Breaking News English Lesson: Jeans and Genes

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Jeans video sparks race and genetics debate (4th August 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Jeans and Genes - Level 6

A video from a U.S. fashion retailer has created controversy over its use of the words "jeans" (as in denim) and "genes" (as in genetics). Social media is alight with claims the video is racist. The company, American Eagle, produced the video for its new line of clothes. The video stars denim-clad actress Sydney Sweeney. She tells the camera: "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." The video closes with the tagline: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." American Eagle said the play on words was part of its ad campaign's "provocative language". It said the words were definitely going to "push buttons".

Many people have criticized the wordplay for having eugenic undertones. Eugenics is a debunked theory that posits that humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certain genes to reproduce, to increase the occurrence of "desirable" racial traits. Critics of the ad highlight the fact that Ms Sweeney is white, blue-eyed, and blonde. They suggest her looks are really "great genes". Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the criticism a "leftist meltdown". U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it an overreaction. Meanwhile, the White House communications director said attacking the ad was "cancel culture run amok". American Eagle says its ad "is and always was about the jeans."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Jeans and Genes - Level 4 or Jeans and Genes - Level 5

Sources

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/08/01/jd-vance-sydney-sweeney-jeans-ad-controversy/85474100007/
https://apnews.com/article/american-eagle-sydney-sweeney-jeans-dunkin-e4d0cfade207d3b1e1b4e93531bfc082
https://www.vox.com/culture/422121/sydney-sweeneys-american-eagle-ad-jeans-genes-eugenics-trump

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. JEANS AND GENES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about jeans and genes. 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?
video / fashion retailer / controversy / jeans / genes / denim / eye colour / campaign /
wordplay / humanity / eugenics / racial traits / criticism / overreaction / cancel culture
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GENETICS: Students A strongly believe we should not use genetics to change human DNA; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FASHION STORES: What are the good and bad things about these fashion stores? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good Things	Bad Things
Chain stores
Department stores
Luxury brand stores
Online retailers
Outlet stores
Market stalls

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. DENIM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "denim". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ESSENTIAL FASHION: Rank these with your partner. Put the most necessary things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Jeans
White T-shirts
Leather jacket
Sneakers
Sunglasses
Hoodie
Baseball cap
A backpack

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	retailer	a.	A strong disagreement about something important.
2.	controversy	b.	Things that show what a person or thing is like (like kind, funny, tall).
3.	alight	c.	Wearing clothes.
4.	clad	d.	Spread all around.
5.	traits	e.	A person or store that sells things to people.
6.	provocative	f.	Make someone feel angry or upset on purpose.
7.	push buttons	g.	Doing or saying something to make people feel strong emotions.

Paragraph 2

8.	wordplay	h.	A time when someone loses control because of strong feelings.
9.	eugenics	i.	Using words in a funny or smart way.
10.	debunked	j.	To make babies.
11.	posit	k.	Act in a wild or crazy way without control.
12.	reproduce	l.	Shown to be not true.
13.	meltdown	m.	Say that something is true, even if it is not proven.
14.	run amok	n.	The idea of trying to make people have only “better” babies.

Before reading / listening

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

A company wants to call Demin jeans "genes". T / F
An actress in an ad said jeans are passed down through generations. T / F
The ad said the actress had great genes. T / F
The jeans company understood its ad might provoke discussion. T / F
People on social media said the ad encouraged genetic engineering. T / F
Critics of the ad objected to a white, blonde-haired woman being in it. T / F
The US vice-president said people were overreacting to the ad. T / F
The jeans company said the ad was only about jeans. T / F

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

retailer
controversy
offspring
traits
provocative
undertones
debunked
occurrence
criticism
run amok

suggestions
characteristics
manifestation
offensive
condemnation
debate
out of control
store
disproved
children

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

a U.S. fashion
Social media is alight
from parents to
determining traits
part of its ad campaign's provocative
criticized the wordplay for having
Eugenics is a debunked
encouraging people with certain genes
Kelly called the criticism a
the ad was cancel culture run

to reproduce
offspring
"leftist meltdown"
with claims
eugenic undertones
language
retailer
amok
like hair colour
theory

