Breaking News English Lesson: Spaghetti

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Scientists make world's thinnest spaghetti (25th November 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Spaghetti - Level 6

Researchers from University College London have created the world's thinnest spaghetti. It is about 200 times thinner than a human hair. The pasta strands are so thin they cannot be captured in a photo. Nor can they be seen with the naked eye or through a microscope. The nano-spaghetti is just 372 nanometres wide. That's equivalent to millionths of a centimetre. The spaghetti was made using a technique called electro-spinning. In this procedure, an electric charge pushes a mixture of flour and liquid through microscopic holes. Professor Gareth Williams said: "I don't think it's useful as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan."

The new spaghetti will be largely used for medicinal rather than culinary purposes. However, Dr Adam Clancy said it is edible. He said: "Hypothetically, one might expect it to be chewier than you'd expect". Individual strands of the nanopasta can be spun into a pasta net. This could be used as a scaffold for regrowing tissue. The net could also be used to create bandages that would help wounds heal. The bandages would allow moisture through to the skin, but keep bacteria out. They could also help bone regeneration and deliver drugs to different parts of the body. The scientists say there are also non-medicinal applications, such as its use in filtration systems and batteries.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Spaghetti - Level 4 or Spaghetti - Level 5

Sources

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457260-worlds-thinnest-spaghetti-wont-please-gourmands-but-may-heal-wounds/
https://www.engadget.com/science/chemists-have-created-the-worlds-thinnest-spaghetti-201509365.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14110297/Scientists-create-worlds-thinnest-SPAGHETTI.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. SPAGHETTI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about spaghetti. 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?
researchers / spaghetti / human hair / pasta / the naked eye / flour / holes / overcook
medicinal / culinary / edible / chewy / scaffold / tissue / wounds / moisture / batteries
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FOOD: Students A strongly believe spaghetti is better than rice; Students B strongly believe rice is better. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PASTA: What do you know and what do you want to know about pasta? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Want to Know
Spaghetti
Lasagna
Macaroni
Tagliatelle
Penne
Ravioli

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

Spaghetti
Rice
Potatoes
Maize (corn)
Cassava
Soybeans
Cassava
Wheat

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	strand	a.	Something is the same as something else or has the same value.
2.	captured	b.	A single piece of something, usually something long and thin, like a piece of thread or hair.
3.	the naked eye	c.	Seeing something without using any tools like a microscope or telescope.
4.	equivalentto	d.	So small that you need a microscope to see it.
5.	procedure	e.	Roast, grill, boil or bake something for too long, so it becomes dry or burnt.
6.	microscopic	f.	Recorded accurately in words or pictures.
7.	overcook	g.	A set of steps or instructions to do something in the right way.

Paragraph 2

8.	medicinal	h.	Imagined or not real, but possible in theory.
9.	culinary	i.	An injury to the body, usually with a cut or break in the skin.
10.	edible	j.	Create a temporary structure on the outside of something to help repair it.
11.	hypothetically	k.	Safe and good to eat.
12.	spun	l.	Turned around very quickly.
13.	scaffold	m.	Something that is used to treat illness or improve health.
14.	wound	n.	Related to cooking or food.

Before reading / listening

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

The new spaghetti is the width of 200 human hairs. T / F
The new spaghetti can only be seen through a microscope. T / F
Electricity pushes liquid flour through tiny holes to make the spaghetti. T / F
It takes a long time to boil the nano-spaghetti. T / F
The thin spaghetti is inedible. T / F
The spaghetti can be made into a web to help regrow tissue. T / F
The spaghetti can be used to make bacteria-resistant bandages. T / F
The spaghetti can only be used for medicinal purposes. T / F

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

captured
equivalent
microscopic
sadly
pan
largely
expect
moisture
wounds
medicinal

for the most part
wetness
regrettably
lacerations
miniscule
curative
shown
analogous
anticipate
pot

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

they cannot be captured
the naked
That's equivalent to
I don't think it's useful
it would overcook
used for medicinal
This could be used as a scaffold for
bandages that would help
allow moisture
filtration

wounds heal
in less than a second
systems
rather than culinary purposes
in a photo
through to the skin
eye
as pasta
regrowing tissue
millionths of a centimetre

