Brussel sprouts.

Role  B – Corn

You think corn is the best vegetable. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their vegetables. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): broccoli, tomatoes or Brussel sprouts.

Role  C – Tomatoes

You think tomatoes are the best vegetables. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their vegetables. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): corn, broccoli or Brussel sprouts.

Role  D – Brussel Sprouts

You think Brussel sprouts are the best vegetables. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their vegetables. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  corn, tomatoes or broccoli.

After reading / listening

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

'green'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'vegetables'.

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

    • differently
    • member
    • sensitive
    • help
    • huge
    • rest
    • everyone
    • answer
    • four
    • enough
    • two
    • fussy

    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 - Study finds why children don't eat their greens

    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 'vegetable'?
    3. Have you always eaten your greens?
    4. Why are vegetables so important?
    5. What are the good things about being a vegetarian?
    6. What is your favourite vegetable?
    7. Why do so many children dislike vegetables?
    8. What food do you dislike?
    9. Do parents worry too much about their children?
    10. Do you know anyone who is a fussy eater?

    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 'green'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of vegetables?
    5. What are the bad things about being a vegetarian?
    6. How healthy is your diet?
    7. How can you get children to eat more vegetables?
    8. How could this research help to fight obesity?
    9. What is your perfect diet?
    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)

    Everyone knows that many young children don't like eating their (1) ____. Parents have a hard time getting their children to eat vegetables (2) ____ broccoli and Brussel sprouts. A new study may have an answer about why this is. The study looked (3) ____ the eating habits of two- to four-year-olds. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's (4) ____. This means parents do not have to stress out over their children not eating enough vegetables. Many parents worry because they cannot get their children to eat (5) ____. The study found that changes in two genes can make children dislike greens. The changes put some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them into (6) ____ eaters.

    The study found that changes in DNA can affect how some small children taste things (7) ____. These children think many green vegetables taste very bitter. Children without the DNA changes do not think (8) ____ vegetables are bitter. Natasha Cole, a member of an obesity prevention program at Illinois University, said it was not (9) ____ some children have a very sensitive taste. She said this (10) ____ them think things like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could help to find new ways of tackling childhood obesity. Ms Cole says (11) ____ needs to be more research. She said: "There is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a milk-based diet to foods that the (12) ____ of the family eats."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     green     (b)     greens     (c)     greenery     (d)     greener    
    2. (a)     similar     (b)     like     (c)     likely     (d)     same    
    3. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    4. (a)     jeans     (b)     genes     (c)     gems     (d)     germs    
    5. (a)     healthy     (b)     healthily     (c)     healthful     (d)     health    
    6. (a)     fussing     (b)     fuss     (c)     fussy     (d)     fuse    
    7. (a)     different     (b)     difference     (c)     differently     (d)     differences    
    8. (a)     them     (b)     those     (c)     these     (d)     they    
    9. (a)     surprised     (b)     surprises     (c)     surprise     (d)     surprising    
    10. (a)     makes     (b)     does     (c)     keeps     (d)     takes    
    11. (a)     there     (b)     they're     (c)     their     (d)     they    
    12. (a)     jest     (b)     fest     (c)     rest     (d)     nest

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. eat ealbeevtsg like broccoli
    2. A new study may have an neawrs
    3. not eating oguhne
    4. get their children to eat yltahheli
    5. The changes put some eruyngsots off
    6. turn them into ufsys eaters

    Paragraph 2

    1. changes in DNA can afeftc how
    2. taste very tertbi
    3. an tboeyis prevention program
    4. children have a very tesneivsi taste
    5. there needs to be more rrshceea
    6. move from a milk-aedsb diet

    Put the text back together

    (    )     out over their children not eating enough vegetables. Many parents worry because they cannot get their children

    (    )     to eat healthily. The study found that changes in two genes can make children dislike greens. The changes put

    (    )     is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a milk-based diet to foods that the rest of the family eats."

    (    )     answer about why this is. The study looked at the eating habits of two- to four-year-

    (    )     think these vegetables are bitter. Natasha Cole, a member of an obesity prevention program

    (    )     taste. She said this makes them think things like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could

    (    )     some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them into fussy eaters.

