The Reading / Listening - Night Owls - Level 3

The phrase, "The early bird catches the worm" may be true. It means people who wake up early get more done than people who don't. Another saying is from former U.S. President Benjamin Franklin. He said: "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do better in life than people who sleep around 2:30am. The researchers are from Birmingham's Centre for Human Brain Health in the U.K. Their research showed that people who slept and rose early (early birds) had an advantage over people who slept and woke up late (night owls). There were differences in the brain function of early birds and night owls.

Mistake: Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the USA, not a President.

The scientists tested 38 people in their research. The people answered questionnaires about their sleeping pattern and when they felt tired during the day. They were then put into an early bird or night owl group based on their answers. All of the people had MRI scans on their brain and did different tests throughout the day. The early birds said they felt less sleepy and were able to do the tests quicker than the night owls. The researchers said there were big differences between the two groups. The researchers said: "Night owls during school have to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they're constantly having to fight against their preferences and natural rhythms."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Night Owls - Level 0 Night Owls - Level 1   or  Night Owls - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.medicaldaily.com/brain-functions-differently-if-you-are-night-person-429837
  • https://www.livescience.com/64779-night-owls-brain-connectivity.html
  • https://www.newsweek.com/night-owls-work-mornings-brains-wired-differently-science-1332931


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. NIGHT OWLS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about night owls. 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?
       early / bird / worm / president / healthy / wealthy / wise / sleep / advantage / brain /
       scientist / questionnaire / answer / MRI scan / sleepy / school / preferences / rhythms
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EARLY BIRD: Students A strongly believe being an early bird is better than being a night owl; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SLEEP: How do these things affect our sleep? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

Exercise

 

 

Reading

 

 

Eating

 

 

Baths

 

 

Music

 

 

Alcohol

 

 

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. BIRD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "bird". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BED TIME: Rank these with your partner. Put the best times to go to bed at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • 6am
  • 9am
  • 12pm
  • 3pm
  • 6pm
  • 9pm
  • 12am
  • 3am

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. phrase a. Having had a particular role or been a particular thing in the past.
      2. former b. An activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing.
      3. rise c. Wake up and get out of bed.
      4. wealthy d. A small group of words used together as an idiom, expression or saying.
      5. wise e. Rich; having a lot of money of expensive things.
      6. advantage f. Showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
      7. function g. Something  that puts someone in a better position or situation.

    Paragraph 2

      8. questionnaire h. A greater like for one thing over another or others.
      9. pattern i. Continuously over a period of time; always.
      10. MRI scan j. From beginning to end of an event or period of time.
      11. throughout k. A set of questions with a choice of answers, devised for the purposes of a survey or statistical study.
      12. constantly l. A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
      13. preference m. A set of actions that are done regularly at the same time.
      14. rhythms n. A machine test that takes images of the inside of a person's body.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article suggests the early bird may not catch worms.     T / F
  2. A U.S. president said going to bed early could make you wealthier.     T / F
  3. People who sleep before 11pm could be more successful in life.     T / F
  4. The brain functions of night owls and early birds are different.     T / F
  5. Nearly 380 people took part in the research.     T / F
  6. The research participants had a scan on their brain.     T / F
  7. Researchers found small differences between night owls and early birds.  T / F
  8. Night owls don't have to fight against their natural rhythms.     T / F

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

  1. phrase
  2. done
  3. former
  4. rose
  5. differences
  6. questionnaires
  7. answers
  8. throughout
  9. constantly
  10. rhythms
  1. always
  2. got up
  3. variations
  4. for the whole of
  5. achieved
  6. replies
  7. tempos
  8. saying
  9. surveys
  10. ex-

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

  1. The early bird
  2. Early to bed,
  3. do better
  4. had an advantage
  5. brain
  6. people answered
  7. people had MRI scans
  8. throughout
  9. there were big differences
  10. they're constantly having
  1. in life
  2. between the two groups
  3. function
  4. questionnaires
  5. to fight
  6. over people
  7. the day
  8. catches the worm
  9. on their brain
  10. early to rise

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
wise
done
advantage
better
function
worm
former
rose

