The Reading / Listening - Wordle - Level 3

The New York Times newspaper has bought the online word game Wordle. The paper is well known for the games it publishes. Wordle is the latest addition to its list of puzzles. Wordle is a new online game. Its creator, Josh Wardle, only uploaded it in October. In the past four months, it has become a craze around the world. Social media sites are now full of posts from people playing the game and sharing their score. The New York Times said it paid "an undisclosed price in the low seven figures" for the game. A spokesperson was excited the paper would be able to publish the game. She wrote: "We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards of this magical game."

Mr Wardle is a former software engineer for the website Reddit. He created Wordle for his partner to play. He released it in October. He was surprised after 90 people played it on the day of its release. It is now played by millions every day. Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than I ever imagined (which I suppose isn't that much of a feat, given I made the game for an audience of one)." Wordle players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word. After each attempt, the game gives the player feedback on which of the letters they have used are in the correct place, or are correct letters but are in the wrong place. The New York Times said that "initially" the game would remain free.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Wordle - Level 0,  Wordle - Level 1   or  Wordle - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/31/22911274/wordle-new-york-times-free-word-game-acquisition
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/business/media/new-york-times-wordle.html
  • https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/31/22911274/wordle-new-york-times-free-word-game-acquisition


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. WORDLE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Wordle. 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?
       newspaper / online / word game / puzzle / craze / score / price / publish / magical /
       software / engineer / partner / release / bigger / audience / feedback / correct / free
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ONLINE GAMES: Students A strongly believe online games are better than paper-based games; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. VOCABULARY: How good are these things at learning new vocabulary? What is your experience of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Good

My Experiences

Online games

 

 

Flash cards

 

 

Movies

 

 

Translation apps

 

 

Reading books

 

 

English teachers

 

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

  • Word games
  • Board games
  • Video games
  • Sports
  • Card games
  • Chess
  • Quiz games
  • Party games

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. well known a. Prepare and issue a book, journal, or piece of music to sell to people.
      2. publish b. An activity or object which appears suddenly and is very, very, very popular.
      3. puzzle c. A person who made something new.
      4. creator d. A game, toy, or problem designed to test mental skills.
      5. craze e. Famous.
      6. undisclosed f. A sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure.
      7. thrilled g. Not revealed or made known to the public.

    Paragraph 2

      8. former h. Information about a person's performance of a task.
      9. released i. Having previously been a particular thing.
      10. feat j. An effort to achieve or complete something (difficult).
      11. audience k. At first.
      12. attempt l. An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
      13. feedback m. All of the spectators or listeners at a public event such as a play, film, concert, or meeting.
      14. initially n. Made a film, recording, or other product available to the public.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Wordle is the first game the New York Times has ever bought.     T / F
  2. The creator of Wordle first uploaded it this year.     T / F
  3. The New York Times paid over $10,000,000 for Wordle.     T / F
  4. The New York Times called Wordle a magical game.     T / F
  5. Wordle's creator originally created it for his English students.     T / F
  6. Over 90 million people now play Wordle every day.     T / F
  7. Players of Wordle have six guesses at an unknown word.     T / F
  8. Wordle is still free, for now.     T / F

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

  1. well known
  2. latest
  3. craze
  4. spokesperson
  5. thrilled
  6. former
  7. released
  8. feat
  9. attempts
  10. initially
  1. ex-
  2. excited
  3. at first
  4. famous
  5. issued
  6. trend
  7. tries
  8. most recent
  9. achievement
  10. representative

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

  1. The paper is well known
  2. Wordle is the latest addition to
  3. it has become a craze
  4. it paid an undisclosed price in the low
  5. We could not be more
  6. a former
  7. 90 people played it on the
  8. Wordle players have six attempts to
  9. the game gives the player
  10. in the wrong
  1. around the world
  2. place
  3. seven figures
  4. day of its release
  5. feedback
  6. for the games it publishes
  7. thrilled
  8. its list of puzzles
  9. guess a five-letter word
  10. software engineer

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
uploaded
figures
addition
thrilled
full
magical
online
able

The New York Times newspaper has bought the (1) _____________________ word game Wordle. The paper is well known for the games it publishes. Wordle is the latest (2) _____________________ to its list of puzzles. Wordle is a new online game. Its creator, Josh Wardle, only (3) _____________________ it in October. In the past four months, it has become a craze around the world. Social media sites are now (4) _____________________ of posts from people playing the game and sharing their score. The New York Times said it paid "an undisclosed price in the low seven (5) _____________________" for the game. A spokesperson was excited the paper would be (6) _____________________ to publish the game. She wrote: "We could not be more (7) _____________________ to become the new home and proud stewards of this (8) _____________________ game."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
attempts
surprised
feat
correct
former
each
initially
imagined

