Breaking News English Lesson: Big Breakfasts

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Big breakfasts help us burn double the calories (23rd February, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Big Breakfasts - Level 6

Researchers have revealed what might be a highly popular new way to lose weight - eat a big breakfast. It could become the biggest diet fad ever for those wishing to shed a few kilos. Scientists in Germany conducted a study on how a hearty breakfast affected the body's metabolism in a laboratory experiment. Sixteen men ate a low-calorie breakfast and high-calorie dinner one day, and reversed this with a high-calorie breakfast and low-calorie dinner the next. Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner boosted a process called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). This is the generation of heat in the body that burns up calories. This happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day remained the same.

Eating a big breakfast led to 2.5 times higher rates of DIT. Researcher Dr Juliane Richter spoke about the findings of her investigation. She said: "Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, regardless of the amount of calories it contains, creates twice as high DIT as the same meal consumed for dinner. This finding is significant for all people as it underlines the value of eating enough at breakfast." She added: "Eating more at breakfast instead of dinner could prevent obesity and high blood sugar. We recommend that patients with obesity as well as healthy people eat a significant breakfast rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and prevent metabolic diseases."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Big Breakfasts - Level 4 or Big Breakfasts - Level 5

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/a-big-breakfast-may-help-you-burn-double-the-calories#The-bottom-line
https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/20/eating-big-breakfast-helps-burn-double-calories-says-study-12270475/
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-02-people-big-breakfast-calories.html

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

Warm-ups

1. BREAKFAST: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about breakfast. 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?
researchers / popular / lose weight / diet / fad / metabolism / breakfast / calories /
investigation / results / dinner / significant / obesity / eating / blood sugar / healthy
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MOST IMPORTANT MEAL: Students A strongly believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WEIGHT: What do you think of these ways of losing weight? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What You Think	Good Things	Bad Things
Exercise
Being vegetarian
Fasting
Big breakfasts
No sugary food
Sleep well

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

Fruit diet
Vegan diet
Vegetarian diet
Mediterranean diet
Low-carb diet
Low-fat diet
Fasting diet
Liquid diet

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	revealed	a.	An intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in its qualities.
2.	fad	b.	Of food: healthy and in a larger amount.
3.	shed	c.	Ate, drank or used.
4.	hearty	d.	Lose something, like weight.
5.	metabolism	e.	Helped or encouraged something to increase or improve.
6.	boosted	f.	Made previously unknown or secret information known to others.
7.	consumed	g.	The chemical processes that happen inside a living organism in order to maintain life.

Paragraph 2

8.	rate	h.	A conclusion reached as a result of an inquiry, investigation, research or trial.
9.	findings	i.	Without considering or paying attention to the present situation.
10.	regardless	j.	Stop from happening.
11.	underline	k.	The condition of being very, very fat or overweight.
12.	obesity	l.	Emphasize something; show that something is important.
13.	significant	m.	A measure, quantity, or frequency - usually one measured against some other quantity or measure.
14.	prevent	n.	Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention.

Before reading / listening

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

Eating a big breakfast could be a highly popular way of losing weight. T / F
The article said a shed is the best place to lose a few kilos. T / F
Researchers looked at how meals affected the metabolism of 160 men. T / F
DIT is where the body generates heat to burn up calories. T / F
Breakfast DIT rates are 2.5 times higher than those for other meals. T / F
Researchers underlined the value of having enough to eat for breakfast. T / F
The article said a big breakfast could lead to high blood sugar. T / F
A big breakfast could help to reduce metabolic diseases. T / F

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

revealed
fad
shed
experiment
generation
findings
regardless
consumed
significant
prevent

serious
lose
production
craze
disregarding
eaten
disclosed
avert
test
conclusion

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

a highly popular new way
It could become the biggest diet
boosted a process called
heat in the body that
the total calories consumed
Richter spoke about the findings
regardless of the amount of calories
it underlines the value
prevent obesity and high
reduce body weight and prevent

burns up calories
it contains
metabolic diseases
of eating enough
to lose weight
blood sugar
diet-induced thermogenesis
throughout the day
of her investigation
fad ever