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

passed
denim
buttons
retailer
tagline
line
provocative
traits

A video from a U.S. fashion (1) _________________________________ has created controversy over its use of the words "jeans" (as in (2) _________________________________) and "genes" (as in genetics). Social media is alight with claims the video is racist. The company, American Eagle, produced the video for its new (3) _________________________________ of clothes. The video stars denim-clad actress Sydney Sweeney. She tells the camera: "Genes are (4) _________________________________ down from parents to offspring, often determining (5) _________________________________ like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." The video closes with the (6) _________________________________: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." American Eagle said the play on words was part of its ad campaign's "(7) _________________________________ language". It said the words were definitely going to "push (8) _________________________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

reproduce
leftist
always
wordplay
amok
looks
posits
overreaction

Many people have criticized the (9) _________________________________ for having eugenic undertones. Eugenics is a debunked theory that (10) _________________________________ that humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certain genes to (11) _________________________________, to increase the occurrence of "desirable" racial traits. Critics of the ad highlight the fact that Ms Sweeney is white, blue-eyed, and blonde. They suggest her (12) _________________________________ are really "great genes". Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the criticism a " (13) _________________________________ meltdown". U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it an (14) _________________________________. Meanwhile, the White House communications director said attacking the ad was "cancel culture run (15) _________________________________". American Eagle says its ad "is and (16) _________________________________ was about the jeans."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A video from a U.S. fashion retailer ______
     a. has created contra version
     b. has created controversy
     c. has created contra verses
     d. has created controversial
2) Social media is alight with claims the ______
     a. video is bassist
     b. video is latent
     c. video is racist
     d. video is latest
3) She tells the camera: "Genes are passed down from ______"
     a. parent to off sprung
     b. parents two offspring
     c. parents to oft spring
     d. parents to offspring
4) often determining traits like hair colour, personality and ______
     a. ever eye colour
     b. event eye colour
     c. even eye colour
     d. evens eye colour
5) It said the words were definitely going ______
     a. to push buttons
     b. to pull buttons
     c. to polish buttons
     d. to brush buttons

6) humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certain ______
     a. genes for reproduce
     b. genes to reproduce
     c. genes by reproduce
     d. genes so reproduce
7) to increase the occurrence of ______
     a. despicable racial traits
     b. describable racial traits
     c. decibel racial traits
     d. desirable racial traits
8) They suggest her looks are ______
     a. really "great gins"
     b. really "great gems"
     c. really "great jeans"
     d. really "great genes"
9) Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the criticism ______
     a. a "left-right meltdown"
     b. a "leftist meltdown"
     c. a "left wrist meltdown"
     d. a "loftiest meltdown"
10) attacking the ad was cancel ______
     a. culture run amok
     b. culture run agog
     c. culture run awol
     d. culture run a lot

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A video from a U.S. fashion retailer has created (1) _______________________________________________ use of the words "jeans" (as in denim) and "genes" (as in genetics). Social media is (2) _______________________________________________ the video is racist. The company, American Eagle, produced the video for its new line of clothes. The video stars (3) _______________________________________________ Sydney Sweeney. She tells the camera: "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often (4) _______________________________________________ hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." The video closes (5) _______________________________________________: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." American Eagle said the play on words was part of its ad campaign's "provocative language". It said the words were definitely going (6) _______________________________________________.

Many people have criticized the wordplay (7) _______________________________________________ undertones. Eugenics is a debunked theory that posits that humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certain genes to (8) _______________________________________________ the occurrence of "desirable" racial traits. Critics of the ad (9) _______________________________________________ that Ms Sweeney is white, blue-eyed, and blonde. They suggest her looks are really "great genes". Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the criticism (10) _______________________________________________. U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it an overreaction. Meanwhile, the White House communications director said attacking the ad was "cancel (11) _______________________________________________". American Eagle says its ad "(12) _______________________________________________ was about the jeans."

Comprehension questions

What does the article say the jeans ad created?
What did the company make the ad for?
What does the ad say are passed down through the generations?
What does the ad say the actress has?
What did the company say language in its ad would push?
What did critics criticize the ad for having?
What did the article say Eugenics was as a theory?
What did a former Fox News host call the criticism of the ad?
What did the White House say had happened to cancel culture?
What did the fashion company say the ad was always about?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say the jeans ad created?
a) a new denim
b) controversy
c) increased order
d) new computer graphics techniques
2) What did the company make the ad for?
a) to try to double sales
b) its shareholders
c) a new denim colour
d) its new line of clothes
3) What does the ad say are passed down through the generations?
a) fashion sense
b) jeans
c) genes
d) style
4) What does the ad say the actress has?
a) great jeans
b) blue jeans
c) great genes
d) unusual genes
5) What did the company say language in its ad would push?
a) sales
b) buttons
c) limits
d) demand