The phrase, "The early bird catches the (1) ____________" may be true. It means people who wake up early get more (2) ____________ than people who don't. Another saying is from (3) ____________ U.S. President Benjamin Franklin. He said: "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and (4) ____________." Scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do (5) ____________ in life than people who sleep around 2:30am. The researchers are from Birmingham's Centre for Human Brain Health in the U.K. Their research showed that people who slept and (6) ____________ early (early birds) had an (7) ____________ over people who slept and woke up late (night owls). There were differences in the brain (8) ____________ of early birds and night owls.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
less
based
constantly
quicker
pattern
rhythms
during
scans

The scientists tested 38 people in their research. The people answered questionnaires about their sleeping (9) ____________ and when they felt tired during the day. They were then put into an early bird or night owl group (10) ____________ on their answers. All of the people had MRI (11) ____________ on their brain and did different tests throughout the day. The early birds said they felt (12) ____________ sleepy and were able to do the tests (13) ____________ than the night owls. The researchers said there were big differences between the two groups. The researchers said: "Night owls (14) ____________ school have to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they're (15) ____________ having to fight against their preferences and natural (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The phrase, "The early bird catches the worm" ______
     a.  may be truly
     b.  may be flew
     c.  may be blue
     d.  may be true
2)  It means people who wake up early get more done than ______
     a.  people who don't
     b.  people who doesn't
     c.  people who didn't
     d.  people who donut
3)  Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, ______
     a.  wealthy, and wisdom
     b.  wealthy, and wise
     c.  wealth, and wise
     d.  wealthy, but wise
4)  Scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do ______
     a.  better on life
     b.  better as life
     c.  better of life
     d.  better in life
5) research showed that people who slept and rose early (early birds) ______
     a.  had an disadvantage
     b.  had an advantage
     c.  had an advantages
     d.  had an advantaged

6) questionnaires about their sleeping pattern and when they felt tired ______
     a.  dour in the day
     b.  dulling the day
     c.  during the day
     d.  daring the day
7)  All of the people had MRI scans on their brain and did different tests ______
     a.  trough out the day
     b.  thought out the day
     c.  thorough out the day
     d.  throughout the day
8)  The researchers said there were big differences between ______
     a.  the too group
     b.  the two grouping
     c.  the too groups
     d.  the two groups
9)  have to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to ______
     a.  get up earlier
     b.  gets up earlier
     c.  get ups earlier
     d.  get up earlies
10)  they're constantly having to fight against their preferences and ______
     a.  naturally rhythms
     b.  naturalize rhythms
     c.  natural rhythms
     d.  naturalism rhythms

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The phrase, "The early bird (1) ___________________" may be true. It means people who wake up early get more done than people who don't. Another saying (2) ___________________ U.S. President Benjamin Franklin. He said: "Early to bed, early to rise makes a (3) ___________________, and wise." Scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do better in life than (4) ___________________ around 2:30am. The researchers are from Birmingham's Centre for Human Brain Health in the U.K. Their research showed that people who slept and rose early (early birds) (5) ___________________ over people who slept and woke up late (night owls). There were differences in the (6) ___________________ early birds and night owls.

The scientists tested 38 people (7) ___________________. The people answered questionnaires about their sleeping pattern and when they felt tired (8) ___________________. They were then put into an early bird or night owl group based (9) ___________________. All of the people had MRI scans on their brain and did different tests throughout the day. The early birds said they felt less sleepy and were able to do (10) ___________________ than the night owls. The researchers said there were big differences between the two groups. The researchers said: "Night owls (11) ___________________ to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they're constantly having to fight against their preferences (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say catches worms?
  2. What did a U.S. president say getting up early "makes a man"?
  3. What time did the article say early birds sleep before?
  4. Who did the scientists say had an advantage?
  5. In what part of the body did scientists find differences in people?
  6. How many people did scientists test in their research?
  7. What kind of medical test did the people have?
  8. How did the early birds feel after doing tests?
  9. Where did the researchers say night owls have to get up earlier?
  10. How often do night owls have to fight against their natural rhythms?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say catches worms?
a) a fish
b) the early bird
c) a fisherman
d) baby birds
2) What did a U.S. president say getting up early "makes a man"?
a) healthy, wealthy and stealthy
b) wise, tired and healthy
c) healthy, sleepy and alive
d) healthy, wealthy and wise
3) What time did the article say early birds sleep before?
a) 11pm
b) 10pm
c) 9pm
d) 8pm
4) Who did the scientists say had an advantage?
a) wise men
b) worms
c) early birds
d) healthy men
5) In what part of the body did scientists find differences in people?
a) the eyes
b) the brain
c) the heart
d) the back

