Breaking News English Lesson: Blueberries

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Giant blueberry smashes record for heaviest ever (18th March 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Blueberries - Level 6

A farmer in Australia has just entered the record books for growing the world's biggest ever blueberry. The giant berry weighed in at a mammoth 20.4 grams. This obliterated the previous record, which was 16.2 grams. The record-breaker had a width the size of that of a table tennis ball, a diameter of 39.31 millimetres, and a 12.35-centimetre circumference. The record-breaking berry was almost 10 times heavier than a regular blueberry. The fruit was grown by staff at the Costa Group in New South Wales, Australia. Senior horticulturalist Brad Hocking said he was overjoyed to have the record officially verified by Guinness World Records. He said: "It's a combination of good breeding and good growing."

Mr Hocking said his blueberry was from the Eterna variety, known for its crisp texture and long shelf life. He told reporters: "Eterna, as a variety, has a really great flavour and a consistently large fruit. When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size." He added: "While the fruit is large, there's absolutely no compromise on quality or flavour, as would be expected when developing a premium variety." At first, he was unsure whether he had broken the record. He said: "We had to recalibrate the scales to make sure we weren't getting mixed up." When asked what he would do with his prize berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the most fitting end for it.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Blueberries - Level 4 or Blueberries - Level 5

Sources

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/3/behemoth-blueberry-grown-in-australia-verified-as-heaviest-ever-767762
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-14/guinness-world-records-worlds-heaviest-blueberry-costa-berries/103585822
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/15/australia/worlds-heaviest-blueberry-scli-intl/index.html

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. BLUEBERRIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about blueberries. 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?
farmer / Australia / record books / blueberry / record-breaker / fruit / overjoyed /
texture / shelf life / flavour / berries / premium / compromise / scales / smoothie
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GM FRUIT: Students A strongly believe scientists should genetically modify fruit to make it larger; Students B strongly believe this is terrible. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MAMMOTH: What are the advantages and disadvantages of these things being mammoth in size? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

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

Blueberries
Bananas
Durian
Water melons
Dates
Mangos
Pineapples
Strawberries

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	mammoth	a.	Someone who works with plants, especially in gardens or farms.
2.	obliterated	b.	The process of producing offspring or young animals or plants, flowers and crops.
3.	diameter	c.	Very, very big or large.
4.	circumference	d.	Completely destroyed or wiped out.
5.	horticulturalist	e.	The distance around the edge of a circle or a round object.
6.	verified	f.	Confirmed to be true or accurate.
7.	breeding	g.	The distance across a circle or a round object, measured through its centre.

Paragraph 2

8.	crisp	h.	To adjust or reset something, especially a machine or a process, to improve its accuracy or performance.
9.	texture	i.	A settlement of differences in which each side gives up something to reach an agreement.
10.	shelf life	j.	Happening regularly or without variation.
11.	consistently	k.	Firm, dry, and easily broken into pieces with a sharp sound.
12.	compromise	l.	Suitable or appropriate for a particular situation or purpose.
13.	recalibrate	m.	How something feels to touch or the way it is structured, like smooth, rough, or soft.
14.	fitting	n.	The length of time that a product can be stored before it becomes unfit for use.

Before reading / listening

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

An Austrian farmer has just grown the world's biggest blueberry. T / F
The record-breaking blueberry was 16.2 grams. T / F
The blueberry had a diameter of 39.31 millimetres. T / F
The blueberry weighed ten times more than a regular blueberry. T / F
The blueberry was from the Eternity variety. T / F
The farmer said the blueberry had lost its flavour due to its size. T / F
The farmer had to buy new scales to weigh the blueberry. T / F
The farmer is thinking about using the blueberry to make a smoothie. T / F

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

giant
obliterated
regular
staff
overjoyed
texture
flavour
premium
recalibrate
fitting

superior
delighted
employees
taste
smashed
apt
feel
readjust
gigantic
standard

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

entered the record
This obliterated
a 12.35-centimetre
overjoyed to have the record
a combination of good
known for its crisp
around 20 other berries
no compromise
We had to recalibrate the
a smoothie might be the most

of a similar size
circumference
breeding
fitting end for it
on quality or flavour
books
officially verified
scales to make sure
the previous record
texture

