The Reading / Listening - Full Moon - Level 3

If you have trouble sleeping at certain times of the month, it could be because of a full moon. Scientists from the University of Washington say there is a link between the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns. They say that on nights when there is a full moon, people could experience more restless sleep. The reason for this could be the Moon's changing brightness. When there is a full moon, the extra brightness in the night sky could interrupt our sleep. The scientists said: "Moonlight is so bright to the human eye that it is entirely reasonable to imagine that, in the absence of other sources of light, this source of nocturnal light could have had a role in [changing] human nocturnal activity and sleep."

The scientists conducted a study of the sleep patterns of over 500 people. Each person wore a special wristband that tracked their sleep. The study included 98 people from an isolated village in rural Argentina. These people did not have access to electricity and other artificial light sources. Their sleep patterns were compared to 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has lots of artificial light pollution. The scientists discovered that people in the rural village and in the big city got less sleep on the nights leading up to the full moon. The scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem to affect sleeping patterns and that, "human sleep is synchronised with lunar phases."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Full Moon - Level 0,  Full Moon - Level 1   or  Full Moon - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/13875791/how-the-moon-affects-sleep/
  • https://www.futurity.org/moon-sleep-lunar-cycle-2509072/
  • https://www.ladbible.com/news/news-scientists-claim-you-may-be-struggling-to-sleep-because-of-the-moon-20210128


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SLEEP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sleep. 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?
       trouble / times / full moon / sleeping / patterns / experience / night sky / human eye /
       scientists / wristband / village / rural / artificial / big city / synchronised / lunar phases
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LIGHT POLLUTION: Students A strongly believe governments should make laws to cut down on light pollution; Students B strongly believe that's unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SLEEP QUALITY: How can these things affect your sleep quality? What can we do about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Sleep Quality

Solutions

Moonlight

 

 

Noisy neighbours

 

 

The cold

 

 

Stress

 

 

Bad Dreams

 

 

Caffeine

 

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

  • A dark room
  • Quiet
  • Hot milk
  • A soft pillow
  • Music
  • A good book
  • Music
  • Exercise

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. certain a. Unable to sleep or relax because of stress, boredom or other thing.
      2. link b. Anything about the night.
      3. pattern c. Specific but not explicitly (clearly) named or stated
      4. restless d. Something that happens at the same or similar times.
      5. interrupt e. A relationship between two things or situations.
      6. entirely f. Stop the continuous progress of an activity or process.
      7. nocturnal g. Completely.

    Paragraph 2

      8. conducted h. Followed the course of someone or something, usually to find them or note their location or activity.
      9. tracked i. Far away from other places, buildings, or people; remote.
      10. isolated j. Caused to happen or work at the same time or speed.
      11. rural k. Carried out; done.
      12. artificial l. A period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development.
      13. synchronised m. Made or produced by human beings rather than naturally, especially as a copy of something natural.
      14. phases n. In, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists say there is no link between sleep and lunar cycles.     T / F
  2. Scientists say people may have restless sleep when there is a full moon.  T / F
  3. The extra brightness of the Moon could interrupt our sleep.     T / F
  4. Moonlight is a source of nocturnal light.     T / F
  5. Scientists looked at the sleep pattern of over 5,000 people.     T / F
  6. Some of the people in the study lived in a rural Argentinian village.     T / F
  7. People in a rural village got more sleep on nights before a full moon.     T / F
  8. Scientists say human sleep is synchronised with lunar phases.     T / F

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

  1. trouble
  2. link
  3. restless
  4. extra
  5. role
  6. conducted
  7. tracked
  8. artificial
  9. discovered
  10. phases
  1. synthetic
  2. part
  3. carried out
  4. connection
  5. stages
  6. difficulty
  7. found
  8. additional
  9. troubled
  10. monitored

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

  1. If you have trouble sleeping at certain
  2. a link between the lunar cycle
  3. people could experience more
  4. the extra brightness
  5. other sources
  6. The scientists conducted a
  7. Each person wore a
  8. an isolated village in
  9. lots of artificial light
  10. less sleep on the nights leading
  1. up to the full moon
  2. in the night sky
  3. of light
  4. and sleeping patterns
  5. special wristband
  6. rural Argentina
  7. times of the month
  8. pollution
  9. restless sleep
  10. study

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bright
nocturnal
certain
sources
restless
entirely
link
extra

