Breaking News English Lesson: Ocean Currents

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Atlantic Ocean circulatory current could collapse (28 October 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Ocean Currents - Level 6

The system of ocean currents that is responsible for maintaining temperate weather worldwide is in danger of collapsing. Experts say the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could collapse within the next 50 years. AMOC brings heat from Caribbean waters to the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Britain. Oceanographers say AMOC has been slowing down for the past few decades because of global warming. The northern Atlantic is the only region in the world that has cooled in the past 20 years. Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of AMOC crossing the tipping point this century. However, 44 experts publicly stated that is now a 50/50 possibility.

Meteorologists believe AMOC could fail in the next few decades. They said this would lead to "devastating and irreversible impacts which will affect the entire world for centuries to come". It would disrupt global weather patterns and adversely affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The scientists predict that winter temperatures in the U.K. could become 15°C lower. Colder weather could "potentially threaten the viability of agriculture in northwestern Europe". The collapse of AMOC could shift tropical monsoons southwards, causing widespread drought and famine. This will create huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and escalate geopolitical tensions.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Ocean Currents - Level 4 or Ocean Currents - Level 5

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/23/we-dont-know-where-the-tipping-point-is-climate-expert-on-potential-collapse-of-atlantic-circulation
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/rivers-oceans/we-dont-really-consider-it-low-probability-anymore-collapse-of-key-atlantic-current-could-have-catastrophic-impacts-says-oceanographer-stefan-rahmstorf
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/other/the-gulf-stream-is-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-climate-scientists-warn/ar-AA1sLW3Z

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. WEATHER PATTERNS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about weather patterns. 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?
system / ocean / weather / danger / Atlantic Ocean / global warming / tipping point /
meteorologists / impacts / centuries / scientists / agriculture / monsoons / refugees
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TENSIONS: Students A strongly believe climate change will create huge geopolitical tensions; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BODIES OF WATER: What do you know about these bodies of water? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Want to Know
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Southern Ocean
Mediterranean Sea

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

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

Torrential rain
Damaging winds
Heavy snow
Thick fog
Hail
Tornados
Thunderstorms
Heatwaves

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	current	a.	Not too hot and not too cold.
2.	maintaining	b.	A time when a small change causes a big effect (and it's too late to go back).
3.	temperate	c.	The movement or flow of water in the ocean.
4.	collapse	d.	Keeping something the same or in good condition.
5.	oceanographers	e.	To fall down, break, or stop working.
6.	tipping point	f.	Scientists who study the ocean.
7.	expert	g.	Someone who knows a lot about a subject.

Paragraph 2

8.	meteorologist	h.	The ability to keep going or survive.
9.	devastating	i.	A scientist who studies weather.
10.	disrupt	j.	In a way that causes harm or is bad.
11.	adversely	k.	Very heavy rains and strong winds in South and South-East Asia.
12.	viability	l.	Causing a lot of damage or harm.
13.	monsoon	m.	A long period with little or no rain.
14.	drought	n.	To stop something from working or happening normally.

Before reading / listening

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

A system of ocean currents has already collapsed. T / F
The AMOC system originates in the Caribbean. T / F
The southern Atlantic is the only region in the world that has cooled. T / F
Fifty experts say there is a 44/44 chance of reaching a tipping point. T / F
Meteorologists believe AMOC could fail this year. T / F
Meteorologists say the collapse of AMOC could affect the whole world. T / F
The U.K. could be 15ºC cooler if the AMOC collapses. T / F
The collapse of the AMOC could lead to more famines and droughts. T / F

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

system
temperate
collapse
once
possibility
devastating
entire
adversely
viability
escalate

previously
likelihood
heighten
catastrophic
pleasant
negatively
structure
feasibility
whole
cave in

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

responsible for maintaining temperate
AMOC has been slowing down for
the only region in the world
a 10 per cent chance of AMOC crossing
that is now a 50/50
this would lead to devastating and
affect the entire world for centuries
potentially threaten the viability
tropical
escalate geopolitical

the past few decades
possibility
monsoons
irreversible impacts
the tipping point
of agriculture
weather worldwide
tensions
to come
that has cooled

