The Reading / Listening - Drones - Level 3

There have been hundreds of sightings of mystery drones across the USA. People first started telling the police about the drones last month. Since then, more and more people have reported seeing them. Most of the sightings have been in the state of New Jersey. Residents there are concerned because the drones have been flying above military bases. One drone was spotted near Donald Trump's golf course in New Jersey. Stewart Airfield in New York state shut down for an hour last week because of "suspicious" drone activity. US authorities said they are unsure where the drones are from. A spokesperson said the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were not a danger to the public.

Many conspiracy theories have started online because of the drone sightings. Some people on social media are saying Russia and China are using the objects to spy on the USA. A New Jersey Republican representative said the drones were coming from an "Iranian mothership" in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Homeland Security Secretary told ABC News that he knew of "no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings". He added: "If we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public." FBI investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases of "mistaken identity" and that people were "over-reacting" unnecessarily to news reports.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Drones - Level 0,  Drones - Level 1   or  Drones - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62785697v0o
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/15/us/drone-sightings-east-coast/index.html
  • https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-requests-360-degree-radar-system-ny-nj-detect-drones


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. DRONES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about drones. 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?
       sightings / mystery / drones / police / concerned / military bases / suspicious / danger
       conspiracy theory / social media / spy / criminal activity / mistaken identity / news
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. UFOs: Students A strongly believe UFOs and aliens exist; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CONSPIRACY THEORIES: What do you think of these conspiracy theories? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What You Think

Why?

The moon landing is a hoax

 

 

Climate change isn't real

 

 

Vaccines contain microchips

 

 

Wi-fi causes brain cancer

 

 

The earth is flat

 

 

Reptiles run the US government

 

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

  • Spying
  • Food delivery
  • Taxis
  • Warfare
  • Aerial photos
  • Search and rescue
  • Emergency response
  • Traffic monitoring

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. sightings a. Related to soldiers or the army.
      2. residents b. A place where soldiers, ships, or airplanes stay and work.
      3. concerned c. When someone sees something, especially something unusual or strange.
      4. military d. Something that looks strange or not right; something you think is bad.
      5. base e. People who live in a place.
      6. unidentified f. Worried about something.
      7. suspicious g. Not known; no one knows what it is or who it is.

    Paragraph 2

      8. conspiracy theory h. When someone thinks a person or thing is someone or something.
      9. spy (verb) i. An idea that something secret or bad is happening, but there is no proof.
      10. representative j. To watch someone or something secretly to get information.
      11. foreign k. Being part of an activity or something happening.
      12. involvement l. From another country.
      13. criminal (adjective) m. A person who speaks or acts for a group of people.
      14. mistaken identity n. Related to breaking the law; doing something illegal.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. There have been thousands of mysterious drone sightings in the USA.     T / F
  2. People started telling the police about the drones last week.     T / F
  3. The drones have been flying over military bases.     T / F
  4. Authorities in the USA told people they are not in danger.     T / F
  5. One conspiracy theory says the drones are from Canada.     T / F
  6. The USA said the drones are being used for spying purposes.     T / F
  7. The USA said there is no sign of criminal activity regarding the drones.    T / F
  8. The FBI said news reports are making people over-react.     T / F

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

  1. mystery
  2. residents
  3. bases
  4. spotted
  5. unidentified
  6. spy
  7. involvement
  8. criminal
  9. public
  10. mistaken
  1. unknown
  2. camps
  3. participation
  4. locals
  5. illegal
  6. people
  7. puzzling
  8. wrong
  9. gather intelligence
  10. sighted

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

  1. There have been hundreds of sightings
  2. more and more people
  3. drones have been flying above
  4. they are unsure where the
  5. UFOs were not a danger
  6. conspiracy
  7. using the objects to spy
  8. he knew of no foreign
  9. the drone sightings were cases
  10. people were "over-reacting"
  1. on the USA
  2. military bases
  3. unnecessarily
  4. to the public
  5. involvement
  6. have reported seeing them
  7. of mistaken identity
  8. of mystery drones
  9. theories
  10. drones are from

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
state
course
danger
sightings
unsure
more
bases
shut

There have been hundreds of (1) ______________________________________________ of mystery drones across the USA. People first started telling the police about the drones last month. Since then, (2) ______________________________________________ and more people have reported seeing them. Most of the sightings have been in the (3) ______________________________________________ of New Jersey. Residents there are concerned because the drones have been flying above military (4) ______________________________________________. One drone was spotted near Donald Trump's golf (5) ______________________________________________ in New Jersey. Stewart Airfield in New York state (6) ______________________________________________ down for an hour last week because of "suspicious" drone activity. US authorities said they are (7) ______________________________________________ where the drones are from. A spokesperson said the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were not a (8) ______________________________________________ to the public.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
coming
reports
social
respect
theories
cases
spy
criminal

