Breaking News English Lesson: Moss and Forensics

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Moss is effective in solving crimes, says study (8th January 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Moss and Forensics - Level 3

The police have many different ways to find criminals. The most well-known are fingerprints, CCTV, and DNA. A new study shows that moss is used to solve crimes. Moss grows everywhere. Scientists say these tiny plants can be big clues in police investigations. The scientists' research is in the latest edition of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the cases in which moss was used to help solve crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to highlight the significance of botanical evidence because…investigators may be overlooking it." He added: "We're hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny plants can be."

The earliest reported case of police using moss to help in an investigation was in 1929. The amount of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists analyzed tiny bits of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's baby daughter was buried. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew what sort of micro-habitat we were looking for." The father was convicted of murder. Study author and forensic scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this paper, we aim to raise awareness of forensic botany." She wants the police to better understand how moss can help during investigations.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Moss and Forensics - Level 0, Moss and Forensics - Level 1 or Moss and Forensics - Level 2

Sources

https://www.greenmatters.com/pn/this-overlooked-plant-has-been-quietly-helping-forensic-experts-solve-crimes-new-study-reveals
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/moss-is-so-unique-its-acted-like-fingerprints-to-help-solve-a-dozen-crimes/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080738.htm

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. MOSS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about moss. 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?
police / criminals / fingerprints / CCTV / DNA / moss / crimes / clues / journal / plants
investigation / skeleton / baby / daughter / habitat / murder / scientist / botany
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CRIMES: Students A strongly believe the police are great at solving crimes; Students B strongly believe they are not so good. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. POLICE: How good are the police in your country at doing these things? How do they do them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Good?	How They Do Them
Prevent crime
Protect life
Investigate crimes
Control traffic
Help the public
Maintain law and order

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. CRIMINAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "criminal". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. HELPING POLICE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to help solve crimes at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Moss
Fingerprints
CCTV
DNA
Eyewitnesses
Drones
AI
Digital devices

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	criminals	a.	Things that show that something is true.
2.	fingerprints	b.	Find the answer to a problem or mystery.
3.	solve	c.	Careful work to find out what happened.
4.	plant (noun)	d.	People who do bad or illegal things.
5.	investigation	e.	Importance or how important something is.
6.	significance	f.	The special design and marks on a person's finger tips.
7.	evidence	g.	A living thing that grows in the ground.

Paragraph 2

8.	case	h.	Said by a court to be guilty of a crime.
9.	skeleton	i.	The crime of killing a person.
10.	bits	j.	The study of plants.
11.	convicted	k.	All the bones of a body (without the skin and muscles).
12.	murder (noun)	l.	Related to using science to help the police.
13.	forensic	m.	Small pieces of something.
14.	botany	n.	A situation that the police or a court looks at.

Before reading / listening

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

The police only have a few ways to find criminals and solve crimes. T / F
The study says moss only grows in a few places. T / F
Moss can be a big help in police investigations. T / F
A researcher said the police might not know just how important moss is. T / F
The first known case of moss being used in an investigation was in 1929. T / F
In 2013, police used moss to find where a baby had been buried. T / F
The mother of a baby girl was found guilty of her murder. T / F
A researcher wants more to know about how useful forensic botany is. T / F

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

ways
solve
highlight
significance
tiny
died
analyzed
looking
author
raise

very small
searching
work out
examined
focus on
increase
methods
writer
importance
passed away

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

The police have many different
fingerprints, CCTV,
these tiny plants can be big clues
highlight the significance of
show how important these
The earliest reported case of
scientists analyzed tiny
what sort of micro-habitat we were
The father was convicted of
we aim to raise awareness

police using moss
botanical evidence
murder
tiny plants can be
in police investigations
looking for
ways to find criminals
bits of moss
of forensic botany
and DNA