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

hearty
boosted
fad
reversed
consumed
revealed
generation
laboratory

Researchers have (1) ____________ what might be a highly popular new way to lose weight - eat a big breakfast. It could become the biggest diet (2) ____________ ever for those wishing to shed a few kilos. Scientists in Germany conducted a study on how a (3) ____________ breakfast affected the body's metabolism in a (4) ____________ experiment. Sixteen men ate a low-calorie breakfast and high-calorie dinner one day, and (5) ____________ this with a high-calorie breakfast and low-calorie dinner the next. Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner (6) ____________ a process called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). This is the (7) ____________ of heat in the body that burns up calories. This happened even when the total calories (8) ____________ throughout the day remained the same.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

regardless
obesity
consumed
metabolic
rates
findings
patients
underlines

Eating a big breakfast led to 2.5 times higher (9) ____________ of DIT. Researcher Dr Juliane Richter spoke about the (10) ____________ of her investigation. She said: "Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, (11) ____________ of the amount of calories it contains, creates twice as high DIT as the same meal (12) ____________ for dinner. This finding is significant for all people as it (13) ____________ the value of eating enough at breakfast." She added: "Eating more at breakfast instead of dinner could prevent (14) ____________ and high blood sugar. We recommend that (15) ____________ with obesity as well as healthy people eat a significant breakfast rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and prevent (16) ____________ diseases."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Researchers have revealed what might be a highly ______
     a. popular new wave
     b. popular new weigh
     c. popular new ways
     d. popular new way
2) It could become the biggest ______
     a. diet fad ever
     b. diet fat ever
     c. diet fate ever
     d. diet for ever
3) Scientists in Germany conducted a study on how ______
     a. a hearty breakfast
     b. a heart tea breakfast
     c. aha tea breakfast
     d. a hearth tea breakfast
4) Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner ______
     a. boost it a process
     b. boosted a process
     c. boasted a process
     d. basted a process
5) This happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day ______
     a. remains the same
     b. remained the same
     c. remain the same
     d. rim main the same

6) Eating a big breakfast led to 2.5 times ______ DIT
     a. higher rates of
     b. higher lates of
     c. higher raids of
     d. higher lattes of
7) Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, ______ amount
     a. regard list of the
     b. regard lessen of the
     c. regardless of the
     d. rig guard less of the
8) This finding is significant for all people as it underlines ______
     a. the value
     b. the valve
     c. the valued
     d. the valor
9) Eating more at breakfast instead of dinner ______
     a. could prevent O.B city
     b. could prevent obese city
     c. could prevents obesity
     d. could prevent obesity
10) rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and prevent ______
     a. metabolism diseases
     b. metabolic diseases
     c. meta Gallic diseases
     d. meta bulk diseases

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Researchers have revealed what might be a (1) ___________________ way to lose weight - eat a big breakfast. It could become the biggest (2) ___________________ for those wishing to shed a few kilos. Scientists in Germany conducted a study on (3) ___________________ breakfast affected the body's metabolism in a laboratory experiment. Sixteen men ate a low-calorie breakfast and high-calorie dinner one day, (4) ___________________ with a high-calorie breakfast and low-calorie dinner the next. Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner (5) ___________________ called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). This is the generation of heat in the body that (6) ___________________. This happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day remained the same.

Eating a big breakfast led to 2.5 times higher rates of DIT. Researcher Dr Juliane Richter spoke about (7) ___________________ her investigation. She said: "Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, (8) ___________________ amount of calories it contains, creates twice as high DIT as the same (9) ___________________ dinner. This finding is significant for all people as it (10) ___________________ of eating enough at breakfast." She added: "Eating more at breakfast instead of dinner could (11) ___________________ high blood sugar. We recommend that patients with obesity as well as healthy people eat a significant breakfast rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

How popular did the article say eating a big breakfast might be?
What did the article say people might want to shed?
How many men took part in the experiment?
What kind of dinner did the men eat after having a big breakfast?
What does the process of DIT help to burn in the body?
Who is Juliane Richter?
What does the research underline the value of?
What does a big breakfast produce double the rate of DIT than?
What patients could eating a big breakfast help?
What diseases could eating a big breakfast help to prevent?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How popular did the article say eating a big breakfast might be?
a) fairly popular
b) highly popular
c) pretty popular
d) somewhat popular
2) What did the article say people might want to shed?
a) some light
b) skin
c) stomach fat
d) a few kilos
3) How many men took part in the experiment?
a) 16
b) 18
c) 14
d) 12
4) What kind of dinner did the men eat after having a big breakfast?
a) a Big Mac meal
b) a vegan meal
c) a low-calorie dinner
d) vegetarian pizza
5) What does the process of DIT help to burn in the body?
a) fat
b) calories
c) muscle
d) blood sugar

