Breaking News English Lesson: Standing on one leg

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Standing on one leg can tell us about our age (31st October 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Standing on one leg - Level 3

Everyone knows how to find the age of a fallen tree. We count the number of rings on the tree's stump. A scientist has found a new way to measure the age of people … get them to stand on one leg. Dr Kenton Kaufman from the Mayo Clinic in the USA said standing on one leg shows how well a person can balance. He said balance becomes more difficult as we age. Dr Kaufman added: "Balance is an important measure because, in addition to muscle strength, it requires input from vision, the [hearing] system, and the [senses]." He added: "Good balance provides the ability to carry out activities of daily living without the fear of falling, and this leads to improved quality of life and healthy ageing."

Forty people over the age of 50 took part in the research. They did tests for walking, balance, grip, and knee strength. Each participant had to balance on their dominant and non-dominant leg for 30 seconds. They did this with their eyes closed, and again with their eyes open. Kaufman found that standing on the non-dominant leg showed the highest rate of decline with age. There was a 2.2-second-per-decade decline when participants stood on their non-dominant leg. This compared to 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. Kaufman concluded: "Standing on one leg is a good measure of your overall health because balance reflects how the body's systems are working together."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Standing on one leg - Level 0, Standing on one leg - Level 1 or Standing on one leg - Level 2

Sources

https://scitechdaily.com/how-long-can-you-stand-on-one-leg-according-to-the-mayo-clinic-it-could-reveal-your-true-age/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0310764
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/23/health/balance-one-leg-old-age-wellness/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. STANDING ON ONE LEG: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about standing on one leg. 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?
age / fallen trees / rings / measure / standing on one leg / muscle / vision / ageing /
people over the age of 50 / walking / grip / knee strength / decline / seconds / health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GETTING OLD: Students A strongly believe we should all look forward to getting old; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BODY ACTIONS: What might these things tell us about people? What Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What This Means	This and Me
Standing on one leg
Crossing one's eyes
Clicking one's fingers
Whistling
Doing handstands
Holding one's breath

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

5
10
15
20
30
50
70
100

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	fallen	a.	Made better than before.
2.	rings	b.	The short part left after cutting a tree or another object.
3.	stump	c.	Stay steady without falling over.
4.	measure	d.	Dropped down or went to a lower place.
5.	balance (noun)	e.	The part of your body that helps you move and lift things.
6.	muscle	f.	Round shapes, like circles.
7.	improved	g.	Find out how big, long, or heavy something is.

Paragraph 2

8.	grip	h.	How fast or how often something happens.
9.	participant	i.	A person who takes part in something.
10.	dominant	j.	Shows or gives back an image, idea, or result.
11.	rate	k.	Hold something tightly with your hand.
12.	decline	l.	Become less or go down.
13.	decade	m.	The strongest or most powerful.
14.	reflects	n.	A time of ten years.

Before reading / listening

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

Very few people know how to find out how old a tree is. T / F
Your age is the number of seconds you can balance on one leg. T / F
We need balance, muscle, vision and hearing to stand on one leg. T / F
Good balance means we do not need to be afraid of falling. T / F
Participants in the research were all over 60 years old. T / F
People tried to stand on one leg for 30 minutes. T / F
People stood on one leg with their eyes opened and closed. T / F
Standing on one leg shows how parts of the body work together. T / F

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

rings
measure
requires
provides
improved
took part
decline
overall
reflects
together

better
gives
general
calculate
deterioration
with each other
circles
shows
needs
participated

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

Everyone knows how to find the age
We count the number of rings on
He said balance becomes more
the ability to carry out activities
this leads to improved
They did tests for walking, balance, grip,
balance on their dominant and
There was a 2.2-second-per-
This compared to 1.7 seconds for
a good measure

and knee strength
of daily living
the dominant leg
non-dominant leg
the tree's stump
decade decline
quality of life
of your overall health
of a fallen tree
difficult as we age

