The Reading / Listening - Aquariums - Level 3

An aquarium in Japan is asking people to help a group of eels that are getting lonely. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo has several tanks of garden eels. The creatures are usually very cautious and go into their holes in the sand when someone passes. However, the Sumida Aquarium eels are used to seeing visitors and stay above their holes so people can see them. The aquarium has closed because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are worried the eels are getting lonely. A staff member said the eels are forgetting what humans look like. She wants people to make video calls to the eels. The staff put special tablets in front of the eel tanks so people could make video calls to them.

The lack of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have become very shy. This could make them stressed when visitors start returning after the aquarium reopens. The coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult for staff to check on the eels' health because they are now staying in their holes in the sand. The aquarium tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgetting about us....Here is an urgent request - Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to remind the eels that "humans are friendly". It has organised a three-day event called a "face-showing festival". The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices to do so.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Aquariums - Level 0,  Aquariums - Level 1   or  Aquariums - Level 2

Sources
  • https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-tokyo-aquarium-appeals-for-people-to-video-call-the-eels-11981772
  • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/01/eels-seek-one-one-camchats-good-times-humans-12638678/
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/01/japanese-aquarium-urges-public-to-video-chat-eels-who-are-forgetting-humans-exist


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. AQUARIUMS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about aquariums. 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?
       aquarium / eels / lonely / tanks / visitors / holes / sand / emergency / staff / video /
       lack / shy / stressed / humans / urgent / request / home / friendly / festival / device
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EELS: Students A strongly believe eels are very, very, very interesting; Students B strongly believe they are not.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LONELY: How useful are these things are stopping people getting lonely? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Usefulness

Good Things

Bad Things

Video calls

 

 

 

Telephone

 

 

 

Shopping

 

 

 

Hobby clubs

 

 

 

Bars and clubs

 

 

 

Television

 

 

 
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. HOLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hole". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SEALIFE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most interesting sea life at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • eels
  • sharks
  • tuna
  • crabs
  • whales
  • shrimp
  • plankton
  • jelly fish

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. several a. An animal, but not a human being.
      2. creature b. All the people employed by a business or organization.
      3. cautious c. A serious, unexpected, and dangerous situation that needs immediate action.
      4. emergency d. Careful to stay away from possible problems or dangers.
      5. staff e. More than two but not many.
      6. member f. A small, flat computer that you control with your finger and not a mouse (like an iPad).
      7. tablet g. A person, animal, or plant belonging to a particular group.

    Paragraph 2

      8. lack h. Get someone to remember something or remember to do something.
      9. shy i. Not enough of something.
      10. stressed j. The action of asking someone for something or for someone to do something.
      11. urgent k. A thing made or changed for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.
      12. request l. Very, very worried about life and things around you.
      13. remind m. Needing very quick action.
      14. device n. Being quiet and not liking to be with new people.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. An aquarium in Kyoto, Japan has a group of lonely eels.     T / F
  2. Eels are very adventurous creatures and are not at all shy.     T / F
  3. The eels are lonely because the aquarium closed due to coronavirus.     T / F
  4. People can video call the eels on tablets.     T / F
  5. Staff are worried returning visitors might make the eels stressed.     T / F
  6. Staff have been checking the eels' health three times a day.     T / F
  7. The aquarium wants to remind the eels that we are friendly.     T / F
  8. People can video call the eels for the next there weeks.     T / F

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

  1. asking
  2. several
  3. cautious
  4. emergency
  5. staff
  6. lack
  7. returning
  8. urgent
  9. remind
  10. festival
  1. absence
  2. crisis
  3. celebration
  4. a number of
  5. serious
  6. employees
  7. requesting
  8. prompt
  9. going back
  10. careful

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

  1. asking people to help a
  2. The creatures are usually
  3. The aquarium has closed because of the
  4. the eels are forgetting
  5. staff put special tablets in front
  6. The lack of
  7. difficult for staff to check
  8. an urgent
  9. remind the eels that humans
  10. a three-day event called a
  1. coronavirus emergency
  2. "face-showing festival"
  3. visitors to the aquarium
  4. very cautious
  5. are friendly
  6. group of eels
  7. request
  8. of the eel tanks
  9. on the eels' health
  10. what humans look like

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sand
lonely
several
group
them
above
tablets
creatures