    (    )     olds. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's genes. This means parents do not have to stress

    (    )     differently. These children think many green vegetables taste very bitter. Children without the DNA changes do not

    (    )     at Illinois University, said it was not surprising some children have a very sensitive

    (    )     The study found that changes in DNA can affect how some small children taste things

    (    )     help to find new ways of tackling childhood obesity. Ms Cole says there needs to be more research. She said: "There

    (    )     time getting their children to eat vegetables like broccoli and Brussel sprouts. A new study may have an

    1  )     Everyone knows that many young children don't like eating their greens. Parents have a hard

    Put the words in the right order

    1. don't   children   young   Many   greens   their   eating   like   .
    2. an   answer   about   why   this   is   A   new   study   may   have   .
    3. eat   because   get   to  worry   cannot  children  Parents  they   their   .
    4. dislike   genes   greens   can   Changes   make   in   children   two   .
    5. changes   trying   put   new   some   food   youngsters   The   off   .
    6. how   things   some   DNA   small   can   children   affect   taste   .
    7. vegetables   green   many   think   Children   bitter   very   taste   .
    8. sensitive   very   a   have   children   some   Surprising   taste   .
    9. find   childhood   new   obesity   ways   Help   of   to   tackling   .
    10. a   milk-   to   diet   based   from   move   children   When   foods   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Everyone knows that many / much young children don't like eating their greens. Parents have a hard / hardly time getting their children to eat vegetables likely / like broccoli and Brussel sprouts. A new study may have an answer about why these / this is. The study looked at the eating habitats / habits of two- to four-year-olds. It found that not liking greens is because of a child's genes / jeans. This means parents do not have to stress in / out over their children not eating plenty / enough vegetables. Many parents worry because they cannot get their children to eat healthily. The study found that changes in two genes can make / do children dislike greens. The changes put some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them into fuss / fussy eaters.

    The study found that changes in / on DNA can affect how some small children taste / tasty things differently. These children think many green vegetables taste very bitter / better. Children without the DNA changes / chances do not think these vegetables are bitter. Natasha Cole, a member of an obesity prevent / prevention program at Illinois University, said it was not surprising some children have a very sensitive / sensitivity taste. She said this makes them think / thing things like broccoli are bitter. She said the new research could help to find new ways of tackling / tacking childhood obesity. Ms Cole says there needs to be more researcher / research. She said: "There is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a milk-based diet to foods what / that the rest of the family eats."

    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)

    _v_ry_n_ kn_ws th_t m_ny y__ng ch_ldr_n d_n't l_k_ __t_ng th__r gr__ns. P_r_nts h_v_ _ h_rd t_m_ g_tt_ng th__r ch_ldr_n t_ __t v_g_t_bl_s l_k_ br_cc_l_ _nd Br_ss_l spr__ts. _ n_w st_dy m_y h_v_ _n _nsw_r _b__t why th_s _s. Th_ st_dy l__k_d _t th_ __t_ng h_b_ts _f tw_- t_ f__r-y__r-_lds. _t f__nd th_t n_t l_k_ng gr__ns _s b_c__s_ _f _ ch_ld's g_n_s. Th_s m__ns p_r_nts d_ n_t h_v_ t_ str_ss __t _v_r th__r ch_ldr_n n_t __t_ng _n__gh v_g_t_bl_s. M_ny p_r_nts w_rry b_c__s_ th_y c_nn_t g_t th__r ch_ldr_n t_ __t h__lth_ly. Th_ st_dy f__nd th_t ch_ng_s _n tw_ g_n_s c_n m_k_ ch_ldr_n d_sl_k_ gr__ns. Th_ ch_ng_s p_t s_m_ y__ngst_rs _ff try_ng n_w f__d _nd c_n t_rn th_m _nt_ f_ssy __t_rs.