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

vision
stump
well
ageing
fallen
carry
measure
stand

Everyone knows how to find the age of a (1) ______________________________________________ tree. We count the number of rings on the tree's (2) ______________________________________________. A scientist has found a new way to measure the age of people – get them to (3) ______________________________________________ on one leg. Dr Kenton Kaufman from the Mayo Clinic in the USA said standing on one leg shows how (4) ______________________________________________ a person can balance. He said balance becomes more difficult as we age. Dr Kaufman added: "Balance is an important (5) ______________________________________________ because, in addition to muscle strength, it requires input from (6) ______________________________________________, the [hearing] system, and the [senses]." He added: "Good balance provides the ability to (7) ______________________________________________ out activities of daily living without the fear of falling, and this leads to improved quality of life and healthy (8) ______________________________________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

compared
closed
took
overall
decade
grip
together
highest

Forty people over the age of 50 (9) ______________________________________________ part in the research. They did tests for walking, balance, (10) ______________________________________________, and knee strength. Each participant had to balance on their dominant and non-dominant leg for 30 seconds. They did this with their eyes (11) ______________________________________________, and again with their eyes open. Kaufman found that standing on the non-dominant leg showed the (12) ______________________________________________ rate of decline with age. There was a 2.2-second-per- (13) ______________________________________________ decline when participants stood on their non-dominant leg. This (14) ______________________________________________ to 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. Kaufman concluded: "Standing on one leg is a good measure of your (15) ______________________________________________ health because balance reflects how the body's systems are working (16) ______________________________________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Everyone knows how to find the age of ______
     a. a fall on tree
     b. a falling tree
     c. a fallen tree
     d. a fall entry
2) We count the number of rings on ______
     a. the tree's stamp
     b. the trees stump
     c. the trees stamp
     d. the tree's stump
3) A scientist has found a new way to ______
     a. measure the rage
     b. measure the cage
     c. measure the gauge
     d. measure the age
4) Balance is an important measure because, in addition _______
     a. to muscle strengthen
     b. to muscle strong
     c. to muscle strength
     d. to muscle length
5) Good balance provides the ability to carry out activities of daily living ______
     a. without the fur
     b. without the fear
     c. without the afeared
     d. without the far

6) They did tests for walking, balance, grip, ______
     a. and kneel strength
     b. and kneed strength
     c. and new strength
     d. and knee strength
7) They did this with their eyes closed, and again with ______
     a. them eyes open
     b. there eyes open
     c. their rays open
     d. their eyes open
8) standing on the non-dominant leg showed the highest rate of ______
     a. decline with age
     b. recline with age
     c. incline with age
     d. cline with age
9) Standing on one leg is a good measure of ______
     a. your over all health
     b. your overall health
     c. your over rail health
     d. your overall wealth
10) balance reflects how the body's systems ______
     a. are work in together
     b. are work king together
     c. are working together
     d. are were king together

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everyone knows how to find the age of (1) __________________________________________________. We count the number of rings on the tree's stump. A scientist has found a new (2) __________________________________________________ the age of people – get them to stand on one leg. Dr Kenton Kaufman from the Mayo Clinic in the USA said standing on one leg (3) __________________________________________________ a person can balance. He said balance becomes more difficult as we age. Dr Kaufman added: "Balance is an important measure because, (4) __________________________________________________ muscle strength, it requires input from vision, the [hearing] system, and the [senses]." He added: "Good balance (5) __________________________________________________ to carry out activities of daily living without the fear of falling, and this leads to improved (6) __________________________________________________ and healthy ageing."

Forty people over (7) __________________________________________________ 50 took part in the research. They did tests for walking, balance, grip, and knee strength. Each participant had to balance (8) __________________________________________________ and non-dominant leg for 30 seconds. They did this with their eyes closed, (9) __________________________________________________ their eyes open. Kaufman found that standing on the non-dominant leg showed the highest (10) __________________________________________________ with age. There was a 2.2-second-per-decade decline when participants stood on their non-dominant leg. (11) __________________________________________________ 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. Kaufman concluded: "Standing on one leg is a good measure of your overall health because balance reflects how the body's systems (12) __________________________________________________."