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

known
cases
evidence
ways
latest
important
tiny
highlight

The police have many different (1) ______________________________________________ to find criminals. The most well-(2) ______________________________________________ are fingerprints, CCTV, and DNA. A new study shows that moss is used to solve crimes. Moss grows everywhere. Scientists say these (3) ______________________________________________ plants can be big clues in police investigations. The scientists' research is in the (4) ______________________________________________ edition of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the (5) ______________________________________________ in which moss was used to help solve crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to (6) ______________________________________________ the significance of botanical (7) ______________________________________________ because...investigators may be overlooking it." He added: "We're hoping that our study helps show how (8) ______________________________________________ these tiny plants can be."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

buried
amount
raise
micro
understand
earliest
analyzed
forensic

The (9) ______________________________________________ reported case of police using moss to help in an investigation was in 1929. The (10) ______________________________________________ of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists (11) ______________________________________________ tiny bits of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's baby daughter was (12) ______________________________________________. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew what sort of (13) ______________________________________________-habitat we were looking for." The father was convicted of murder. Study author and (14) ______________________________________________ scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this paper, we aim to (15) ______________________________________________ awareness of forensic botany." She wants the police to better (16) ______________________________________________ how moss can help during investigations.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The police have many different ways ______
     a. to fund criminals
     b. to fend criminals
     c. to find criminals
     d. to fond criminals
2) Scientists say these tiny plants can ______
     a. be big chews
     b. be big coos
     c. be big queues
     d. be big clues
3) The scientists looked at all the cases in which moss was ______
     a. used for help
     b. used too help
     c. used to help
     d. used at help
4) We wanted to highlight the significance ______
     a. of botanical evidence
     b. of botany call evidence
     c. off botanical evidence
     d. of botanical evident
5) We're hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny ______
     a. plants can been
     b. plants can be
     c. plants can being
     d. plant can be

6) The amount of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the ______
     a. person had dead
     b. person had died
     c. person had dried
     d. person had dared
7) This helped to find where the man's baby ______
     a. daughters was buried
     b. daughter was buried
     c. daughter was bared
     d. daughter was barred
8) Based on the bits of moss, we knew what sort of micro-habitat we ______
     a. were looking for
     b. were look in for
     c. we're looking for
     d. where looking for
9) Through this paper, we aim to raise awareness ______
     a. of forensic bot any
     b. of forensic bot tinny
     c. of forensic butter knee
     d. of forensic botany
10) She wants the police to better understand how moss can ______
     a. help darling investigations
     b. help enjoying investigations
     c. help during investigations
     d. help daring investigations

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The police have many different (1) __________________________________________________ criminals. The most well-known are fingerprints, CCTV, and DNA. A new study shows that moss is used (2) __________________________________________________. Moss grows everywhere. Scientists say these tiny plants can be big clues in police investigations. The scientists' research is in (3) __________________________________________________ of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the (4) __________________________________________________ moss was used to help solve crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to highlight the significance (5) __________________________________________________ because...investigators may be overlooking it." He added: "We're hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny (6) __________________________________________________."

The (7) __________________________________________________ of police using moss to help in an investigation was in 1929. The amount of moss (8) __________________________________________________ helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists analyzed tiny bits of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's (9) __________________________________________________ buried. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew what sort (10) __________________________________________________ we were looking for." The father was convicted of murder. Study author and forensic scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this paper, we (11) __________________________________________________ awareness of forensic botany." She wants the police to better understand how moss (12) __________________________________________________ investigations.