Many conspiracy (9) ______________________________________________ have started online because of the drone sightings. Some people on (10) ______________________________________________ media are saying Russia and China are using the objects to (11) ______________________________________________ on the USA. A New Jersey Republican representative said the drones were (12) ______________________________________________ from an "Iranian mothership" in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Homeland Security Secretary told ABC News that he knew of "no foreign involvement with (13) ______________________________________________ to the sightings". He added: "If we identify any foreign involvement or (14) ______________________________________________ activity, we will communicate with the American public." FBI investigators said most of the drone sightings were (15) ______________________________________________ of "mistaken identity" and that people were "over-reacting" unnecessarily to news (16) ______________________________________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) There have been hundreds of sightings of mystery drones ______
     a.  address the USA
     b.  a cross the USA
     c.  across a USA
     d.  across the USA
2)  People first started telling the police about the ______
     a.  drones least month
     b.  drones lastly month
     c.  drones lasts month
     d.  drones last month
3)  Residents there are concerned because the drones have been flying ______
     a.  above military bases
     b.  above military basis
     c.  above military vases
     d.  above military basest
4)  One drone was spotted near Donald ______
     a.  Trump's golf coarse
     b.  Trump's golf course
     c.  Trump's golf curse
     d.  Trump's golf cuss
5)  A spokesperson said the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were not a danger ______
     a.  to the publicly
     b.  to the pub lick
     c.  to the public
     d.  to the publicity

6)  people on social media are saying Russia and China are using the ______
     a.  objects twos pie
     b.  objects to spy
     c.  objects too spy
     d.  objects two spies
7)  The US Homeland Security Secretary told ABC News that he knew of ______
     a.  no foreign involve meant
     b.  no foreign involve mint
     c.  no foreign involvement
     d.  no foreign involved meant
8)  If we identify any foreign involvement ______
     a.  or crime in all activity
     b.  or criminal activity
     c.  or criminal actively
     d.  of criminal activity
9)  FBI investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases ______
     a.  of mistaken identities
     b.  of mistaken identify
     c.  of mistaken identity
     d.  of mistaken identification
10)  people were "over-reacting" unnecessarily ______
     a.  to news reports
     b.  to new reports
     c.  two news reports
     d.  to news report

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There have been hundreds (1) __________________________________________________ mystery drones across the USA. People first started telling the police about the drones last month. Since then, (2) __________________________________________________ people have reported seeing them. Most of the sightings have been in the state of New Jersey. Residents (3) __________________________________________________ because the drones have been flying above military bases. One drone (4) __________________________________________________ Donald Trump's golf course in New Jersey. Stewart Airfield in New York state shut down for (5) __________________________________________________ week because of "suspicious" drone activity. US authorities said they are unsure where the drones are from. A spokesperson said the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were not a danger (6) __________________________________________________.

Many conspiracy (7) __________________________________________________ online because of the drone sightings. Some people on social media are saying Russia and China are using the objects (8) __________________________________________________ the USA. A New Jersey Republican representative said the drones were (9) __________________________________________________ "Iranian mothership" in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Homeland Security Secretary told ABC News that he knew of "no foreign involvement (10) __________________________________________________ the sightings". He added: "If (11) __________________________________________________ foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public." FBI investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases (12) __________________________________________________ and that people were "over-reacting" unnecessarily to news reports.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many sightings of mystery drones have there been in the USA?
  2. When did people start to tell the police about the drones?
  3. What have the drones been flying over?
  4. Whose golf course was a drone spotted near?
  5. Where did US authorities say the drones are from?
  6. What has started online?
  7. Where did a Republican politician say the drones were from?
  8. Who did the US Homeland Security Secretary speak to?
  9. Who said many of the drone sightings were mistaken identity?
  10. What did the FBI say people were over-reacting to?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many sightings of mystery drones have there been in the USA?
a) millions
b) hundreds of thousands
c) thousands
d) hundreds
2) When did people start to tell the police about the drones?
a) a few days ago
b) last month
c) the week before last
d) several years ago
3) What have the drones been flying over?
a) nuclear facilities
b) politicians' houses
c) government buildings
d) military bases
4) Whose golf course was a drone spotted near?
a) Tiger Woods
b) Joe Biden
c) Donald Trump
d) Shohei Ohtani
5) Where did US authorities say the drones are from?
a) China
b) Iran
c) Russia
d) They don't know.