If you have trouble sleeping at (1) _____________________ times of the month, it could be because of a full moon. Scientists from the University of Washington say there is a (2) _____________________ between the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns. They say that on nights when there is a full moon, people could experience more (3) _____________________ sleep. The reason for this could be the Moon's changing brightness. When there is a full moon, the (4) _____________________ brightness in the night sky could interrupt our sleep. The scientists said: "Moonlight is so (5) _____________________ to the human eye that it is (6) _____________________ reasonable to imagine that, in the absence of other (7) _____________________ of light, this source of nocturnal light could have had a role in [changing] human (8) _____________________ activity and sleep."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sources
tracked
rural
patterns
phases
artificial
leading
isolated

The scientists conducted a study of the sleep (9) _____________________ of over 500 people. Each person wore a special wristband that (10) _____________________ their sleep. The study included 98 people from an (11) _____________________ village in rural Argentina. These people did not have access to electricity and other artificial light (12) _____________________. Their sleep patterns were compared to 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has lots of (13) _____________________ light pollution. The scientists discovered that people in the (14) _____________________ village and in the big city got less sleep on the nights (15) _____________________ up to the full moon. The scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem to affect sleeping patterns and that, "human sleep is synchronised with lunar (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) If you have trouble sleeping at certain times _____
     a.  off the month
     b.  oft the month
     c.  of the month
     d.  over month
2)  there is a link between the lunar cycle ______
     a.  and sleep in patterns
     b.  and sleep ping patterns
     c.  and sleep pin patterns
     d.  and sleeping patterns
3)  The reason for this could be the Moon's ______
     a.  changing bright nest
     b.  changing brightness
     c.  changing brightly nest
     d.  changing bright next
4)  there is a full moon, the extra brightness in the night sky could ______
     a.  interrupt our sleep
     b.  interrupts our sleep
     c.  interrupting our sleep
     d.  interrupted our sleep
5)  this source of nocturnal light could have ______
     a.  had a roll
     b.  had a role
     c.  had oral
     d.  had aural

6)  Each person wore a special wristband that ______
     a.  tract their sleep
     b.  trucked their sleep
     c.  tricked their sleep
     d.  tracked their sleep
7)  The study included 98 people from an isolated village ______
     a.  in aural Argentina
     b.  in oral Argentina
     c.  inner Argentina
     d.  in rural Argentina
8)  compared to 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has lots ______
     a.  off artificial light
     b.  of an arty light
     c.  of an official light
     d.  offer terrific light
9)  and in the big city got less sleep on the nights ______ the full moon
     a.  lead in up to
     b.  lead din up to
     c.  lead ding up to
     d.  leading up to
10)  sleeping patterns and that, human sleep is synchronised ______
     a.  with lunar phases
     b.  with loner phases
     c.  with leaner phases
     d.  with loony phases

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

If you have trouble sleeping (1) ____________________ of the month, it could be because of a full moon. Scientists from the University of Washington say there is (2) ____________________ the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns. They say that on nights when there is a full moon, people could experience (3) ____________________. The reason for this could be the Moon's changing brightness. When there is a full moon, the extra brightness in the night sky (4) ____________________ sleep. The scientists said: "Moonlight is so bright to the human eye that (5) ____________________ reasonable to imagine that, in the absence of other sources of light, this source of nocturnal light could have (6) ____________________ in [changing] human nocturnal activity and sleep."

The scientists conducted a study of the (7) ____________________ over 500 people. Each person wore a special wristband that tracked their sleep. The study included 98 people from an isolated (8) ____________________ Argentina. These people did not have access to electricity and other artificial light sources. Their sleep patterns (9) ____________________ 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has (10) ____________________ light pollution. The scientists discovered that people in the rural village and in the big city got less sleep on the nights (11) ____________________ the full moon. The scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem to affect sleeping patterns and that, "human sleep is synchronised (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What university are the scientists from who conducted the study?
  2. What did scientists say was linked to sleeping patterns?
  3. What kind of sleep did the scientists say people could experience?
  4. What additional thing does the Moon have when it is full?
  5. What adjective did scientists use to describe light at night?
  6. How many people took part in the study?
  7. Where did 98 people in the study live?
  8. Where did 464 people in the study live?
  9. What did scientists say does not see seem to affect sleeping patterns?
  10. What did scientists say is synchronised with lunar phases?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What university are the scientists from who conducted the study?
a) New York
b) Washington
c) Wyoming
d) California
2) What did scientists say was linked to sleeping patterns?
a) the wash cycle
b) the solar cycle
c) the recycle
d) the lunar cycle
3) What kind of sleep did the scientists say people could experience?
a) exciting
b) boring
c) restless
d) sound
4) What additional thing does the Moon have when it is full?
a) brightness
b) shadows
c) power
d) romance
5) What adjective did scientists use to describe light at night?
a) dark
b) nocturnal
c) scary
d) unhelpful

