Breaking News English Lesson: Paper Bottle

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Coca-Cola tests a paper bottle (17th March, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Paper Bottle - Level 3

Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is causing a lot of damage to our environment. It is polluting rivers and oceans and harming and killing wildlife. Plastic is a growing problem because it takes hundreds of years to break down. Many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic with other things. Coca-Cola has teamed up with a Danish start-up called the Paper Bottle Company ("Paboco" for short) to make a paper bottle. Coca-Cola hopes to completely stop using plastic for its drinks bottles. It was ranked as the world's number one plastic polluter in 2019. In one year, it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging. A lot of this is not recycled.

Paboco asked us to: "Imagine that all plastic packaging in your store has disappeared." Coca-Cola executives are imagining this. One Coca-Cola exec. said: "Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other type of paper. A paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging possibilities. We are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future." He added that he hopes Coca-Cola will one day use only packaging from renewable sources that are recyclable. He said: "This is all part of our journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for people to enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for them, and that is right for our planet."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Paper Bottle - Level 0, Paper Bottle - Level 1 or Paper Bottle - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56023723
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/coca-cola-unveils-paper-bottle-prototype
https://www.fastcompany.com/90604514/cokes-newest-bottle-is-made-from-paper

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. PAPER BOTTLES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about paper bottles. 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?
problem / damage / wildlife / hundreds of years / plastic / paper / bottle / recycled /
store / vision / type / possibilities / role / renewable / sources / packaging / planet
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO PLASTIC: Students A strongly believe all plastic should be banned; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DAMAGE: What damage does plastic cause these things? How can we reduce the damage? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Plastic Damage	Reducing the Damage
Oceans
Beaches
Forests
Streets
Space
Our body

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. OCEAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "ocean". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PLASTIC PRODUCTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most useful plastic products at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Bottles
Pens
Plates
Toys
Bags
Cutlery
Furniture
Masks

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	causing	a.	Totally.
2.	damage	b.	Materials used to wrap or protect goods.
3.	wildlife	c.	Making something (especially something bad) happen.
4.	break down	d.	Harm.
5.	completely	e.	Become smaller and returning to nature over time.
6.	polluter	f.	Someone or something that puts harmful or poisonous things in the air or in rivers and oceans.
7.	packaging	g.	The animals and flowers in nature.

Paragraph 2

8.	disappeared	h.	Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level.
9.	vision	i.	Of a source of energy or something from nature that we can use again and again.
10.	possibilities	j.	Made someone believe in the truth of something.
11.	convinced	k.	Stopped being there; vanished.
12.	renewable	l.	A way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
13.	sustainable	m.	A mental picture of what the future will or could be like.
14.	solution	n.	Things that may happen or be the case.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says plastic isn't a problem everywhere in the world. T / F
The article says plastic takes thousands of years to break down. T / F
The name "Paboco" is short for Paper Bottle Company. T / F
Coca-Cola is the world's number one plastic polluter. T / F
Coca-Cola has a vision to make bottles that are recycled like paper. T / F
A Coca-Cola executive said paper packaging has no role in the future. T / F
A Coca-Cola executive wants to journey to a packaging factory. T / F
A Coca-Cola executive wants people to enjoy drinks in the right way. T / F

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

problem
harming
break down
completely
recycled
disappeared
vision
role
solutions
right

decompose
dream
totally
vanished
damaging
answers
good
difficulty
part
reused

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

It is causing a lot
it takes hundreds of years
trying to replace plastic
Coca-Cola hopes to completely
ranked as the world's number
all plastic packaging in your
recycled like any other
opens up a whole new world of
We are convinced that paper packaging
find the most sustainable packaging

packaging possibilities
with other things
type of paper
store has disappeared
of damage
has a role to play
one plastic polluter
to break down
solutions
stop using plastic