Mr Wardle is a (9) _____________________ software engineer for the website Reddit. He created Wordle for his partner to play. He released it in October. He was (10) _____________________ after 90 people played it on the day of its release. It is now played by millions every day. Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than I ever (11) _____________________ (which I suppose isn't that much of a (12) _____________________, given I made the game for an audience of one)." Wordle players have six (13) ____________________ to guess a five-letter word. After (14) _____________________ attempt, the game gives the player feedback on which of the letters they have used are in the (15) _____________________ place, or are correct letters but are in the wrong place. The New York Times said that "(16) _____________________ " the game would remain free.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The paper is well known for the ______
     a.  games sit publishes
     b.  games zit publishes
     c.  games it publishes
     d.  game set publishes
2)  Wordle is the latest addition to its ______
     a.  list of puzzles
     b.  list off puzzles
     c.  list oft puzzles
     d.  list toff puzzles
3)  uploaded it in October. In the past four months, it has ______
     a.  become a graze
     b.  become a cage
     c.  become a crate
     d.  become a craze
4)  full of posts from people playing the game and ______
     a.  share ring their score
     b.  shearing their score
     c.  sharing their score
     d.  shoring their score
5)  able to publish the game. She wrote: "We could not ______
     a.  be more trilled
     b.  be more thrilled
     c.  be more frilled
     d.  be morph riled

6)  He was surprised after 90 people played it on the day ______
     a.  off fits release
     b.  of fits release
     c.  off its release
     d.  of its release
7)  Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than ______
     a.  I ever imagine
     b.  I ever imagines
     c.  I ever imagined
     d.  I ever imagination
8)  I suppose isn't that much of a feat, given I made the game for an ______
     a.  audience of won
     b.  audience of one
     c.  audience of win
     d.  audience of worm
9)  in the correct place, or are correct letters but are in ______
     a.  the wrong place
     b.  the wrong plaice
     c.  the wrong plates
     d.  the wrong plays
10)  The New York Times said that "initially" the game ______
     a.  would remain flea
     b.  would remain flee
     c.  would remain freed
     d.  would remain free

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The New York Times newspaper (1) ____________________ online word game Wordle. The paper is (2) ____________________ the games it publishes. Wordle is the latest addition to its (3) ____________________. Wordle is a new online game. Its creator, Josh Wardle, only uploaded it in October. In the past four months, it has become (4) ____________________ the world. Social media sites are now full of posts from people playing the game and sharing their score. The New York Times said it paid "an undisclosed price in the (5) ____________________" for the game. A spokesperson was excited the paper would be able to publish the game. She wrote: "We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and (6) ____________________ this magical game."

Mr Wardle is (7) ____________________ engineer for the website Reddit. He created Wordle for his partner to play. He released it in October. He was surprised after 90 people played it on the day (8) ____________________. It is now played by millions every day. Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than I ever imagined (which I suppose isn't that much (9) ____________________, given I made the game for an audience of one)." Wordle players have (10) ____________________ guess a five-letter word. After each attempt, the game gives the player feedback on which of the letters they have used are in the correct place, or (11) ____________________ but are in the wrong place. The New York Times said that "initially" the game (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What's the New York Times well known for?
  2. When was Wordle uploaded for the first time?
  3. What are players sharing on social media sites?
  4. How much did the New York Times pay for Wordle?
  5. What kind of game did the New York Times say Wordle was?
  6. Where did Wordle's creator work in the past?
  7. How many people played Wordle on the day it was released?
  8. How many people did Wordle's creator make his game for?
  9. How many attempts do Wordle players have to guess a word?
  10. What did the New York Times say would happen initially?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What's the New York Times well known for?
a) controversial stories
b) video games
c) the games it publishes
d) its software
2) When was Wordle uploaded for the first time?
a) last October
b) last November
c) last January
d) last week
3) What are players sharing on social media sites?
a) words
b) their scores
c) rules
d) tricks
4) How much did the New York Times pay for Wordle?
a) $1,000,000
b) $10,000,000
c) $100,000,000
d) a price in the low seven figures
5) What kind of game did the New York Times say Wordle was?
a) a great game
b) an English-learning game
c) a magical game
d) a difficult game