Comprehension questions

What well-known ways are there solve crimes besides CCTV and DNA?
Where does the article say moss grows?
What is the name of the journal the research is published in?
Who is Matt von Konrat?
What did a researcher want to highlight the significance of?
When was moss first used in a criminal investigation?
Where was moss that police used in a 2013 investigation?
What was a father convicted of?
Who is Jenna Merkel?
What does Jenna Merkel want to raise awareness of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What well-known ways are there solve crimes besides CCTV and DNA?
a) eyewitnesses
b) AI
c) drones
d) fingerprints
2) Where does the article say moss grows?
a) in dark places
b) everywhere
c) in damp places
d) in some places
3) What is the name of the journal the research is published in?
a) Research Moss Sciences
b) Forensic Moss Research
c) Moss Sciences Research
d) Forensic Sciences Research
4) Who is Matt von Konrat?
a) a moss farmer
b) an artist
c) the lead author of the study
d) a top police officer
5) What did a researcher want to highlight the significance of?
a) climate change
b) the police
c) investigations
d) botanical evidence

6) When was moss first used in a criminal investigation?
a) in 1928
b) in 2019
c) in 1929
d) in 2013
7) Where was moss that police used in a 2013 investigation?
a) on a man's shoes
b) on a knife
c) on the trigger of a gun
d) in a garden
8) What was a father convicted of?
a) manslaughter
b) kidnapping
c) murder
d) stealing rare moss
9) Who is Jenna Merkel?
a) a police officer
b) a forensic scientist
c) a moss farmer
d) a crime journalist
10) What does Jenna Merkel want to raise awareness of?
a) forensic botany
b) moss
c) climate change
d) police investigations

Role play

Role A – Moss
You think moss is the best way to help solve crimes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): finding fingerprints, DNA or CCTV.

Role B – Fingerprints
You think finding fingerprints is the best way to help solve crimes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): moss, DNA or CCTV.

Role C – DNA
You think DNA is the best way to help solve crimes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): finding fingerprints, moss or CCTV.

Role D – CCTV
You think CCTV is the best way to help solve crimes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): finding fingerprints, DNA or moss.

After reading / listening

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

'moss'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'crime'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

ways

everywhere

latest

looked

highlight

hoping

1929

2013

daughter

micro

murder

better

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 - Moss and Forensics

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 'moss'?
What do you think of moss?
What's the best way to catch criminals?
How much crime is there in your country?
What other uses of moss can you think of?
What do you think of CCTV being everywhere?
What do you think of moss being used in crime-fighting?
How do you think moss can help the police?
Would you like to be a police investigator?

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 'crimes'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about moss?
What do you think of the police in your country?
What things does moss make look beautiful?
Would you like to be a botanist?
What do you think of moss gardens?
What do you think of forensic botany?
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)

The police have many different ways to find (1) ____. The most well-known are fingerprints, CCTV, and DNA. A new study shows that moss is (2) ____ to solve crimes. Moss grows everywhere. Scientists say these tiny plants can be big clues (3) ____ police investigations. The scientists' research is in the latest edition of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the cases (4) ____ which moss was used to help solve crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to (5) ____ the significance of botanical evidence because...investigators may be overlooking it." He added: "We're hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny plants can (6) ____."

The earliest reported case of police (7) ____ moss to help in an investigation was in 1929. The amount of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists analyzed tiny (8) ____ of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's baby daughter was buried. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew what (9) ____ of micro-habitat we were looking for." The father was convicted (10) ____ murder. Study author and forensic scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this (11) ____, we aim to raise awareness of forensic botany." She wants the police to better understand how moss can help (12) ____ investigations.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) criminalize (b) criminals (c) crimes (d) criminally
(a) usefully (b) used (c) uses (d) use
(a) by (b) as (c) of (d) in
(a) of (b) in (c) at (d) to
(a) highlife (b) lowlight (c) lowlife (d) highlight
(a) have (b) do (c) be (d) take
(a) using (b) growing (c) watering (d) protecting
(a) specimen (b) root (c) bits (d) leaf
(a) sport (b) snort (c) short (d) sort
(a) of (b) at (c) in (d) on
(a) paper (b) cardboard (c) material (d) cloth
(a) during (b) among (c) middle (d) via

Spelling

Paragraph 1

many different ways to find lamiricsn
sgtpinrirnef, CCTV, and DNA
big clues in police nsiatenogsitiv
in the latest edition of the jlnuaor
We wanted to highlight the ccenaigisnif
botanical evecinde

Paragraph 2

the amount of moss on a eoklntes
where the man's baby daughter was dbueri
we knew what sort of micro abahtti
The father was ocinevtcd of murder
we aim to raise eeanarsws
foecnrisz botany

Put the text back together

( ) analyzed tiny bits of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's baby daughter

( ) and DNA. A new study shows that moss is used to solve crimes. Moss grows everywhere. Scientists say these tiny

( ) botany." She wants the police to better understand how moss can help during investigations.

( ) crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to highlight the significance

( ) hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny plants can be."

( ) in 1929. The amount of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists

( ) of botanical evidence because...investigators may be overlooking it." He added: "We're

( ) of micro-habitat we were looking for." The father was convicted of murder. Study author and forensic

( ) of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the cases in which moss was used to help solve

( ) plants can be big clues in police investigations. The scientists' research is in the latest edition

( ) scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this paper, we aim to raise awareness of forensic

( ) The earliest reported case of police using moss to help in an investigation was

( 1 ) The police have many different ways to find criminals. The most well-known are fingerprints, CCTV,

( ) was buried. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew what sort

Put the words in the right order

police The many have to ways criminals find .
A study new that shows is moss used .
can Plants big be in clues investigations police .
Cases which in was moss to used help .
how Show these important plants tiny be can .
The reported earliest of case using police moss .
bits Tiny moss of a on shoes man's .
What of sort we micro-habitat looking were for .
aim We raise to of awareness botany forensic .
Better how understand can moss during help investigations .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The police have many different ways to find / fine criminals. The most well-known are fingerprints, CCTV, and DNA. A new study shows that mossy / moss is used to solve crimes. Moss growing / grows everywhere. Scientists say these tiny / tinny plants can be big clues in police investigates / investigations. The scientists' research is in the latest edition of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the boxes / cases in which moss was used to help solve / solution crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to highlight the significance to / of botanical evidence because...investigators may be overlooking / undercooking it." He added: "We're hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny plants can have / be."

The earliest / earlier reported case of police using moss to help at / in an investigation was in 1929. The amount of / for moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists analyzed tiny bit / bits of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's baby daughter was buried / burial. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew that / what sort of micro-habitat we were looking for." The father was convicted of / on murder. Study author and forensic science / scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this paper, we aim to raise / rise awareness of forensic botany." She wants the police to better understand how moss can help among / during investigations.

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_ p_l_c_ h_v_ m_ny d_ff_r_nt w_ys t_ f_nd cr_m_n_ls. Th_ m_st w_ll-kn_wn _r_ f_ng_rpr_nts, CCTV, _nd DN_. _ n_w st_dy sh_ws th_t m_ss _s _s_d t_ s_lv_ cr_m_s. M_ss gr_ws _v_rywh_r_. Sc__nt_sts s_y th_s_ t_ny pl_nts c_n b_ b_g cl__s _n p_l_c_ _nv_st_g_t__ns. Th_ sc__nt_sts' r_s__rch _s _n th_ l_t_st _d_t__n _f th_ j__rn_l F_r_ns_c Sc__nc_s R_s__rch. Th_ sc__nt_sts l__k_d _t _ll th_ c_s_s _n wh_ch m_ss w_s _s_d t_ h_lp s_lv_ cr_m_s. L__d __th_r Dr M_tt v_n K_nr_t s__d: "W_ w_nt_d t_ h_ghl_ght th_ s_gn_f_c_nc_ _f b_t_n_c_l _v_d_nc_ b_c__s_..._nv_st_g_t_rs m_y b_ _v_rl__k_ng _t." H_ _dd_d: "W_'r_ h_p_ng th_t __r st_dy h_lps sh_w h_w _mp_rt_nt th_s_ t_ny pl_nts c_n b_."

