The Reading / Listening - Student Protests - Level 3

Students in the USA took part in a protest on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of their schools to protest against gun violence. They chose March 14 for their protest as that marks a month since the February 14 Florida shooting in which 17 students lost their lives. At Stoneman Douglas High School, where last month's tragedy took place, students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to remember their lost classmates. One student said: "The walkout was for those who will never be here again, but we're fighting for those who might be next." Another student said: "I came out because of what happened in Florida, but also because of what happens in my neighborhood every day."

In the U.S. capital, Washington DC, hundreds of students gathered outside the White House to protest. They sat with their backs turned to the building for 17 minutes. They then took part in chants against the powerful gun group the National Rifle Association (NRA). U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the crowds and spoke at a rally outside the Capitol building. She said: "The NRA has held Congress hostage for years now. These young people have shown up to free us. I believe the young people will lead us." Many of the students in the crowd wanted to remind President Donald Trump that they would be old enough to vote in the 2020 elections, so he should listen to them now.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Student Protests - Level 0 Student Protests - Level 1   or  Student Protests - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/03/14/student-walkout-taps-well-of-anger-mourning.html
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/us/school-walkout.html
  • https://www.wsj.com/articles/students-plan-national-school-walkout-to-protest-shootings-1521019801


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. GUN VIOLENCE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about gun violence. 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?
       students / protest / violence / tragedy / remember / walkout / classmates / neighborhood
       capital / hundreds / building / chants / rally / hostage / crowd / vote / elections
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. STUDENT POWER: Students A strongly believe students have a lot of power; Students B strongly believe they don't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PROTESTS: Would you protest about these things? Why? How? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Yes/No and Why?

How?

Gun violence

 

 

Cyber-bullying

 

 

Food prices

 

 

Pollution

 

 

War

 

 

Racism

 

 

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. GUN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "gun". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DANGERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most dangerous things in society  at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • fast food
  • mobile phones
  • cybercrime
  • intolerance
  • guns
  • drugs
  • bullies
  • cars

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. protest a. Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
      2. violence b. The area around where you live.
      3. marks c. Happened.
      4. tragedy d. Came and met together.
      5. gathered e. An event causing great suffering, damage, and pain, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.
      6. took place f. Do or say something (in the street) to show you (strongly) don't like something or someone's actions.
      7. neighborhood g. Shows, honors, or celebrates an important or sad event or occasion.

    Paragraph 2

      8. capital h. Choose who or what you want to win a competition, election or ballot.
      9. chants i. A person taken or held until money is paid or an action is taken.
      10. powerful j. A very, very big meeting of people who want to make a political protest or showing support for a cause.
      11. rally k. The most important city or town of a country or region (usually with its government buildings).
      12. hostage l. Events that are held for people to choose their leaders (usually every four or five years).
      13. vote m. Repeated rhythmic phrases, usually ones shouted or sung together by a crowd of people.
      14. elections n. Very, very, very strong.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says hundreds of thousands of students took part in protests. T / F
  2. The protest took place a month after a tragic high school shooting.     T / F
  3. Students gathered on a football field for 17 minutes.     T / F
  4. One student wanted to protest about happenings in her neighborhood.    T / F
  5. Students stood and stared at the White House for 17 minutes in protest. T / F
  6. A member of the NRA spoke at a rally outside the Capitol building.     T / F
  7. Many students wanted to remind President Trump about something.     T / F
  8. The students will not be able to vote in the 2020 elections.     T / F

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

  1. took part
  2. protest
  3. marks
  4. gathered
  5. neighborhood
  6. building
  7. chants
  8. rally
  9. hostage
  10. election
  1. recognizes
  2. prisoner
  3. assembled
  4. calls
  5. demonstrate
  6. meeting
  7. district
  8. ballot
  9. participated
  10. structure

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

  1. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked
  2. where last month's tragedy
  3. to remember their lost
  4. fighting for those who might
  5. because of what happens in
  6. They then took part in
  7. spoke at a
  8. The NRA has held Congress
  9. young people have shown up
  10. old enough to vote
  1. took place
  2. hostage for years now
  3. my neighborhood
  4. to free us
  5. in the 2020 elections
  6. be next
  7. chants
  8. classmates
  9. rally
  10. out of their schools

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
since
part
remember
against
happens
tragedy
fighting
lost

