The Reading / Listening - Eco-anxiety - Level 3

More and more children are suffering from "eco-anxiety". This is a condition that causes people to worry a lot about the future of Earth and the life on it. People worry about climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. This has led education experts to call for more teaching in schools about climate change, wildlife and the environment. Many teachers say very little is taught in schools about climate change. Some teachers believe climate change should be taught to all year groups. The Teach the Future campaign group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt they knew enough about the climate crisis. The group said this is leading to more children suffering from eco-anxiety.

Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, has taken action to address the problem of eco-anxiety. It said: "Eco-anxiety is not an official diagnosable disorder. However, it does affect children in very real ways. This includes feelings of fear, hopelessness and despair." It added: "It is important to research and understand the ways in which we can help children find effective strategies to cope with these feelings." Earth Rangers said schools should create conservation activities and help children to teach their parents about how to protect nature. The Earth Rangers president said more needed to be done to help children. She said: "Children are on the front lines of climate change."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Eco-anxiety - Level 0 Eco-anxiety - Level 1   or  Eco-anxiety - Level 2

Sources
  • https://news.sky.com/story/youngsters-suffering-from-eco-anxiety-as-campaigners-demand-more-climate-change-teaching-in-schools-12321819
  • https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/02/2240546/0/en/New-research-from-Earth-Rangers-Ipsos-mental-health-experts-shows-rising-climate-concerns-among-children-can-be-healthy-with-the-right-support.html
  • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-health-idUSKCN2D7206


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. ECO-ANXIETY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about eco-anxiety. 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?
       suffering / eco-anxiety / worry / future / experts / environment / campaign / crisis /
       address / problem / disorder / fear / cope / feelings / conservation / nature / change
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SCHOOL SUBJECT: Students A strongly believe climate change should be a major school subject; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ANXIETY: How anxious are you about these things? What can we do to stop the damage? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Anxious

How To Stop the Damage

Climate change

 

 

Pollution

 

 

Biodiversity loss

 

 

Rising sea levels

 

 

Desertification

 

 

Poverty

 

 

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. CLIMATE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "climate". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SCHOOLS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best subjects to taught in schools at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Climate change
  • Recycling
  • Religious tolerance
  • Coding
  • Business skills
  • Gender issues
  • Nutrition
  • Relationships

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. suffering a. Feeling pain, distress, or hardship.
      2. condition b. A number of people who get together to change something in our world.
      3. pollution c. An illness or other medical problem.
      4. biodiversity d. A person who has a lot of knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
      5. expert e. The dirt, waste or poison in our rivers, seas, the air and the environment.
      6. campaign group f. The many different kinds of animals, fish, birds, insects, etc. in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
      7. crisis g. A time of great difficulty, trouble, or danger.

    Paragraph 2

      8. address h. Successful in created a good result.
      9. official i. The complete loss of hope.
      10. diagnosable j. Think about and begin to deal with an issue or problem.
      11. despair k. The saving or protection of the natural environment and of wildlife.
      12. effective l. Having the approval of an important group of people.
      13. conservation m. The area or place that is closest to danger or to an important fight against something.
      14. front line n. Being able to say something is a medical problem.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says most children suffer from eco-anxiety.     T / F
  2. Teachers want climate change to be taught more in schools.     T / F
  3. Teachers believe climate change should only be taught to teenagers.     T / F
  4. A group found only 40% of school children knew about climate change.   T / F
  5. Eco-anxiety is an official medical condition.     T / F
  6. Children feel fear and hopelessness because with eco-anxiety.     T / F
  7. A campaign group wants children to teach parents about climate change. T / F
  8. The group said children are on the front lines of climate change.     T / F

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

  1. condition
  2. loss
  3. experts
  4. taught
  5. crisis
  6. address
  7. affect
  8. effective
  9. protect
  10. help
  1. deal with
  2. instructed
  3. support
  4. specialists
  5. successful
  6. illness
  7. emergency
  8. safeguard
  9. disappearance
  10. impact

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

  1. This is a condition that causes
  2. pollution and the loss
  3. education
  4. teachers say very little
  5. leading to more children suffering
  6. address the
  7. Eco-anxiety is not an official
  8. feelings of fear, hopelessness
  9. find effective strategies to cope
  10. more needed to
  1. problem of eco-anxiety
  2. is taught in schools
  3. with these feelings
  4. and despair
  5. people to worry a lot
  6. be done to help children
  7. of biodiversity
  8. diagnosable disorder
  9. from eco-anxiety
  10. experts

