Breaking News English Lesson on Eco-Warriors

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'Eco-warriors' blamed for UK airport shutdown (23rd December, 2018)

The Reading / Listening - Eco-Warriors - Level 3

A drone shut down England's second largest airport for 30 hours earlier this week. Police are hunting for the people who operated the drone. The police believe these people are "eco-warriors". These are activists who take part in protests or take action to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone prevented flights from leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was forced to close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers have been affected. Many of them were trying to fly home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find flights from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate.

The British government is now talking about the actions it can take if other people use drones to cause chaos. They are worried people could use drones to attack airports, nuclear power stations and other important buildings. Police said they were in "a game of cat and mouse" with the drone. They said: "Each time we believe we got close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police officers and the British Army helped to find the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worried a drone could cause a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could face up to five years in jail.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Eco-Warriors - Level 0, Eco-Warriors - Level 1 or Eco-Warriors - Level 2

Sources

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/20/678579115/gatwick-airport-shuts-down-due-to-drones-flying-near-runway
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612656/its-only-a-matter-of-time-before-a-drone-takes-down-a-passenger-plane/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-46640033

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. AIRPORTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about airports. 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?
drone / shutdown / eco-warriors / protest / awareness / environment / runway / plane
chaos / nuclear power / cat and mouse / police officers / passengers / crash / jail
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BANNED: Students A strongly believe drones should be banned; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DRONES: How useful are drones? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Useful?	Why?
Photography
Military
Deliveries
Emergencies
Taxis
Hobbies

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. POLICE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "police". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. AIRPORTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about airports at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

The boarding gate
The excitement
Baggage claim
Other travellers
The buildings
The staff
The shops
The restaurants

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	hunting	a.	Controlled the functioning of a machine, process, or system.
2.	operated	b.	Express an objection to what someone has said or done.
3.	activist	c.	A traveler on a ship, bus, train, airplane (or in a car or taxi) but not the driver, pilot, or crew.
4.	protest	d.	A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.
5.	awareness	e.	Stopped someone from doing something or from something happening.
6.	prevented	f.	Searching really hard for someone or something.
7.	passenger	g.	Knowledge of a situation or fact.

Paragraph 2

8.	chaos	h.	A situation in which people keep trying to beat each other.
9.	cat and mouse	i.	To stop existing or being in use.
10.	disappear	j.	Be ready to tackle and deal with a problem of bad situation.
11.	reopen	k.	Appear or come again.
12.	reappear	l.	Open again.
13.	crash	m.	Total unrest and confusion.
14.	face	n.	Hit another car, bus, train, etc.

Before reading / listening

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

A drone shut down a major UK airport for three hours. T / F
Police say eco-warriors attacked the UK's Heathrow Airport with a drone. T / F
More than 120,000 passengers were affected by the drone attack. T / F
No one spent more than eight hours sitting on a plane at the airport. T / F
Britain is worried a drone could attack a nuclear power station. T / F
The police used a cat and a mouse to find the drone. T / F
The drone reappeared every time police tried to reopen the airfield. T / F
The operator of the drone could go to prison for five years. T / F

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

shut down
hunting
activists
prevented
passengers
actions
chaos
close to
happened
jail

occurred
protestors
travellers
havoc
searching
near
closed
prison
stopped
steps

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

A drone shut down England's second
Police are hunting for the people who
raise awareness of
The airport was forced to
find flights
talking about the actions
people could use drones
a game of cat
a drone could cause
face up to

environmental problems
and mouse
from other airports
to attack airports
operated the drone
a plane to crash
close its runway
five years in jail
largest airport
it can take

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

leaving
earlier
flights
runway
action
gate
believe
home

A drone shut down England's second largest airport for 30 hours (1) ____________ this week. Police are hunting for the people who operated the drone. The police (2) ____________these people are "eco-warriors". These are activists who take part in protests or take (3) ____________to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone prevented flights from (4) ____________the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was forced to close its (5) ____________. Over 120,000 travellers have been affected. Many of them were trying to fly (6) ____________for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find (7) ____________from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

buildings
chaos
crash
reopen
jail
actions
mouse
find

The British government is now talking about the (7) ____________it can take if other people use drones to cause (8) ____________. They are worried people could use drones to attack airports, nuclear power stations and other important (9) ____________. Police said they were in "a game of cat and (10) ____________" with the drone. They said: "Each time we believe we got close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to (11) ____________the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police officers and the British Army helped to (12) ____________the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worried a drone could cause a plane to (13) ____________. The operator of the drone could face up to five years in (14) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) shut down England's second largest airport for 30 hours ______
     a. early a these weeks
     b. earlier this week
     c. early a this week
     d. earlier this weeks
2) These are activists who take part in protests or take action to ______
     a. rise awareness
     b. risen awareness
     c. arise awareness
     d. raise awareness
3) Over 120,000 travellers have ______
     a. been affect it
     b. been effect it
     c. been reflected
     d. been affected
4) Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find flights from ______
     a. another airport
     b. other airports
     c. others airports
     d. other airport
5) Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the _______
     a. board in gate
     b. bored in gate
     c. bored in gate
     d. boarding gate