Students in the USA took (1) ____________ in a protest on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of their schools to protest (2) ____________ gun violence. They chose March 14 for their protest as that marks a month (3) ____________ the February 14 Florida shooting in which 17 students (4) ____________ their lives. At Stoneman Douglas High School, where last month's (5) ____________ took place, students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to (6) ____________ their lost classmates. One student said: "The walkout was for those who will never be here again, but we're (7) ____________ for those who might be next." Another student said: "I came out because of what happened in Florida, but also because of what (8) ____________ in my neighborhood every day."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
rally
free
backs
elections
gathered
enough
chants
hostage

In the U.S. capital, Washington DC, hundreds of students (9) ____________ outside the White House to protest. They sat with their (10) ____________ turned to the building for 17 minutes. They then took part in (11) ____________ against the powerful gun group the National Rifle Association (NRA). U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the crowds and spoke at a (12) ____________ outside the Capitol building. She said: "The NRA has held Congress (13) ____________ for years now. These young people have shown up to (14) ____________ us. I believe the young people will lead us." Many of the students in the crowd wanted to remind President Donald Trump that they would be old (15) ____________ to vote in the 2020 (16) ____________, so he should listen to them now.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of their ______ protest
     a.  schools too
     b.  schools for
     c.  schools by
     d.  schools to
2)  students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to remember their ______
     a.  lost classes mates
     b.  lost class mate
     c.  lost classmates
     d.  lost classed mates
3)  those who will never be here again, but we're fighting for those who ______
     a.  might being next
     b.  might be next
     c.  might been next
     d.  might be a next
4)  Another student said: "I came out because of what ______ Florida."
     a.  happening in
     b.  happened on
     c.  happened in
     d.  happens on
5)  but also because of what happens in my neighborhood ______
     a.  every day
     b.  ever day
     c.  every days
     d.  every daily

6)  In the U.S. capital, Washington DC, hundreds of students ______
     a.  gathering outside
     b.  gathered outside
     c.  gathers outside
     d.  gatherer outside
7)  They sat with their backs turned to the building ______
     a.  for 17 minutes
     b.  from 17 minutes
     c.  far 17 minutes
     d.  of 17 minutes
8)  U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the crowds and spoke at ______
     a.  a rally outside
     b.  a really outside
     c.  a railing outside
     d.  a realty outside
9)  These young people have shown up to free us. I believe the young people ______
     a.  will leave us
     b.  will lease us
     c.  will heed us
     d.  will lead us
10)  they would be old enough to vote in the 2020 elections, so he should ______ now
     a.  listen to these
     b.  listen to they
     c.  listen to their
     d.  listen to them

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Students in the USA took part (1) ___________________ on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of their schools to protest (2) ___________________. They chose March 14 for their protest as that marks a month since the February 14 Florida shooting in which 17 students (3) ___________________. At Stoneman Douglas High School, where last month's tragedy took place, students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes (4) ___________________ lost classmates. One student said: "The walkout was for those who will never be here again, but we're fighting for those who (5) ___________________." Another student said: "I came out because of what happened in Florida, but also because of what happens in my (6) ___________________."

In the U.S. capital, Washington DC, (7) ___________________ gathered outside the White House to protest. They sat with (8) ___________________ to the building for 17 minutes. They then took part in chants against the (9) ___________________ the National Rifle Association (NRA). U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the crowds and spoke at (10) ___________________ the Capitol building. She said: "The NRA has held Congress hostage for years now. These young people have shown up (11) ___________________. I believe the young people will lead us." Many of the students in the crowd wanted to remind President Donald Trump that they would be old (12) ___________________ in the 2020 elections, so he should listen to them now.

Comprehension questions

  1. On what day of the week did the protests take place?
  2. How many students took part in the protests?
  3. Which U.S. state is Stoneman Douglas High School in?
  4. For how long did students stay gathered in a football field?
  5. What did a student say she was fighting for?
  6. What building did students turn their backs to?
  7. Who did the students chant against?
  8. Where did Elizabeth Warren speak?
  9. What did Ms Warren say the NRA has held hostage?
  10. What will the students be able to vote in?

Multiple choice quiz

1) On what day of the week did the protests take place?
a) Saturday
b) Wednesday
c) Thursday
d) Friday
2) How many students took part in the protests?
a) millions
b) tens of millions
c) hundreds of thousands
d) tens of thousands
3) Which U.S. state is Stoneman Douglas High School in?
a) Florida
b) Washington
c) New York
d) Texas
4) For how long did students stay gathered in a football field?
a) a month
b) a day
c) 17 minutes
d) an hour
5) What did a student say she was fighting for?
a) justice
b) those who might be next
c) gun control
d) freedom

6) What building did students turn their backs to?
a) Congress
b) Trump Tower
c) the White House
d) a high school
7) Who did the students chant against?
a) the ARN
b) the NAR
c) the RAN
d) the NRA
8) Where did Elizabeth Warren speak?
a) at a rally
b) in a TV studio
c) online
d) in a high school
9) What did Ms Warren say the NRA has held hostage?
a) Congress
b) students
c) the American people
d) gun owners
10) What will the students be able to vote in?
a) high school elections
b) the 2020 elections
c) university elections
d) the mid-term elections in November

Role play

Role  A – Guns
You think the number of guns is the most dangerous problem in society. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them how their things can be controlled. Also, tell the others which of these is the easiest to control (and why): drugs, fast food or intolerance.