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
loss
little
leading
condition
wildlife
campaign
life
groups

More and more children are suffering from "eco-anxiety". This is a (1) _____________________ that causes people to worry a lot about the future of Earth and the (2) _____________________ on it. People worry about climate change, pollution and the (3) _____________________ of biodiversity. This has led education experts to call for more teaching in schools about climate change, (4) _____________________ and the environment. Many teachers say very (5) _____________________ is taught in schools about climate change. Some teachers believe climate change should be taught to all year (6) _____________________. The Teach the Future (7) _____________________ group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt they knew enough about the climate crisis. The group said this is (8) _____________________ to more children suffering from eco-anxiety.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
feelings
cope
action
protect
disorder
activities
lines
ways

Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, has taken (9) _____________________ to address the problem of eco-anxiety. It said: "Eco-anxiety is not an official diagnosable (10) _____________________. However, it does affect children in very real ways. This includes (11) _____________________ of fear, hopelessness and despair." It added: "It is important to research and understand the (12) _____________________ in which we can help children find effective strategies to (13) _____________________ with these feelings." Earth Rangers said schools should create conservation (14) _____________________ and help children to teach their parents about how to (15) _____________________ nature. The Earth Rangers president said more needed to be done to help children. She said: "Children are on the front (16) _____________________ of climate change."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) This is a condition that causes people to worry a lot ______
     a.  about the futures
     b.  about the few chair
     c.  about the future
     d.  about a future
2)  People worry about climate change, pollution and the ______
     a.  lost of biodiversity
     b.  lose of biodiversity
     c.  loss of biodiversity
     d.  lots of biodiversity
3)  This has led education experts to ______
     a.  kale for more
     b.  cull for more
     c.  cell for more
     d.  call for more
4)  Some teachers believe climate change should be taught to ______
     a.  all years groups
     b.  all year group
     c.  all year groups
     d.  all years group
5) campaign group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt ______
     a.  they new enough
     b.  they anew enough
     c.  they gnu enough
     d.  they knew enough

6)  Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, has taken action to ______
     a.  ad dress the problem
     b.  add rest the problem
     c.  address the problem
     d.  aid rest the problem
7)  Eco-anxiety is not an official ______
     a.  diagnosable disorder
     b.  diagnosable this order
     c.  diagnosable this solder
     d.  diagnosable this soldier
8)  However, it does affect children in ______
     a.  very really ways
     b.  very real way
     c.  very real ways
     d.  very really way
9)  the ways in which we can help children find effective ______
     a.  strategy stew cope
     b.  strategies chew cope
     c.  strategies to cope
     d.  strategies two cope
10)  She said: "Children are on the front ______ change."
     a.  lines of climate
     b.  aligns of climate
     c.  lanes of climate
     d.  lens of climate

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

More and more children are suffering from "eco-anxiety". This (1) ____________________ that causes people to worry a lot about the future of Earth and the (2) ____________________. People worry about climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. This has led education (3) ____________________ for more teaching in schools about climate change, wildlife and the environment. Many teachers say very (4) ____________________ in schools about climate change. Some teachers believe climate change should be (5) ____________________ year groups. The Teach the Future campaign group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt they knew enough about (6) ____________________. The group said this is leading to more children suffering from eco-anxiety.

Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, has taken (7) ____________________ the problem of eco-anxiety. It said: "Eco-anxiety is (8) ____________________ diagnosable disorder. However, it does affect children in very real ways. This includes (9) ____________________, hopelessness and despair." It added: "It is (10) ____________________ and understand the ways in which we can help children find effective strategies to (11) ____________________ feelings." Earth Rangers said schools should create conservation activities and help children to teach their parents about how to protect nature. The Earth Rangers president said more needed to be done to help children. She said: "Children are on the (12) ____________________ climate change."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does eco-anxiety cause people to worry about the future of?
  2. Who has asked for climate change to be taught more in schools?
  3. What do teachers want to be taught in schools besides climate change?
  4. Which children do teachers believe climate change should be taught to?
  5. How many children believe they know enough about climate change?
  6. What does the group Earth Rangers say is not an official disorder?
  7. What feelings might children have besides hopelessness?
  8. What do teachers want so children can cope with negative feelings?
  9. Who do the group Earth Rangers want children to teach?
  10. Where did the Earth Rangers' president say children are?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does eco-anxiety cause people to worry about the future of?
a) worms
b) animals
c) Earth
d) whales
2) Who has asked for climate change to be taught more in schools?
a) teachers
b) parents
c) governments
d) scientists
3) What do teachers want to be taught in schools besides climate change?
a) physics and biology
b) wildlife and the environment
c) relationships and nutrition
d) recycling and alternative living
4) Which children do teachers believe climate change should be taught to?
a) high schoolers
b) early years
c) all teenagers
d) all year groups
5) How many children believe they know enough about climate change?
a) 40%
b) 14%
c) 4%
d) 44%