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

waters
cooled
temperate
experts
within
region
past
tipping

The system of ocean currents that is responsible for maintaining (1) _________________________________ weather in Europe is in danger of collapsing. Experts say the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could collapse (2) _________________________________ the next 50 years. AMOC brings heat from Caribbean (3) _________________________________ to the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Britain. Oceanographers say AMOC has been slowing down for the (4) _________________________________ few decades because of global warming. The northern Atlantic is the only (5) _________________________________ in the world that has (6) _________________________________ in the past 20 years. Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of AMOC crossing the (7) _________________________________ point this century. However, 44 (8) _________________________________ publicly stated that is now a 50/50 possibility.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

adversely
viability
devastating
escalate
predict
drought
entire
monsoons

Meteorologists believe AMOC could fail in the next few decades. They said this would lead to "(9) _________________________________ and irreversible impacts which will affect the (10) _________________________________ world for centuries to come". It would disrupt global weather patterns and (11) _________________________________ affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The scientists (12) _________________________________ that winter temperatures in the U.K. could become 15°C lower. Colder weather could "potentially threaten the (13) _________________________________ of agriculture in northwestern Europe". The collapse of AMOC could shift tropical (14) _________________________________ southwards, causing widespread (15) _________________________________ and famine. This will create huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and (16) _________________________________ geopolitical tensions.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The system of ocean currents that is responsible for ______
     a. maintaining temperature weather
     b. maintaining temper rate weather
     c. maintaining temporal weather
     d. maintaining temperate weather
2) Oceanographers say AMOC has been slowing down for the ______
     a. past few decades
     b. pest few decades
     c. paste few decades
     d. post few decades
3) The northern Atlantic is the only region in the world ______
     a. that has cold
     b. that has cooed
     c. that has cooled
     d. that has scold
4) Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of AMOC crossing ______
     a. the tipping pint
     b. the tipping pant
     c. the tipping paint
     d. the tipping point
5) However, 44 experts publicly stated that is now ______
     a. a 50/40 possibility
     b. a 40/50 possibility
     c. a 50/50 possibility
     d. a 40/40 possibility

6) this would lead to devastating and irreversible impacts which will affect ______
     a. the entirety world
     b. the entire world
     c. the entirely world
     d. the entry world
7) It would disrupt global weather patterns and adversely ______
     a. effect the lives
     b. affect their lives
     c. affect the lives
     d. afflict the lives
8) Colder weather could "potentially threaten the ______
     a. visibility of agriculture
     b. fallibility of agriculture
     c. availability of agriculture
     d. viability of agriculture
9) AMOC could shift tropical monsoons southwards, causing widespread ______
     a. draught and famine
     b. drought and famine
     c. doubt and famine
     d. draft and famine
10) huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and ______
     a. escalator geopolitical tensions
     b. escalate neo-political tensions
     c. escalate geopolitical tensions
     d. escalates deo-political tensions

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The (1) _______________________________________________ currents that is responsible for maintaining temperate weather in Europe is in (2) _______________________________________________. Experts say the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) (3) _______________________________________________ the next 50 years. AMOC brings heat from Caribbean waters to the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Britain. Oceanographers say AMOC has been slowing down for the (4) _______________________________________________ because of global warming. The northern Atlantic is the (5) _______________________________________________ the world that has cooled in the past 20 years. Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of AMOC crossing the (6) _______________________________________________ century. However, 44 experts publicly stated that is now a 50/50 possibility.

Meteorologists believe AMOC could fail in the next few decades. They said this would lead to "(7) _______________________________________________ impacts which will affect the entire world for centuries to come". It would disrupt global weather patterns (8) _______________________________________________ the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The scientists (9) _______________________________________________ temperatures in the U.K. could become 15°C lower. Colder weather could "potentially threaten the (10) _______________________________________________ in northwestern Europe". The collapse of AMOC could shift tropical monsoons southwards, causing widespread (11) _______________________________________________. This will create huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and (12) _______________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