Role  B – Drugs
You think the amount of drugs is the most dangerous problem in society. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them how their things can be controlled. Also, tell the others which of these is the easiest to control (and why): guns, fast food or intolerance.

Role  C – Fast Food
You think fast food is the most dangerous problem in society. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them how their things can be controlled. Also, tell the others which of these is the easiest to control (and why): drugs, guns or intolerance.

Role  D – Intolerance
You think intolerance is the most dangerous problem in society. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them how their things can be controlled. Also, tell the others which of these is the easiest to control (and why):  drugs, fast food or guns.

After reading / listening

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

'student'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'protest'.

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

    • hundreds
    • backs
    • group
    • years
    • lead
    • 2020
    • part
    • marks
    • last
    • field
    • one
    • every

    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 - U.S. student walkout to protest gun violence

    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 'student'?
    3. Can student protests make a difference?
    4. Have you ever protested against anything?
    5. What else can students do to end gun violence?
    6. What should politicians do to end gun violence?
    7. What are the best forms of protest?
    8. What is gun violence like in your country?
    9. Why is there so much gun violence in the USA?
    10. What advice do you have for the student protesters?

    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 'protest'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What things would you protest about?
    5. How do you think Donald Trump feels about the protests?
    6. What do you know about the USA's National Rifle Association?
    7. What do you think the young protesters would say to Donald Trump?
    8. What else can the student protesters do from now?
    9. Do you think Donald Trump will win the 2020 election?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the student protesters?

    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)

    Students in the USA took (1) ____ in a protest on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of their schools to protest against gun violence. They (2) ____ March 14 for their protest as that (3) ____ a month since the February 14 Florida shooting in which 17 students lost their lives. At Stoneman Douglas High School, where last month's (4) ____ took place, students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to remember their lost classmates. One student said: "The walkout was for (5) ____ who will never be here again, but we're fighting for those who might be next." Another student said: "I came out because of what happened in Florida, but also because of what happens (6) ____ my neighborhood every day."

    In the U.S. capital, Washington DC, hundreds of students gathered outside the White House to protest. They sat with their (7) ____ turned to the building for 17 minutes. They then took part in (8) ____ against the powerful gun group the National Rifle Association (NRA). U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the crowds and spoke at a (9) ____ outside the Capitol building. She said: "The NRA has held Congress hostage for years (10) ____. These young people have shown up to free us. I believe the young people will (11) ____ us." Many of the students in the crowd wanted to remind President Donald Trump that they would be old enough to (12) ____ in the 2020 elections, so he should listen to them now.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     party     (b)     partner     (c)     part     (d)     parting    
    2. (a)     chose     (b)     choice     (c)     choose     (d)     chosen    
    3. (a)     marks     (b)     parks     (c)     harks     (d)     larks    
    4. (a)     tragedy     (b)     tragic     (c)     tragically     (d)     tragus    
    5. (a)     that     (b)     their     (c)     them     (d)     those    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     up     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     backs     (b)     backwards     (c)     backed     (d)     backers     
    8. (a)     chance     (b)     charts     (c)     chats     (d)     chants    
    9. (a)     rally     (b)     really     (c)     reality     (d)     realty    
    10. (a)     known     (b)     now     (c)     knows     (d)     not    
    11. (a)     iron     (b)     lead     (c)     steel     (d)     gold    
    12. (a)     vote     (b)     dote     (c)     note     (d)     rote

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Tens of tnushsaod
    2. where last month's etgyrda took place
    3. students rhagedte on the football field
    4. remember their lost esmtlcaass
    5. tggfiihn for those who might be next
    6. what happens in my nbroohoedihg

    Paragraph 2

    1. In the U.S. ialtapc, Washington DC
    2. their backs turned to the ngubdlii
    3. chants against the frlupweo gun group
    4. held Congress ogatseh for years
    5. imednr President Donald Trump
    6. vote in the 2020 ltieensoc