6) What did critics criticize the ad for having?
a) eugenic undertones
b) too much blue
c) a poor tagline
d) bad music
7) What did the article say Eugenics was as a theory?
a) a must read
b) still in development
c) debunked
d) dodgy
8) What did a former Fox News host call the criticism of the ad?
a) a leftist meltdown
b) woke
c) politically overcorrect
d) bemusing
9) What did the White House say had happened to cancel culture?
a) It disappeared.
b) It was cultured.
c) It was cancelled.
d) It had run amok.
10) What did the fashion company say the ad was always about?
a) passing jeans down to children.
b) denim
c) its jeans
d) style

Role play

Role A – A Pair of Jeans
You think a pair of jeans is the most essential fashion item. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their items. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a white T-shirt, a pair of sunglasses or a baseball cap.

Role B – A White T-shirt
You think a white T-shirt is the most essential fashion item. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their items. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a pair of jeans, a pair of sunglasses or a baseball cap.

Role C – A Pair of Sunglasses
You think a pair of sunglasses is the most essential fashion item. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their items. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a white T-shirt, a pair of jeans or a baseball cap.

Role D – A Baseball Cap
You think a baseball cap is the most essential fashion item. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their items. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a white T-shirt, a pair of sunglasses or a pair of jeans.

After reading / listening

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

'jeans'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'genes'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

use

claims

stars

closes

play

definitely

theory

highlight

suggest

former

director

always

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 - Jeans and Genes

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 'jeans'?
What do you think of jeans?
Why are jeans so popular?
What's your favourite jeans ad?
What do you think of the jeans-genes controversy?
Why do people think the video might be racist?
What do you think the future of genetics will be like?
Why might people think the ad's tagline might be provocative?
When was the last time someone pushed your buttons?

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 'genes'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about genes?
What do you know about eugenics?
Why do people think there is a most desirable way of looking?
What do you know about cancel culture?
What's the best jeans brand?
How important are jeans to you?
What questions would you like to ask the CEO of American Eagle?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

A video from a U.S. fashion (1) ____ has created controversy over its use of the words "jeans" (as in denim) and "genes" (as in genetics). Social media is (2) ____ with claims the video is racist. The company, American Eagle, produced the video for its new (3) ____ of clothes. The video stars denim-clad actress Sydney Sweeney. She tells the camera: "Genes are (4) ____ down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." The video closes with the tagline: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." American Eagle said the (5) ____ on words was part of its ad campaign's "provocative language". It said the words were definitely going to "(6) ____ buttons".

Many people have criticized the wordplay for having eugenic undertones. Eugenics is a (7) ____ theory that posits that humanity can be improved by encouraging people with (8) ____ genes to reproduce, to increase the occurrence of "desirable" racial traits. Critics of the ad highlight the (9) ____ that Ms Sweeney is white, blue-eyed, and blonde. They suggest her looks are really "great genes". Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the criticism a "leftist (10) ____". U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it an overreaction. Meanwhile, the White House communications director said attacking the ad was "cancel culture (11) ____ amok". American Eagle says its ad "is and always was about the (12) ____."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) image (b) launderer (c) retailer (d) tailors
(a) alight (b) upend (c) down (d) rigid
(a) line (b) circle (c) squiggle (d) zone
(a) passed (b) parsed (c) pasted (d) past
(a) say (b) write (c) spell (d) play
(a) wear (b) pull (c) break (d) push
(a) debunked (b) banked (c) baulked (d) debauched
(a) sure (b) zero (c) gold (d) certain
(a) fact (b) knowledge (c) post (d) look
(a) defrost (b) meltdown (c) wither (d) burst
(a) paced (b) run (c) managed (d) drip
(a) jeans (b) geneticists (c) genes (d) DNA

Spelling

Paragraph 1

created oervytncors
algtih with claims the video is racist
denim-dlca actress Sydney Sweeney
passed down from parents to oirgfpfns
determining satrti like hair colour
its ad campaign's vtpveicaoor language