An aquarium in Japan is asking people to help a (1) ____________ of eels that are getting lonely. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo has (2) ____________ tanks of garden eels. The (3) ____________ are usually very cautious and go into their holes in the                      (4) ____________ when someone passes. However, the Sumida Aquarium eels are used to seeing visitors and stay                        (5) ____________ their holes so people can see them. The aquarium has closed because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are worried the eels are getting (6) ____________. A staff member said the eels are forgetting what humans look like. She wants people to make video calls to the eels. The staff put special (7) ____________ in front of the eel tanks so people could make video calls to (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
aquarium
humans
lack
so
check
festival
stressed
urgent

The (9) ____________ of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have become very shy. This could make them (10) ____________ when visitors start returning after the aquarium reopens. The coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult for staff to (11) ____________ on the eels' health because they are now staying in their holes in the sand. The (12) ____________ tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgetting about us....Here is an (13) ____________ request - Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to remind the eels that "(14) ____________ are friendly". It has organised a three-day event called a "face-showing (15) ____________". The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices to do (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  An aquarium in Japan is asking people to help a ______
     a.  grouped of eels
     b.  groups of eels
     c.  group of eels
     d.  groupie of eels
2)  The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo has several tanks ______
     a.  of garden eels
     b.  of gardeners eels
     c.  of gardening eels
     d.  of gardened eels
3) usually very cautious and go into their holes in the sand ______
     a.  when someone pass is
     b.  when someone par sis
     c.  when someone parses
     d.  when someone passes
4)  because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are worried the eels ______
     a.  are getting lovely
     b.  are getting lone lea
     c.  are getting lonely
     d.  are getting low knee
5)  The staff put special tablets in front of ______
     a.  the eel thanks
     b.  the eel tanks
     c.  the eel tankers
     d.  the eel takes

6)  The lack of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have ______
     a.  become very sly
     b.  become very spy
     c.  become very sky
     d.  become very shy
7)  stressed when visitors start returning after ______
     a.  the aquarium reap opens
     b.  the aquarium Rio pens
     c.  the aquarium re-opens
     d.  the aquarium reap opines
8)  emergency has also made it difficult for staff to check on ______
     a.  the eels' healthy
     b.  the eels' wealth
     c.  the eels' healthily
     d.  the eels' health
9)  The aquarium wants to remind the eels that "______"
     a.  human are friendly
     b.  humans are friendly
     c.  human are friendliness
     d.  humans are friend
10)  The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices ______
     a.  to doing so
     b.  to do so
     c.  to done so
     d.  to does so

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An aquarium in Japan is asking people to help a (1) ___________________ that are getting lonely. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo                               (2) ___________________ of garden eels. The creatures are usually very cautious and go into their holes in (3) ___________________ someone passes. However, the Sumida Aquarium eels are used to seeing visitors and stay above their holes so people can see them. The aquarium has closed because of the coronavirus emergency and (4) ___________________ the eels are getting lonely. A staff member said the (5) ___________________ what humans look like. She wants people to make video calls to the eels. The staff put (6) ___________________ front of the eel tanks so people could make video calls to them.

The lack of visitors to the aquarium (7) ___________________ have become very shy. This could make them stressed when visitors start returning after the aquarium reopens. The coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult for (8) ___________________ on the eels' health because they are now staying in their holes in the sand. The aquarium tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgetting about us....Here is                               (9) ___________________ -  Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to remind the eels that                  "(10) ___________________". It has organised a three-day event called a "(11) ___________________". The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. In which Japanese city is the aquarium?
  2. What did the article say about the usual character of the eels?
  3. What did the aquarium say the eels were used to?
  4. What might the eels forget?
  5. What is in front of the eels' tanks?
  6. What could happen to the eels if the aquarium lacks visitors?
  7. What is the aquarium having difficulty doing?
  8. Where are the eels now staying?
  9. What does the aquarium want to remind the eels about?
  10. What is the three-day festival the aquarium is putting on?