6) How many people did scientists test in their research?
a) 308
b) 380
c) 38
d) 83
7) What kind of medical test did the people have?
a) an IQ test
b) an eye test
c) a CAT scan
d) an MRI brain scan
8) How did the early birds feel after doing tests?
a) less sleepy
b) sleepy
c) intelligent
d) stupid
9) Where did the researchers say night owls have to get up earlier?
a) at school and work
b) at school and home
c) at home and in tents
d) in tents and at school

10) How often do night owls have to fight against their natural rhythms?
a) rarely
b) constantly
c) once in a while
d) every now and then

Role play

Role  A – 6pm
You think 6pm is the best time to go to bed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these times (and why): 12am, 3am or 6am.

Role  B – 12am
You think 12am is the best time to go to bed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these times (and why): 6pm, 3am or 6am.

Role  C – 3am
You think 3am is the best time to go to bed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these times (and why): 12am, 6pm or 6am.

Role  D – 6am
You think 6am is the best time to go to bed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these times (and why): 12am, 3am or 6pm.

After reading / listening

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

'night'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'owl'.

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

    • 38
    • during
    • answers
    • less
    • during
    • natural
    • worm
    • healthy
    • found
    • U.K.
    • rose
    • brain

    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 - Going to bed early is better for us

    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 'sleep'?
    3. Why does the early bird catch the worm?
    4. What do you think of getting up early?
    5. How early is early?
    6. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
    7. How might getting up early make someone wealthier?
    8. How might getting up early make someone healthier?
    9. How might getting up early make someone wise?
    10. What do you think of sleep?

    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 'night'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are you like if you have not slept enough?
    5. What is your sleeping pattern like?
    6. What are you like when you are very sleepy?
    7. What time do you think people should start work?
    8. What are your body's natural rhythms?
    9. Would you like to take a pill that means you don't have to sleep?
    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)

    The (1) ____, "The early bird catches the worm" may be true. It means people who wake up early get more (2) ____ than people who don't. Another saying is from former U.S. President Benjamin Franklin. He said: "Early to bed, early to (3) ____ makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do better (4) ____ life than people who sleep around 2:30am. The researchers are from Birmingham's Centre for Human Brain Health in the U.K. Their research showed that people who (5) ____ and rose early (early birds) had an advantage over people who slept and woke up late (night owls). There were differences (6) ____ the brain function of early birds and night owls.

    The scientists tested 38 people in their research. The people answered questionnaires about their sleeping (7) ____ and when they felt tired during the day. They were then put into an early bird or night owl group (8) ____ on their answers. All of the people had MRI scans on their brain and did different tests (9) ____ the day. The early birds said they felt less sleepy and were able to do the tests quicker than the night owls. The researchers said there were big (10) ____ between the two groups. The researchers said: "Night owls (11) ____ school have to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they're constantly having to fight against their preferences and natural (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     phrase     (b)     pass     (c)     phase     (d)     phasing    
    2. (a)     doing     (b)     do     (c)     done     (d)     does    
    3. (a)     arise     (b)     rising     (c)     rise     (d)     riser    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     slept     (b)     sleeping     (c)     sleepy     (d)     sleeps    
    6. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     plan     (b)     format     (c)     design     (d)     pattern    
    8. (a)     paste     (b)     based     (c)     aced     (d)     waste    
    9. (a)     though     (b)     thorough     (c)     throughout     (d)     thoroughly    
    10. (a)     different     (b)     differences     (c)     difference     (d)     differential    
    11. (a)     absent     (b)     amid     (c)     among     (d)     during    
    12. (a)     lyrics     (b)     rhythms     (c)     tunes     (d)     melodies

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The early bird aheccst the worm
    2. merofr U.S. President Benjamin Franklin
    3. wtalehy and wise
    4. uamhn brain health
    5. an vegaadatn over people who slept
    6. brain fnucniot

    Paragraph 2

    1. The essitisctn tested 38 people
    2. felt tired drgiun the day
    3. thruuhotgo the day
    4. there were big ednriefesfc
    5. they're nloctsnyta having to fight
    6. natural ryshhmt