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

oceans
ranked
other
recycled
causing
hopes
break
start-up

Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is (1) _____________________ a lot of damage to our environment. It is polluting rivers and (2) _____________________ and harming and killing wildlife. Plastic is a growing problem because it takes hundreds of years to (3) _____________________ down. Many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic with (4) _____________________ things. Coca-Cola has teamed up with a Danish (5) _____________________ called the Paper Bottle Company ("Paboco" for short) to make a paper bottle. Coca-Cola (6) _____________________ to completely stop using plastic for its drinks bottles. It was (7) _____________________ as the world's number one plastic polluter in 2019. In one year, it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging. A lot of this is not (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

role
type
executives
sources
right
whole
solutions
packaging

Paboco asked us to: "Imagine that all plastic (9) _____________________ in your store has disappeared." Coca-Cola (10) _____________________ are imagining this. One Coca-Cola exec. said: "Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other (11) _____________________ of paper. A paper bottle opens up a (12) _____________________ new world of packaging possibilities. We are convinced that paper packaging has a (13) _____________________ to play in the future." He added that he hopes Coca-Cola will one day use only packaging from renewable (14) _____________________ that are recyclable. He said: "This is all part of our journey to find the most sustainable packaging (15) _____________________ for people to enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for them, and that is (16) _____________________ for our planet."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is causing a ______
     a. lot of damaged
     b. lot of damage
     c. lot of dam age
     d. lot of damn age
2) It is polluting rivers and oceans and harming ______
     a. and kill in wildlife
     b. and kill in wild life
     c. and killing wilder life
     d. and killing wildlife
3) Many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic ______
     a. with other things
     b. with another things
     c. with others things
     d. with the others things
4) It was ranked as the world's number one plastic ______
     a. pollution in 2019
     b. polluter in 2019
     c. polluted in 2019
     d. pollutes in 2019
5) it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging. A lot of this ______
     a. is not recycle
     b. is not recycles
     c. is not recycled
     d. is not recycling

6) Coca-Cola executives are ______
     a. imagine in this
     b. image in this
     c. image inning this
     d. imagining this
7) Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other ______
     a. tip of paper
     b. tape of paper
     c. tie of paper
     d. type of paper
8) We are convinced that paper packaging has a ______
     a. roll to play
     b. LOL to play
     c. role too play
     d. role to play
9) This is all part of our journey to find the most sustainable ______
     a. package in solutions
     b. pack aging solutions
     c. packer gin solutions
     d. packaging solutions
10) enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for them, and that is right ______
     a. form our planet
     b. for our planet
     c. four our planet
     d. fore our planet

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is (1) ____________________ of damage to our environment. It is polluting (2) ____________________ and harming and killing wildlife. Plastic is a growing problem because it takes hundreds of years (3) ____________________. Many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic with other things. Coca-Cola has teamed up with a Danish (4) ____________________ the Paper Bottle Company ("Paboco" for short) to make a paper bottle. Coca-Cola hopes to completely stop using plastic for its drinks bottles. It (5) ____________________ the world's number one plastic polluter in 2019. In one year, it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging. A (6) ____________________ is not recycled.

Paboco asked us to: "Imagine that (7) ____________________ in your store has disappeared." Coca-Cola executives (8) ____________________. One Coca-Cola exec. said: "Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like (9) ____________________ of paper. A paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging possibilities. We are convinced that paper packaging has a (10) ____________________ in the future." He added that he hopes Coca-Cola will one day use only packaging from renewable sources that are recyclable. He said: "This is (11) ____________________ our journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for people to enjoy our drinks in a way that is (12) ____________________, and that is right for our planet."

Comprehension questions

What does the article say plastic is killing?
How does the article say it takes for plastic to break down?
What is the name "Paboco" short for?
When was Coca-Cola ranked as the world's number one plastic polluter?
How much plastic packaging does Coca-Cola use on one year?
From where did Paboco ask us to imagine that plastic had disappeared?
What does the paper bottle open up a whole new world of?
When did an executive say paper packaging had a role to play?
What did the executive say creating the paper packaging was part of?
What does Coca-Cola want people to enjoy?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say plastic is killing?
a) rubber
b) the earth
c) wildlife
d) trees
2) How does the article say it takes for plastic to break down?
a) hundreds of years
b) thousands of years
c) tens of thousands of years
d) hundreds of thousands of years
3) What is the name "Paboco" short for?
a) Paper Bottle Company
b) Pepsi Bottle Company
c) Plastic Bottle Company
d) Plastic Above Cola
4) When was Coca-Cola ranked as the world's number one plastic polluter?
a) 2018
b) 2019
c) 2017
d) 2020
5) How much plastic packaging does Coca-Cola use on one year?
a) just less than 3 million tons
b) exactly 3 million tons
c) over 3 million tons
d) around 3 million tons