Multiple choice quiz

1) In which Japanese city is the aquarium?
a) Kyoto
b) Toyota
c) Tokyo
d) Kobe
2) What did the article say about the usual character of the eels?
a) they are cautious
b) they are adventurous
c) they are very shy
d) they are aggressive
3) What did the aquarium say the eels were used to?
a) swimming
b) seeing visitors
c) selfies
d) lockdown
4) What might the eels forget?
a) the time of the day
b) how to swim
c) eating
d) what humans look like
5) What is in front of the eels' tanks?
a) sharks
b) pills
c) tablets
d) lozenges

6) What could happen to the eels if the aquarium lacks visitors?
a) they could go back to the sea
b) they could become shy
c) they could be sold
d) they could be put in schools
7) What is the aquarium having difficulty doing?
a) getting the eels to breed
b) making the eels happy
c) making money
d) checking the eels' health
8) Where are the eels now staying?
a) in shells
b) in holes in the sand
c) in special houses
d) in pet shops
9) What does the aquarium want to remind the eels about?
a) food
b) that humans are friendly
c) their duties
d) social distancing of 2 metres

10) What is the three-day festival the aquarium is putting on?
a) a face-showing festival
b) a sea life festival
c) an eel history festival
d) an eel and chips festival

Role play

Role  A – Eels
You think eels are the most interesting creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): crabs, whales or jelly fish.

Role  B – Crabs
You think crabs are the most interesting creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): eels, whales or jelly fish.

Role  C – Whales
You think whales are the most interesting creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): crabs, eels or jelly fish.

Role  D – Jellyfish
You think jellyfish are the most interesting creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): crabs, whales or eels.

After reading / listening

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

'aquarium'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'eel'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • group
    • several
    • creatures
    • worried
    • look
    • front
    • lack
    • reopens
    • health
    • urgent
    • remind
    • so

    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 - Aquariums

    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 'aquarium'?
    3. Do you think eels can get lonely?
    4. What do you think about eels?
    5. When do you get lonely?
    6. What do you do when you get lonely?
    7. What experiences do you have of aquariums?
    8. What do eels think about when they see people?
    9. What do you think of video calls?
    10. Would you like to make a video calls to the eels?

    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 'eel'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about eels?
    5. What is your favourite aquarium?
    6. What are the good and bad things about aquariums?
    7. How do you check the health of an eel?
    8. How friendly are humans?
    9. What do you think of the "face-showing festival"?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the aquarium staff?

    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)

    An aquarium in Japan is asking people to help a group of eels that are getting lonely. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo has (1) ____ tanks of garden eels. The creatures are usually very (2) ____ and go into their holes in the sand when someone passes. However, the Sumida Aquarium eels are used to (3) ____ visitors and stay above their holes so people can see them. The aquarium has closed because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are (4) ____ the eels are getting lonely. A staff member said the eels are (5) ____ what humans look like. She wants people to make video calls to the eels. The staff put special tablets in front of the eel tanks so people could make video calls to (6) ____.

    The (7) ____ of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have become very shy. This could make them stressed when visitors start returning after the aquarium (8) ____. The coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult for staff to check on the eels' health because they are now staying in their holes in the (9) ____. The aquarium tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgetting about us....Here is an (10) ____ request - Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to (11) ____ the eels that "humans are friendly". It has organised a three-day event called a "face-showing festival". The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices to do (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     sever     (b)     serves     (c)     several     (d)     severe    
    2. (a)     cautious     (b)     ambitious     (c)     fictitious     (d)     species    
    3. (a)     seeing     (b)     saw     (c)     seen     (d)     sees    
    4. (a)     worried     (b)     worry     (c)     caution     (d)     anxiety    
    5. (a)     forgets     (b)     forgotten     (c)     forgetting     (d)     forget    
    6. (a)     they     (b)     us     (c)     we     (d)     them    
    7. (a)     lack     (b)     slack     (c)     black     (d)     flack    
    8. (a)     reopened     (b)     reopening     (c)     reopen     (d)     reopens    
    9. (a)     sand     (b)     sanded     (c)     sanding     (d)     sandy    
    10. (a)     urgently     (b)     urgent     (c)     urgency     (d)     urge    
    11. (a)     memory     (b)     remind     (c)     remember     (d)     memorise    
    12. (a)     so     (b)     soon     (c)     also     (d)     miso

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ervelas tanks of garden eels
    2. The creatures are usually very uusioact
    3. used to seeing rsoiivst
    4. stay above their heosl
    5. the coronavirus rncmgeeye
    6. special tltsbea

    Paragraph 2

    1. This could make them edsrtsse
    2. check on the eels' hhtael
    3. Here is an urgent rquseet
    4. niremd the eels that "humans are friendly"
    5. a "face-showing veiftsla"
    6. only use Apple siveecd