6) talking about the actions it can take if other people use drones to ______
     a. cause chaos
     b. causes chaos
     c. caused chaos
     d. course chaos
7) use drones to attack airports, nuclear power stations and other ______
     a. importance buildings
     b. important buildings
     c. importantly buildings
     d. impotent buildings
8) Each time we believe we got close to the operator, the ______
     a. drone disappearance
   b. drone this appears
     c. drone disappears
     d. drone disappear
9) The police are worried a drone could cause a ______
     a. plane to crash
     b. plane to cache
     c. plane to crashes
     d. plain to crash
10) The operator of the drone could face up to five ______
     a. years on jail
     b. years an jail
     c. years injure
     d. years in jail

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A drone shut down England's second (1) ___________________ 30 hours earlier this week. Police (2) ___________________ the people who operated the drone. The police believe these people are "eco-warriors". These are activists who take part in protests or take (3) ___________________ awareness of environmental problems. The drone prevented flights from leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was (4) ___________________ its runway. Over 120,000 travellers have been affected. Many of them were trying to fly home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or (5) ___________________ flights from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane (6) ___________________ gate.

The British government (7) ___________________ about the actions it can take if other people use drones (8) ___________________. They are worried people could use drones to attack airports, nuclear power stations and other important buildings. Police said they were in "a (9) ___________________ and mouse" with the drone. They said: "Each time we believe we got close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we (10) ___________________ the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police officers and the British Army (11) ___________________ the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worried a drone could cause a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could (12) ___________________ five years in jail.

Comprehension questions

For how long was the airport shut?
Who did police say might be behind the drone attack?
On what days was the airport attacked?
How many passengers were affected by the drone attack?
For how long did some passengers sit on a plane at a boarding gate?
What does the British government want to stop drones from causing?
What game did the police say they played with the drone operator?
Who helped the police to try to find the drone operator?
What are the police worried might happen to a plane?
How long could the operator of the drone spend in jail?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For how long was the airport shut?
a) 40 hours
b) 35 hours
c) 25 hours
d) 30 hours
2) Who did police say might be behind the drone attack?
a) terrorists
b) eco-warriors
c) peace activists
d) an anti-aviation group
3) On what days was the airport attacked?
a) Thursday and Friday
b) Tuesday and Wednesday
c) Wednesday and Thursday
d) Tuesday and Thursday
4) How many passengers were affected by the drone attack?
a) over 120,000
b) exactly 120,000
c) about 120,000
d) just under 120,000
5) For how long did some passengers sit on a plane at a boarding gate?
a) 8 hours
b) 6 hours
c) 9 hours
d) 7 hours

6) What does the British government want to stop drones from causing?
a) wars
b) chaos
c) noise
d) pollution
7) What game did the police say they played with the drone operator?
a) chess
b) dominoes
c) kiss chase
d) cat and mouse
8) Who helped the police to try to find the drone operator?
a) the British Army
b) Interpol
c) the FBI
d) British Airways
9) What are the police worried might happen to a plane?
a) one might be stolen
b) one might destroy a drone
c) one might crash
d) one might not take off
10) How long could the operator of the drone spend in jail?
a) 50 years
b) 5 years
c) 5 1/2 years
d) 6 years

Role play

Role A – The Buildings
You think the buildings are the best things about airports. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): shops, other travellers or the boarding gate.

Role B – The Shops
You think the shops are the best things about airports. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): buildings, other travellers or the boarding gate.

Role C – Other Travellers
You think other travellers are the best things about airports. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): shops, buildings or the boarding gate.

Role D – The Boarding Gate
You think the boarding gate is the best thing about airports. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): shops, other travellers or buildings.

After reading / listening

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

'drone'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'airport'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

chaos

power

game

look

many

five

earlier

hunting

part

forced

sleep

gate

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 - 'Eco-warriors' blamed for UK airport shutdown

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'drone'?
What do you know about drones?
What do you think of a drone shutting down a major airport?
How dangerous are drones?
Why couldn't the police deal with the drone?
What would you do if you had to sleep on an airport floor?
What do you know about eco-warriors?
Would you become an eco-warrior?
What environmental problems do you care about most?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'airport'?
What do you think about what you read?
What would you use a drone for?
How will drones help us in the future?
What buildings could drones attack?
Why couldn't the British police get the drone operator?
How can airports stop drones from hitting airplanes?
Is five years in jail enough for shutting down an airport?
What questions would you like to ask the UK police?