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

horticulturalist
mammoth
diameter
breeding
books
width
verified
regular

A farmer in Australia has just entered the record (1) _____________________ for growing the world's biggest ever blueberry. The giant berry weighed in at a (2) _____________________ 20.4 grams. This obliterated the previous record, which was 16.2 grams. The record-breaker had a (3) _____________________ the size of that of a table tennis ball, a (4) _____________________ of 39.31 millimetres, and a 12.35-centimetre circumference. The record-breaking berry was almost 10 times heavier than a (5) _____________________ blueberry. The fruit was grown by staff at the Costa Group in New South Wales, Australia. Senior (6) _____________________ Brad Hocking said he was overjoyed to have the record officially (7) _____________________ by Guinness World Records. He said: "It's a combination of good (8) _____________________ and good growing."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

premium
similar
crisp
prize
compromise
fitting
consistently
recalibrate

Mr Hocking said his blueberry was from the Eterna variety, known for its (9) _____________________ texture and long shelf life. He told reporters: "Eterna, as a variety, has a really great flavour and a (10) _____________________ large fruit. When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a (11) _____________________ size." He added: "While the fruit is large, there's absolutely no (12) _____________________ on quality or flavour, as would be expected when developing a (13) _____________________ variety." At first, he was unsure whether he had broken the record. He said: "We had to (14) _____________________ the scales to make sure we weren't getting mixed up." When asked what he would do with his (15) _____________________ berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the most (16) _____________________ end for it.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The giant berry weighed in at a ______
     a. mum moth 20.4 grams
     b. ma mouth 20.4 grams
     c. mum mouth 20.4 grams
     d. mammoth 20.4 grams
2) a diameter of 39.31 millimetres, and a ______
     a. 12.35-centimetre circumference
     b. 12.35-centimetre conference
     c. 12.35-centimetre circa conference
     d. 12.35-centimetre circle conference
3) 10 times heavier than a regular blueberry. The fruit was ______
     a. grown buy staff
     b. growth by staff
     c. grown by staff
     d. growing buy staff
4) Brad Hocking said he was overjoyed to have the ______
     a. record officially berry fried
     b. record officially verified
     c. record officially vivified
     d. record officially very fried
5) He said: "It's a combination ______."
     a. of good breeding
     b. of good bleeding
     c. of good boating
     d. of good breathing

6) the Eterna variety, known for its crisp texture and ______
     a. along shelf life
     b. long self life
     c. a long shell life
     d. long shelf life
7) Eterna, as a variety, has a really great flavour and a ______
     a. consistency large fruit
     b. consist amply large fruit
     c. confidently large fruit
     d. consistently large fruit
8) there were probably around 20 other berries of ______
     a. a similarity size
     b. a similar seize
     c. a similar sized
     d. a similar size
9) he had broken the record. He said: "We had to ______
     a. recalibrate them scales
     b. recalibrate a scales
     c. recalibrate the scales
     d. recalibrate then scales
10) do with his prize berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the ______
     a. most fit in end
     b. most fattening end
     c. most fitting end
     d. most fit tin end

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A farmer in Australia has just entered the record (1) ____________________ the world's biggest ever blueberry. The giant berry weighed in (2) ____________________ 20.4 grams. This obliterated the previous record, which was 16.2 grams. The record-breaker had a width the size of that of a table tennis ball, (3) ____________________ 39.31 millimetres, and a 12.35-centimetre circumference. The record-breaking berry was almost 10 times heavier (4) ____________________ blueberry. The fruit was grown by staff at the Costa Group in New South Wales, Australia. Senior horticulturalist Brad Hocking said he was overjoyed to have the record (5) ____________________ Guinness World Records. He said: "It's (6) ____________________ good breeding and good growing."

Mr Hocking said his blueberry was from the Eterna variety, known for (7) ____________________ and long shelf life. He told reporters: "Eterna, as a variety, has a really great flavour and (8) ____________________ fruit. When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size." He added: "While the fruit is large, there's (9) ____________________ on quality or flavour, as would be expected when developing (10) ____________________." At first, he was unsure whether he had broken the record. He said: "We had to (11) ____________________ to make sure we weren't getting mixed up." When asked what he would do with his prize berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the most (12) ____________________ it.