6) From where did Paboco ask us to imagine that plastic had disappeared?
a) forests
b) your store
c) your home
d) beaches
7) What does the paper bottle open up a whole new world of?
a) packaging possibilities
b) drinks
c) recycling methods
d) sustainability
8) When did an executive say paper packaging had a role to play?
a) 2019
b) in few years
c) the future
d) last week
9) What did the executive say creating the paper packaging was part of?
a) business
b) life
c) the future
d) a journey
10) What does Coca-Cola want people to enjoy?
a) its drinks
b) paper bottles
c) a green Earth
d) life

Role play

Role A – Pens
You think pens are the best plastic products. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their plastic products. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bottles, bags or masks.

Role B – Bottles
You think bottles are the best plastic products. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their plastic products. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): pens, bags or masks.

Role C – Bags
You think bags are the best plastic products. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their plastic products. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bottles, pens or masks.

Role D – Masks
You think masks are the best plastic products. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their plastic products. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bottles, bags or pens.

After reading / listening

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

'paper'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'bottle'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

problem

wildlife

trying

called

ranked

tons

store

vision

type

role

part

way

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 - Paper Bottle

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 'paper'?
What do you know about Coca-Cola?
How serious is the plastic pollution problem?
How can we live without plastic?
What do you think of paper bottles?
How much extra would you pay for a paper bottle?
Should Coca-Cola have to pay a plastic tax?
What happens to plastic in the environment?
What do you think when you see plastic on beaches?

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 'bottle'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of Coca-Cola?
What can we use instead of plastic?
What future does paper packaging have?
Which is better, Coke or Pepsi?
Will you stop buying plastic bottles from now?
What things do you have that are made of plastic?
What questions would you like to ask Coca-Cola?

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)

Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is (1) ____ a lot of damage to our environment. It is polluting rivers and oceans and harming and (2) ____ wildlife. Plastic is a growing problem because it takes hundreds of years to (3) ____ down. Many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic with other things. Coca-Cola has teamed (4) ____ with a Danish start-up called the Paper Bottle Company ("Paboco" for short) to make a paper bottle. Coca-Cola hopes to (5) ____ stop using plastic for its drinks bottles. It was ranked as the world's number one plastic polluter in 2019. In one year, it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging. A lot of (6) ____ is not recycled.

Paboco asked us to: "Imagine that (7) ____ plastic packaging in your store has disappeared." Coca-Cola executives are imagining this. One Coca-Cola exec. said: "Our (8) ____ is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other type of paper. A paper bottle opens up a whole (9) ____ world of packaging possibilities. We are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future." He added that he hopes Coca-Cola will one day use (10) ____ packaging from renewable sources that are recyclable. He said: "This is all part (11) ____ our journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for people to enjoy our drinks in a (12) ____ that is right for them, and that is right for our planet."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) cause (b) caused (c) causes (d) causing
(a) dying (b) death (c) murdering (d) killing
(a) bake (b) break (c) take (d) put
(a) down (b) in (c) up (d) over
(a) completely (b) complete (c) completes (d) completed
(a) this (b) them (c) those (d) thus
(a) every (b) whole (c) entire (d) all
(a) vision (b) visor (c) visit (d) visible
(a) blue (b) new (c) glue (d) sue
(a) once (b) one (c) only (d) ones
(a) at (b) by (c) of (d) to
(a) whey (b) way (c) weigh (d) away

Spelling

Paragraph 1

causing a lot of aamdge
It is polluting rivers and ceaons
eplrcae plastic with other things
narked as the world's number one
tons of plastic acapigkng
A lot of this is not crcyeled