What does the AMOC maintain?
Where is the source of the heat from the AMOC?
Where is the only region in the world to have cooled recently?
What do experts say we are close to crossing?
How many experts said there is a 50/50 possibility of AMOC collapse?
For how long would Earth be affected by an AMOC collapse?
How many people would be affected by the AMOC collapsing?
How much colder might the UK become if the AMOC collapses?
What would shift southwards if the AMOC collapses?
What could escalate if the AMOC collapses?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the AMOC maintain?
a) rainfall
b) temperate weather in Europe
c) the tropics
d) ocean salinity
2) Where is the source of the heat from the AMOC?
a) the Sun
b) the Gulf
c) the Equator
d) the Caribbean
3) Where is the only region in the world to have cooled recently?
a) Antarctica
b) Mexico
c) the northern Atlantic
d) Siberia
4) What do experts say we are close to crossing?
a) a tipping point
b) time zones
c) the point of no return
d) our fingers
5) How many experts said there is a 50/50 possibility of AMOC collapse?
a) 43
b) 44
c) 45
d) 46

6) For how long would Earth be affected by an AMOC collapse?
a) hundreds of years
b) a millennia
c) millions of years
d) forever
7) How many people would be affected by the AMOC collapsing?
a) millions
b) billions
c) hundreds of millions
d) dozens
8) How much colder might the UK become if the AMOC collapses?
a) 15Cº
b) 16Cº
c) 18Cº
d) 19Cº
9) What would shift southwards if the AMOC collapses?
a) the Indian Ocean
b) India
c) the Maldives
d) tropical monsoons
10) What could escalate if the AMOC collapses?
a) water wars
b) the end of civilization
c) geopolitical tensions
d) global warming

Role play

Role A – Thick Fog
You think thick fog is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): heatwaves, heavy snow or torrential rain.

Role B – Heatwaves
You think heatwaves are the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): thick fog, heavy snow or torrential rain.

Role C – Heavy Snow
You think heavy snow is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): heatwaves, thick fog or torrential rain.

Role D – Torrential Rain
You think torrential rain is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): heatwaves, heavy snow or thick fog.

After reading / listening

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

'ocean'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'weather'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

system

within

between

because

20

44

lead

entire

global

winter

viability

huge

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 - Ocean Currents

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 'ocean'?
How worried are you about changing weather patterns?
How has the weather changed in your country?
What do you know about ocean currents?
Do you prefer cooler or warmer weather?
What do you think of global warming?
What do you think an oceanographer does every day?
What might happen if AMOC collapses?
What will the weather be like in 100 years from now?

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 'weather'?
What do you think about what you read?
How do oceans affect the weather?
What 'devastating and irreversible impacts' might climate change bring?
How would your life change if weather was 15ºC cooler?
How would you deal with drought and famine?
Where will climate refugees go?
What geopolitical tensions might climate change bring?
What questions would you like to ask oceanographers?

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 (1) ____ of ocean currents that is responsible for maintaining temperate weather in Europe is (2) ____ danger of collapsing. Experts say the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could collapse (3) ____ the next 50 years. AMOC brings heat from Caribbean waters to the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Britain. Oceanographers say AMOC has been (4) ____ down for the past few decades because of global warming. The northern Atlantic is the only region in the world that has cooled in the past 20 years. Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of AMOC crossing the (5) ____ point this century. However, 44 experts publicly (6) ____ that is now a 50/50 possibility.

Meteorologists believe AMOC could fail in the next few decades. They said this would lead to "devastating and (7) ____ impacts which will affect the entire world for centuries to (8) ____". It would disrupt global weather patterns and adversely affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The scientists predict that winter temperatures in the U.K. could become 15°C lower. Colder weather could "potentially threaten the (9) ____ of agriculture in northwestern Europe". The collapse of AMOC could shift (10) ____ monsoons southwards, causing widespread (11) ____ and famine. This will create huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and (12) ____ geopolitical tensions.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) cistern (b) system (c) systemic (d) sustain
(a) on (b) in (c) an (d) of
(a) withstand (b) without (c) wither (d) within
(a) thrown (b) slowing (c) slewing (d) slaying
(a) tapping (b) topping (c) taping (d) tipping
(a) slated (b) sated (c) stated (d) skated
(a) irreversible (b) irascible (c) irritable (d) unsociable
(a) go (b) enter (c) come (d) arrive
(a) vial (b) visibility (c) fallibility (d) viability
(a) tropical (b) topical (c) trope (d) tropics
(a) draught (b) drought (c) draft (d) doubt
(a) escalate (b) infiltrate (c) inculcate (d) eradicate

Spelling

Paragraph 1

meperttae weather
in danger of lplaosicng
briCbeaan waters
anrcoeapgehors say AMOC has been slowing down
ertspxe once believed there was
crossing the tipping point this rcuneyt