Comprehension questions

What has an Australian farmer just entered?
What did the previous heaviest blueberry weigh?
How much heavier was the blueberry than a regular berry?
Who officially verified the record?
What is the blueberry a combination of besides good growing?
What kind of texture did the blueberry have?
How many other berries did the farmer grow to a similar size?
What was there no compromise on?
What did the farmer have to do with his scales?
What might the farmer do with the blueberry?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What has an Australian farmer just entered?
a) the blueberry hall of fame
b) the record books
c) his farm
d) a fruit shop
2) What did the previous heaviest blueberry weigh?
a) 39.31 grams
b) 20.4 grams
c) 16.2 grams
d) 12.35 grams
3) How much heavier was the blueberry than a regular berry?
a) 20 times heavier
b) 15 times heavier
c) 12 times heavier
d) 10 times heavier
4) Who officially verified the record?
a) the International Blueberry Club
b) Guinness World Records
c) Horticulturalists Anonymous
d) the World Fruit Association
5) What is the blueberry a combination of besides good growing?
a) good breeding
b) good fertilizers
c) good weather
d) good watering

6) What kind of texture did the blueberry have?
a) crisp
b) rough
c) smooth
d) coarse
7) How many other berries did the farmer grow to a similar size?
a) fewer than 20
b) more than 20
c) exactly 20
d) around 20
8) What was there no compromise on?
a) fertilizers
b) cost or price
c) quality or flavour
d) scales
9) What did the farmer have to do with his scales?
a) sell them
b) stand on them
c) check them
d) recalibrate them
10) What might the farmer do with the blueberry?
a) study it
b) make a smoothie
c) auction it
d) freeze it

Role play

Role A – Blueberries
You think blueberries are the best fruits to become giant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fruits shouldn't be giant. Also, tell the others which of these should never be giant (and why): bananas, water melons or strawberries.

Role B – Bananas
You think bananas are the best fruits to become giant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fruits shouldn't be giant. Also, tell the others which of these should never be giant (and why): blueberries, water melons or strawberries.

Role C – Water Melons
You think water melons are the best fruits to become giant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fruits shouldn't be giant. Also, tell the others which of these should never be giant (and why): bananas, blueberries or strawberries.

Role D – Strawberries
You think strawberries are the best fruits to become giant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fruits shouldn't be giant. Also, tell the others which of these should never be giant (and why): bananas, water melons or blueberries.

After reading / listening

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

'giant'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'blueberry'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

entered

mammoth

width

times

senior

overjoyed

known

great

size

developing

scales

end

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 - Blueberries

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 'giant'?
What do you think of blueberries?
What do you think of giant fruit?
What do you think being a blueberry farmer is like?
What giant fruit would you like to eat?
Are you good at growing things?
How healthy are blueberries?
What three adjectives best describe this story?
What would you do with this blueberry?

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 'blueberry'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about blueberries?
Should scientists engineer more giant fruit?
What makes a good fruit?
What fruits have the best flavour?
How much fruit should we eat?
Should the blueberry be turned into a smoothie?
What questions would you like to ask blueberry farmers?

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)

A farmer in Australia has just (1) ____ the record books for growing the world's biggest ever blueberry. The giant berry weighed in at a (2) ____ 20.4 grams. This obliterated the previous record, which was 16.2 grams. The record-breaker had a width the size of (3) ____ of a table tennis ball, a diameter of 39.31 millimetres, and a 12.35-centimetre circumference. The record-breaking berry was almost 10 times heavier than a (4) ____ blueberry. The fruit was grown by staff at the Costa Group in New South Wales, Australia. Senior horticulturalist Brad Hocking said he was (5) ____ to have the record officially verified by Guinness World Records. He said: "It's a combination of good (6) ____ and good growing."

Mr Hocking said his blueberry was from the Eterna (7) ____, known for its crisp texture and long shelf life. He told reporters: "Eterna, as a variety, has a really great flavour and a (8) ____ large fruit. When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size." He added: "While the fruit is large, there's absolutely (9) ____ compromise on quality or flavour, as would be expected when developing a premium variety." At first, he was (10) ____ whether he had broken the record. He said: "We had to recalibrate the (11) ____ to make sure we weren't getting mixed up." When asked what he would do with his prize berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the most fitting end (12) ____ it.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) entry (b) entrance (c) entered (d) enters
(a) mammoth (b) dinosaur (c) T-rex (d) brontosaurus
(a) what (b) that (c) this (d) kind
(a) regulars (b) regularly (c) regulate (d) regular
(a) employed (b) joy (c) overjoyed (d) enjoyed
(a) breadth (b) breeding (c) bleeding (d) bloating
(a) variety (b) varied (c) various (d) varies
(a) collectively (b) collaterally (c) conservatively (d) consistently
(a) known (b) none (c) no (d) not
(a) ensure (b) insure (c) surety (d) unsure
(a) shales (b) scales (c) scares (d) skates
(a) for (b) of (c) by (d) at