6) Who is Juliane Richter?
a) a patient
b) a test participant
c) a researcher
d) a writer
7) What does the research underline the value of?
a) metabolic diseases
b) diet-induced thermogenesis
c) high blood sugar
d) eating enough for breakfast
8) What does a big breakfast produce double the rate of DIT than?
a) same sized dinners
b) diet-induced thermogenesis
c) high blood sugar
d) vegetarian pizzas
9) What patients could eating a big breakfast help?
a) obesity patients
b) long-term patients
c) outpatients
d) very ill patients
10) What diseases could eating a big breakfast help to prevent?
a) contagious diseases
b) metabolic diseases
c) infectious diseases
d) viral diseases

Role play

Role A – Fruit Diet
You think a fruit diet is best to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their diets. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these diets (and why): vegan diet, low-carb diet or liquid diet.

Role B – Vegan Diet
You think a vegan diet is best to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their diets. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these diets (and why): fruit diet, low-carb diet or liquid diet.

Role C – Low-Carb Diet
You think a low-carb diet is best to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their diets. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these diets (and why): vegan diet, fruit diet or liquid diet.

Role D – Liquid Diet
You think a liquid diet is best to lose weight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their diets. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these diets (and why): vegan diet, low-carb diet or fruit diet.

After reading / listening

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

'breakfast'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'weight'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

highly

ever

affected

boosted

burns

total

rates

eaten

high

enough

blood

body

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 - Big Breakfasts

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 'breakfast'?
What do you think of your weight?
How important is a big breakfast?
Have you ever been on a diet?
Is a big breakfast or big dinner better?
What is the best breakfast?
Do you worry about the number of calories you consume?
Should we eat what we want to and be happy?
Why are high-calorie foods so tasty?

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 'calories'?
What do you think about what you read?
Is it better to diet or exercise to lose weight?
Has what you eat for breakfast changed over the years?
Why is obesity such a problem these days?
Why is it that a big breakfast is better than a big dinner?
What do you know about metabolic diseases?
What do you know about breakfasts around the world?
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)

Researchers have (1) ____ what might be a highly popular new way to lose weight - eat a big breakfast. It could become the biggest diet (2) ____ ever for those wishing to shed a few kilos. Scientists in Germany conducted a study on how a (3) ____ breakfast affected the body's metabolism in a laboratory experiment. Sixteen men ate a low-calorie breakfast and high-calorie dinner one day, and (4) ____ this with a high-calorie breakfast and low-calorie dinner the next. Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner (5) ____ a process called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). This is the generation of heat in the body that burns (6) ____ calories. This happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day remained the same.

Eating a big breakfast led to 2.5 times higher rates of DIT. Researcher Dr Juliane Richter spoke about the (7) ____ of her investigation. She said: "Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, regardless (8) ____ the amount of calories it contains, creates twice as high DIT as the same meal consumed for dinner. This finding is significant for all people as it (9) ____ the value of eating enough at breakfast." She added: "Eating more at breakfast (10) ____ of dinner could prevent obesity and high blood sugar. We recommend that patients with obesity as well as healthy people eat a (11) ____ breakfast rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and (12) ____ metabolic diseases."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) revelled (b) reviled (c) revealed (d) revolted
(a) fad (b) pad (c) fat (d) pat
(a) hearty (b) kidney (c) livery (d) brainy
(a) reversed (b) forwarded (c) sided (d) upped
(a) bested (b) boasted (c) basted (d) boosted
(a) for (b) on (c) out (d) up
(a) findings (b) searching (c) discovering (d) concluding
(a) by (b) at (c) on (d) of
(a) underlines (b) lines (c) sidelines (d) breadlines
(a) regardless (b) instead (c) prefer (d) rather
(a) significance (b) significant (c) signifying (d) significantly
(a) prevent (b) abolish (c) prohibit (d) scrap

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Researchers have rveelaed what might be
a rotylboraa experiment
reesverd this with a high-calorie breakfast
a smaller dinner teobosd a process
called diet-idudcne thermogenesis
the total srioecla consumed

Paragraph 2

the findings of her tnanstgiviioe
esrasrelgd of the amount
This finding is ciniifgsant
We rcmeenomd that
patients with bisotey
prevent eclatomib diseases