    Put the text back together

    (...)  fighting for those who might be next." Another student said: "I came out because of what
    (...)  their schools to protest against gun violence. They chose March 14 for their protest as that marks a month
    (...)  classmates. One student said: "The walkout was for those who will never be here again, but we're
    (...)  group the National Rifle Association (NRA). U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the crowds and spoke at a
    (...)  enough to vote in the 2020 elections, so he should listen to them now.
    (...)  since the February 14 Florida shooting in which 17 students lost their lives. At Stoneman Douglas High School, where last
    (...)  happened in Florida, but also because of what happens in my neighborhood every day."
    (...)  turned to the building for 17 minutes. They then took part in chants against the powerful gun
    1  ) Students in the USA took part in a protest on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of
    (...)  people have shown up to free us. I believe the young people will lead us." Many of
    (...)  In the U.S. capital, Washington DC, hundreds of students gathered outside the White House to protest. They sat with their backs
    (...)  rally outside the Capitol building. She said: "The NRA has held Congress hostage for years now. These young
    (...)  the students in the crowd wanted to remind President Donald Trump that they would be old
    (...)  month's tragedy took place, students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to remember their lost

    Put the words in the right order

    1. out   .   thousands   of   Tens   of   high-schoolers   walked
    2. shooting   .   A   since   14   Florida   month   February   the
    3. minutes   .   gathered   Students   football   17   field   for   the   on
    4. will   those   For   never   who   again   .   here   be
    5. my   day   .   in   neighborhood   What   happens   every
    6. to   with   building   .   their   sat   the   They   backs
    7. Spoke   outside   at   rally   building   .   the   Capitol   a
    8. up   people   Young   shown   to   us   .   have   free
    9. people   believe   will   us   .   lead   I   the   young
    10. be   would   They   to   old   vote   .   enough

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Students in the USA took part / party in a protest on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of high-schoolers walked out of their schools to / for protest against gun violence. They chose March 14 for their protest was / as that marks a month since / for the February 14 Florida shooting in which 17 students lost their lives. At Stoneman Douglas High School, where last month's tragedy took / gave place, students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to memory / remember their lost classmates. One student said: "The walkout was for them / those who will never be here again, but we're fighting for those who might be / been next." Another student said: "I came out because of that / what happened in Florida, but also because of what happens in my neighbor / neighborhood every day."

    In the U.S. capitals / capital, Washington DC, hundreds of students gathered outside the White House to protest. They sat with their backwards / backs turned to the building / build for 17 minutes. They then took part in chance / chants against the powerful gun group the National Rifle Association (NRA). U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined / joint the crowds and spoke at a rally outside the Capitol building. She said: "The NRA has held Congress hostile / hostage for years now. These young people have shown / showing up to free us. I believe the young people will lead / led us." Many of the students in the crowd wanted to rewind / remind President Donald Trump that they would be old enough to vote / voting in the 2020 elections, so he should listen to them now.

    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)

    S t_d_n t s  _n   t h_  U S A   t__ k   p_r t  _n  _  p r_t_s t  _n   W_d n_s d_y .   T_n s  _f   t h__ s_n d s  _f   h_g h - s c h__ l_r s   w_l k_d  __ t  _f   t h__ r   s c h__ l s   t_  p r_t_s t  _g__ n s t   g_n   v__ l_n c_.   T h_y   c h_s_  M_r c h   1 4   f_r   t h__ r   p r_t_s t  _s   t h_t   m_r k s  _  m_n t h   s_n c_  t h_  F_b r__ r y   1 4   F l_r_d_  s h__ t_n g  _n   w h_c h   1 7   s t_d_n t s   l_s t   t h__ r   l_v_s .   A t   S t_n_m_n   D__ g l_s   H_g h   S c h__ l ,   w h_r_  l_s t   m_n t h ' s   t r_g_d y   t__ k   p l_c_,   s t_d_n t s   g_t h_r_d  _n   t h_  f__ t b_l l   f__ l d   f_r   1 7   m_n_t_s   t_  r_m_m b_r   t h__ r   l_s t   c l_s s m_t_s .   O n_  s t_d_n t   s__ d :   " T h_  w_l k__ t   w_s   f_r   t h_s_  w h_  w_l l   n_v_r   b_  h_r_ _g__ n ,   b_t   w_' r_  f_g h t_n g   f_r   t h_s_  w h_  m_g h t   b_  n_x t . "   A n_t h_r   s t_d_n t   s__ d :   " I   c_m_ __ t   b_c__ s_ _f   w h_t   h_p p_n_d  _n   F l_r_d_,   b_t  _l s_  b_c__ s_ _f   w h_t   h_p p_n s  _n   m y   n__ g h b_r h__ d  _v_r y   d_y . "