6) What has started online?
a) an anti-drone website
b) a petition
c) conspiracy theories
d) a new blog
7) Where did a Republican politician say the drones were from?
a) an Iranian mothership
b) the fatherland
c) a sister city
d) the homeland
8) Who did the US Homeland Security Secretary speak to?
a) CNN
b) BBC News
c) ABC News
d) NBC News
9) Who said many of the drone sightings were mistaken identity?
a) the WHO
b) the FBI
c) the UFO
d) NASA
10) What did the FBI say people were over-reacting to?
a) news reports
b) a phobia of drones
c) conspiracy theories
d) the US Homeland Security Secretary

Role play

Role  A – Spying
You think spying is the best use of drones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst use of these (and why): food delivery, search and rescue or warfare.

Role  B – Food Delivery
You think food delivery is the best use of drones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst use of these (and why): spying, search and rescue or warfare.

Role  C – Search and Rescue
You think search and rescue is the best use of drones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst use of these (and why): food delivery, spying or warfare.

Role  D – Warfare
You think warfare is the best use of drones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst use of these (and why): food delivery, search and rescue or spying.

After reading / listening

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

'mystery'

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

    • and 'drone'.

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

    • • 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:

    • across
    • last
    • since
    • above
    • near
    • danger
    • started
    • social
    • coming
    • respect
    • FBI
    • news

    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 - Drones

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'mystery'?
    3. What do you think of drones?
    4. Have you ever seen something mysterious in the sky?
    5. How useful are drones?
    6. In what ways could drones be dangerous?
    7. Would you worry if a drone was above your house?
    8. Should the police shoot the drones?
    9. Why might a drone be above Donald Trump's golf course?
    10. Do you think UFOs exist?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'drone'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of conspiracy theories?
    5. Why do people believe conspiracy theories?
    6. What should the USA do if the drones are Russian, Chinese or Iranian?
    7. How might criminals use drones?
    8. Have you ever mistaken someone's identity?
    9. Are you looking forward to food delivery by drones?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a drone expert?

    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)

    There have been hundreds of sightings (1) ____ mystery drones across the USA. People first started telling the police about the drones last month. Since (2) ____, more and more people have reported seeing them. Most of the sightings have been in the (3) ____ of New Jersey. Residents there are concerned because the drones have been flying above military bases. One drone was (4) ____ near Donald Trump's golf course in New Jersey. Stewart Airfield in New York state shut down for an hour last week (5) ____ of "suspicious" drone activity. US authorities said they are unsure where the drones are from. A spokesperson said the unidentified (6) ____ objects (UFOs) were not a danger to the public.

    Many conspiracy (7) ____ have started online because of the drone sightings. Some people on social media are saying Russia and China are using the objects to (8) ____ on the USA. A New Jersey Republican representative said the drones were coming from an "Iranian mothership" in the Atlantic (9) ____. The US Homeland Security Secretary told ABC News that he knew of "no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings". He added: "If we (10) ____ any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American (11) ____." FBI investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases of "mistaken identity" and that people were "(12) ____-reacting" unnecessarily to news reports.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     at     (b)     to     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    2. (a)     then     (b)     that     (c)     there     (d)     them    
    3. (a)     state     (b)     mess     (c)     condition     (d)     say    
    4. (a)     spotted     (b)     spotty     (c)     spotter     (d)     spots    
    5. (a)     due     (b)     because     (c)     rather     (d)     however    
    6. (a)     flies     (b)     flown     (c)     flew     (d)     flying    
    7. (a)     theorize     (b)     theory     (c)     theories     (d)     theoretical    
    8. (a)     spied     (b)     spying     (c)     spies     (d)     spy    
    9. (a)     Ocean     (b)     Sea     (c)     Strait     (d)     Lake    
    10. (a)     identity     (b)     identify     (c)     identities     (d)     identification    
    11. (a)     privacy     (b)     public     (c)     publicity     (d)     private    
    12. (a)     under     (b)     pre     (c)     over     (d)     post

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. hundreds of ignhgisst of mystery drones
    2. tsersnedi there are concerned
    3. above aiymtlir bases
    4. socisspiuu drone activity
    5. U.S. uiiettoashr said they are unsure
    6. inniudtdefie flying objects

