The Reading / Listening - Salmon - Level 3

A team of rescuers is working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in Canada to safety. The salmon are trapped in a section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been trapped in that part of the river since a landslide in June. The landslide blocked off the section of the river, which meant the salmon could not swim upstream to spawn (lay their eggs). Rescuers and conservationists have spent several weeks looking at ways to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the other side of the fallen rocks by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding ground. Rescuers have been "working around the clock" to help the salmon.

Conservationists warn that if the fish cannot lay their eggs, the entire local salmon population will be at risk. Future numbers of the fish will drop to dangerously low levels. This would have an impact on many of Canada's First Nations indigenous people. They need the salmon for food and for cultural reasons. Salmon play an important role in many traditional ceremonies of people who have lived along the Fraser River for hundreds of years. Their way of life will continue thanks to the rescuers' help. The rescuers are also looking at other ways to help the fish. One said: "We expect over three million [salmon] to migrate north of that rockslide. With that number of fish, you have to find alternate methods."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Salmon - Level 0 Salmon - Level 1   or  Salmon - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49066718
  • https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/holding-pen-helicopter-big-bar-salmon-1.5219433
  • https://bc.ctvnews.ca/salmon-to-be-transported-past-fraser-river-rock-slide-by-helicopter-1.4517537


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. SALMON: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about salmon. 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?
       team / rescuers / airlift / salmon / river / landslide / lay eggs / conservationists / clock
       population / low levels / impact / indigenous people / cultural / ceremonies / methods
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HELICOPTERS: Students A strongly believe helicopters are a great way of rescuing fish; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HELPING THE SALMON: How can we help the salmon in the Fraser River? What are the pros and cons of these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

More helicopters

 

 

Stop eating them

 

 

Dynamite the landslide

 

 

Breed the salmon

 

 

Build a fish tunnel

 

 

Other _____________

 

 

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

  • tuna
  • eel
  • piranha
  • stingray
  • salmon
  • shark
  • swordfish
  • goldfish

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. trapped a. One part of something that is divided up.
      2. section b. A person protects and preserves the environment and wildlife.
      3. landslide c. Animals getting together to produce babies.
      4. conservationist d. When lots of earth or rock fall down from a mountain or cliff.
      5. lay e. More than two but not many.
      6. several f. Stopped someone from escaping from a place.
      7. breeding g. Produce an egg from inside the body (birds, fish and reptiles do this.).

    Paragraph 2

      8. entire h. The effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another.
      9. impact i. Coming from or happening naturally in a particular place.
      10. indigenous j. Another thing, possibility or way.
      11. role k. A formal religious or public occasion, typically one for a particular event.
      12. ceremony l. The function or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation.
      13. expect m. With no part left out; whole.
      14. alternate n. Think that something will happen.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Thousands of salmon are trapped in Canada's Columbia River.     T / F
  2. The salmon need to swim downstream to lay their eggs.     T / F
  3. Conservationists said helicopter was the best way to rescue the salmon.  T / F
  4. Rescuers are using round clocks to help rescue the salmon.     T / F
  5. The local salmon population could be in serious danger.     T / F
  6. Salmon are important for Canada's First Nations indigenous people.     T / F
  7. Three million salmon want to swim north up the river.     T / F
  8. Rescuers are not looking at other ways to rescue the fish.     T / F

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

  1. team
  2. trapped
  3. blocked
  4. several
  5. best
  6. warn
  7. entire
  8. indigenous
  9. traditional
  10. migrate
  1. caution
  2. a number of
  3. relocate
  4. whole
  5. caught
  6. customary
  7. most suitable
  8. group
  9. native
  10. obstructed

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

  1. A team of rescuers
  2. The landslide blocked off the
  3. lay
  4. The fish will then be free to swim up
  5. working around
  6. the entire local salmon population will
  7. Future numbers of the fish will drop to
  8. play an important role in many
  9. Their way of
  10. three million salmon to migrate
  1. be at risk
  2. their eggs
  3. the clock
  4. north
  5. section of the river
  6. traditional ceremonies
  7. is working hard
  8. life will continue
  9. to their breeding ground
  10. dangerously low levels

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
trapped
spawn
side
safety
clock
section
breeding
several