Paragraph 2

ertieoossoglmt believe AMOC could fail
tdvtsiegnaa and irreversible impacts
affect the etrnei world for centuries
ydravlese affect the lives
threaten the biyaiiltv of agriculture
causing widespread utdgohr and famine

Put the text back together

(...)   region in the world that has cooled in the past 20 years. Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent
(...)   danger of collapsing. Experts say the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could collapse
(...)   predict that winter temperatures in the U.K. could become 15°C lower. Colder weather could "potentially
( 1 ) The system of ocean currents that is responsible for maintaining temperate weather in Europe is in
(...)   chance of AMOC crossing the tipping point this century. However, 44 experts publicly stated that is now a 50/50 possibility.
(...)   down for the past few decades because of global warming. The northern Atlantic is the only
(...)   threaten the viability of agriculture in northwestern Europe". The collapse of AMOC could shift
(...)   tropical monsoons southwards, causing widespread drought and famine. This will create huge
(...)   and irreversible impacts which will affect the entire world for centuries to come". It would disrupt
(...)   Meteorologists believe AMOC could fail in the next few decades. They said this would lead to "devastating
(...)   increases in the numbers of climate refugees and escalate geopolitical tensions.
(...)   Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Britain. Oceanographers say AMOC has been slowing
(...)   global weather patterns and adversely affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The scientists
(...)   within the next 50 years. AMOC brings heat from Caribbean waters to the northern

Put the words in the right order

system of currents that is ocean responsible . The
slowing Oceanographers been down . AMOC say has
the region that cooled . world only The in
AMOC the crossing chance of tipping A point .
stated that Experts now 50/50 possibility . is a
could fail in next the decades . AMOC few
world . Irreversible entire impacts which the affect will
of lives affect millions . hundreds Adversely the of
northwestern of the Threaten Europe . in viability agriculture
numbers the climate in increases refugees . Huge of

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The system of ocean currants / currents that is responsible for maintaining temperate weather in Europe is in / on danger of collapsing. Experts say the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could collapse wither / within the next 50 years. AMOC brings heat from Caribbean waters to the northern Atlantic Ocean between / among Greenland and Britain. Oceanographers say AMOC has been slowing down for a / the past few decades because / caused of global warming. The northern Atlantic is the only / once region in the world that has cooled in the passed / past 20 years. Experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of / at AMOC crossing the tipping point this century. However, 44 experts publicity / publicly stated that is now a 50/50 possibility.

Meteorologists beliefs / believe AMOC could fail in the next few decades. They said this would lead / steel to "devastating and irreversible impacts which will affect / effect the entire world for centuries to come / go". It would disrupt global weather patterns and adverse / adversely affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The scientists predict that winter temperatures in the U.K. could become 15°C lowly / lower. Colder weather could "potentially threaten the viability of / at agriculture in northwestern Europe". The collapse of AMOC could shift / shaft tropical monsoons southwards, causing widespread draught / drought and famine. This will create huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and step / escalate geopolitical tensions.

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_ syst_m _f _c__n c_rr_nts th_t _s r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r m__nt__n_ng t_mp_r_t_ w__th_r w_rldw_d_ _s _n d_ng_r _f c_ll_ps_ng. _xp_rts s_y th_ _tl_nt_c M_r_d__n_l _v_rt_rn_ng C_rc_l_t__n (_M_C) c__ld c_ll_ps_ w_th_n th_ n_xt 50 y__rs. _M_C br_ngs h__t fr_m C_r_bb__n w_t_rs t_ th_ n_rth_rn _tl_nt_c _c__n b_tw__n Gr__nl_nd _nd Br_t__n. _c__n_gr_ph_rs s_y _M_C h_s b__n sl_w_ng d_wn f_r th_ p_st f_w d_c_d_s b_c__s_ _f gl_b_l w_rm_ng. Th_ n_rth_rn _tl_nt_c _s th_ _nly r_g__n _n th_ w_rld th_t h_s c__l_d _n th_ p_st 20 y__rs. _xp_rts _nc_ b_l__v_d th_r_ w_s _ 10 p_r c_nt ch_nc_ _f _M_C cr_ss_ng th_ t_pp_ng p__nt th_s c_nt_ry. H_w_v_r, 44 _xp_rts p_bl_cly st_t_d th_t _s n_w _ 50/50 p_ss_b_l_ty.