6) How many people took part in the study?
a) over 500
b) exactly 500
c) around 500
d) fewer than 500
7) Where did 98 people in the study live?
a) a metropolis
b) a small town
c) a rural village
d) the International Space Station
8) Where did 464 people in the study live?
a) Seattle
b) London
c) Delhi
d) Perth
9) What did scientists say does not seem to affect sleeping patterns?
a) thick curtains
b) soft pillows
c) music
d) artificial light
10) What did scientists say is synchronised with lunar phases?
a) exercise
b) solar phases
c) human sleep
d) nightmares

Role play

Role  A – A Dark Room
You think a dark room is the best thing to help you sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a soft pillow, a good book or exercise.

Role  B – A Soft Pillow
You think a soft pillow is the best thing to help you sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a dark room, a good book or exercise.

Role  C – A Good Book
You think a good book is the best thing to help you sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a soft pillow, a dark room or exercise.

Role  D – Exercise
You think exercise is the best thing to help you sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a soft pillow, a good book or a dark room.

After reading / listening

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

'sleep'

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

    • and 'moon'.

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

    • • 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:

    • trouble
    • link
    • reason
    • extra
    • eye
    • role
    • over
    • 98
    • compared
    • rural
    • cities
    • phases

    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 - Full Moon

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'sleep'?
    3. What are your sleeping patterns like?
    4. What do you do if you have trouble sleeping?
    5. How interested are you in the Moon?
    6. What effect does the Moon have on us?
    7. How much do you like sleep?
    8. What conditions do you need to sleep well?
    9. What are you like if you have a bad night's sleep?
    10. Can you sleep any time and anywhere?

    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 'moon'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are your sleep patterns like?
    5. Have you ever slept in a strange place?
    6. How do lights affect your sleep?
    7. What do you think of light pollution?
    8. What do you think of when you look at the Moon?
    9. Do you prefer a quarter, half or full moon?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    If you have (1) ____ sleeping at certain times of the month, it could be because of a full moon. Scientists from the University of Washington say there is a (2) ____ between the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns. They say that (3) ____ nights when there is a full moon, people could experience more restless sleep. The reason for this could be the Moon's changing brightness. When there is a full moon, the extra (4) ____ in the night sky could interrupt our sleep. The scientists said: "Moonlight is so bright to the human eye that it is (5) ____ reasonable to imagine that, in the absence of other sources of light, this source of nocturnal light could have had a role (6) ____ [changing] human nocturnal activity and sleep."

    The scientists conducted a study of the sleep patterns (7) ____ over 500 people. Each person wore a special wristband that tracked their sleep. The study (8) ____ 98 people from an isolated village in rural Argentina. These people did not have access to electricity and (9) ____ artificial light sources. Their sleep patterns were compared to 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has lots of artificial light pollution. The scientists discovered that people in the (10) ____ village and in the big city got less sleep on the nights leading (11) ____ to the full moon. The scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem to affect sleeping patterns and that, "human sleep is synchronised with lunar (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     wrong     (b)     bad     (c)     difficult     (d)     trouble    
    2. (a)     think     (b)     sink     (c)     rink     (d)     link    
    3. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     as     (d)     to    
    4. (a)     brightly     (b)     brightness     (c)     bright     (d)     brighten    
    5. (a)     whole     (b)     complete     (c)     entirely     (d)     total    
    6. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    8. (a)     included     (b)     including     (c)     inclusive     (d)     include    
    9. (a)     others     (b)     other     (c)     another     (d)     other than    
    10. (a)     lunar     (b)     aural     (c)     rural     (d)     oral    
    11. (a)     off     (b)     out     (c)     up     (d)     down    
    12. (a)     phrases     (b)     phaser     (c)     phasing     (d)     phases

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. trouble sleeping at tcnerai times
    2. the narul cycle
    3. prttrieun our sleep
    4. it is nlytieer reasonable to imagine
    5. other ecssruo of light
    6. human octanruln activity

    Paragraph 2

    1. scientists ccentduod a study
    2. Each person wore a special wbranitds
    3. 98 people from an aetsidlo village
    4. lots of iraftliaci light pollution
    5. scientists idsecvdreo that
    6. lunar easshp