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)

A drone shut down England's second (1) ____ airport for 30 hours earlier this week. Police are (2) ____ for the people who operated the drone. The police believe these people are "eco-warriors". These are activists who take part (3) ____ protests or take action to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone (4) ____ flights from leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was forced to close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers have been (5) ____. Many of them were trying to fly home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find (6) ____ from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate.

The British government is now talking about the actions it can (7) ____ if other people use drones to cause chaos. They are worried people could use drones to attack airports, nuclear (8) ____ stations and other important buildings. Police said they were in "a game of cat and (9) ____ " with the drone. They said: "Each time we believe we got (10) ____ to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police officers and the British Army helped to find the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worried a drone could (11) ____ a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could (12) ____ up to five years in jail.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) largest (b) large (c) largesse (d) largely
(a) hunters (b) hunted (c) hunting (d) hunt
(a) on (b) at (c) in (d) of
(a) preventing (b) prevents (c) prevention (d) prevented
(a) affected (b) affective (c) affects (d) affect
(a) flies (b) flights (c) fliers (d) flight
(a) fake (b) make (c) bake (d) take
(a) powerful (b) power (c) powers (d) powered
(a) dog (b) elephant (c) mouse (d) chicken
(a) already (b) still (c) open (d) close
(a) case (b) cease (c) crease (d) cause
(a) farce (b) face (c) fact (d) facial

Spelling

Paragraph 1

for 30 hours rleaier this week
the people who eerodtpa the drone
staiivsct who take part in protests
raise asawenser
The airport was drcoef to close its runway
near the noibdgar gate

Paragraph 2

use drones to cause oahcs
eulcnra power stations
other important nibdligsu
the drone aspreprea again
Hundreds of police iforscef
cause a plane to rsach

Put the text back together

(...) activists who take part in protests or take action to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone prevented
(...) hunting for the people who operated the drone. The police believe these people are "eco-warriors". These are
(...) home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find flights from
(...) cause a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could face up to five years in jail.
(...) close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers have been affected. Many of them were trying to fly
(...) other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate.
(...) stations and other important buildings. Police said they were in "a game of cat and
(...) chaos. They are worried people could use drones to attack airports, nuclear power
(...) the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police
(...) mouse" with the drone. They said: "Each time we believe we got close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen
(...) The British government is now talking about the actions it can take if other people use drones to cause
(...) flights from leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was forced to
( 1 ) A drone shut down England's second largest airport for 30 hours earlier this week. Police are
(...) officers and the British Army helped to find the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worried a drone could

Put the words in the right order

down A drone shut largest second England's airport .
protests . are activists These part take who in
was its runway . to airport The close forced
the on sleep to had airport They floor .
a Passengers spent plane . sitting nine on hours
other If to use chaos . people cause drones
attack airports . could People to use drones
with cat-and-mouse drone . game of the A
time believe got Each we close . we
to cause a A plane could crash . drone

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A drone shut down England's second largest / large airport for 30 hours earlier this week. Police are hunting for the people who operation / operated the drone. The police belief / believe these people are "eco-warriors". These are activists who take / have part in protests or take action to rise / raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone prevented flights from / for leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was force / forced to close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers have been affected / effected. Many of them were trying to fly / flight home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find flights from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding / boarded gate.

The British government is now talking / taking about the actions it can take if other people use drones to / for cause chaos. They are worried people could use drones on / to attack airports, nuclear power stations and other important buildings. Police said they were in / to "a game of cat and mouse" with the drone. They said: "Each times / time we believe we got close to the operator, the drone disappearance / disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears still / again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police officers and the British Army helped to fund / find the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worry / worried a drone could cause a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could face down / up to five years in jail.

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)

A d r_n_ s h_t d_w n E n g l_n d ' s s_c_n d l_r g_s t __ r p_r t f_r 3 0 h__ r s __ r l__ r t h_s w__ k . P_l_c_ _r_ h_n t_n g f_r t h_ p__ p l_ w h_ _p_r_t_d t h_ d r_n_. S_m_ p__ p l_ b_l__ v_ t h_ p__ p l_ _r_ "_c_- w_r r__ r s " . T h_s_ _r_ _c t_v_s t s w h_ t_k_ p_r t _n p r_t_s t s _r t_k_ _c t__ n t_ r__ s_ _w_r_n_s s _f _n v_r_n m_n t_l p r_b l_m s . T h_ d r_n_ p r_v_n t_d f l_g h t s f r_m l__ v_n g t h_ U K ' s G_t w_c k A_r p_r t _n W_d n_s d_y _n d T h_r s d_y . T h_ __ r p_r t w_s f_r c_d t_ c l_s_ _t s r_n w_y . O v_r 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 t r_v_l l_r s h_v_ b__ n _f f_c t_d . M_n y _f t h_m w_r_ t r y_n g t_ f l y h_m_ f_r C h r_s t m_s . I n s t__ d , t h_y h_d t_ s l__ p _n t h_ __ r p_r t f l__ r _r t r y t_ f_n d f l_g h t s f r_m _t h_r __ r p_r t s . S_m_ p_s s_n g_r s s p_n t n_n_ h__ r s s_t t_n g _n _ p l_n_ n__ r t h_ b__ r d_n g g_t_.