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

mixture
strands
pan
created
sadly
equivalent
procedure
naked

Researchers from University College London have (1) _________________________________ the world's thinnest spaghetti. It is about 200 times thinner than a human hair. The pasta (2) _________________________________ are so thin they cannot be captured in a photo. Nor can they be seen with the (3) _________________________________ eye or through a microscope. The nano-spaghetti is just 372 nanometres wide. That's (4) _________________________________ to millionths of a centimetre. The spaghetti was made using a technique called electro-spinning. In this (5) _________________________________, an electric charge pushes a (6) _________________________________ of flour and liquid through microscopic holes. Professor Gareth Williams said: "I don't think it's useful as pasta, (7) _________________________________, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the (8) _________________________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

scaffold
culinary
individual
filtration
largely
deliver
edible
moisture

The new spaghetti will be (9) _________________________________ used for medicinal rather than (10) _________________________________ purposes. However, Dr Adam Clancy said it is (11) _________________________________. He said: "Hypothetically, one might expect it to be chewier than you'd expect". (12) _________________________________ strands of the nanopasta can be spun into a pasta net. This could be used as a (13) _________________________________ for regrowing tissue. The net could also be used to create bandages that would help wounds heal. The bandages would allow (14) _________________________________ through to the skin, but keep bacteria out. They could also help bone regeneration and (15) _________________________________ drugs to different parts of the body. The scientists say there are also non-medicinal applications, such as its use in (16) _________________________________ systems and batteries.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) It is about 200 times thinner than ______
     a. a human hare
     b. a human hair
     c. a humane hair
     d. a human heir
2) The pasta strands are so thin they ______
     a. cannot be captures
     b. cannot be capture
     c. cannot be raptured
     d. cannot be captured
3) Nor can they be seen with ______
     a. the nude eye
     b. the neigh kid eye
     c. the knackered eye
     d. the naked eye
4) In this procedure, an electric charge pushes a mixture of ______
     a. flower and liquid
     b. flour and liquid
     c. flow and liquid
     d. floor and liquid
5) It would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out ______
     a. oft the pane
     b. of a pan
     c. of the pan
     d. of the pane

6) The new spaghetti will be largely used for medicinal rather ______
     a. than culinary porpoises
     b. than culinary perpetrates
     c. than culinary supposes
     d. than culinary purposes
7) Hypothetically, one might expect it to be chewier ______
     a. than you'd expect
     b. than you'd expert
     c. than you'd inspect
     d. than you'd expect
8) This could be used ______
     a. as the scaffold
     b. as a scarf fold
     c. as a scaffold
     d. as a scarf old
9) The bandages would ______
     a. allows moisture through
     b. allow moisturize through
     c. allow moist your through
     d. allow moisture through
10) The scientists say there are also ______
     a. non-medicinal application
     b. non-medicine all applications
     c. none medicinal applications
     d. non-medicinal applications

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Researchers from University College London have created the world's thinnest spaghetti. It is about 200 times thinner (1) _______________________________________________ hair. The pasta strands are so thin they cannot be captured in a photo. Nor can they be seen with (2) _______________________________________________ or through a microscope. The nano-spaghetti is just 372 nanometres wide. That's (3) _______________________________________________ of a centimetre. The spaghetti was made using a technique called electro-spinning. In this procedure, an electric charge (4) _______________________________________________ of flour and liquid through microscopic holes. Professor Gareth Williams said: "I don't think it's useful as (5) _______________________________________________ it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out (6) _______________________________________________."

The new spaghetti will be (7) _______________________________________________ medicinal rather than culinary purposes. However, Dr Adam Clancy said (8) _______________________________________________. He said: "Hypothetically, one might expect it to be chewier than you'd expect". Individual strands of the nanopasta can be (9) _______________________________________________ pasta net. This could be used as a scaffold for regrowing tissue. The net could also be used to create bandages that would (10) _______________________________________________. The bandages would allow moisture through to the skin, but keep bacteria out. They could also help bone regeneration and (11) _______________________________________________ different parts of the body. The scientists say there are also non-medicinal applications, such as its use in filtration (12) _______________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