    Paragraph 2

    1. parnicscoy theories
    2. A New Jersey Republican peeeersivtrtan
    3. he knew of no gferion involvement
    4. nrmciial activity
    5. moeictcnmua with the American public
    6. mistaken tdyneiit

    Put the text back together

    (...)  course in New Jersey. Stewart Airfield in New York state shut down for an hour last week because of "suspicious"
    (...)  drone activity. US authorities said they are unsure where the drones are from. A spokesperson
    (...)  them. Most of the sightings have been in the state of New Jersey. Residents there are concerned because the drones have
    (...)  ABC News that he knew of "no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings". He added: "If we identify any foreign
    (...)  Many conspiracy theories have started online because of the drone sightings. Some people on social media
    (...)  involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public." FBI
    (...)  said the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were not a danger to the public.
    (...)  investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases of "mistaken
    (  1  )  There have been hundreds of sightings of mystery drones across the USA. People first started telling the
    (...)  been flying above military bases. One drone was spotted near Donald Trump's golf
    (...)  were coming from an "Iranian mothership" in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Homeland Security Secretary told
    (...)  are saying Russia and China are using the objects to spy on the USA. A New Jersey Republican representative said the drones
    (...)  police about the drones last month. Since then, more and more people have reported seeing
    (...)  identity" and that people were "over-reacting" unnecessarily to news reports.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. There   of   been   have   of   hundreds   sightings   drones   .
    2. started   People   telling   the   the   drones   .   about   police
    3. drones   been   flying   above   bases   .   The   military   have
    4. are   are   from   .   Authorities   the   unsure   drones   where
    5. objects   not   The   a   unidentified   flying   danger   .   were
    6. Conspiracy   because   theories   online   started   of   drones   .   have
    7. the   on   Using   objects   the   USA   .   to   spy
    8. drones   mothership   .   coming   Iranian   an   from   were   The
    9. mistaken   sightings   were   cases   identity   .   drone   of   Most
    10. unnecessarily   were   People   reports   .   news   over-reacting   to

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There have been hundreds / hundred of sightings of mystery drones across the USA. People first started / starting telling the police about the drones last month. Since then / that, more and more people have reported seen / seeing them. Most of the sightings have been in the state of New Jersey. Residents there are cornered / concerned because the drones have been flying above / top military bases. One drone was spotted near Donald Trump's golf course in New Jersey. Stewart Airfield in New York state shut up / down for an hour last week because of "suspicious" drone activity. US authorities said they are unsure where the drones be / are from. A spokesperson said the unidentified flying / fling objects (UFOs) were not a danger at / to the public.

    Many conspiracy theories have stated / started online because of the drone sightings. Some people on / in social media are saying Russia and China are using the objects to / for spy on the USA. A New Jersey Republican representative said the drones were coming from an "Iranian mothership" in the Atlantic Sea / Ocean. The US Homeland Security Secretary told ABC News that he knew / know of, "no foreign involvement with respect at / to the sightings". He added: "If we identify / identity any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with / on the American public." FBI investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases / boxes of "mistaken identity" and that people were "over-reacting" unnecessarily to news report / reports.

    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_r_  h_v_  b__n  h_ndr_ds  _f  s_ght_ngs  _f  myst_ry  dr_n_s  _cr_ss  th_  _S_.  P__pl_  f_rst  st_rt_d  t_ll_ng  th_  p_l_c_  _b__t  th_  dr_n_s  l_st  m_nth.  S_nc_  th_n,  m_r_  _nd  m_r_  p__pl_  h_v_  r_p_rt_d  s___ng  th_m.  M_st  _f  th_  s_ght_ngs  h_v_  b__n  _n  th_  st_t_  _f  N_w  J_rs_y.  R_s_d_nts  th_r_  _r_  c_nc_rn_d  b_c__s_  th_  dr_n_s  h_v_  b__n  fly_ng  _b_v_  m_l_t_ry  b_s_s.  _n_  dr_n_  w_s  sp_tt_d  n__r  D_n_ld  Tr_mp's  g_lf  c__rs_  _n  N_w  J_rs_y.  St_w_rt  __rf__ld  _n  N_w  Y_rk  st_t_  sh_t  d_wn  f_r  _n  h__r  l_st  w__k  b_c__s_  _f  "s_sp_c___s"  dr_n_  _ct_v_ty.  _S  __th_r_t__s  s__d  th_y  _r_  _ns_r_  wh_r_  th_  dr_n_s  _r_  fr_m.  _  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d  th_  _n_d_nt_f__d  fly_ng  _bj_cts  (_F_s)  w_r_  n_t  _  d_ng_r  t_  th_  p_bl_c. 