A team of rescuers is working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in Canada to (1) ____________. The salmon are trapped in a section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been (2) ____________ in that part of the river since a landslide in June. The landslide blocked off the (3) ____________ of the river, which meant the salmon could not swim upstream to (4) ____________ (lay their eggs). Rescuers and conservationists have spent (5) ____________ weeks looking at ways to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the other (6) ____________ of the fallen rocks by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their (7) ____________ ground. Rescuers have been "working around the (8) ____________" to help the salmon.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
traditional
thanks
drop
methods
local
migrate
cultural
along

Conservationists warn that if the fish cannot lay their eggs, the entire (9) ____________ salmon population will be at risk. Future numbers of the fish will (10) ____________ to dangerously low levels. This would have an impact on many of Canada's First Nations indigenous people. They need the salmon for food and for (11) ____________ reasons. Salmon play an important role in many (12) ____________ ceremonies of people who have lived (13) ____________ the Fraser River for hundreds of years. Their way of life will continue (14) ____________ to the rescuers' help. The rescuers are also looking at other ways to help the fish. One said: "We expect over three million [salmon] to (15) ____________ north of that rockslide. With that number of fish, you have to find alternate (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A team of rescuers is working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in ______
     a.  Canada too safety
     b.  Canada two safety
     c.  Canada to safety
     d.  Canada through safety
2)  The salmon are trapped in a ______ Fraser River
     a.  sections of the
     b.  sectioned off the
     c.  section of the
     d.  section off the
3)  They have been trapped in that part of the river ______
     a.  since a lands slide
     b.  since a land slide
     c.  since all and slide
     d.  since a landslide
4)  They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the other side of ______
     a.  the falling rocks
     b.  the fall in rocks
     c.  the fallen rocks
     d.  the fall on rocks
5)  Rescuers have been working ______
     a.  around the clock
     b.  around a clock
     c.  abound the clock
     d.  abound the clock

6)  Conservationists warn that if the fish cannot ______
     a.  lay there eggs
     b.  lay their eggs
     c.  lay they're eggs
     d.  lay them eggs
7)  Future numbers of the fish will drop to dangerously ______
     a.  slow levels
     b.  allow levels
     c.  loud levels
     d.  low levels
8)  They need the salmon for food and for ______
     a.  cultural reason
     b.  cultural raisons
     c.  cultural reasoned
     d.  cultural reasons
9)  The rescuers are also looking at other ways to ______
     a.  helps the fish
     b.  helped the fish
     c.  help the fish
     d.  helping the fish
10)  With that number of fish, you have to find ______
     a.  alternates methods
     b.  alternately methods
     c.  alternate methods
     d.  alter not methods

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A team of rescuers is working (1) ___________________ airlift thousands of salmon in Canada to safety. The salmon (2) ___________________ a section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been trapped in that part of the river (3) ___________________ in June. The landslide blocked off the section of the river, which meant the salmon could not swim upstream to spawn (lay their eggs). Rescuers and conservationists (4) ___________________ weeks looking at ways to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the (5) ___________________ the fallen rocks by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding ground. Rescuers have been "working (6) ___________________" to help the salmon.

Conservationists warn that if the fish cannot (7) ___________________, the entire local salmon population will be at risk. Future numbers of the fish will drop to dangerously low levels. This would have (8) ___________________ many of Canada's First Nations indigenous people. They need the salmon for food and (9) ___________________. Salmon play an important role in many traditional ceremonies of people who have lived along the Fraser River for hundreds of years. Their (10) ___________________ will continue thanks to the rescuers' help. The rescuers are also looking (11) ___________________ to help the fish. One said: "We expect over three million [salmon] to migrate north of that rockslide. With that number of fish, you have (12) ___________________ methods."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the river the salmon are trapped in?
  2. What happened to block the river?
  3. How long did rescuers spend looking at ways to help the salmon?
  4. What kind of ground do the salmon want to swim up to?
  5. What have the rescuers been working around?
  6. What will happen to the salmon population if the fish cannot lay eggs?
  7. Which people would falling numbers of salmon affect?
  8. For how long have people lived along the Fraser River?
  9. How many salmon could migrate north?
  10. What did a rescuer say they might have to find?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the river the salmon are trapped in?
a) the Columbia River
b) the Fraser River
c) the Salmon River
d) the British River
2) What happened to block the river?
a) an earthquake
b) an avalanche
c) a train crash
d) a landslide
3) How long did rescuers spend looking at ways to help the salmon?
a) a month or two
b) a few days
c) several weeks
d) a few moments
4) What kind of ground do the salmon want to swim up to?
a) their breeding ground
b) lower ground
c) more fertile ground
d) their playground
5) What have the rescuers been working around?
a) the bend
b) the clock
c) a rock
d) a helicopter