Spelling

Paragraph 1

This etteiarolbd the previous record
a aremdiet of 39.31 millimetres
a 12.35-centimetre ccrirmefuence
Senior tcaloutiulrhrtis
dfvieier by Guinness World Records
a nconaitiomb of good breeding

Paragraph 2

known for its crisp xrtuete
a lcoesysntitn large fruit
no pocmioersm on quality
developing a premium yvarite
We had to eciralabetr the scales
he suggested a isemooht

Put the text back together

(...)   of 39.31 millimetres, and a 12.35-centimetre circumference. The record-breaking berry was almost 10 times
(...)   record, which was 16.2 grams. The record-breaker had a width the size of that of a table tennis ball, a diameter
(...)   Australia. Senior horticulturalist Brad Hocking said he was overjoyed to have the record officially
(...)   ever blueberry. The giant berry weighed in at a mammoth 20.4 grams. This obliterated the previous
( 1 ) A farmer in Australia has just entered the record books for growing the world's biggest
(...)   heavier than a regular blueberry. The fruit was grown by staff at the Costa Group in New South Wales,
(...)   large, there's absolutely no compromise on quality or flavour, as would be expected when developing a premium
(...)   life. He told reporters: "Eterna, as a variety, has a really great flavour and a consistently large fruit. When we picked
(...)   Mr Hocking said his blueberry was from the Eterna variety, known for its crisp texture and long shelf
(...)   verified by Guinness World Records. He said: "It's a combination of good breeding and good growing."
(...)   this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size." He added: "While the fruit is
(...)   scales to make sure we weren't getting mixed up." When asked what he would do with his prize
(...)   berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the most fitting end for it.
(...)   variety." At first, he was unsure whether he had broken the record. He said: "We had to recalibrate the

Put the words in the right order

the has farmer entered just books. record A
the This was 16.2 grams previous record, . which obliterated
giant a . The mammoth 20.4 grams weighed berry
heavier Almost blueberry. than 10 a times regular
record to the Overjoyed have verified. officially
great variety Eterna a with a is flavour.
compromise there's no on absolutely said quality. He
make the sure. scales We to recalibrated
Asked do prize he'd with what berry. his
smoothie fitting most be end. might A the

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A farmer in Australia has just entrance / entered the record books for growing the world's biggest ever blueberry. The giant berry weighed on / in at a mammoth 20.4 grams. This obliterated / obfuscated the previous record, which was 16.2 grams. The record-breaker had a width a / the size of that of a table tennis ball, a diameter of 39.31 millimetres, and a 12.35-centimetre circumnavigation / circumference. The record-breaking berry was almost 10 times heavier than a regular / regulate blueberry. The fruit was grown / growing by staff at the Costa Group in New South Wales, Australia. Senior horticulturalist Brad Hocking said he was overjoyed / joyless to have the record officially verified / revivified by Guinness World Records. He said: "It's a combination of good bleeding / breeding and good growing."

Mr Hocking said his blueberry was from the Eterna variety / various, known for its crisp texture and long shelf / shell life. He told reporters: "Eterna, as a varied / variety, has a really great flavour and a consistency / consistently large fruit. When we picked this one, there were probably around 20 other berries of a similarity / similar size." He added: "While the fruit is large, there's absolutely no / not compromise on quality or flavour, as would be expected / expects when developing a premium variety." At / On first, he was unsure whether he had broken the record. He said: "We had to recalibrate the scales to make sure we weren't getting mixed down / up." When asked what he would do with his prize berry, he suggested a smoothie might be the most fattening / fitting end for it.

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)

_ f_rm_r in __str_li_ h_s j_st _nt_r_d th_ r_c_rd b__ks f_r gr_wing th_ w_rld's bigg_st _v_r bl__b_rry. Th_ gi_nt b_rry w_igh_d in _t _ m_mm_th 20.4 gr_ms. This _blit_r_t_d th_ pr_vi__s r_c_rd, which w_s 16.2 gr_ms. Th_ r_c_rd-br__k_r h_d _ width th_ siz_ _f th_t _f _ t_bl_ t_nnis b_ll, _ di_m_t_r _f 39.31 millim_tr_s, _nd _ 12.35-c_ntim_tr_ circ_mf_r_nc_. Th_ r_c_rd-br__king b_rry w_s _lm_st 10 tim_s h__vi_r th_n _ r_g_l_r bl__b_rry. Th_ fr_it w_s gr_wn by st_ff _t th_ C_st_ Gr__p in N_w S__th W_l_s, __str_li_. S_ni_r h_rtic_lt_r_list Br_d H_cking s_id h_ w_s _v_rj_y_d t_ h_v_ th_ r_c_rd _ffici_lly v_rifi_d by G_inn_ss W_rld R_c_rds. H_ s_id: "It's _ c_mbin_ti_n _f g__d br__ding _nd g__d gr_wing."