Paragraph 2

having inugcee undertones
a budkdene theory
reproduce, to increase the rocreccneu
Kelly called the criticism a istleft meltdown
JD Vance called it an eovctonarier
cancel culture run omak

Put the text back together

(    )    (as in denim) and "genes" (as in genetics). Social media is alight with claims the video is
( 1 )   A video from a U.S. fashion retailer has created controversy over its use of the words "jeans"
(    )    blue-eyed, and blonde. They suggest her looks are really "great genes". Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the
(    )    clad actress Sydney Sweeney. She tells the camera: "Genes are passed down from parents to
(    )    criticism a "leftist meltdown". U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it an
(    )    culture run amok". American Eagle says its ad "is and always was about the jeans."
(    )    Many people have criticized the wordplay for having eugenic undertones. Eugenics is a debunked
(    )    of its ad campaign's "provocative language". It said the words were definitely going to "push buttons".
(    )    offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." The video closes
(    )    overreaction. Meanwhile, the White House communications director said attacking the ad was "cancel
(    )    racist. The company, American Eagle, produced the video for its new line of clothes. The video stars denim-
(    )    reproduce, to increase the occurrence of "desirable" racial traits. Critics of the ad highlight the fact that Ms Sweeney is white,
(    )    theory that posits that humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certain genes to
(    )    with the tagline: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." American Eagle said the play on words was part

Put the words in the right order

A from controversy video created fashion a retailer .
It's with alight the claims video is racist the .
Genes from to are down passed parents offspring .
The was wordplay ad its of campaign part .
The going were buttons "push" to words definitely .
People the criticized undertones for wordplay eugenic having .
It genes with people encourages certain reproduce to .
It occurrence the "desirable" of increases traits racial .
Attacking ad cancel the culture run was amok .
It was is and jeans always about the .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A video from a U.S. fashion retailer has creative / created controversy over its usefulness / use of the words "jeans" (as in denim) and "genes" (as in genetics). Social media is light / alight with claims the video is racist. The company, American Eagle, produced the video for its new line / life of clothes. The video stars denim-clad / clap actress Sydney Sweeney. She tells the camera: "Genes are passed down from parents to upswing / offspring, often determining plaits / traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue." The video closes with the punchline / tagline: "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans." American Eagle said the play in / on words was part of its ad campaign's "provocative language". It said the words were definitely going to "pull / push buttons".

Many people have criticized the wordplay for having eugenic undertones. Eugenics is a debunked / banked theory that posits that humanely / humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certainly / certain genes to reproduce, to increase the occurs / occurrence of "desirable" racial traits. Critics of the ad highlight the fact that / what Ms Sweeney is white, blue-eyed, and blonde. They suggest her locks / looks are really "great genes". Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called a / the criticism a "leftist meltdown". U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it an overreaction / reaction. Meanwhile, the White House communications director said attacking the ad was "cancel culture run / paced amok". American Eagle says its ad "is and always was about the jeans / genes."

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_d__ fr_m _ _.S. f_sh__n r_t__l_r h_s cr__t_d c_ntr_v_rsy _v_r _ts _s_ _f th_ w_rds "j__ns" (_s _n d_n_m) _nd "g_n_s" (_s _n g_n_t_cs). S_c__l m_d__ _s _l_ght w_th cl__ms th_ v_d__ _s r_c_st. Th_ c_mp_ny, _m_r_c_n __gl_, pr_d_c_d th_ v_d__ f_r _ts n_w l_n_ _f cl_th_s. Th_ v_d__ st_rs d_n_m-cl_d _ctr_ss Sydn_y Sw__n_y. Sh_ t_lls th_ c_m_r_: "G_n_s _r_ p_ss_d d_wn fr_m p_r_nts t_ _ffspr_ng, _ft_n d_t_rm_n_ng tr__ts l_k_ h__r c_l__r, p_rs_n_l_ty _nd _v_n _y_ c_l__r. My j__ns _r_ bl__." Th_ v_d__ cl_s_s w_th th_ t_gl_n_: "Sydn_y Sw__n_y h_s gr__t j__ns." _m_r_c_n __gl_ s__d th_ pl_y _n w_rds w_s p_rt _f _ts _d c_mp__gn's "pr_v_c_t_v_ l_ng__g_". _t s__d th_ w_rds w_r_ d_f_n_t_ly g__ng t_ "p_sh b_tt_ns".