    Put the text back together

    1  ) The phrase, "The early bird catches the worm" may be true. It means people who wake up early get more
    (...)  from Birmingham's Centre for Human Brain Health in the U.K. Their research showed that people who
    (...)  done than people who don't. Another saying is from former U.S. President Benjamin Franklin. He said: "Early to bed,
    (...)  pattern and when they felt tired during the day. They were then put into an early bird or night owl group based
    (...)  felt less sleepy and were able to do the tests quicker than the night owls. The researchers said there were big
    (...)  differences between the two groups. The researchers said: "Night owls during school have
    (...)  The scientists tested 38 people in their research. The people answered questionnaires about their sleeping
    (...)  slept and rose early (early birds) had an advantage over people who slept and woke
    (...)  on their answers. All of the people had MRI scans on their brain and did different tests throughout the day. The early birds said they
    (...)  before 11pm may do better in life than people who sleep around 2:30am. The researchers are
    (...)  early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Scientists have found that people who go to bed
    (...)  to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they're
    (...)  constantly having to fight against their preferences and natural rhythms."
    (...)  up late (night owls). There were differences in the brain function of early birds and night owls.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. "   The   phrase   worm   "   .   bird   the   catches,   The   early
    2. more   early   wake   who   People   done   .   get   up
    3. go   to   before   bed   who   11pm   .   People
    4. advantage   rose   who   had   People   early   an
    5. were   brain   in   the   function   .   differences   There
    6. The   tested   their   38   scientists   in   people   research   .
    7. their  The  sleeping  about  pattern  .  people  questionnaires  answered
    8. had   brain   .   MRI   The   people   their   scans   on
    9. groups   .   two   between   were   the   big   differences   There
    10. against   rhythms   .   natural   preferences   their   Fight   and

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The phrase, "The early bird snatches / catches the worm" may be true. It means people who wake up early get more doing / done than people who don't. Another saying is from former / farmer U.S. President Benjamin Franklin. He said: "Early to bed, early to arise / rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wisely / wise." Scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do better / good in life than people who sleep around / in 2:30am. The researchers are from Birmingham's Centre for Human Brain Health in the U.K. Their research showing / showed that people who slept and rose early (early birds) had an advantage under / over people who slept and woke up late (night owls). There were differences in the brain function / fraction of early birds and night owls.

    The scientists tested / rested 38 people in their research. The people answered questionnaires about their sleeping design / pattern and when they felt tired / tried during the day. They were then put into an early bird or night owl group based in / on their answers. All of the people had MRI scans on their brainy / brain and did different tests throughout the day. The early birds said they felt less / low sleepy and were able to do the tests quicker than the night owls. The researchers said there were big different / differences between the two groups. The researchers said: "Night owls during / among school have to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they're constantly doing / having to fight against their preferences and natural lyrics / rhythms."

    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)

    T h_ p h r_s_, " T h_ __ r l y b_r d c_t c h_s t h_ w_r m " m_y b_ t r__ . I t m__ n s p__ p l_ w h_ w_k_ _p __ r l y g_t m_r_ d_n_ t h_n p__ p l_ w h_ d_n ' t . A n_t h_r s_y_n g _s f r_m f_r m_r U . S . P r_s_d_n t B_n j_m_n F r_n k l_n . H_ s__ d : " E_r l y t_ b_d , __ r l y t_ r_s_ m_k_s _ m_n h__ l t h y , w__ l t h y , _n d w_s_. " S c__ n t_s t s h_v_ f__ n d t h_t p__ p l_ w h_ g_ t_ b_d b_f_r_ 1 1 p m m_y d_ b_t t_r _n l_f_ t h_n p__ p l_ w h_ s l__ p _r__ n d 2 : 3 0_m . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s _r_ f r_m B_r m_n g h_m ' s C_n t r_ f_r H_m_n B r__ n H__ l t h _n t h_ U . K . T h__ r r_s__ r c h s h_w_d t h_t p__ p l_ w h_ s l_p t _n d r_s_ __ r l y (__ r l y b_r d s ) h_d _n _d v_n t_g_ _v_r p__ p l_ w h_ s l_p t _n d w_k_ _p l_t_ ( n_g h t _w l s ) . T h_r_ w_r_ d_f f_r_n c_s _n t h_ b r__ n f_n c t__ n _f __ r l y b_r d s _n d n_g h t _w l s .