T h_ B r_t_s h g_v_r n m_n t _s n_w t_l k_n g _b__ t t h_ _c t__ n s t h_y c_n t_k_ _f _t h_r p__ p l_ _s_ d r_n_s t_ c__ s_ c h__ s . T h_y _r_ w_r r__ d p__ p l_ c__ l d _s_ d r_n_s t_ _t t_c k __ r p_r t s , n_c l__ r p_w_r s t_t__ n s _n d _t h_r _m p_r t_n t b__ l d_n g s . P_l_c_ s__ d t h_y w_r_ _n "_ g_m_ _f c_t _n d m__ s_" w_t h t h_ d r_n_. T h_y s__ d : " E_c h t_m_ w_ b_l__ v_ w_ g_t c l_s_ t_ t h_ _p_r_t_r , t h_ d r_n_ d_s_p p__ r s ; w h_n w_ l__ k t_ r__ p_n t h_ __ r f__ l d , t h_ d r_n_ r__ p p__ r s _g__ n . " T h_s h_p p_n_d m_n y t_m_s . H_n d r_d s _f p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s _n d t h_ B r_t_s h A r m y h_l p_d t_ f_n d t h_ d r_n_' s _p_r_t_r , b_t c__ l d n ' t . T h_ p_l_c_ _r_ w_r r__ d _ d r_n_ c__ l d c__ s_ _ p l_n_ t_ c r_s h . T h_ _p_r_t_r _f t h_ d r_n_ c__ l d f_c_ _p t_ f_v_ y__ r s _n j__ l .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a drone shut down englands second largest airport for 30 hours earlier this week police are hunting for the people who operated the drone some people believe the people are ecowarriors these are activists who take part in protests or take action to raise awareness of environmental problems the drone prevented flights from leaving the uks gatwick airport on wednesday and thursday the airport was forced to close its runway over 120000 travellers have been affected many of them were trying to fly home for christmas instead they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find flights from other airports some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate

the british government is now talking about the actions it can take if other people use drones to cause chaos they are worried people could use drones to attack airports nuclear power stations and other important buildings police said they were in a game of cat and mouse with the drone they said each time we believe we got close to the operator the drone disappears when we look to reopen the airfield the drone reappears again this happened many times hundreds of police officers and the british army helped to find the drones operator but couldnt the police are worried a drone could cause a plane to crash the operator of the drone could face up to five years in jail.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AdroneshutdownEngland'ssecondlargestairportfor30hoursearlierth
isweek.Policearehuntingforthepeoplewhooperatedthedrone.Thepoli
cebelievethesepeopleare"eco-warriors".Theseareactivistswhotak
epartinprotestsortakeactiontoraiseawarenessofenvironmentalprobl
ems.ThedronepreventedflightsfromleavingtheUK'sGatwickAirporto
nWednesdayandThursday.Theairportwasforcedtocloseitsrunway.O
ver120,000travellershavebeenaffected.Manyofthemweretryingtofl
yhomeforChristmas.Instead,theyhadtosleepontheairportfloorortryt
ofindflightsfromotherairports.Somepassengersspentninehourssitti
ngonaplaneneartheboardinggate.TheBritishgovernmentisnowtalki
ngabouttheactionsitcantakeifotherpeopleusedronestocausechaos.T
heyareworriedpeoplecouldusedronestoattackairports,nuclearpowe
rstationsandotherimportantbuildings.Policesaidtheywerein"agame
ofcatandmouse"withthedrone.Theysaid:"Eachtimewebelievewegot
closetotheoperator,thedronedisappears;whenwelooktoreopentheai
rfield,thedronereappearsagain."Thishappenedmanytimes.Hundred
sofpoliceofficersandtheBritishArmyhelpedtofindthedrone'soperator
,butcouldn't.Thepoliceareworriedadronecouldcauseaplanetocrash.
Theoperatorofthedronecouldfaceuptofiveyearsinjail.

Free writing

Write about eco-warriors for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Drones are a danger to society and should be banned. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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. AIRPORTS: Make a poster about airports. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. DRONE BAN: Write a magazine article about banning drones. 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 drones. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect important places from drones. 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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