Where are the researchers from?
What can the spaghetti not be seen with?
How wide is one strand of the spaghetti?
What is the name of the method used to produce the spaghetti?
How long would it take to overcook the spaghetti?
For what purposes will the spaghetti mainly be used?
What could the spaghetti be spun into?
What could the spaghetti be used to create?
What could the spaghetti help to deliver to the body?
What non-medicinal uses could the spaghetti have?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where are the researchers from?
a) Sicily University
b) University College London
c) The Pasta University
d) The University of Cairo
2) What can the spaghetti not be seen with?
a) AI
b) a CT scanner
c) Parmesan cheese
d) the naked eye
3) How wide is one strand of the spaghetti?
a) 273 nanometres
b) 732 nanometres
c) 372 nanometres
d) 327 nanometres
4) What is the name of the method used to produce the spaghetti?
a) electro-spinning
b) al fresco
c) forking
d) starch-reduction
5) How long would it take to overcook the spaghetti?
a) hours
b) less than a second
c) 23 milliseconds
d) an age

6) For what purposes will the spaghetti mainly be used?
a) medicinal purposes
b) to test new recipes
c) culinary purposes
d) to test taste buds
7) What could the spaghetti be spun into?
a) a web of lies
b) a washing machine
c) a pasta web
d) a spider's web
8) What could the spaghetti be used to create?
a) bandages
b) flesh
c) carbohydrate
d) a mess
9) What could the spaghetti help to deliver to the body?
a) energy
b) tissue
c) insulin
d) drugs
10) What non-medicinal uses could the spaghetti have?
a) road construction
b) clothes repair
c) filtration systems
d) glues and adhesives

Role play

Role A – Spaghetti
You think spaghetti is the best staple food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their staple. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): rice, soybeans or potatoes.

Role B – Rice
You think rice is the best staple food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their staple. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): spaghetti, soybeans or potatoes.

Role C – Soybeans
You think soybeans are the best staple food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their staple. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): rice, spaghetti or potatoes.

Role D – Potatoes
You think potatoes are the best staple food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their staple. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): rice, soybeans or spaghetti.

After reading / listening

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

'spaghetti'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'pasta'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

researchers

human

naked

centimetre

electric

sadly

largely

expect

spun

bandages

bacteria

systems

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 - Spaghetti

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 'spaghetti'?
What do you think of spaghetti?
What's the best form of pasta?
How thin should spaghetti be?
What do you think of spaghetti that you can't see?
What's the best pasta dish?
What do you know about spaghetti?
What's the world's best staple food?
Would you like to eat spaghetti 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 'human hair'?
What do you think about what you read?
What's the best way to cook spaghetti?
What do you think of using spaghetti for medicinal purposes?
Should spaghetti be soft or chewy?
What do you think of bandages made from a spaghetti net?
What other uses can you think of for spaghetti?
What's the best sauce for spaghetti?
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)

Researchers from University College London have created the world's thinnest spaghetti. It is about 200 times thinner than a (1) ____ hair. The pasta strands are so thin they cannot be captured in a photo. (2) ____ can they be seen with the naked eye or through a microscope. The nano-spaghetti is just 372 nanometres wide. That's equivalent (3) ____ millionths of a centimetre. The spaghetti was made (4) ____ a technique called electro-spinning. In this procedure, an electric (5) ____ pushes a mixture of flour and liquid through microscopic holes. Professor Gareth Williams said: "I don't think it's useful (6) ____ pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan."

The new spaghetti will be largely used for medicinal rather than (7) ____ purposes. However, Dr Adam Clancy said it is edible. He said: "Hypothetically, (8) ____ might expect it to be chewier than you'd expect". Individual strands of the nanopasta can be spun into a pasta net. This could be used as a (9) ____ for regrowing tissue. The net could also be used to create bandages that would help wounds heal. The bandages would allow moisture (10) ____ to the skin, but keep bacteria out. They could also help (11) ____ regeneration and deliver drugs to different parts of the body. The scientists say there are also non-medicinal applications, such as its use (12) ____ filtration systems and batteries.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) humane (b) humanly (c) human (d) humanist's
(a) Nor (b) Not (c) Now (d) Never
(a) to (b) at (c) on (d) by
(a) using (b) usage (c) used (d) user
(a) chug (b) chagrin (c) change (d) charge
(a) is (b) has (c) was (d) as
(a) culinary (b) aviary (c) actuary (d) nary
(a) each (b) all (c) once (d) one
(a) scaffold (b) snuffle (c) scuffle (d) truffle
(a) over (b) through (c) up (d) throughout
(a) eye (b) bone (c) foot (d) moustache
(a) in (b) of (c) at (d) by

Spelling

Paragraph 1

or through a ccpemioosr
That's tvnauqelie to millionths of a centimetre
a eihcnutqe called electro-spinning
In this pdoercreu
moircoicpcs holes
it would vkroceoo in less than a second