Paragraph 2

Coca-Cola ectueixevs
Our isvoin is to create a paper bottle
nrawebele sources
This is all part of our ourjeny
find the most unasitasble
that is right for our neaplt

Put the text back together

( 1 ) Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is causing a lot of damage to our environment. It is polluting rivers
(...) are imagining this. One Coca-Cola exec. said: "Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be
(...) plastic with other things. Coca-Cola has teamed up with a Danish start-up called the Paper Bottle Company
(...) year, it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging. A lot of this is not recycled.
(...) for its drinks bottles. It was ranked as the world's number one plastic polluter in 2019. In one
(...) part of our journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for people to
(...) and oceans and harming and killing wildlife. Plastic is a growing problem because it takes hundreds
(...) of years to break down. Many companies around the world are trying to replace
(...) Paboco asked us to: "Imagine that all plastic packaging in your store has disappeared." Coca-Cola executives
(...) ("Paboco" for short) to make a paper bottle. Coca-Cola hopes to completely stop using plastic
(...) Coca-Cola will one day use only packaging from renewable sources that are recyclable. He said: "This is all
(...) enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for them, and that is right for our planet."
(...) possibilities. We are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future." He added that he hopes
(...) recycled like any other type of paper. A paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging

Put the words in the right order

is the big a problem Plastic for world .
our environment . to of damage lot Causing a
down . of years hundreds break to takes It
bottles . its Completely plastic for stop using drinks
packaging . of uses three plastic tons It million
store plastic disappeared . in packaging your has All
to Our is paper create a bottle . vision
world . a open Paper new whole up bottles
all journey . This our is part of
a way In right them . is for that

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Plastic is a big problem for the world. It is casing / causing a lot of damage to our environment. It is polluting rivers and oceans and harm / harming and killing wildlife. Plastic is a growing / grown problem because it takes hundreds of years to break in / down. Many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic with another / other things. Coca-Cola has teamed up with a Danish start-up called the Paper Bottle Company ("Paboco" for short) to take / make a paper bottle. Coca-Cola hopes to compete / completely stop using plastic for its drinks bottles. It was ranked / ranks as the world's number one plastic pollution / polluter in 2019. In one year, it uses around three million tons of / to plastic packaging. A lot of this is not recycled.

Paboco asked them / us to: "Imagine that all plastic packaging in your store has disappeared." Coca-Cola executives are imagination / imagining this. One Coca-Cola exec. said: "Our vision / visor is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any others / other type of paper. A paper bottle opens up / down a whole new world of packaging possible / possibilities. We are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play / fun in the future." He added that he hopes Coca-Cola will one day use only packaging from renewable sources / sauces that are recyclable. He said: "This is all part of our journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for / so people to enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for they / them, and that is right for our planet."

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)

Pl_st_c _s _ b_g pr_bl_m f_r th_ w_rld. _t _s c__s_ng _ l_t _f d_m_g_ t_ __r _nv_r_nm_nt. _t _s p_ll_t_ng r_v_rs _nd _c__ns _nd h_rm_ng _nd k_ll_ng w_ldl_f_. Pl_st_c _s _ gr_w_ng pr_bl_m b_c__s_ _t t_k_s h_ndr_ds _f y__rs t_ br__k d_wn. M_ny c_mp_n__s _r__nd th_ w_rld _r_ try_ng t_ r_pl_c_ pl_st_c w_th _th_r th_ngs. C_c_-C_l_ h_s t__m_d _p w_th _ D_n_sh st_rt-_p c_ll_d th_ P_p_r B_ttl_ C_mp_ny ("P_b_c_" f_r sh_rt) t_ m_k_ _ p_p_r b_ttl_. C_c_-C_l_ h_p_s t_ c_mpl_t_ly st_p _s_ng pl_st_c f_r _ts dr_nks b_ttl_s. _t w_s r_nk_d _s th_ w_rld's n_mb_r _n_ pl_st_c p_ll_t_r _n 2019. _n _n_ y__r, _t _s_s _r__nd thr__ m_ll__n t_ns _f pl_st_c p_ck_g_ng. _ l_t _f th_s _s n_t r_cycl_d.