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) If you have trouble sleeping at certain times of the month, it could be because of a full moon. Scientists
    (...)  sky could interrupt our sleep. The scientists said: "Moonlight is so bright to the human eye that it is entirely reasonable to
    (...)  imagine that, in the absence of other sources of light, this source of nocturnal
    (...)  be the Moon's changing brightness. When there is a full moon, the extra brightness in the night
    (...)  patterns and that, "human sleep is synchronised with lunar phases."
    (...)  on nights when there is a full moon, people could experience more restless sleep. The reason for this could
    (...)  light could have had a role in [changing] human nocturnal activity and sleep."
    (...)  compared to 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has lots of artificial light pollution. The scientists discovered that people in the
    (...)  from the University of Washington say there is a link between the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns. They say that
    (...)  Argentina. These people did not have access to electricity and other artificial light sources. Their sleep patterns were
    (...)  rural village and in the big city got less sleep on the nights leading up to the full
    (...)  The scientists conducted a study of the sleep patterns of over 500 people. Each person wore a special
    (...)  wristband that tracked their sleep. The study included 98 people from an isolated village in rural
    (...)  moon. The scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem to affect sleeping

    Put the words in the right order

    1. times   .   sleeping   certain   you   at   trouble   If   have
    2. be   could   a   moon   .   of   because   full   It
    3. the   reason   could   The   changing   be   brightness   .   Moon's
    4. is   Moonlight   to   the   so   human   bright   eye   .
    5. of   the   sources   of   other   In   absence   light   .
    6. people   .   study   patterns   of   A   sleep   of   500
    7. their   sleep   .   special   A   that   wristband   tracked
    8. electricity   .   not   people   did   access   These   to   have
    9. up   the   nights   On   leading   moon   .   full   to
    10. to   affect   in   does   not   cities   Light   sleep   .   seem

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    If you have trouble / troubled sleeping at certain times of the month, it could be because / due of a full moon. Scientists from the University of Washington say there is a link / join between the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns. They say that in / on nights when there is a full moon, people could experience more restless / restful sleep. The reason for this could be the Moon's changing bright / brightness. When there is a full moon, the extra brightness in the night sky could interrupt our / my sleep. The scientists said: "Moonlight is so bright to the human eye / see that it is entirely reasonable to imagine that, in the absence / absent of other sources of light, this source of nocturnal light could have had a roll / role in [changing] human nocturnal activity and sleep."

    The scientists conduct / conducted a study of the sleep patterns of over 500 people. Each person wore a special wristband that tricked / tracked their sleep. The study included 98 people from an isolate / isolated village in rural Argentina. These people did not have access / excess to electricity and other artificial light sources / sauces. Their sleep patterns were compared / comparison to 464 people living in U.S. city of Seattle, which has lots of artificial lights / light pollution. The scientists discovered that people in the rural village and in the big city got less / fewer sleep on the nights leading up to the full moon. The scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem / seen to affect sleeping patterns and that, "human sleep is synchronised with lunar phrases / phases."

    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)

    _f  y__  h_v_  tr__bl_  sl__p_ng  _t  c_rt__n  t_m_s  _f  th_  m_nth,  _t  c__ld  b_  b_c__s_  _f  _  f_ll  m__n.  Sc__nt_sts  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  W_sh_ngt_n  s_y  th_r_  _s  _  l_nk  b_tw__n  th_  l_n_r  cycl_  _nd  sl__p_ng  p_tt_rns.  Th_y  s_y  th_t  _n  n_ghts  wh_n  th_r_  _s  _  f_ll  m__n,  p__pl_  c__ld  _xp_r__nc_  m_r_  r_stl_ss  sl__p.  Th_  r__s_n  f_r  th_s  c__ld  b_  th_  M__n's  ch_ng_ng  br_ghtn_ss.  Wh_n  th_r_  _s  _  f_ll  m__n,  th_  _xtr_  br_ghtn_ss  _n  th_  n_ght  sky  c__ld  _nt_rr_pt  __r  sl__p.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  s__d:  "M__nl_ght  _s  s_  br_ght  t_  th_  h_m_n  _y_  th_t  _t  _s  _nt_r_ly  r__s_n_bl_  t_  _m_g_n_  th_t,  _n  th_  _bs_nc_  _f  _th_r  s__rc_s  _f  l_ght,  th_s  s__rc_  _f  n_ct_rn_l  l_ght  c__ld  h_v_  h_d  _  r_l_  _n  [ch_ng_ng]  h_m_n  n_ct_rn_l  _ct_v_ty  _nd  sl__p."