    T h_ s c__ n t_s t s t_s t_d 3 8 p__ p l_ _n t h__ r r_s__ r c h . T h_ p__ p l_ _n s w_r_d q__ s t__ n n__ r_s _b__ t t h__ r s l__ p_n g p_t t_r n _n d w h_n t h_y f_l t t_r_d d_r_n g t h_ d_y . T h_y w_r_ t h_n p_t _n t_ _n __ r l y b_r d _r n_g h t _w l g r__ p b_s_d _n t h__ r _n s w_r s . A l l _f t h_ p__ p l_ h_d M R I s c_n s _n t h__ r b r__ n _n d d_d d_f f_r_n t t_s t s t h r__ g h__ t t h_ d_y . T h_ __ r l y b_r d s s__ d t h_y f_l t l_s s s l__ p y _n d w_r_ _b l_ t_ d_ t h_ t_s t s q__ c k_r t h_n t h_ n_g h t _w l s . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s s__ d t h_r_ w_r_ b_g d_f f_r_n c_s b_t w__ n t h_ t w_ g r__ p s . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s s__ d : " N_g h t _w l s d_r_n g s c h__ l h_v_ t_ g_t _p __ r l__ r , t h_n t h_y g_ _n t_ w_r k _n d t h_y h_v_ t_ g_t _p __ r l__ r , s_ t h_y ' r_ c_n s t_n t l y h_v_n g t_ f_g h t _g__ n s t t h__ r p r_f_r_n c_s _n d n_t_r_l r h y t h m s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the phrase the early bird catches the worm may be true it means people who wake up early get more done than people who dont another saying is from former us president benjamin franklin he said early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise scientists have found that people who go to bed before 11pm may do better in life than people who sleep around 230am the researchers are from birminghams centre for human brain health in the uk their research showed that people who slept and rose early early birds had an advantage over people who slept and woke up late night owls there were differences in the brain function of early birds and night owls

    the scientists tested 38 people in their research the people answered questionnaires about their sleeping pattern and when they felt tired during the day they were then put into an early bird or night owl group based on their answers all of the people had mri scans on their brain and did different tests throughout the day the early birds said they felt less sleepy and were able to do the tests quicker than the night owls the researchers said there were big differences between the two groups the researchers said night owls during school have to get up earlier then they go into work and they have to get up earlier so theyre constantly having to fight against their preferences and natural rhythms"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thephrase,"Theearlybirdcatchestheworm"maybetrue.Itmeanspeop
    lewhowakeupearlygetmoredonethanpeoplewhodon't.Anothersayin
    gisfromformerU.S.PresidentBenjaminFranklin.Hesaid:"Earlytobed,
    earlytorisemakesamanhealthy,wealthy,andwise."Scientistshavefo
    undthatpeoplewhogotobedbefore11pmmaydobetterinlifethanpeopl
    ewhosleeparound2:30am.TheresearchersarefromBirmingham'sCe
    ntreforHumanBrainHealthintheU.K.Theirresearchshowedthatpeopl
    ewhosleptandroseearly(earlybirds)hadanadvantageoverpeoplewho
    sleptandwokeuplate(nightowls).Thereweredifferencesinthebrainfu
    nctionofearlybirdsandnightowls.Thescientiststested38peopleintheir
    research.Thepeopleansweredquestionnairesabouttheirsleepingpatt
    ernandwhentheyfelttiredduringtheday.Theywerethenputintoanearl
    ybirdornightowlgroupbasedontheiranswers.AllofthepeoplehadMRIs
    cansontheirbrainanddiddifferentteststhroughouttheday.Theearlybi
    rdssaidtheyfeltlesssleepyandwereabletodothetestsquickerthanthen
    ightowls.Theresearcherssaidtherewerebigdifferencesbetweenthetw
    ogroups.Theresearcherssaid:"Nightowlsduringschoolhavetogetupe
    arlier,thentheygointoworkandtheyhavetogetupearlier,sothey'recon
    stantlyhavingtofightagainsttheirpreferencesandnaturalrhythms."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Being an early bird is better than being a night owl. 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. NIGHT OWLS: Make a poster about night owls. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SWITCH OFF: Write a magazine article about the government switching of TV and the Internet at 11pm. 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 night owls. Ask him/her three questions about sleeping late. Give him/her three of your opinions on sleep. 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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