    M_ny  c_nsp_r_cy  th__r__s  h_v_  st_rt_d  _nl_n_  b_c__s_  _f  th_  dr_n_  s_ght_ngs.  S_m_  p__pl_  _n  s_c__l  m_d__  _r_  s_y_ng  R_ss__  _nd  Ch_n_  _r_  _s_ng  th_  _bj_cts  t_  spy  _n  th_  _S_.  _  N_w  J_rs_y  R_p_bl_c_n  r_pr_s_nt_t_v_  s__d  th_  dr_n_s  w_r_  c_m_ng  fr_m  _n  "_r_n__n  m_th_rsh_p"  _n  th_  _tl_nt_c  _c__n.  Th_  _S  H_m_l_nd  S_c_r_ty  S_cr_t_ry  t_ld  _BC  N_ws  th_t  h_  kn_w  _f  "n_  f_r__gn  _nv_lv_m_nt  w_th  r_sp_ct  t_  th_  s_ght_ngs".  H_  _dd_d:  "_f  w_  _d_nt_fy  _ny  f_r__gn  _nv_lv_m_nt  _r  cr_m_n_l  _ct_v_ty,  w_  w_ll  c_mm_n_c_t_  w_th  th_  _m_r_c_n  p_bl_c."  FB_  _nv_st_g_t_rs  s__d  m_st  _f  th_  dr_n_  s_ght_ngs  w_r_  c_s_s  _f  "m_st_k_n  _d_nt_ty"  _nd  th_t  p__pl_  w_r_  "_v_r-r__ct_ng"  _nn_c_ss_r_ly  t_  n_ws  r_p_rts.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there have been hundreds of sightings of mystery drones across the usa people first started telling the police about the drones last month since then more and more people have reported seeing them most of the sightings have been in the state of new jersey residents there are concerned because the drones have been flying above military bases one drone was spotted near donald trumps golf course in new jersey stewart airfield in new york state shut down for an hour last week because of suspicious drone activity us authorities said they are unsure where the drones are from a spokesperson said the unidentified flying objects ufos were not a danger to the public

    many conspiracy theories have started online because of the drone sightings some people on social media are saying russia and china are using the objects to spy on the usa a new jersey republican representative said the drones were coming from an iranian mothership in the atlantic ocean the us homeland security secretary told abc news that he knew of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings he added if we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity we will communicate with the american public fbi investigators said most of the drone sightings were cases of mistaken identity and that people were overreacting unnecessarily to news reports

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TherehavebeenhundredsofsightingsofmysterydronesacrosstheUSA
    .Peoplefirststartedtellingthepoliceaboutthedroneslastmonth.Sincet
    hen,moreandmorepeoplehavereportedseeingthem.Mostofthesighti
    ngshavebeeninthestateofNewJersey.Residentsthereareconcernedb
    ecausethedroneshavebeenflyingabovemilitarybases.Onedronewas
    spottednearDonaldTrump'sgolfcourseinNewJersey.StewartAirfieldi
    nNewYorkstateshutdownforanhourlastweekbecauseof"suspicious"
    droneactivity.USauthoritiessaidtheyareunsurewherethedronesaref
    rom.Aspokespersonsaidtheunidentifiedflyingobjects(UFOs)werenot
    adangertothepublic.Manyconspiracytheorieshavestartedonlinebeca
    useofthedronesightings.SomepeopleonsocialmediaaresayingRussi
    aandChinaareusingtheobjectstospyontheUSA.ANewJerseyRepublic
    anrepresentativesaidthedroneswerecomingfroman"Iranianmothers
    hip"intheAtlanticOcean.TheUSHomelandSecuritySecretarytoldABC
    Newsthatheknewof"noforeigninvolvementwithrespecttothesighting
    s".Headded:"Ifweidentifyanyforeigninvolvementorcriminalactivity,
    wewillcommunicatewiththeAmericanpublic."FBIinvestigatorssaidm
    ostofthedronesightingswerecasesof"mistakenidentity"andthatpeop
    lewere"over-reacting"unnecessarilytonewsreports.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Drones are an amazing invention that will change the world. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DRONES: Make a poster about drones. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. DRONE LICENSES: Write a magazine article about requiring anyone with a drone to need a license. 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 drones. Ask him/her three questions about drones. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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