M_t__r_l_g_sts b_l__v_ _M_C c__ld f__l _n th_ n_xt f_w d_c_d_s. Th_y s__d th_s w__ld l__d t_ "d_v_st_t_ng _nd _rr_v_rs_bl_ _mp_cts wh_ch w_ll _ff_ct th_ _nt_r_ w_rld f_r c_nt_r__s t_ c_m_". _t w__ld d_sr_pt gl_b_l w__th_r p_tt_rns _nd _dv_rs_ly _ff_ct th_ l_v_s _f h_ndr_ds _f m_ll__ns _f p__pl_. Th_ sc__nt_sts pr_d_ct th_t w_nt_r t_mp_r_t_r_s _n th_ _.K. c__ld b_c_m_ 15°C l_w_r. C_ld_r w__th_r c__ld "p_t_nt__lly thr__t_n th_ v__b_l_ty _f _gr_c_lt_r_ _n n_rthw_st_rn __r_p_". Th_ c_ll_ps_ _f _M_C c__ld sh_ft tr_p_c_l m_ns__ns s__thw_rds, c__s_ng w_d_spr__d dr__ght _nd f_m_n_. Th_s w_ll cr__t_ h_g_ _ncr__s_s _n th_ n_mb_rs _f cl_m_t_ r_f_g__s _nd _sc_l_t_ g__p_l_t_c_l t_ns__ns.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the system of ocean currents that is responsible for maintaining temperate weather in europe is in danger of collapsing experts say the atlantic meridional overturning circulation amoc could collapse within the next 50 years amoc brings heat from caribbean waters to the northern atlantic ocean between greenland and britain oceanographers say amoc has been slowing down for the past few decades because of global warming the northern atlantic is the only region in the world that has cooled in the past 20 years experts once believed there was a 10 per cent chance of amoc crossing the tipping point this century however 44 experts publicly stated that is now a 5050 possibility

meteorologists believe amoc could fail in the next few decades they said this would lead to devastating and irreversible impacts which will affect the entire world for centuries to come it would disrupt global weather patterns and adversely affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people the scientists predict that winter temperatures in the uk could become 15c lower colder weather could potentially threaten the viability of agriculture in northwestern europe the collapse of amoc could shift tropical monsoons southwards causing widespread drought and famine this will create huge increases in the numbers of climate refugees and escalate geopolitical tensions

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Thesystemofoceancurrentsthatisresponsibleformaintainingtemper
ateweatherworldwideisindangerofcollapsing.ExpertssaytheAtlantic
MeridionalOverturningCirculation(AMOC)couldcollapsewithinthene
xt50years.AMOCbringsheatfromCaribbeanwaterstothenorthernAtla
nticOceanbetweenGreenlandandBritain.OceanographerssayAMOC
hasbeenslowingdownforthepastfewdecadesbecauseofglobalwarmin
g.ThenorthernAtlanticistheonlyregionintheworldthathascooledinth
epast20years.Expertsoncebelievedtherewasa10percentchanceofA
MOCcrossingthetippingpointthiscentury.However,44expertspublicl
ystatedthatisnowa50/50possibility.MeteorologistsbelieveAMOCcoul
dfailinthenextfewdecades.Theysaidthiswouldleadto"devastatingan
dirreversibleimpactswhichwillaffecttheentireworldforcenturiestoco
me".Itwoulddisruptglobalweatherpatternsandadverselyaffecttheliv
esofhundredsofmillionsofpeople.Thescientistspredictthatwintertem
peraturesintheU.K.couldbecome15°Clower.Colderweathercould"po
tentiallythreatentheviabilityofagricultureinnorthwesternEurope".Th
ecollapseofAMOCcouldshifttropicalmonsoonssouthwards,causingwi
despreaddroughtandfamine.Thiswillcreatehugeincreasesinthenum
bersofclimaterefugeesandescalategeopoliticaltensions.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We should start preparing for massive changes in weather patterns. 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. WEATHER PATTERNS: Make a poster about weather patterns. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PREPARATION: Write a magazine article about preparing for changing weather patterns immediately. 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 weather patterns. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how they might affect you. 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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