    Th_  sc__nt_sts  c_nd_ct_d  _  st_dy  _f  th_  sl__p  p_tt_rns  _f  _v_r  500  p__pl_.  __ch  p_rs_n  w_r_  _  sp_c__l  wr_stb_nd  th_t  tr_ck_d  th__r  sl__p.  Th_  st_dy  _ncl_d_d  98  p__pl_  fr_m  _n  _s_l_t_d  v_ll_g_  _n  r_r_l  _rg_nt_n_.  Th_s_  p__pl_  d_d  n_t  h_v_  _cc_ss  t_  _l_ctr_c_ty  _nd  _th_r  _rt_f_c__l  l_ght  s__rc_s.  Th__r  sl__p  p_tt_rns  w_r_  c_mp_r_d  t_  464  p__pl_  l_v_ng  _n  _.S.  c_ty  _f  S__ttl_,  wh_ch  h_s  l_ts  _f  _rt_f_c__l  l_ght  p_ll_t__n.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  d_sc_v_r_d  th_t  p__pl_  _n  th_  r_r_l  v_ll_g_  _nd  _n  th_  b_g  c_ty  g_t  l_ss  sl__p  _n  th_  n_ghts  l__d_ng  _p  t_  th_  f_ll  m__n.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  s__d  th_  _rt_f_c__l  l_ght  _n  c_t__s  d__s  n_t  s__m  t_  _ff_ct  sl__p_ng  p_tt_rns  _nd  th_t,  "h_m_n  sl__p  _s  synchr_n_s_d  w_th  l_n_r  ph_s_s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    if you have trouble sleeping at certain times of the month it could be because of a full moon scientists from the university of washington say there is a link between the lunar cycle and sleeping patterns they say that on nights when there is a full moon people could experience more restless sleep the reason for this could be the moons changing brightness when there is a full moon the extra brightness in the night sky could interrupt our sleep the scientists said moonlight is so bright to the human eye that it is entirely reasonable to imagine that in the absence of other sources of light this source of nocturnal light could have had a role in changing human nocturnal activity and sleep

    the scientists conducted a study of the sleep patterns of over 500 people each person wore a special wristband that tracked their sleep the study included 98 people from an isolated village in rural argentina these people did not have access to electricity and other artificial light sources their sleep patterns were compared to 464 people living in us city of seattle which has lots of artificial light pollution the scientists discovered that people in the rural village and in the big city got less sleep on the nights leading up to the full moon the scientists said the artificial light in cities does not seem to affect sleeping patterns and that human sleep is synchronised with lunar phases

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Ifyouhavetroublesleepingatcertaintimesofthemonth,itcouldbebeca
    useofafullmoon.ScientistsfromtheUniversityofWashingtonsaytherei
    salinkbetweenthelunarcycleandsleepingpatterns.Theysaythatonnig
    htswhenthereisafullmoon,peoplecouldexperiencemorerestlessslee
    p.ThereasonforthiscouldbetheMoon'schangingbrightness.Whenthe
    reisafullmoon,theextrabrightnessinthenightskycouldinterruptoursl
    eep.Thescientistssaid:"Moonlightissobrighttothehumaneyethatitise
    ntirelyreasonabletoimaginethat,intheabsenceofothersourcesoflight
    ,thissourceofnocturnallightcouldhavehadarolein[changing]humann
    octurnalactivityandsleep."Thescientistsconductedastudyofthesleep
    patternsofover500people.Eachpersonworeaspecialwristbandthattr
    ackedtheirsleep.Thestudyincluded98peoplefromanisolatedvillagein
    ruralArgentina.Thesepeopledidnothaveaccesstoelectricityandother
    artificiallightsources.Theirsleeppatternswerecomparedto464people
    livinginU.S.cityofSeattle,whichhaslotsofartificiallightpollution.Thes
    cientistsdiscoveredthatpeopleintheruralvillageandinthebigcitygotle
    sssleeponthenightsleadinguptothefullmoon.Thescientistssaidtheart
    ificiallightincitiesdoesnotseemtoaffectsleepingpatternsandthat,"hu
    mansleepissynchronisedwithlunarphases."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The Moon has lots of unknown powers over our lives. 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. SLEEP: Make a poster about sleep. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. LIGHT-BLOCKING CURTAINS: Write a magazine article about all of us using light-blocking curtains to get better sleep. 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 sleep. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to get better sleep. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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