6) What will happen to the salmon population if the fish cannot lay eggs?
a) it will be at risk
b) it will migrate
c) humans will help
d) it will increase
7) Which people would falling numbers of salmon affect?
a) Last Nations indigenous people
b) Lost Nations indigenous people
c) First Nations indigenous people
d) Fast Nations indigenous people
8) For how long have people lived along the Fraser River?
a) hundreds of years
b) millions of years
c) since 1972
d) for a decade or two
9) How many salmon could migrate north?
a) exactly three million
b) around three million
c) up to three million
d) over three million
10) What did a rescuer say they might have to find?
a) a new river
b) dynamite
c) alternate methods
d) bigger rocks

Role play

Role  A – Salmon
You think salmon is the best fish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their fish. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): goldfish, shark or tuna.

Role  B – Goldfish
You think goldfish is the best fish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their fish. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): salmon, shark or tuna.

Role  C – Shark
You think shark is the best fish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their fish. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): goldfish, salmon or tuna.

Role  D – Tuna
You think tuna is the best fish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their fish. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): goldfish, shark or salmon.

After reading / listening

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

'salmon'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'rescue'.

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

    • entire
    • low
    • reasons
    • hundreds
    • other
    • number
    • team
    • part
    • swim
    • several
    • other
    • clock

    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 - Rescuers help airlift thousands of salmon to safety

    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 'salmon'?
    3. What do you think of salmon?
    4. What should people do to help the salmon?
    5. How important are salmon?
    6. What do you think of the work conservationists do?
    7. Would you like to be part of the rescue team?
    8. What do salmon symbolize?
    9. Have you ever worked around the clock?
    10. What advice do you have for the rescuers?

    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 'rescue'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How important is it to rescue the salmon?
    5. Should the money be spent on rescuing people instead?
    6. What do you know about Canada's First Nations indigenous people?
    7. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    8. How successful do you think the airlift will be?
    9. How else could the rescuers help the salmon?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the rescuers?

    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 team of rescuers (1) ____ working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in Canada to safety. The salmon are (2) ____ in a section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been trapped in that part of the river since a landslide in June. The landslide blocked (3) ____ the section of the river, which meant the salmon could not swim upstream to spawn (lay their eggs). Rescuers and conservationists have spent (4) ____ weeks looking at ways to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the (5) ____ side of the fallen rocks by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding ground. Rescuers have been "working around the (6) ____" to help the salmon.

    Conservationists warn that if the fish cannot lay their eggs, the (7) ____ local salmon population will be at risk. Future numbers of the fish will drop to (8) ____ low levels. This would have an impact on many of Canada's First Nations (9) ____ people. They need the salmon for food and for cultural reasons. Salmon play an important (10) ____ in many traditional ceremonies of people who have lived along the Fraser River for hundreds of years. Their way of life will continue (11) ____ to the rescuers' help. The rescuers are also looking at other ways to help the fish. One said: "We expect over three million [salmon] to migrate north of that rockslide. With that (12) ____ of fish, you have to find alternate methods."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     are     (b)     were     (c)     be     (d)     is    
    2. (a)     traipse     (b)     traps     (c)     trapping     (d)     trapped    
    3. (a)     up     (b)     off     (c)     down     (d)     at    
    4. (a)     severe     (b)     sever     (c)     several     (d)     severance    
    5. (a)     other     (b)     another     (c)     others     (d)     the others    
    6. (a)     clock     (b)     watch     (c)     dial     (d)     gauge    
    7. (a)     every     (b)     all     (c)     wholly     (d)     entire    
    8. (a)     dangerously     (b)     dangers     (c)     danger     (d)     endangers    
    9. (a)     engenders     (b)     indigenous     (c)     endangers     (d)     ingenious    
    10. (a)     roll     (b)     rail     (c)     role     (d)     rule    
    11. (a)     thank you     (b)     thanked     (c)     thanks     (d)     thanking    
    12. (a)     figure     (b)     number     (c)     digit     (d)     symbol

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a tioesnc of the Fraser River
    2. since a dsnelldia in June
    3. the salmon could not swim pamsteur
    4. spent arlseve weeks looking
    5. the other side of the ellanf rocks
    6. swim up to their eibegrnd ground

    Paragraph 2

    1. This would have an apmcti
    2. First Nations sgdionuine people
    3. many dalintiarot ceremonies
    4. We epcext over three million
    5. miagret north of that rockslide
    6. you have to find aalrenett methods