6) Where did Wordle's creator work in the past?
a) Facebook
b) Reddit
c) a dictionary company
d) a language school
7) How many people played Wordle on the day it was released?
a) 190
b) 19
c) 900
d) 90
8) How many people did Wordle's creator make his game for?
a) 2
b) 1
c) 10,000,000
d) a billion
9) How many attempts do Wordle players have to guess a word?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 8
d) 10

10) What did the New York Times say would happen initially?
a) Wordle would be free
b) nothing
c) more words
d) longer words

Role play

Role  A – Word Games
You think word games are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): board games, party games or video games.

Role  B – Board Games
You think board games are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): word games, party games or video games.

Role  C – Party Games
You think party games are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): board games, word games or video games.

Role  D – Video Games
You think video games are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): board games, party games or word games.

After reading / listening

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

'word'

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

    • and 'game'.

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

    • • 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:

    • newspaper
    • puzzles
    • craze
    • score
    • price
    • magical
    • software
    • millions
    • feat
    • audience
    • feedback
    • free

    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 - Wordle

    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 'word'?
    3. What do you know about Wordle?
    4. What do you think of word games?
    5. What do you know about the New York Times?
    6. Are online games better than paper-based games?
    7. Why do you think Wordle has become a "craze"?
    8. What games do you like to play?
    9. What do you think of the name Wordle?
    10. How is your spelling?

    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 'game'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is your favourite word game?
    5. Are word games good for learning English?
    6. Do you think a seven-figure price for Wordle is good value?
    7. Are word games better than gaming games?
    8. Are you good at word games in your language?
    9. Should Wordle stay free for people to play?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Wardle?

    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)

    The New York Times newspaper has (1) ____ the online word game Wordle. The paper is well known for the games it publishes. Wordle is the (2) ____ addition to its list of puzzles. Wordle is a new online game. Its creator, Josh Wardle, only uploaded it in October. (3) ____ the past four months, it has become a craze around the world. Social media sites are now full of posts from people playing the game and sharing their score. The New York Times said it paid "an (4) ____ price in the low seven figures" for the game. A spokesperson was (5) ____ the paper would be able to publish the game. She wrote: "We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and (6) ____ stewards of this magical game."

    Mr Wardle is a (7) ____ software engineer for the website Reddit. He created Wordle for his partner to play. He released it in October. He was surprised after 90 people played it on the day of (8) ____ release. It is now played by millions every day. Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than I ever imagined (which I suppose isn't that much of a (9) ____, given I made the game for an audience of one)." Wordle players have six attempts to (10) ____ a five-letter word. After each attempt, the game gives the player feedback on (11) ____ of the letters they have used are in the correct place, or are correct letters but are in the wrong place. The New York Times said that "initially" the game would (12) ____ free.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     bough     (b)     bought     (c)     blight     (d)     brought    
    2. (a)     latent     (b)     lay test     (c)     least     (d)     latest    
    3. (a)     On     (b)     In     (c)     At     (d)     Of    
    4. (a)     discovery     (b)     inner     (c)     undisclosed     (d)     owned    
    5. (a)     excited     (b)     excite     (c)     excitedly     (d)     excitement    
    6. (a)     proud     (b)     pride     (c)     prod     (d)     proudly    
    7. (a)     framer     (b)     farmer     (c)     firmer     (d)     former    
    8. (a)     its     (b)     that's     (c)     what's     (d)     their    
    9. (a)     feet     (b)     feat     (c)     fleet     (d)     foot    
    10. (a)     estimate     (b)     calculate     (c)     guess     (d)     forecast    
    11. (a)     what     (b)     why     (c)     which     (d)     thus    
    12. (a)     remnant     (b)     remain     (c)     ramming     (d)     ream

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the latest addition to its list of zezpuls
    2. it has become a zearc around the world
    3. it paid an edincossdlu price
    4. would be able to ibhlusp the game
    5. We could not be more ertilldh
    6. proud stewards of this agalcmi game

    Paragraph 2

    1. a former software rneineeg
    2. on the day of its laerese
    3. an iuaceend of one
    4. After each tpetatm
    5. in the cocrert place
    6. nitlliiya the game would remain free