Put the text back together

(...) induced thermogenesis (DIT). This is the generation of heat in the body that burns up calories. This
(...) consumed for dinner. This finding is significant for all people as it underlines the value of eating enough
(...) about the findings of her investigation. She said: "Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, regardless
(...) calorie breakfast and high-calorie dinner one day, and reversed this with a high-calorie breakfast and low-calorie dinner the
(...) at breakfast." She added: "Eating more at breakfast instead of dinner could prevent obesity and high
( 1 ) Researchers have revealed what might be a highly popular new way to lose weight - eat a big breakfast. It could
(...) of the amount of calories it contains, creates twice as high DIT as the same meal
(...) happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day remained the same.
(...) next. Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner boosted a process called diet-
(...) on how a hearty breakfast affected the body's metabolism in a laboratory experiment. Sixteen men ate a low-
(...) Eating a big breakfast led to 2.5 times higher rates of DIT. Researcher Dr Juliane Richter spoke
(...) become the biggest diet fad ever for those wishing to shed a few kilos. Scientists in Germany conducted a study
(...) than a large dinner to reduce body weight and prevent metabolic diseases."
(...) blood sugar. We recommend that patients with obesity as well as healthy people eat a significant breakfast rather

Put the words in the right order

new weight . to highly popular way lose A
could biggest fad It ever . diet the become
breakfast the a How body's metabolism . hearty affected
the The in generation of heat body .
remained throughout consumed the same . the Calories day
led to 2.5 times big A higher rates . breakfast
it of contains . Regardless of amount calories the
value eating underlines enough of It the breakfast .
with healthy Patients people . obesity as well as
weight metabolic body Reduce and prevent diseases .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Researchers have revealed what might be a heightened / highly popular new way to lose weight - eat a big breakfast. It could become the biggest diet fat / fad ever for those wishing to shed / shack a few kilos. Scientists in Germany conducted a study on how a brainy / hearty breakfast affected the body's metabolism in a laboratory experiment. Sixteen men ate a low-calorie breakfast and high-calorie dinner one day, and reserved / reversed this with a high-calorie breakfast and low-calorie dinner the after / next. Eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner boosted / boasted a process called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). This is the generation / reduction of heat in the body that burns up / out calories. This happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day remain / remained the same.

Eating a big breakfast led / resulted to 2.5 times higher rates of DIT. Researcher Dr Juliane Richter spoke about the founding / findings of her investigation. She said: "Our results show a meal eaten for breakfast, regardless / regarding of the amount of calories it contains, creates double / twice as high DIT as the same meal consumed / consummated for dinner. This finding is significant for all people as it breadlines / underlines the value of eating enough at breakfast." She added: "Eating more at breakfast rather / instead of dinner could prevent obesity and high blood / bloody sugar. We recommend that patients with obesity as well as healthy people eat a significant / significance breakfast rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and prevent metabolism / metabolic diseases."

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)

R_s__ r c h_r s h_v_ r_v__ l_d w h_t m_g h t b_ _ h_g h l y p_p_l_r n_w w_y t_ l_s_ w__ g h t - __ t _ b_g b r__ k f_s t . I t c__ l d b_c_m_ t h_ b_g g_s t d__ t f_d _v_r f_r t h_s_ w_s h_n g t_ s h_d _ f_w k_l_s . S c__ n t_s t s _n G_r m_n y c_n d_c t_d _ s t_d y _n h_w _ h__ r t y b r__ k f_s t _f f_c t_d t h_ b_d y ' s m_t_b_l_s m _n _ l_b_r_t_r y _x p_r_m_n t . S_x t__ n m_n _t_ _ l_w - c_l_r__ b r__ k f_s t _n d h_g h - c_l_r__ d_n n_r _n_ d_y , _n d r_v_r s_d t h_s w_t h _ h_g h - c_l_r__ b r__ k f_s t _n d l_w - c_l_r__ d_n n_r t h_ n_x t . E_t_n g _ l_r g_r b r__ k f_s t _n d _ s m_l l_r d_n n_r b__ s t_d _ p r_c_s s c_l l_d d__ t -_n d_c_d t h_r m_g_n_s_s ( D I T ) . T h_s _s t h_ g_n_r_t__ n _f h__ t _n t h_ b_d y t h_t b_r n s _p c_l_r__ s . T h_s h_p p_n_d _v_n w h_n t h_ t_t_l c_l_r__ s c_n s_m_d t h r__ g h__ t t h_ d_y r_m__ n_d t h_ s_m_.