    Put the text back together

    (...)  side of the fallen rocks by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding
    (...)  swim upstream to spawn (lay their eggs). Rescuers and conservationists have spent several
    (...)  of Canada's First Nations indigenous people. They need the salmon for food and for cultural
    (...)  since a landslide in June. The landslide blocked off the section of the river, which meant the salmon could not
    (...)  hundreds of years. Their way of life will continue thanks to the rescuers' help. The rescuers
    (...)  to migrate north of that rockslide. With that number of fish, you have to find alternate methods."
    (...)  are also looking at other ways to help the fish. One said: "We expect over three million [salmon]
    (...)  reasons. Salmon play an important role in many traditional ceremonies of people who have lived along the Fraser River for
    (...)  a section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been trapped in that part of the river
    (...)  Conservationists warn that if the fish cannot lay their eggs, the entire local salmon population will be
    1  )  A team of rescuers is working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in Canada to safety. The salmon are trapped in
    (...)  at risk. Future numbers of the fish will drop to dangerously low levels. This would have an impact on many
    (...)  ground. Rescuers have been "working around the clock" to help the salmon.
    (...)  weeks looking at ways to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the other

    Put the words in the right order

    1. rescuers   of   team   working   is   help   .   to   A
    2. spawn   .   salmon   upstream   to   swim   The   could   not
    3. side   .   to   other   fish   the   the   Fly
    4. ground   .   to   up   to   swim   breeding   their   Free
    5. the   been   clock   .   working   have   around   Rescuers
    6. be   risk   .   entire   population   at   will   salmon   The
    7. have   would   impact   This   indigenous   an   on   people   .
    8. ceremonies.   an   Play   traditional   important   in   role   many
    9. ways   .   rescuers   are   at   The   also   other   looking
    10. million   expect   salmon   over   We   three   to   migrate   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A team of rescuers is / are working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in Canada to / on safety. The salmon are trapped in a section of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. They have been trapping / trapped in that part of the river since / for a landslide in June. The landslide blocked off the section / selection of the river, which meant the salmon could not swim upstream to spawn (lie / lay their eggs). Rescuers and conservationists have spent several weeks looking at weighs / ways to help the fish. They decided the best way was to fly the fish to the another / other side of the fallen rocks by helicopter. The fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding / bleeding ground. Rescuers have been "working around the watch / clock" to help the salmon.

    Conservationists warm / warn that if the fish cannot lay their eggs, the entire local / locally salmon population will be at risky / risk. Future numbers of the fish will drop to dangerously / dangerous low levels. This would have an impact on many of Canada's First Nations indigenous people. They need the salmon for food and for cultural reason / reasons. Salmon play an important role in much / many traditional ceremonies of people who have lived along the Fraser River for hundreds of years. Their way of life / live will continue pleases / thanks to the rescuers' help. The rescuers are also looking at other ways to help the fish. One said: "We expect / accept over three million [salmon] to migrate north of that rockslide. With that / those number of fish, you have to find alternate methods."

    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 t__ m _f r_s c__ r s _s w_r k_n g h_r d t_ h_l p __ r l_f t t h__ s_n d s _f s_l m_n _n C_n_d_ t_ s_f_t y . T h_ s_l m_n _r_ t r_p p_d _n _ s_c t__ n _f t h_ F r_s_r R_v_r _n B r_t_s h C_l_m b__ , C_n_d_. T h_y h_v_ b__ n t r_p p_d _n t h_t p_r t _f t h_ r_v_r s_n c_ _ l_n d s l_d_ _n J_n_. T h_ l_n d s l_d_ b l_c k_d _f f t h_ s_c t__ n _f t h_ r_v_r , w h_c h m__ n t t h_ s_l m_n c__ l d n_t s w_m _p s t r__ m t_ s p_w n ( l_y t h__ r _g g s ) . R_s c__ r s _n d c_n s_r v_t__ n_s t s h_v_ s p_n t s_v_r_l w__ k s l__ k_n g _t w_y s t_ h_l p t h_ f_s h . T h_y d_c_d_d t h_ b_s t w_y w_s t_ f l y t h_ f_s h t_ t h_ _t h_r s_d_ _f t h_ f_l l_n r_c k s b y h_l_c_p t_r . T h_ f_s h w_l l t h_n b_ f r__ t_ s w_m _p t_ t h__ r b r__ d_n g g r__ n d . R_s c__ r s h_v_ b__ n " w_r k_n g _r__ n d t h_ c l_c k " t_ h_l p t h_ s_l m_n .