    Put the text back together

    (...)  figures" for the game. A spokesperson was excited the paper would be able to
    (...)  around the world. Social media sites are now full of posts from people playing the game and
    (...)  new online game. Its creator, Josh Wardle, only uploaded it in October. In the past four months, it has become a craze
    (...)  release. It is now played by millions every day. Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than I ever
    (...)  sharing their score. The New York Times said it paid "an undisclosed price in the low seven
    (...)  publish the game. She wrote: "We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards of this magical game."
    (...)  Mr Wardle is a former software engineer for the website Reddit. He created Wordle for his
    (...)  partner to play. He released it in October. He was surprised after 90 people played it on the day of its
    (...)  to guess a five-letter word. After each attempt, the game gives the player feedback
    (...)  on which of the letters they have used are in the correct place, or are correct letters but are in the wrong
    (...)  known for the games it publishes. Wordle is the latest addition to its list of puzzles. Wordle is a
    (  1  ) The New York Times newspaper has bought the online word game Wordle. The paper is well
    (...)  place. The New York Times said that "initially" the game would remain free.
    (...)  imagined (which I suppose isn't that much of a feat, given I made the game for an audience of one)." Wordle players have six attempts

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   is   for   the   known   paper   games   .   well
    2. of   to   The   addition   puzzles   .   its   latest   list
    3. has   around   the   world   .   a   become   It   craze
    4. price   undisclosed   seven   the   in   figures   .   An   low
    5. more   thrilled   .   she   could   not   be   said   She
    6. to   created   Wordle   his   play   .   partner   for   He
    7. now   It   every   is   played   millions   day   .   by
    8. bigger   got   The   imagined   .   game   I   than   ever
    9. players   gives   game   the   After   feedback   .   each   attempt,
    10. letters,   the   in   place   .   wrong   but   Correct

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The New York Times newspaper has bought / brought the online word game Wordle. The paper is well knowing / known for the games it publishes. Wordle is the latest add / addition to its list of puzzles. Wordle is a new online game. Its creator, Josh Wardle, only uploaded it / them in October. In the past four months, it has become a crazy / craze around the world. Social media sites are now full to / of posts from people playing the game and sharing their score. The New York Times said it paid "an undisclosed price / cost in the low seven number / figures" for the game. A spokesperson was excited the paper would be able to / by publish the game. She wrote: "We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards on / of this magical game."

    Mr Wardle is a former / firmer software engineer for the website Reddit. He created Wordle for his partner at / to play. He released it in October. He was surprised after 90 people played it on the day off / of its release. It is now played by millions whole / every day. Mr Wardle tweeted: "The game has got bigger than I ever imagined (which I suppose isn't that much of a feat / feet, given I made the game for an audience of one)." Wordle players have six attempts to estimate / guess a five-letter word. After each / all attempt, the game gives the player feedback on / in which of the letters they have used are in the correct place, or are correct letters but be / are in the wrong place. The New York Times said that "initially" the game would remain / remaining free.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  N_w  Y_rk  T_m_s  n_wsp_p_r  h_s  b__ght  th_  _nl_n_  w_rd  g_m_  W_rdl_.  Th_  p_p_r  _s  w_ll  kn_wn  f_r  th_  g_m_s  _t  p_bl_sh_s.  W_rdl_  _s  th_  l_t_st  _dd_t__n  t_  _ts  l_st  _f  p_zzl_s.  W_rdl_  _s  _  n_w  _nl_n_  g_m_.  _ts  cr__t_r,  J_sh  W_rdl_,  _nly  _pl__d_d  _t  _n  _ct_b_r.  _n  th_  p_st  f__r  m_nths,  _t  h_s  b_c_m_  _  cr_z_  _r__nd  th_  w_rld.  S_c__l  m_d__  s_t_s  _r_  n_w  f_ll  _f  p_sts  fr_m  p__pl_  pl_y_ng  th_  g_m_  _nd  sh_r_ng  th__r  sc_r_.  Th_  N_w  Y_rk  T_m_s  s__d  _t  p__d  "_n  _nd_scl_s_d  pr_c_  _n  th_  l_w  s_v_n  f_g_r_s"  f_r  th_  g_m_.  _  sp_k_sp_rs_n  w_s  _xc_t_d  th_  p_p_r  w__ld  b_  _bl_  t_  p_bl_sh  th_  g_m_.  Sh_  wr_t_:  "W_  c__ld  n_t  b_  m_r_  thr_ll_d  t_  b_c_m_  th_  n_w  h_m_  _nd  pr__d  st_w_rds  _f  th_s  m_g_c_l  g_m_."