6) What does the group Earth Rangers say is not an official disorder?
a) climate change
b) eco-anxiety
c) diagnosis
d) despair
7) What feelings might children have besides hopelessness?
a) confusion and loss
b) depression and sadness
c) hopefulness and optimism
d) fear and despair
8) What do teachers want so children can cope with negative feelings?
a) medicines
b) effective strategies
c) counselling
d) more money
9) Who do the group Earth Rangers want children to teach?
a) each other
b) their parents
c) scientists
d) people who don't recycle
10) Where did the Earth Rangers' president say children are?
a) the front lines of climate change
b) under grey skies
c) between a rock and a hard place
d) an environmental nightmare

Role play

Role  A – Climate Change
You think climate change is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religious tolerance, business skills or nutrition.

Role  B – Religious Tolerance
You think religious tolerance is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): climate change, business skills or nutrition.

Role  C – Business Skills
You think business skills is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religious tolerance, climate change or nutrition.

Role  D – Nutrition
You think nutrition is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religious tolerance, business skills or climate change.

After reading / listening

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

'suffer'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'anxiety'.

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

    • more
    • life
    • call
    • little
    • believe
    • crisis
    • taken
    • official
    • real
    • cope
    • parents
    • front

    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 - Eco-anxiety

    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 'suffer'?
    3. What is eco-anxiety?
    4. Do you think you could suffer from eco-anxiety?
    5. How much do you worry about things like climate change?
    6. How sad is it that children have eco-anxiety?
    7. What do you think about biodiversity loss?
    8. How much time should schools spend teaching about climate change?
    9. What do you know about climate change?
    10. What advice do you have for children with eco-anxiety?

    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 'anxiety'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should eco-anxiety be an official disorder?
    5. How might eco-anxiety affect children?
    6. Are you hopeful or fearful about Earth's future?
    7. What do you think of conservation activities at school?
    8. What do you do to help protect our planet?
    9. Why are children "on the front lines of climate change"?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Earth Rangers?

    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)

    More and more children are suffering from "eco-anxiety". This is a (1) ____ that causes people to worry a lot about the future of Earth and the life on (2) ____. People worry about climate change, pollution and the (3) ____ of biodiversity. This has led education experts to (4) ____ for more teaching in schools about climate change, wildlife and the environment. Many teachers say very little is taught in schools about climate change. Some teachers believe climate change should be taught to (5) ____ year groups. The Teach the Future campaign group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt they knew (6) ____ about the climate crisis. The group said this is leading to more children suffering from eco-anxiety.

    Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, has taken action to (7) ____ the problem of eco-anxiety. It said: "Eco-anxiety is not an official diagnosable disorder. However, it does affect children in very (8) ____ ways. This includes feelings of fear, hopelessness and despair." It added: "It is important to research and understand the ways (9) ____ which we can help children find effective strategies to cope (10) ____ these feelings." Earth Rangers said schools should create conservation activities and help children to teach their parents about how to (11) ____ nature. The Earth Rangers president said more needed to be done to help children. She said: "Children are on the (12) ____ lines of climate change."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     condition     (b)     ill     (c)     ail     (d)     oil    
    2. (a)     here     (b)     there     (c)     it     (d)     them    
    3. (a)     lost     (b)     lose     (c)     loss     (d)     loser    
    4. (a)     conversation     (b)     talk     (c)     voice     (d)     call    
    5. (a)     every     (b)     age     (c)     all     (d)     one    
    6. (a)     so     (b)     enough     (c)     such     (d)     lot    
    7. (a)     label     (b)     address     (c)     title     (d)     write    
    8. (a)     really     (b)     real     (c)     realism     (d)     realistically    
    9. (a)     over     (b)     such     (c)     in     (d)     so    
    10. (a)     within     (b)     wither     (c)     without     (d)     with    
    11. (a)     safe     (b)     tame     (c)     calm     (d)     protect    
    12. (a)     wavy     (b)     straight     (c)     edge     (d)     front

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a idonocint that causes people to worry
    2. worry about climate change, tpulolion...
    3. the loss of isdivyiertbo
    4. education trepxse
    5. cagiamnp group
    6. the climate iicrss