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to seeing visitors and stay above their holes so people can see them. The aquarium has
    (...)  closed because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are worried the eels are getting lonely. A staff
    (...)  tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgetting about us....Here is an urgent
    (  1  ) An aquarium in Japan is asking people to help a group of eels that are getting
    (...)  to the eels. The staff put special tablets in front of the eel tanks so people could make video calls to them.
    (...)  showing festival". The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices to do so.
    (...)  lonely. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo has several tanks of garden eels. The creatures
    (...)  are usually very cautious and go into their holes in the sand when someone passes. However, the Sumida Aquarium eels are used
    (...)  the eels that "humans are friendly". It has organised a three-day event called a "face-
    (...)  The lack of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have become very shy. This could make them stressed when visitors
    (...)  member said the eels are forgetting what humans look like. She wants people to make video calls
    (...)  on the eels' health because they are now staying in their holes in the sand. The aquarium
    (...)  start returning after the aquarium reopens. The coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult for staff to check
    (...)  request  -  Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to remind

    Put the words in the right order

    1. eels   are   group   of   that   lonely   .   A   getting
    2. their   Stay   above   people   so   can   see   .   holes
    3. getting   worried   lonely   .   are   are   eels   the   Staff
    4. are   forgetting   what   look   eels   humans   The   like   .
    5. front   the   tablets   Special   in   tanks   .   eel   of
    6. when   them   Make   visitors   stressed   returning   .   start
    7. The   made   also   has   it   coronavirus   emergency   difficult   .
    8. the   staff   health   .   to   for   eels'   Difficult   check
    9. that   the   humans   Remind   eels   friendly   .   are
    10. asked   make   is   public   calls   .   video   to   The

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An aquarium in Japan is asking / asked people to help a group of eels that are getting lonely. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo has sever / several tanks of garden eels. The creatures / creature are usually very cautious and go into their holes in the sand when someone past / passes. However, the Sumida Aquarium eels are used to seeing / seen visitors and stay above their holes so people can see us / them. The aquarium has closed because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are worry / worried the eels are getting lonely. A staff member said the eels / eel are forgetting what humans look like. She wants people to make video called / calls to the eels. The staff put special tablets in front of the eel thanks / tanks so people could make video calls to them.

    The slack / lack of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have become very sly / shy. This could make them stressed when visitors start returning after / post the aquarium reopens. The coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult / difficulty for staff to check on the eels' health because they are now staying in their / them holes in the sand. The aquarium tweeted: "They aren't seeing humans so they are forgotten / forgetting about us....Here is an urgent / urgency request  -  Could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?" The aquarium wants to mind / remind the eels that "humans are friendly". It has organised a three-day event called a "face-showing festive / festival". The public is being asked to make video calls but can only use Apple devices to doing / do so.

    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 n _q__ r__ m _n J_p_n _s _s k_n g p__ p l_ t_ h_l p _ g r__ p _f __ l s t h_t _r_ g_t t_n g l_n_l y . T h_ S_m_d_ A q__ r__ m _n T_k y_ h_s s_v_r_l t_n k s _f g_r d_n __ l s . T h_ c r__ t_r_s _r_ _s__ l l y v_r y c__ t___s _n d g_ _n t_ t h__ r h_l_s _n t h_ s_n d w h_n s_m__ n_ p_s s_s . H_w_v_r , t h_ S_m_d_ A q__ r__ m __ l s _r_ _s_d t_ s___n g v_s_t_r s _n d s t_y _b_v_ t h__ r h_l_s s_ p__ p l_ c_n s__ t h_m . T h_ _q__ r__ m h_s c l_s_d b_c__ s_ _f t h_ c_r_n_v_r_s _m_r g_n c y _n d s t_f f _r_ w_r r__ d t h_ __ l s _r_ g_t t_n g l_n_l y . A s t_f f m_m b_r s__ d t h_ __ l s _r_ f_r g_t t_n g w h_t h_m_n s l__ k l_k_. S h_ w_n t s p__ p l_ t_ m_k_ v_d__ c_l l s t_ t h_ __ l s . T h_ s t_f f p_t s p_c__ l t_b l_t s _n f r_n t _f t h_ __ l t_n k s s_ p__ p l_ c _ _ l d m_k_ v_d__ c_l l s t_ t h_m .