Comprehension questions

What do we all know how to find the age of?
What is the name of the clinic that Dr Kenton Kaufman works at?
When does balancing on one leg become more difficult?
What does good balance mean we do not need to be afraid of?
What does good balance make better?
How many people did researchers do tests on?
For how long did the participants have to stand on one leg?
What showed the highest rate of decline?
How many seconds per decade did standing on a dominant leg slow by?
What does good balance show is working together?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What do we all know how to find the age of?
a) all trees
b) each other
c) a fallen tree
d) apple trees
2) What is the name of the clinic that Dr Kenton Kaufman works at?
a) the Mayo Clinic
b) the Ketchup Clinic
c) the Tree Clinic
d) the Soy Clinic
3) When does balancing on one leg become more difficult?
a) after exercising
b) after eating
c) after waking up
d) as we age
4) What does good balance mean we do not need to be afraid of?
a) failing
b) falling
c) feeling
d) freeing
5) What does good balance make better?
a) driving
b) jogging
c) quality of life
d) our hobbies

6) How many people did researchers do tests on?
a) thirty
b) sixty
c) fifty
d) forty
7) For how long did the participants have to stand on one leg?
a) one minute
b) for 30 seconds
c) 90 seconds
d) for 30 minutes
8) What showed the highest rate of decline?
a) standing in the shower
b) standing while wearing jeans
c) standing after eating
d) standing on a non-dominant leg
9) How many seconds per decade did standing on a dominant leg slow by?
a) 1.7 seconds
b) 2.2-seconds
c) 0.5 seconds
d) 1 second
10) What things does good balance show is working together?
a) patients and doctors
b) people
c) our legs
d) the body's systems

Role play

Role A – Five
You think five is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 15, 30 or 70.

Role B – Fifteen
You think 15 is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): five, 30 or 70.

Role C – Thirty
You think 30 is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 15, five or 70.

Role D – Seventy
You think 70 is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 15, 30 or five.

After reading / listening

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

'leg'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'age'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

fallen

way

difficult

addition

system

fear

50

30

again

highest

2.2

together

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 - Standing on one leg

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 'leg'?
How happy are you with your age?
What do you think of standing on one leg?
What's the best age to be?
How important do you think this research is?
How is your balance?
Do you worry about getting older?
How can you improve the quality of your life?
What are the good things about ageing?

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 'age'?
What do you think about what you read?
How is your grip and knee strength?
What are you worried will decline with age?
What are the benefits of standing on one leg?
What are the bad things about ageing?
What three adjectives best describe this news story?
When might people need to stand on one leg?
What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

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)

Everyone knows how to find the (1) ____ of a fallen tree. We count the number of rings on the tree's stump. A scientist has found a new (2) ____ to measure the age of people – get them to stand on one leg. Dr Kenton Kaufman from the Mayo Clinic in the USA said (3) ____ on one leg shows how well a person can balance. He said balance becomes more difficult as we age. Dr Kaufman added: "Balance is an important (4) ____ because, in addition to muscle strength, it requires input from vision, the [hearing] system, and the [senses]." He added: "Good balance provides the ability to carry (5) ____ activities of daily living without the fear of falling, and this leads to improved quality (6) ____ life and healthy ageing."

Forty people over the age of 50 (7) ____ part in the research. They did tests for walking, balance, grip, and knee strength. Each participant had to balance (8) ____ their dominant and non-dominant leg for 30 seconds. They did this with their eyes closed, and again with their eyes open. Kaufman found that standing on the non-dominant leg showed the highest rate (9) ____ decline with age. There was a 2.2-second-per-decade decline when participants stood on their non-dominant leg. This (10) ____ to 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. Kaufman concluded: "Standing on one leg is a good measure of your (11) ____ health because balance reflects how the body's systems are working (12) ____."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) old (b) age (c) birth (d) birthday
(a) how (b) way (c) what (d) which
(a) standard (b) stood (c) stands (d) standing
(a) treasure (b) measure (c) pleasure (d) displeasure
(a) over (b) out (c) in (d) up
(a) to (b) at (c) of (d) by
(a) gave (b) did (c) took (d) had
(a) in (b) at (c) on (d) of
(a) on (b) in (c) at (d) of
(a) compared (b) comparison (c) compares (d) comparable
(a) overall (b) until (c) wherewithal (d) coverall
(a) apart (b) mixed (c) together (d) overtime

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a new way to esemaur the age
in addition to lmuecs
it rqueries input from vision
the ability to carry out icteaivits
ivoermpd quality of life
healthy inegga