P_b_c_ _sk_d _s t_: "_m_g_n_ th_t _ll pl_st_c p_ck_g_ng _n y__r st_r_ h_s d_s_pp__r_d." C_c_-C_l_ _x_c_t_v_s _r_ _m_g_n_ng th_s. _n_ C_c_-C_l_ _x_c. s__d: "__r v_s__n _s t_ cr__t_ _ p_p_r b_ttl_ th_t c_n b_ r_cycl_d l_k_ _ny _th_r typ_ _f p_p_r. _ p_p_r b_ttl_ _p_ns _p _ wh_l_ n_w w_rld _f p_ck_g_ng p_ss_b_l_t__s. W_ _r_ c_nv_nc_d th_t p_p_r p_ck_g_ng h_s _ r_l_ t_ pl_y _n th_ f_t_r_." H_ _dd_d th_t h_ h_p_s C_c_-C_l_ w_ll _n_ d_y _s_ _nly p_ck_g_ng fr_m r_n_w_bl_ s__rc_s th_t _r_ r_cycl_bl_. H_ s__d: "Th_s _s _ll p_rt _f __r j__rn_y t_ f_nd th_ m_st s_st__n_bl_ p_ck_g_ng s_l_t__ns f_r p__pl_ t_ _nj_y __r dr_nks _n _ w_y th_t _s r_ght f_r th_m, _nd th_t _s r_ght f_r __r pl_n_t."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

plastic is a big problem for the world it is causing a lot of damage to our environment it is polluting rivers and oceans and harming and killing wildlife plastic is a growing problem because it takes hundreds of years to break down many companies around the world are trying to replace plastic with other things cocacola has teamed up with a danish startup called the paper bottle company paboco for short to make a paper bottle cocacola hopes to completely stop using plastic for its drinks bottles it was ranked as the worlds number one plastic polluter in 2019 in one year it uses around three million tons of plastic packaging a lot of this is not recycled

paboco asked us to imagine that all plastic packaging in your store has disappeared cocacola executives are imagining this one cocacola exec said our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other type of paper a paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging possibilities we are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future he added that he hopes cocacola will one day use only packaging from renewable sources that are recyclable he said this is all part of our journey to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for people to enjoy our drinks in a way that is right for them and that is right for our planet

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Plasticisabigproblemfortheworld.Itiscausingalotofdamagetoourenvi
ronment.Itispollutingriversandoceansandharmingandkillingwildlife.
Plasticisagrowingproblembecauseittakeshundredsofyearstobreakd
own.Manycompaniesaroundtheworldaretryingtoreplaceplasticwith
otherthings.Coca-ColahasteamedupwithaDanishstart-upcalledtheP
aperBottleCompany("Paboco"forshort)tomakeapaperbottle.Coca-
Colahopestocompletelystopusingplasticforitsdrinksbottles.Itwasra
nkedastheworld'snumberoneplasticpolluterin2019.Inoneyear,ituse
saroundthreemilliontonsofplasticpackaging.Alotofthisisnotrecycled
.Pabocoaskedusto:"Imaginethatallplasticpackaginginyourstorehas
disappeared."Coca-Colaexecutivesareimaginingthis.OneCoca-Cola
exec.said:"Ourvisionistocreateapaperbottlethatcanberecycledlikea
nyothertypeofpaper.Apaperbottleopensupawholenewworldofpacka
gingpossibilities.Weareconvincedthatpaperpackaginghasaroletopla
yinthefuture."HeaddedthathehopesCoca-Colawillonedayuseonlypa
ckagingfromrenewablesourcesthatarerecyclable.Hesaid:"Thisisallp
artofourjourneytofindthemostsustainablepackagingsolutionsforpeo
pletoenjoyourdrinksinawaythatisrightforthem,andthatisrightforour
planet."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Humans cannot live without plastic. 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. PAPER BOTTLES: Make a poster about paper bottles. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PLASTIC: Write a magazine article about ending all plastic use by the end of this decade. 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 paper bottles. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reduce plastic use. 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: Paper Bottle

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