    Mr  W_rdl_  _s  _  f_rm_r  s_ftw_r_  _ng_n__r  f_r  th_  w_bs_t_  R_dd_t.  H_  cr__t_d  W_rdl_  f_r  h_s  p_rtn_r  t_  pl_y.  H_  r_l__s_d  _t  _n  _ct_b_r.  H_  w_s  s_rpr_s_d  _ft_r  90  p__pl_  pl_y_d  _t  _n  th_  d_y  _f  _ts  r_l__s_.  _t  _s  n_w  pl_y_d  by  m_ll__ns  _v_ry  d_y.  Mr  W_rdl_  tw__t_d:  "Th_  g_m_  h_s  g_t  b_gg_r  th_n  _  _v_r  _m_g_n_d  (wh_ch  _  s_pp_s_  _sn't  th_t  m_ch  _f  _  f__t,  g_v_n  _  m_d_  th_  g_m_  f_r  _n  __d__nc_  _f  _n_)."  W_rdl_  pl_y_rs  h_v_  s_x  _tt_mpts  t_  g__ss  _  f_v_-l_tt_r  w_rd.  _ft_r  __ch  _tt_mpt,  th_  g_m_  g_v_s  th_  pl_y_r  f__db_ck  _n  wh_ch  _f  th_  l_tt_rs  th_y  h_v_  _s_d  _r_  _n  th_  c_rr_ct  pl_c_,  _r  _r_  c_rr_ct  l_tt_rs  b_t  _r_  _n  th_  wr_ng  pl_c_.  Th_  N_w  Y_rk  T_m_s  s__d  th_t  "_n_t__lly"  th_  g_m_  w__ld  r_m__n  fr__.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the new york times newspaper has bought the online word game wordle the paper is well known for the games it publishes wordle is the latest addition to its list of puzzles wordle is a new online game its creator josh wardle only uploaded it in october in the past four months it has become a craze around the world social media sites are now full of posts from people playing the game and sharing their score the new york times said it paid an undisclosed price in the low seven figures for the game a spokesperson was excited the paper would be able to publish the game she wrote we could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards of this magical game

    mr wardle is a former software engineer for the website reddit he created wordle for his partner to play he released it in october he was surprised after 90 people played it on the day of its release it is now played by millions every day mr wardle tweeted the game has got bigger than i ever imagined which i suppose isnt that much of a feat given i made the game for an audience of one wordle players have six attempts to guess a fiveletter word after each attempt the game gives the player feedback on which of the letters they have used are in the correct place or are correct letters but are in the wrong place the new york times said that initially the game would remain free

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheNewYorkTimesnewspaperhasboughttheonlinewordgameWordle
    .Thepaperiswellknownforthegamesitpublishes.Wordleisthelatestad
    ditiontoitslistofpuzzles.Wordleisanewonlinegame.Itscreator,JoshW
    ardle,onlyuploadeditinOctober.Inthepastfourmonths,ithasbecomea
    crazearoundtheworld.Socialmediasitesarenowfullofpostsfrompeopl
    eplayingthegameandsharingtheirscore.TheNewYorkTimessaiditpai
    d"anundisclosedpriceinthelowsevenfigures"forthegame.Aspokespe
    rsonwasexcitedthepaperwouldbeabletopublishthegame.Shewrote:
    "Wecouldnotbemorethrilledtobecomethenewhomeandproudstewar
    dsofthismagicalgame."MrWardleisaformersoftwareengineerforthe
    websiteReddit.HecreatedWordleforhispartnertoplay.Hereleaseditin
    October.Hewassurprisedafter90peopleplayeditonthedayofitsreleas
    e.Itisnowplayedbymillionseveryday.MrWardletweeted:"Thegameh
    asgotbiggerthanIeverimagined(whichIsupposeisn'tthatmuchofafea
    t,givenImadethegameforanaudienceofone)."Wordleplayershavesix
    attemptstoguessafive-letterword.Aftereachattempt,thegamegivest
    heplayerfeedbackonwhichoftheletterstheyhaveusedareinthecorrect
    place,orarecorrectlettersbutareinthewrongplace.TheNewYorkTime
    ssaidthat"initially"thegamewouldremainfree.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    Word games are great for learning English. 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. WORDLE: Make a poster about Wordle. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WORD GAMES: Write a magazine article about making word games part of the school curriculum. 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 Wordle. Ask him/her three questions about word games. Give him/her three of your opinions on word games. 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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