M_ny p__pl_ h_v_ cr_t_c_z_d th_ w_rdpl_y f_r h_v_ng __g_n_c _nd_rt_n_s. __g_n_cs _s _ d_b_nk_d th__ry th_t p_s_ts th_t h_m_n_ty c_n b_ _mpr_v_d by _nc__r_g_ng p__pl_ w_th c_rt__n g_n_s t_ r_pr_d_c_, t_ _ncr__s_ th_ _cc_rr_nc_ _f "d_s_r_bl_" r_c__l tr__ts. Cr_t_cs _f th_ _d h_ghl_ght th_ f_ct th_t Ms Sw__n_y _s wh_t_, bl__-_y_d, _nd bl_nd_. Th_y s_gg_st h_r l__ks _r_ r__lly "gr__t g_n_s". F_rm_r F_x N_ws h_st M_gyn K_lly c_ll_d th_ cr_t_c_sm _ "l_ft_st m_ltd_wn". _.S. V_c_ Pr_s_d_nt JD V_nc_ c_ll_d _t _n _v_rr__ct__n. M__nwh_l_, th_ Wh_t_ H__s_ c_mm_n_c_t__ns d_r_ct_r s__d _tt_ck_ng th_ _d w_s "c_nc_l c_lt_r_ r_n _m_k". _m_r_c_n __gl_ s_ys _ts _d "_s _nd _lw_ys w_s _b__t th_ j__ns."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a video from a us fashion retailer has created controversy over its use of the words jeans as in denim and genes as in genetics social media is alight with claims the video is racist the company american eagle produced the video for its new line of clothes the video stars denimclad actress sydney sweeney she tells the camera genes are passed down from parents to offspring often determining traits like hair colour personality and even eye colour my jeans are blue the video closes with the tagline sydney sweeney has great jeans american eagle said the play on words was part of its ad campaigns provocative language it said the words were definitely going to push buttons

many people have criticized the wordplay for having eugenic undertones eugenics is a debunked theory that posits that humanity can be improved by encouraging people with certain genes to reproduce to increase the occurrence of desirable racial traits critics of the ad highlight the fact that ms sweeney is white blueeyed and blonde they suggest her looks are really great genes former fox news host megyn kelly called the criticism a leftist meltdown us vice president jd vance called it an overreaction meanwhile the white house communications director said attacking the ad was cancel culture run amok american eagle says its ad is and always was about the jeans

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AvideofromaU.S.fashionretailerhascreatedcontroversyoveritsuseof
thewords"jeans"(asindenim)and"genes"(asingenetics).Socialmedi
aisalightwithclaimsthevideoisracist.Thecompany,AmericanEagle,pr
oducedthevideoforitsnewlineofclothes.Thevideostarsdenim-clada
ctressSydneySweeney.Shetellsthecamera:"Genesarepasseddownf
romparentstooffspring,oftendeterminingtraitslikehaircolour,person
alityandeveneyecolour.Myjeansareblue."Thevideocloseswiththetag
line:"SydneySweeneyhasgreatjeans."AmericanEaglesaidtheplayon
wordswaspartofitsadcampaign's"provocativelanguage".Itsaidthew
ordsweredefinitelygoingto"pushbuttons".Manypeoplehavecriticized
thewordplayforhavingeugenicundertones.Eugenicsisadebunkedthe
orythatpositsthathumanitycanbeimprovedbyencouragingpeoplewit
hcertaingenestoreproduce,toincreasetheoccurrenceof"desirable"ra
cialtraits.CriticsoftheadhighlightthefactthatMsSweeneyiswhite,blue
-eyed,andblonde.Theysuggestherlooksarereally"greatgenes".Form
erFoxNewshostMegynKellycalledthecriticisma"leftistmeltdown".U.S
.VicePresidentJDVancecalleditanoverreaction.Meanwhile,theWhite
Housecommunicationsdirectorsaidattackingtheadwas"cancelcultur
erunamok".AmericanEaglesaysitsad"isandalwayswasaboutthejean
s."

Free writing

Write about jeans and genes wordplay for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Academic writing

Controversial ads are good as they make us think and debate. 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. JEANS AND GENES: Make a poster about jeans and genes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. NO AD CONTROVERSY: Write a magazine article about not allowing any ads that might be even a little controversial. 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 jeans and genes. Ask him/her three questions about jeans and genes. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Jeans and Genes

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