    Paragraph 2

    1. taken action to drsaeds the problem
    2. an ilffoaic diagnosable disorder
    3. fear, hopelessness and paidrse
    4. find fveeftcei strategies
    5. create rnsnoeioctav activities
    6. how to protect artune

    Put the text back together

    1  ) More and more children are suffering from "eco-anxiety". This is a condition that causes people to worry a
    (...)  children. She said: "Children are on the front lines of climate change."
    (...)  protect nature. The Earth Rangers president said more needed to be done to help
    (...)  strategies to cope with these feelings." Earth Rangers said schools should create
    (...)  crisis. The group said this is leading to more children suffering from eco-anxiety.
    (...)  and despair." It added: "It is important to research and understand the ways in which we can help children find effective
    (...)  the environment. Many teachers say very little is taught in schools about climate change. Some
    (...)  group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt they knew enough about the climate
    (...)  conservation activities and help children to teach their parents about how to
    (...)  Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, has taken action to address the problem of eco-anxiety. It said: "Eco-anxiety is not an
    (...)  teachers believe climate change should be taught to all year groups. The Teach the Future campaign
    (...)  official diagnosable disorder. However, it does affect children in very real ways. This includes feelings of fear, hopelessness
    (...)  lot about the future of Earth and the life on it. People worry about climate change, pollution and the loss
    (...)  of biodiversity. This has led education experts to call for more teaching in schools about climate change, wildlife and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. children   suffering   more   and   eco-anxiety   .   from   are   More
    2. causes   condition   to   worry   .   people   A   that
    3. schools   .   Teachers   in   very   little   say   taught   is
    4. Climate   should   years   .   taught   change   be   all   to
    5. This   suffering   .   more   is   leading   children   to
    6. of   address   eco-anxiety   .   Taken   the   problem   to   action
    7. very   affect   children   does   in   real   ways   .   It
    8. the   which   can   in   Understand   help   .   ways   we
    9. how   protect   parents   about   Teach   nature   .   their   to
    10. the   lines   front   on   of   climate   change   .   Children

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    More and more children are suffering from "eco-anxiety". This is a conditional / condition that causes people to worry a loads / lot about the future of Earth and the life on it / them. People worry about climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. This has leading / led education experts to call for more teaching in / on schools about climate change, wildlife and the environment. Many teachers say very small / little is taught in schools about climate change. Some teachers belief / believe climate change should be taught to all year groups. The Teach the Future campaign group found that only four per cent of / off schoolchildren felt they knew enough about the climate critical / crisis. The group said this is leading to / for more children suffering from eco-anxiety.

    Another campaign group, Earth Rangers, is / has taken action to address the problem of eco-anxiety. It said: "Eco-anxiety is not / nope an official diagnosable disorder. However, it does effect / affect children in very really / real ways. This includes feelings of fear, hopeless / hopelessness and despair." It added: "It is important / importance to research and understand the ways in / on which we can help children find effective strategies to coop / cope with these feelings." Earth Rangers said schools should create conservation activities and help / helpful children to teach their parents about how to protect nature. The Earth Rangers president said more needed to be done to help children. She said: "Children are on the font / front lines of climate change."

    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)

    M_r_  _nd  m_r_  ch_ldr_n  _r_  s_ff_r_ng  fr_m  "_c_-_nx__ty".  Th_s  _s  _  c_nd_t__n  th_t  c__s_s  p__pl_  t_  w_rry  _  l_t  _b__t  th_  f_t_r_  _f  __rth  _nd  th_  l_f_  _n  _t.  P__pl_  w_rry  _b__t  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_,  p_ll_t__n  _nd  th_  l_ss  _f  b__d_v_rs_ty.  Th_s  h_s  l_d  _d_c_t__n  _xp_rts  t_  c_ll  f_r  m_r_  t__ch_ng  _n  sch__ls  _b__t  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_,  w_ldl_f_  _nd  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt.  M_ny  t__ch_rs  s_y  v_ry  l_ttl_  _s  t__ght  _n  sch__ls  _b__t  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_.  S_m_  t__ch_rs  b_l__v_  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_  sh__ld  b_  t__ght  t_  _ll  y__r  gr__ps.  Th_  T__ch  th_  F_t_r_  c_mp__gn  gr__p  f__nd  th_t  _nly  f__r  p_r  c_nt  _f  sch__lch_ldr_n  f_lt  th_y  kn_w  _n__gh  _b__t  th_  cl_m_t_  cr_s_s.  Th_  gr__p  s__d  th_s  _s  l__d_ng  t_  m_r_  ch_ldr_n  s_ff_r_ng  fr_m  _c_-_nx__ty.