Paragraph 2

used for medicinal rather than lycuanir purposes
caotelthiyhypl, one might expect it to be chewier
allow eoisumrt through to the skin
They could also help bone oiereegrntna
there are also non-medicinal iocplnsaitap
its use in lttfroaiin systems and batteries

Put the text back together

(...)   372 nanometres wide. That's equivalent to millionths of a centimetre. The spaghetti was made
(...)   times thinner than a human hair. The pasta strands are so thin they cannot be captured
(...)   strands of the nanopasta can be spun into a pasta net. This could be used as a scaffold for regrowing
(...)   medicinal applications, such as its use in filtration systems and batteries.
(...)   tissue. The net could also be used to create bandages that would help wounds heal. The bandages would allow moisture
(...)   drugs to different parts of the body. The scientists say there are also non-
(...)   liquid through microscopic holes. Professor Gareth Williams said: "I don't think it's useful
(..1..) Researchers from University College London have created the world's thinnest spaghetti. It is about 200
(...)   through to the skin, but keep bacteria out. They could also help bone regeneration and deliver
(...)   in a photo. Nor can they be seen with the naked eye or through a microscope. The nano-spaghetti is just
(...)   The new spaghetti will be largely used for medicinal rather than culinary purposes. However, Dr Adam Clancy said it is
(...)   edible. He said: "Hypothetically, one might expect it to be chewier than you'd expect". Individual
(...)   using a technique called electro-spinning. In this procedure, an electric charge pushes a mixture of flour and
(...)   as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan."

Put the words in the right order

thinnest created spaghetti . world's have Researchers the
than 200 thinner hair . times It's human a
photos . thin they cannot captured So in be
technique made was called Spaghetti a electro-spinning . using
than a overcook in less second . would It
It it might you'd than expect to expect be chewier .
be could bandages . also used Nets create to
skin . the through would to allow moisture Bandages
drugs to body . the parts different Deliver of
are scientists there The say non-medicinal applications . also

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Researchers from University College London have created the world's thinnest spaghetti. It is about 200 times thinner than a humane / human hair. The pasta stands / strands are so thin they cannot be captured on / in a photo. Nor can they be seen with the naked / nude eye or through a microscope. The nano-spaghetti is just 372 nanometres width / wide. That's equivalent to millionths of a / the centimetre. The spaghetti was made using a technique called electro-spinning. In / On this procedure, an electric charge pushes a mixture of flower / flour and liquid through microscopic holes. Professor Gareth Williams said: "I don't think it's useful has / as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of / off the pan."

The new spaghetti will be largely used for medicinal rather than / that culinary purposes. However, Dr Adam Clancy said it is / be edible. He said: "Hypothetically, one / once might expect it to be chewier than you'd expect". Individual strands of the nanopasta can be spinning / spun into a pasta net. This could be used as a scaffold for / as regrowing tissue. The net could also be used to create bandage / bandages that would help wounds heel / heal. The bandages would allow moisture through to the skin, but keep bacteria in / out. They could also help bone regeneration and deliver drugs to different parts of a / the body. The scientists say there are also non-medicinal applications, such as its use / used in filtration systems and batteries.

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)

R_s__rch_rs fr_m _n_v_rs_ty C_ll_g_ L_nd_n h_v_ cr__t_d th_ w_rld's th_nn_st sp_gh_tt_. _t _s _b__t 200 t_m_s th_nn_r th_n _ h_m_n h__r. Th_ p_st_ str_nds _r_ s_ th_n th_y c_nn_t b_ c_pt_r_d _n _ ph_t_. N_r c_n th_y b_ s__n w_th th_ n_k_d _y_ _r thr__gh _ m_cr_sc_p_. Th_ n_n_-sp_gh_tt_ _s j_st 372 n_n_m_tr_s w_d_. Th_t's _q__v_l_nt t_ m_ll__nths _f _ c_nt_m_tr_. Th_ sp_gh_tt_ w_s m_d_ _s_ng _ t_chn_q__ c_ll_d _l_ctr_-sp_nn_ng. _n th_s pr_c_d_r_, _n _l_ctr_c ch_rg_ p_sh_s _ m_xt_r_ _f fl__r _nd l_q__d thr__gh m_cr_sc_p_c h_l_s. Pr_f_ss_r G_r_th W_ll__ms s__d: "_ d_n't th_nk _t's _s_f_l _s p_st_, s_dly, _s _t w__ld _v_rc__k _n l_ss th_n _ s_c_nd, b_f_r_ y__ c__ld t_k_ _t __t _f th_ p_n."