Paragraph 2

knee rthgtesn
each atpaicrnpit
a 2.2-second-per-edacde decline
1.7 seconds for the omdantni leg
your rvlolae health
because balance csetfrel how

Put the text back together

(...) balance. He said balance becomes more difficult as we age. Dr Kaufman added: "Balance is an
(...) to 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. Kaufman concluded: "Standing on one leg is a good measure of your overall
(...) health because balance reflects how the body's systems are working together."
(...) stump. A scientist has found a new way to measure the age of people – get them to stand
( 1 ) Everyone knows how to find the age of a fallen tree. We count the number of rings on the tree's
(...) important measure because, in addition to muscle strength, it requires input from vision, the [hearing] system,
(...) Forty people over the age of 50 took part in the research. They did tests for walking, balance, grip, and knee
(...) on one leg. Dr Kenton Kaufman from the Mayo Clinic in the USA said standing on one leg shows how well a person can
(...) and the [senses]." He added: "Good balance provides the ability to carry out activities of daily
(...) living without the fear of falling, and this leads to improved quality of life and healthy ageing."
(...) found that standing on the non-dominant leg showed the highest rate of decline with age. There was a 2.2-second-per-
(...) 30 seconds. They did this with their eyes closed, and again with their eyes open. Kaufman
(...) decade decline when participants stood on their non-dominant leg. This compared
(...) strength. Each participant had to balance on their dominant and non-dominant leg for

Put the words in the right order

to a the How age of tree . find
The on number rings tree's of the stump .
found measure age . He a to way the
more as Balance becomes age . difficult we
of to This leads quality life . improved an
participated . over of the 50 age people Forty
dominant balance leg . Participants their on to had
They their with closed . did eyes this
of measure health . It's a good overall your
systems How working body's together . the are

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Everyone knows / knowing how to find the age of a fallen tree. We count the number of rings on the tree's stamp / stump. A scientist has found a new way to measure the age of / to people – get them to stand on one leg. Dr Kenton Kaufman from the Mayo Clinic in / on the USA said standing on one leg shows how good / well a person can balance. He said balance becomes more difficult / difficulty as we age. Dr Kaufman added: "Balance is an important / importance measure because, in addition to muscle strength, it requires input from visits / vision, the [hearing] system, and the [senses]." He added: "Good balance provides the ability to carry in / out activities of daily living without the fear of falling, and this leads to improved quality at / of life and healthy ageing."

Forty people over the age of 50 gave / took part in the research. They did tests for walking, balance, grip, and kneel / knee strength. Each participant had to balance on their / there dominant and non-dominant leg for 30 seconds. They did / had this with their eyes closed, and again with their eyes open / closed. Kaufman found that standing on the non-dominant leg shown / showed the highest rate of decline with age. There was a 2.2-second-per-decade decline when participates / participants stood on their non-dominant leg. This compared to 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. Kaufman concluding / concluded: "Standing on one leg is a good measure of their / your overall health because balance reflects how / what the body's systems are working together."

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)

_v_ry_n_ kn_ws h_w t_ f_nd th_ _g_ _f _ f_ll_n tr__. W_ c__nt th_ n_mb_r _f r_ngs _n th_ tr__'s st_mp. _ sc__nt_st h_s f__nd _ n_w w_y t_ m__s_r_ th_ _g_ _f p__pl_ – g_t th_m t_ st_nd _n _n_ l_g. Dr K_nt_n K__fm_n fr_m th_ M_y_ Cl_n_c _n th_ _S_ s__d st_nd_ng _n _n_ l_g sh_ws h_w w_ll _ p_rs_n c_n b_l_nc_. H_ s__d b_l_nc_ b_c_m_s m_r_ d_ff_c_lt _s w_ _g_. Dr K__fm_n _dd_d: "B_l_nc_ _s _n _mp_rt_nt m__s_r_ b_c__s_, _n _dd_t__n t_ m_scl_ str_ngth, _t r_q__r_s _np_t fr_m v_s__n, th_ [h__r_ng] syst_m, _nd th_ [s_ns_s]." H_ _dd_d: "G__d b_l_nc_ pr_v_d_s th_ _b_l_ty t_ c_rry __t _ct_v_t__s _f d__ly l_v_ng w_th__t th_ f__r _f f_ll_ng, _nd th_s l__ds t_ _mpr_v_d q__l_ty _f l_f_ _nd h__lthy _g__ng."