    C_n s_r v_t__ n_s t s w_r n t h_t _f t h_ f_s h c_n n_t l_y t h__ r _g g s , t h_ _n t_r_ l_c_l s_l m_n p_p_l_t__ n w_l l b_ _t r_s k . F_t_r_ n_m b_r s _f t h_ f_s h w_l l d r_p t_ d_n g_r__ s l y l_w l_v_l s . T h_s w__ l d h_v_ _n _m p_c t _n m_n y _f C_n_d_' s F_r s t N_t__ n s _n d_g_n__ s p__ p l_. T h_y n__ d t h_ s_l m_n f_r f__ d _n d f_r c_l t_r_l r__ s_n s . S_l m_n p l_y _n _m p_r t_n t r_l_ _n m_n y t r_d_t__ n_l c_r_m_n__ s _f p__ p l_ w h_ h_v_ l_v_d _l_n g t h_ F r_s_r R_v_r f_r h_n d r_d s _f y__ r s . T h__ r w_y _f l_f_ w_l l c_n t_n__ t h_n k s t_ t h_ r_s c__ r s ' h_l p . T h_ r_s c__ r s _r_ _l s_ l__ k_n g _t _t h_r w_y s t_ h_l p t h_ f_s h . O n_ s__ d : " W_ _x p_c t _v_r t h r__ m_l l__ n [ s_l m_n ] t_ m_g r_t_ n_r t h _f t h_t r_c k s l_d_. W_t h t h_t n_m b_r _f f_s h , y__ h_v_ t_ f_n d _l t_r n_t_ m_t h_d s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a team of rescuers is working hard to help airlift thousands of salmon in canada to safety the salmon are trapped in a section of the fraser river in british columbia canada they have been trapped in that part of the river since a landslide in june the landslide blocked off the section of the river which meant the salmon could not swim upstream to spawn lay their eggs rescuers and conservationists have spent several weeks looking at ways to help the fish they decided the best way was to fly the fish to the other side of the fallen rocks by helicopter the fish will then be free to swim up to their breeding ground rescuers have been working around the clock to help the salmon

    conservationists warn that if the fish cannot lay their eggs the entire local salmon population will be at risk future numbers of the fish will drop to dangerously low levels this would have an impact on many of canadas first nations indigenous people they need the salmon for food and for cultural reasons salmon play an important role in many traditional ceremonies of people who have lived along the fraser river for hundreds of years their way of life will continue thanks to the rescuers help the rescuers are also looking at other ways to help the fish one said we expect over three million salmon to migrate north of that rockslide with that number of fish you have to find alternate methods

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AteamofrescuersisworkinghardtohelpairliftthousandsofsalmoninCa
    nadatosafety.ThesalmonaretrappedinasectionoftheFraserRiverinBr
    itishColumbia,Canada.Theyhavebeentrappedinthatpartoftheriversi
    ncealandslideinJune.Thelandslideblockedoffthesectionoftheriver,w
    hichmeantthesalmoncouldnotswimupstreamtospawn(laytheireggs)
    .Rescuersandconservationistshavespentseveralweekslookingatway
    stohelpthefish.Theydecidedthebestwaywastoflythefishtotheothersi
    deofthefallenrocksbyhelicopter.Thefishwillthenbefreetoswimuptoth
    eirbreedingground.Rescuershavebeen"workingaroundtheclock"toh
    elpthesalmon.Conservationistswarnthatifthefishcannotlaytheiregg
    s,theentirelocalsalmonpopulationwillbeatrisk.Futurenumbersofthef
    ishwilldroptodangerouslylowlevels.Thiswouldhaveanimpactonman
    yofCanada'sFirstNationsindigenouspeople.Theyneedthesalmonforf
    oodandforculturalreasons.Salmonplayanimportantroleinmanytradi
    tionalceremoniesofpeoplewhohavelivedalongtheFraserRiverforhun
    dredsofyears.Theirwayoflifewillcontinuethankstotherescuers'help.T
    herescuersarealsolookingatotherwaystohelpthefish.Onesaid:"Wee
    xpectoverthreemillion[salmon]tomigratenorthofthatrockslide.With
    thatnumberoffish,youhavetofindalternatemethods."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We should do all we can to help animals in danger. 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. SALMON: Make a poster about salmon. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. CONSERVATION: Write a magazine article about conservation being a top government priority. 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. SALMON: Write a letter to an expert on salmon. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on salmon. 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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