Mr H_cking s_id his bl__b_rry w_s fr_m th_ _t_rn_ v_ri_ty, kn_wn f_r its crisp t_xt_r_ _nd l_ng sh_lf lif_. H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_t_rn_, _s _ v_ri_ty, h_s _ r__lly gr__t fl_v__r _nd _ c_nsist_ntly l_rg_ fr_it. Wh_n w_ pick_d this _n_, th_r_ w_r_ pr_b_bly _r__nd 20 _th_r b_rri_s _f _ simil_r siz_." H_ _dd_d: "Whil_ th_ fr_it is l_rg_, th_r_'s _bs_l_t_ly n_ c_mpr_mis_ _n q__lity _r fl_v__r, _s w__ld b_ _xp_ct_d wh_n d_v_l_ping _ pr_mi_m v_ri_ty." _t first, h_ w_s _ns_r_ wh_th_r h_ h_d br_k_n th_ r_c_rd. H_ s_id: "W_ h_d t_ r_c_libr_t_ th_ sc_l_s t_ m_k_ s_r_ w_ w_r_n't g_tting mix_d _p." Wh_n _sk_d wh_t h_ w__ld d_ with his priz_ b_rry, h_ s_gg_st_d _ sm__thi_ might b_ th_ m_st fitting _nd f_r it.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a farmer in australia has just entered the record books for growing the worlds biggest ever blueberry the giant berry weighed in at a mammoth 204 grams this obliterated the previous record which was 162 grams the recordbreaker had a width the size of that of a table tennis ball a diameter of 3931 millimetres and a 1235centimetre circumference the recordbreaking berry was almost 10 times heavier than a regular blueberry the fruit was grown by staff at the costa group in new south wales australia senior horticulturalist brad hocking said he was overjoyed to have the record officially verified by guinness world records he said its a combination of good breeding and good growing

mr hocking said his blueberry was from the eterna variety known for its crisp texture and long shelf life he told reporters eterna as a variety has a really great flavour and a consistently large fruit when we picked this one there were probably around 20 other berries of a similar size he added while the fruit is large theres absolutely no compromise on quality or flavour as would be expected when developing a premium variety at first he was unsure whether he had broken the record he said we had to recalibrate the scales to make sure we werent getting mixed up when asked what he would do with his prize berry he suggested a smoothie might be the most fitting end for it

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AfarmerinAustraliahasjustenteredtherecordbooksforgrowingthewo
rld'sbiggesteverblueberry.Thegiantberryweighedinatamammoth20
.4grams.Thisobliteratedthepreviousrecord,whichwas16.2grams.Th
erecord-breakerhadawidththesizeofthatofatabletennisball,adiamet
erof39.31millimetres,anda12.35-centimetrecircumference.There
cord-breakingberrywasalmost10timesheavierthanaregularblueb
erry.ThefruitwasgrownbystaffattheCostaGroupinNewSouthWales,A
ustralia.SeniorhorticulturalistBradHockingsaidhewasoverjoyedtoha
vetherecordofficiallyverifiedbyGuinnessWorldRecords.Hesaid:"It'sa
combinationofgoodbreedingandgoodgrowing."MrHockingsaidhisblu
eberrywasfromtheEternavariety,knownforitscrisptextureandlongsh
elflife.Hetoldreporters:"Eterna,asavariety,hasareallygreatflavoura
ndaconsistentlylargefruit.Whenwepickedthisone,therewereprobabl
yaround20otherberriesofasimilarsize."Headded:"Whilethefruitislar
ge,there'sabsolutelynocompromiseonqualityorflavour,aswouldbee
xpectedwhendevelopingapremiumvariety."Atfirst,hewasunsurewh
etherhehadbrokentherecord.Hesaid:"Wehadtorecalibratethescales
tomakesureweweren'tgettingmixedup."Whenaskedwhathewoulddo
withhisprizeberry,hesuggestedasmoothiemightbethemostfittingen
dforit.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Scientists should engineer more giant fruit. 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. BLUEBERRIES: Make a poster about blueberries. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. GIANT FRUIT: Write a magazine article about scientists engineering giant fruit. 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 blueberries. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on this fruit. 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: Blueberries

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