Th_ __rl__st r_p_rt_d c_s_ _f p_l_c_ _s_ng m_ss t_ h_lp _n _n _nv_st_g_t__n w_s _n 1929. Th_ _m__nt _f m_ss _n _ sk_l_t_n h_lp_d p_l_c_ kn_w wh_n th_ p_rs_n h_d d__d. _n 2013, sc__nt_sts _n_lyz_d t_ny b_ts _f m_ss _n _ m_n's sh__s. Th_s h_lp_d t_ f_nd wh_r_ th_ m_n's b_by d__ght_r w_s b_r__d. Dr v_n K_nr_t l_d _ t__m th_t f__nd th_ g_rl's b_dy. H_ s__d: "B_s_d _n th_ b_ts _f m_ss, w_ kn_w wh_t s_rt _f m_cr_-h_b_t_t w_ w_r_ l__k_ng f_r." Th_ f_th_r w_s c_nv_ct_d _f m_rd_r. St_dy __th_r _nd f_r_ns_c sc__nt_st J_nn_ M_rk_l s__d: "Thr__gh th_s p_p_r, w_ __m t_ r__s_ _w_r_n_ss _f f_r_ns_c b_t_ny." Sh_ w_nts th_ p_l_c_ t_ b_tt_r _nd_rst_nd h_w m_ss c_n h_lp d_r_ng _nv_st_g_t__ns.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the police have many different ways to find criminals the most well known are fingerprints cctv and dna a new study shows that moss is used to solve crimes moss grows everywhere scientists say these tiny plants can be big clues in police investigations the scientists research is in the latest edition of the journal forensic sciences research the scientists looked at all the cases in which moss was used to help solve crimes lead author dr matt von konrat said we wanted to highlight the significance of botanical evidence because investigators may be overlooking it he added were hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny plants can be

the earliest reported case of police using moss to help in an investigation was in 1929 the amount of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died in 2013 scientists analyzed tiny bits of moss on a mans shoes this helped to find where the mans baby daughter was buried dr von konrat led a team that found the girls body he said based on the bits of moss we knew what sort of microhabitat we were looking for the father was convicted of murder study author and forensic scientist jenna merkel said through this paper we aim to raise awareness of forensic botany she wants the police to better understand how moss can help during investigations

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Thepolicehavemanydifferentwaystofindcriminals.Themostwell-kno
wnarefingerprints,CCTV,andDNA.Anewstudyshowsthatmossisused
tosolvecrimes.Mossgrowseverywhere.Scientistssaythesetinyplants
canbebigcluesinpoliceinvestigations.Thescientists'researchisinthela
testeditionofthejournalForensicSciencesResearch.Thescientistsloo
kedatallthecasesinwhichmosswasusedtohelpsolvecrimes.Leadauth
orDrMattvonKonratsaid:"Wewantedtohighlightthesignificanceofbot
anicalevidencebecause...investigatorsmaybeoverlookingit."Headd
ed:"We'rehopingthatourstudyhelpsshowhowimportantthesetinypla
ntscanbe."Theearliestreportedcaseofpoliceusingmosstohelpinaninv
estigationwasin1929.Theamountofmossonaskeletonhelpedpolicek
nowwhenthepersonhaddied.In2013,scientistsanalyzedtinybitsofmo
ssonaman'sshoes.Thishelpedtofindwheretheman'sbabydaughterw
asburied.DrvonKonratledateamthatfoundthegirl'sbody.Hesaid:"Ba
sedonthebitsofmoss,weknewwhatsortofmicro-habitatwewerelookin
gfor."Thefatherwasconvictedofmurder.Studyauthorandforensicscie
ntistJennaMerkelsaid:"Throughthispaper,weaimtoraiseawarenesso
fforensicbotany."Shewantsthepolicetobetterunderstandhowmossc
anhelpduringinvestigations.

Free writing

Write about moss and forensics for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Everyone needs to know more about moss. 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. MOSS: Make a poster about moss. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. RESEARCH: Write a magazine article about spending more money on research into moss. 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 moss. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on moss. 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

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Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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