    Th_ st_dy f__nd th_t ch_ng_s _n DN_ c_n _ff_ct h_w s_m_ sm_ll ch_ldr_n t_st_ th_ngs d_ff_r_ntly. Th_s_ ch_ldr_n th_nk m_ny gr__n v_g_t_bl_s t_st_ v_ry b_tt_r. Ch_ldr_n w_th__t th_ DN_ ch_ng_s d_ n_t th_nk th_s_ v_g_t_bl_s _r_ b_tt_r. N_t_sh_ C_l_, _ m_mb_r _f _n _b_s_ty pr_v_nt__n pr_gr_m _t _ll_n__s _n_v_rs_ty, s__d _t w_s n_t s_rpr_s_ng s_m_ ch_ldr_n h_v_ v_ry s_ns_t_v_ t_st_. Sh_ s__d th_s m_k_s th_m th_nk th_ngs l_k_ br_cc_l_ _r_ b_tt_r. Sh_ s__d th_ n_w r_s__rch c__ld h_lp t_ f_nd n_w w_ys _f t_ckl_ng ch_ldh__d _b_s_ty. Ms C_l_ s_ys th_r_ n__ds t_ b_ m_r_ r_s__rch. Sh_ s__d: "Th_r_ _s _ h_g_ g_p _n th_ r_s__rch wh_n ch_ldr_n [m_v_] fr_m _ m_lk-b_s_d d__t t_ f__ds th_t th_ r_st _f th_ f_m_ly __ts."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    everyone knows that many young children don't like eating their greens parents have a hard time getting their children to eat vegetables like broccoli and brussel sprouts a new study may have an answer about why this is the study looked at the eating habits of two- to four-year-olds it found that not liking greens is because of a child's genes this means parents do not have to stress out over their children not eating enough vegetables many parents worry because they cannot get their children to eat healthily the study found that changes in two genes can make children dislike greens the changes put some youngsters off trying new food and can turn them into fussy eaters

    the study found that changes in dna can affect how some small children taste things differently these children think many green vegetables taste very bitter children without the dna changes do not think these vegetables are bitter natasha cole a member of an obesity prevention program at illinois university said it was not surprising some children have a very sensitive taste she said this makes them think things like broccoli are bitter she said the new research could help to find new ways of tackling childhood obesity ms cole says there needs to be more research she said "there is a huge gap in the research when children [move] from a milk-based diet to foods that the rest of the family eats"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Everyoneknowsthatmanyyoungchildrendon'tlikeeatingtheirgreens.
    Parentshaveahardtimegettingtheirchildrentoeatvegetableslikebroc
    coliandBrusselsprouts.Anewstudymayhaveanansweraboutwhythisi
    s.Thestudylookedattheeatinghabitsoftwo-tofour-year-olds.Itfoun
    dthatnotlikinggreensisbecauseofachild'sgenes.Thismeansparentsd
    onothavetostressoutovertheirchildrennoteatingenoughvegetables.
    Manyparentsworrybecausetheycannotgettheirchildrentoeathealthil
    y.Thestudyfoundthatchangesintwogenescanmakechildrendislikegr
    eens.Thechangesputsomeyoungstersofftryingnewfoodandcanturnt
    hemintofussyeaters.ThestudyfoundthatchangesinDNAcanaffectho
    wsomesmallchildrentastethingsdifferently.Thesechildrenthinkman
    ygreenvegetablestasteverybitter.ChildrenwithouttheDNAchangesd
    onotthinkthesevegetablesarebitter.NatashaCole,amemberofanobe
    sitypreventionprogramatIllinoisUniversity,saiditwasnotsurprisings
    omechildrenhaveaverysensitivetaste.Shesaidthismakesthemthinkt
    hingslikebroccoliarebitter.Shesaidthenewresearchcouldhelptofindn
    ewwaysoftacklingchildhoodobesity.MsColesaysthereneedstobemor
    eresearch.Shesaid:"Thereisahugegapintheresearchwhenchildren[
    move]fromamilk-baseddiettofoodsthattherestofthefamilyeats."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Vegetables are the best things we can eat. 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. EATING GREENS: Make a poster about eating greens. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. VEGETABLES: Write a magazine article about eating only vegetables. 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 eating greens. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can eat healthier food. 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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