Th_ n_w sp_gh_tt_ w_ll b_ l_rg_ly _s_d f_r m_d_c_n_l r_th_r th_n c_l_n_ry p_rp_s_s. H_w_v_r, Dr _d_m Cl_ncy s__d _t _s _d_bl_. H_ s__d: "Hyp_th_t_c_lly, _n_ m_ght _xp_ct _t t_ b_ ch_w__r th_n y__'d _xp_ct". _nd_v_d__l str_nds _f th_ n_n_p_st_ c_n b_ sp_n _nt_ _ p_st_ n_t. Th_s c__ld b_ _s_d _s _ sc_ff_ld f_r r_gr_w_ng t_ss__. Th_ n_t c__ld _ls_ b_ _s_d t_ cr__t_ b_nd_g_s th_t w__ld h_lp w__nds h__l. Th_ b_nd_g_s w__ld _ll_w m__st_r_ thr__gh t_ th_ sk_n, b_t k__p b_ct_r__ __t. Th_y c__ld _ls_ h_lp b_n_ r_g_n_r_t__n _nd d_l_v_r dr_gs t_ d_ff_r_nt p_rts _f th_ b_dy. Th_ sc__nt_sts s_y th_r_ _r_ _ls_ n_n-m_d_c_n_l _ppl_c_t__ns, s_ch _s _ts _s_ _n f_ltr_t__n syst_ms _nd b_tt_r__s.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

researchers from university college london have created the worlds thinnest spaghetti it is about 200 times thinner than a human hair the pasta strands are so thin they cannot be captured in a photo nor can they be seen with the naked eye or through a microscope the nanospaghetti is just 372 nanometres wide thats equivalent to millionths of a centimetre the spaghetti was made using a technique called electrospinning in this procedure an electric charge pushes a mixture of flour and liquid through microscopic holes professor gareth williams said i dont think its useful as pasta sadly as it would overcook in less than a second before you could take it out of the pan

the new spaghetti will be largely used for medicinal rather than culinary purposes however dr adam clancy said it is edible he said hypothetically one might expect it to be chewier than youd expect individual strands of the nanopasta can be spun into a pasta net this could be used as a scaffold for regrowing tissue the net could also be used to create bandages that would help wounds heal the bandages would allow moisture through to the skin but keep bacteria out they could also help bone regeneration and deliver drugs to different parts of the body the scientists say there are also nonmedicinal applications such as its use in filtration systems and batteries

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ResearchersfromUniversityCollegeLondonhavecreatedtheworld'sth
innestspaghetti.Itisabout200timesthinnerthanahumanhair.Thepast
astrandsaresothintheycannotbecapturedinaphoto.Norcantheybese
enwiththenakedeyeorthroughamicroscope.Thenano-spaghettiisjus
t372nanometreswide.That'sequivalenttomillionthsofacentimetre.T
hespaghettiwasmadeusingatechniquecalledelectro-spinning.Inthis
procedure,anelectricchargepushesamixtureofflourandliquidthrough
microscopicholes.ProfessorGarethWilliamssaid:"Idon'tthinkit'susef
ulaspasta,sadly,asitwouldovercookinlessthanasecond,beforeyouco
uldtakeitoutofthepan."Thenewspaghettiwillbelargelyusedformedici
nalratherthanculinarypurposes.However,DrAdamClancysaiditisedi
ble.Hesaid:"Hypothetically,onemightexpectittobechewierthanyou'd
expect".Individualstrandsofthenanopastacanbespunintoapastanet.
Thiscouldbeusedasascaffoldforregrowingtissue.Thenetcouldalsobe
usedtocreatebandagesthatwouldhelpwoundsheal.Thebandageswo
uldallowmoisturethroughtotheskin,butkeepbacteriaout.Theycoulda
lsohelpboneregenerationanddeliverdrugstodifferentpartsofthebody
.Thescientistssaytherearealsonon-medicinalapplications,suchasits
useinfiltrationsystemsandbatteries.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Spaghetti is the best form of pasta. 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. SPAGHETTI: Make a poster about spaghetti. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FOOD AS MEDICINE: Write a magazine article about creating all medicines as food. 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 spaghetti. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on spaghetti. 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: Spaghetti

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