F_rty p__pl_ _v_r th_ _g_ _f 50 t__k p_rt _n th_ r_s__rch. Th_y d_d t_sts f_r w_lk_ng, b_l_nc_, gr_p, _nd kn__ str_ngth. __ch p_rt_c_p_nt h_d t_ b_l_nc_ _n th__r d_m_n_nt _nd n_n-d_m_n_nt l_g f_r 30 s_c_nds. Th_y d_d th_s w_th th__r _y_s cl_s_d, _nd _g__n w_th th__r _y_s _p_n. K__fm_n f__nd th_t st_nd_ng _n th_ n_n-d_m_n_nt l_g sh_w_d th_ h_gh_st r_t_ _f d_cl_n_ w_th _g_. Th_r_ w_s _ 2.2-s_c_nd-p_r-d_c_d_ d_cl_n_ wh_n p_rt_c_p_nts st__d _n th__r n_n-d_m_n_nt l_g. Th_s c_mp_r_d t_ 1.7 s_c_nds f_r th_ d_m_n_nt l_g. K__fm_n c_ncl_d_d: "St_nd_ng _n _n_ l_g _s _ g__d m__s_r_ _f y__r _v_r_ll h__lth b_c__s_ b_l_nc_ r_fl_cts h_w th_ b_dy's syst_ms _r_ w_rk_ng t_g_th_r."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

everyone knows how to find the age of a fallen tree we count the number of rings on the trees stump a scientist has found a new way to measure the age of people get them to stand on one leg dr kenton kaufman from the mayo clinic in the usa said standing on one leg shows how well a person can balance he said balance becomes more difficult as we age dr kaufman added balance is an important measure because in addition to muscle strength it requires input from vision the hearing system and the senses he added good balance provides the ability to carry out activities of daily living without the fear of falling and this leads to improved quality of life and healthy ageing

forty people over the age of 50 took part in the research they did tests for walking balance grip and knee strength each participant had to balance on their dominant and nondominant leg for 30 seconds they did this with their eyes closed and again with their eyes open kaufman found that standing on the nondominant leg showed the highest rate of decline with age there was a 22secondperdecade decline when participants stood on their nondominant leg this compared to 17 seconds for the dominant leg kaufman concluded standing on one leg is a good measure of your overall health because balance reflects how the bodys systems are working together

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Everyoneknowshowtofindtheageofafallentree.Wecountthenumbero
fringsonthetree'sstump.Ascientisthasfoundanewwaytomeasurethe
ageofpeople–getthemtostandononeleg.DrKentonKaufmanfromth
eMayoClinicintheUSAsaidstandingononelegshowshowwellapersonc
anbalance.Hesaidbalancebecomesmoredifficultasweage.DrKaufma
nadded:"Balanceisanimportantmeasurebecause,inadditiontomuscl
estrength,itrequiresinputfromvision,the[hearing]system,andthe[s
enses]."Headded:"Goodbalanceprovidestheabilitytocarryoutactiviti
esofdailylivingwithoutthefearoffalling,andthisleadstoimprovedquali
tyoflifeandhealthyageing."Fortypeopleovertheageof50tookpartinth
eresearch.Theydidtestsforwalking,balance,grip,andkneestrength.E
achparticipanthadtobalanceontheirdominantandnon-dominantlegf
or30seconds.Theydidthiswiththeireyesclosed,andagainwiththeirey
esopen.Kaufmanfoundthatstandingonthenon-dominantlegshowe
dthehighestrateofdeclinewithage.Therewasa2.2-second-per-deca
dedeclinewhenparticipantsstoodontheirnon-dominantleg.Thiscom
paredto1.7secondsforthedominantleg.Kaufmanconcluded:"Standin
gononelegisagoodmeasureofyouroverallhealthbecausebalancerefle
ctshowthebody'ssystemsareworkingtogether."

Free writing

Write about standing on one leg for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It is important to know for how long we can stand on one leg. 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. STANDING ON ONE LEG: Make a poster about standing on one leg. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. AGEING: Write a magazine article about all of us standing on one leg more often so we can live longer. 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 standing on one leg. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on this research. 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: Standing on one leg

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