    _n_th_r  c_mp__gn  gr__p,  __rth  R_ng_rs,  h_s  t_k_n  _ct__n  t_  _ddr_ss  th_  pr_bl_m  _f  _c_-_nx__ty.  _t  s__d:  "_c_-_nx__ty  _s  n_t  _n  _ff_c__l  d__gn_s_bl_  d_s_rd_r.  H_w_v_r,  _t  d__s  _ff_ct  ch_ldr_n  _n  v_ry  r__l  w_ys.  Th_s  _ncl_d_s  f__l_ngs  _f  f__r,  h_p_l_ssn_ss  _nd  d_sp__r."  _t  _dd_d:  "_t  _s  _mp_rt_nt  t_  r_s__rch  _nd  _nd_rst_nd  th_  w_ys  _n  wh_ch  w_  c_n  h_lp  ch_ldr_n  f_nd  _ff_ct_v_  str_t_g__s  t_  c_p_  w_th  th_s_  f__l_ngs."  __rth  R_ng_rs  s__d  sch__ls  sh__ld  cr__t_  c_ns_rv_t__n  _ct_v_t__s  _nd  h_lp  ch_ldr_n  t_  t__ch  th__r  p_r_nts  _b__t  h_w  t_  pr_t_ct  n_t_r_.  Th_  __rth  R_ng_rs  pr_s_d_nt  s__d  m_r_  n__d_d  t_  b_  d_n_  t_  h_lp  ch_ldr_n.  Sh_  s__d:  "Ch_ldr_n  _r_  _n  th_  fr_nt  l_n_s  _f  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    more and more children are suffering from ecoanxiety this is a condition that causes people to worry a lot about the future of earth and the life on it people worry about climate change pollution and the loss of biodiversity this has led education experts to call for more teaching in schools about climate change wildlife and the environment many teachers say very little is taught in schools about climate change some teachers believe climate change should be taught to all year groups the teach the future campaign group found that only four per cent of schoolchildren felt they knew enough about the climate crisis the group said this is leading to more children suffering from ecoanxiety

    another campaign group earth rangers has taken action to address the problem of ecoanxiety it said ecoanxiety is not an official diagnosable disorder however it does affect children in very real ways this includes feelings of fear hopelessness and despair it added it is important to research and understand the ways in which we can help children find effective strategies to cope with these feelings earth rangers said schools should create conservation activities and help children to teach their parents about how to protect nature the earth rangers president said more needed to be done to help children she said children are on the front lines of climate change

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Moreandmorechildrenaresufferingfrom"eco-anxiety".Thisisaconditi
    onthatcausespeopletoworryalotaboutthefutureofEarthandthelifeoni
    t.Peopleworryaboutclimatechange,pollutionandthelossofbiodiversit
    y.Thishaslededucationexpertstocallformoreteachinginschoolsabout
    climatechange,wildlifeandtheenvironment.Manyteacherssayverylit
    tleistaughtinschoolsaboutclimatechange.Someteachersbelieveclim
    atechangeshouldbetaughttoallyeargroups.TheTeachtheFuturecam
    paigngroupfoundthatonlyfourpercentofschoolchildrenfelttheyknew
    enoughabouttheclimatecrisis.Thegroupsaidthisisleadingtomorechil
    drentosufferfromeco-anxiety.Anothercampaigngroup,EarthRanger
    s,hastakenactiontoaddresstheproblemofeco-anxiety.Itsaid:"Eco-
    anxietyisnotanofficialdiagnosabledisorder.However,itdoesaffectchil
    dreninveryrealways.Thisincludesfeelingsoffear,hopelessnessandde
    spair."Itadded:"Itisimportanttoresearchandunderstandthewaysinw
    hichwecanhelpchildrenfindeffectivestrategiestocopewiththesefeelin
    gs."EarthRangerssaidschoolsshouldcreateconservationactivitiesan
    dhelpchildrentoteachtheirparentsabouthowtoprotectnature.TheEar
    thRangerspresidentsaidmoreneededtobedonetohelpchildren.Shesa
    id:"Childrenareonthefrontlinesofclimatechange."

    Free writing

    Write about eco-anxiety for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    There should be a new core subject in schools called "How to Save Earth". 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. ECO-ANXIETY: Make a poster about eco-anxiety. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SAVE EARTH: Write a magazine article about creating a new school subject called "Save Earth". 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 eco-anxiety. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to help people with eco-anxiety. 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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