E_t_n g _ b_g b r__ k f_s t l_d t_ 2 . 5 t_m_s h_g h_r r_t_s _f D I T . R_s__ r c h_r D r J_l__ n_ R_c h t_r s p_k_ _b__ t t h_ f_n d_n g s _f h_r _n v_s t_g_t__ n . S h_ s__ d : " O_r r_s_l t s s h_w _ m__ l __ t_n f_r b r__ k f_s t , r_g_r d l_s s _f t h_ _m__ n t _f c_l_r__ s _t c_n t__ n s , c r__ t_s t w_c_ _s h_g h D I T _s t h_ s_m_ m__ l c_n s_m_d f_r d_n n_r . T h_s f_n d_n g _s s_g n_f_c_n t f_r _l l p__ p l_ _s _t _n d_r l_n_s t h_ v_l__ _f __ t_n g _n__ g h _t b r__ k f_s t . " S h_ _d d_d : " E_t_n g m_r_ _t b r__ k f_s t _n s t__ d _f d_n n_r c__ l d p r_v_n t _b_s_t y _n d h_g h b l__ d s_g_r . W_ r_c_m m_n d t h_t p_t__ n t s w_t h _b_s_t y _s w_l l _s h__ l t h y p__ p l_ __ t _ s_g n_f_c_n t b r__ k f_s t r_t h_r t h_n _ l_r g_ d_n n_r t_ r_d_c_ b_d y w__ g h t _n d p r_v_n t m_t_b_l_c d_s__ s_s . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

researchers have revealed what might be a highly popular new way to lose weight eat a big breakfast it could become the biggest diet fad ever for those wishing to shed a few kilos scientists in germany conducted a study on how a hearty breakfast affected the bodys metabolism in a laboratory experiment sixteen men ate a lowcalorie breakfast and highcalorie dinner one day and reversed this with a highcalorie breakfast and lowcalorie dinner the next eating a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner boosted a process called diet induced thermogenesis dit this is the generation of heat in the body that burns up calories this happened even when the total calories consumed throughout the day remained the same

eating a big breakfast led to 25 times higher rates of dit researcher dr juliane richter spoke about the findings of her investigation she said our results show a meal eaten for breakfast regardless of the amount of calories it contains creates twice as high dit as the same meal consumed for dinner this finding is significant for all people as it underlines the value of eating enough at breakfast she added eating more at breakfast instead of dinner could prevent obesity and high blood sugar we recommend that patients with obesity as well as healthy people eat a significant breakfast rather than a large dinner to reduce body weight and prevent metabolic diseases

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Researchershaverevealedwhatmightbeahighlypopularnewwaytolos
eweight-eatabigbreakfast.Itcouldbecomethebiggestdietfadeverfo
rthosewishingtoshedafewkilos.ScientistsinGermanyconductedastu
dyonhowaheartybreakfastaffectedthebody'smetabolisminalaborato
ryexperiment.Sixteenmenatealow-caloriebreakfastandhigh-calori
edinneroneday,andreversedthiswithahigh-caloriebreakfastandlow-
caloriedinnerthenext.Eatingalargerbreakfastandasmallerdinnerboo
stedaprocesscalleddiet-inducedthermogenesis(DIT).Thisisthegen
erationofheatinthebodythatburnsupcalories.Thishappenedevenwhe
nthetotalcaloriesconsumedthroughoutthedayremainedthesame.Ea
tingabigbreakfastledto2.5timeshigherratesofDIT.ResearcherDrJuli
aneRichterspokeaboutthefindingsofherinvestigation.Shesaid:"Ourr
esultsshowamealeatenforbreakfast,regardlessoftheamountofcalori
esitcontains,createstwiceashighDITasthesamemealconsumedfordi
nner.Thisfindingissignificantforallpeopleasitunderlinesthevalueofea
tingenoughatbreakfast."Sheadded:"Eatingmoreatbreakfastinstead
ofdinnercouldpreventobesityandhighbloodsugar.Werecommendtha
tpatientswithobesityaswellashealthypeopleeatasignificantbreakfast
ratherthanalargedinnertoreducebodyweightandpreventmetabolicdi
seases."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Children should have daily lessons on healthy eating at school. 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. BREAKFAST: Make a poster about breakfast. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. CALORIES: Write a magazine article about setting a legal, maximum, daily calorie limit. 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 breakfast. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on big breakfasts. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Big Breakfasts

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