    T h_ l_c k _f v_s_t_r s t_ t h_ _q__ r__ m m__ n s t h_ __ l s h_v_ b_c_m_ v_r y s h y . T h_s c__ l d m_k_ t h_m s t r_s s_d w h_n v_s_t_r s s t_r t r_t_r n_n g _f t_r t h_ _q__ r__ m r__ p_n s . T h_ c_r_n_v_r_s _m_r g_n c y h_s _l s_ m_d_ _t d_f f_c_l t f_r s t_f f t_ c h_c k _n t h_ __ l s ' h__ l t h b_c__ s_ t h_y _r_ n_w s t_y_n g _n t h__ r h_l_s _n t h_ s_n d . T h_ _q__ r__ m t w__ t_d : " T h_y _r_n ' t s___n g h_m_n s s_ t h_y _r_ f_r g_t t_n g _b__ t _s . . . . H_r_ _s _n _r g_n t r_q__ s t - C__ l d y__ s h_w y__ r f_c_ t_ __ r g_r d_n __ l s f r_m y__ r h_m_? " T h_ _q__ r__ m w_n t s t_ r_m_n d t h_ __ l s t h_t " h_m_n s _r_ f r__ n d l y " . I t h_s _r g_n_s_d _ t h r__ - d_y _v_n t c_l l_d _ " f_c_- s h_w_n g f_s t_v_l " . T h_ p_b l_c _s b__ n g _s k_d t_ m_k_ v_d__ c_l l s b_t c_n _n l y _s_ A p p l_ d_v_c_s t_ d_ s_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an aquarium in japan is asking people to help a group of eels that are getting lonely the sumida aquarium in tokyo has several tanks of garden eels the creatures are usually very cautious and go into their holes in the sand when someone passes however the sumida aquarium eels are used to seeing visitors and stay above their holes so people can see them the aquarium has closed because of the coronavirus emergency and staff are worried the eels are getting lonely a staff member said the eels are forgetting what humans look like she wants people to make video calls to the eels the staff put special tablets in front of the eel tanks so people could make video calls to them

    the lack of visitors to the aquarium means the eels have become very shy this could make them stressed when visitors start returning after the aquarium reopens the coronavirus emergency has also made it difficult for staff to check on the eels health because they are now staying in their holes in the sand the aquarium tweeted they arent seeing humans so they are forgetting about ushere is an urgent request    could you show your face to our garden eels from your home the aquarium wants to remind the eels that humans are friendly it has organised a threeday event called a faceshowing festival the public is being asked to make video calls but can only use apple devices to do so

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnaquariuminJapanisaskingpeopletohelpagroupofeelsthataregettin
    glonely.TheSumidaAquariuminTokyohasseveraltanksofgardeneels.
    Thecreaturesareusuallyverycautiousandgointotheirholesinthesand
    whensomeonepasses.However,theSumidaAquariumeelsareusedto
    seeingvisitorsandstayabovetheirholessopeoplecanseethem.Theaqu
    ariumhasclosedbecauseofthecoronavirusemergencyandstaffarewor
    riedtheeelsaregettinglonely.Astaffmembersaidtheeelsareforgetting
    whathumanslooklike.Shewantspeopletomakevideocallstotheeels.T
    hestaffputspecialtabletsinfrontoftheeeltankssopeoplecouldmakevid
    eocallstothem.Thelackofvisitorstotheaquariummeanstheeelshaveb
    ecomeveryshy.Thiscouldmakethemstressedwhenvisitorsstartretur
    ningaftertheaquariumreopens.Thecoronavirusemergencyhasalsom
    adeitdifficultforstafftocheckontheeels'healthbecausetheyarenowsta
    yingintheirholesinthesand.Theaquariumtweeted:"Theyaren'tseeing
    humanssotheyareforgettingaboutus....Hereisanurgentrequest-Cou
    ldyoushowyourfacetoourgardeneelsfromyourhome?"Theaquarium
    wantstoremindtheeelsthat"humansarefriendly".Ithasorganisedathr
    ee-dayeventcalleda"face-showingfestival".Thepublicisbeingaskedt
    omakevideocallsbutcanonlyuseAppledevicestodoso.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Humans should interact with animals more so they get used to us. 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. AQUARIUMS: Make a poster about aquariums. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. HUMANS ARE FRIENDLY: Write a magazine article about humans interacting with animals more so animals know we are friendly. 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 aquariums. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on aquariums. 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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