    I n   t h_  U . S .   c_p_t_l ,   W_s h_n g t_n   D C ,   h_n d r_d s  _f   s t_d_n t s   g_t h_r_d  __ t s_d_  t h_  W h_t_  H__ s_  t_  p r_t_s t .   T h_y   s_t   w_t h   t h__ r   b_c k s   t_r n_d   t_  t h_  b__ l d_n g   f_r   1 7   m_n_t_s .   T h_y   t h_n   t__ k   p_r t  _n   c h_n t s  _g__ n s t   t h_  p_w_r f_l   g_n   g r__ p   t h_  N_t__ n_l   R_f l_  A s s_c__ t__ n   ( N R A ) .   U . S .   S_n_t_r   E l_z_b_t h  W_rr_n  j__ n_d   t h_  c r_w d s  _n d   s p_k_ _t  _  r_l l y  __ t s_d_  t h_  C_p_t_l   b__ l d_n g .   S h_  s__ d :   " T h_  N R A   h_s   h_l d   C_n g r_s s   h_s t_g_  f_r   y__ r s   n_w .   T h_s_  y__ n g   p__ p l_  h_v_  s h_w n  _p   t_  f r__  _s .   I   b_l__ v_  t h_  y__ n g   p__ p l_  w_l l   l__ d  _s . "   M_n y  _f   t h_  s t_d_n t s  _n   t h_  c r_w d   w_n t_d   t_  r_m_n d   P r_s_d_n t   D_n_l d   T r_m p   t h_t   t h_y   w__ l d   b_ _l d  _n__ g h   t_  v_t_ _n   t h_  2 0 2 0  _l_c t__ n s ,   s_  h_  s h__ l d   l_s t_n   t_  t h_m   n_w .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    students in the usa took part in a protest on wednesday tens of thousands of highschoolers walked out of their schools to protest against gun violence they chose march 14 for their protest as that marks a month since the february 14 florida shooting in which 17 students lost their lives at stoneman douglas high school where last months tragedy took place students gathered on the football field for 17 minutes to remember their lost classmates one student said the walkout was for those who will never be here again but were fighting for those who might be next another student said i came out because of what happened in florida but also because of what happens in my neighborhood every day

    in the us capital washington dc hundreds of students gathered outside the white house to protest they sat with their backs turned to the building for 17 minutes they then took part in chants against the powerful gun group the national rifle association nra us senator elizabeth warren joined the crowds and spoke at a rally outside the capitol building she said the nra has held congress hostage for years now these young people have shown up to free us i believe the young people will lead us many of the students in the crowd wanted to remind president donald trump that they would be old enough to vote in the 2020 elections so he should listen to them now

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    StudentsintheUSAtookpartinaprotestonWednesday.Tensofthousan
    dsofhigh-schoolerswalkedoutoftheirschoolstoprotestagainstgunviol
    ence.TheychoseMarch14fortheirprotestasthatmarksamonthsinceth
    eFebruary14Floridashootinginwhich17studentslosttheirlives.AtSto
    nemanDouglasHighSchool,wherelastmonth'stragedytookplace,stu
    dentsgatheredonthefootballfieldfor17minutestoremembertheirlost
    classmates.Onestudentsaid:"Thewalkoutwasforthosewhowillnever
    behereagain,butwe'refightingforthosewhomightbenext."Anotherst
    udentsaid:"IcameoutbecauseofwhathappenedinFlorida,butalsobec
    auseofwhathappensinmyneighborhoodeveryday."IntheU.S.capital,
    WashingtonDC,hundredsofstudentsgatheredoutsidetheWhiteHous
    etoprotest.Theysatwiththeirbacksturnedtothebuildingfor17minutes
    .TheythentookpartinchantsagainstthepowerfulgungrouptheNationa
    lRifleAssociation(NRA).U.S.SenatorElizabethWarrenjoinedthecrow
    dsandspokeatarallyoutsidetheCapitolbuilding.Shesaid:"TheNRAhas
    heldCongresshostageforyearsnow.Theseyoungpeoplehaveshownu
    ptofreeus.Ibelievetheyoungpeoplewillleadus."Manyofthestudentsin
    thecrowdwantedtoremindPresidentDonaldTrumpthattheywouldbeo
    ldenoughtovoteinthe2020elections,soheshouldlistentothemnow.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Governments should listen to students more. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. PROTESTS: Make a poster about protests. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. STUDENTS: Write a magazine article about students having more power to change things in their countries. 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 protests. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on student protests. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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