Breaking News English Lesson: Bamboo Superfood

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Bamboo could be the world's next superfood (29th January 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Bamboo Superfood - Level 3

Health websites are full of information about superfoods. These are packed with nutrients and are particularly good for our health. The latest superfood being discussed is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked at many studies to find out just how good they are for us. Researchers say the shoots can be beneficial to our well-being. They are low in calories and high in fibre, which helps with digestion and weight control. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle function. However, raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eating.

The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Lead author Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review shows bamboo's clear promise as a possible superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already commonly eaten in parts of Asia, and it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to diets worldwide, but it must be prepared correctly." Most of us know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's tallest grass and can grow up to 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 species of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they emerge from the ground, while they are still soft. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. These are popular with pandas.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Bamboo Superfood - Level 0, Bamboo Superfood - Level 1 or Bamboo Superfood - Level 2

Sources

https://scitechdaily.com/this-unexpected-plant-could-be-the-next-superfood/
https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/scientists-discover-superfood-potential-overlooked-vegetable-most-americans-cant-prepare
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773139125000898

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. BAMBOO: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about bamboo. 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?
health websites / information / bamboo shoots / fibre / digestion / calories / vitamins
scientists / superfood / sustainable / Asia / grass / species / harvests / pandas
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DIET: Students A strongly believe we should pack our diets with superfoods; Students B strongly believe we don't have to do this. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SUPERFOODS: What do you know about these superfoods? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Think
Bamboo shoots
Avocado
Natto (fermented soy beans)
Blueberries
Salmon
Spinach

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

Scaffolding
Chairs
Clothes
Toothbrushes
Paper
Fences
Flutes
Kendo swords

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	packed	a.	Good for you; helpful.
2.	nutrients	b.	More than usual; especially.
3.	particularly	c.	Things in food that help the body grow and stay healthy.
4.	shoots (noun)	d.	Bad or harmful things (poisons) that can hurt the body or kill us.
5.	beneficial	e.	Full of many things; very full.
6.	digestion	f.	New small parts of a plant that come out of the ground or stem.
7.	toxins	g.	The way the body breaks food into energy.

Paragraph 2

8.	commonly	h.	Something that can or might happen in the future.
9.	potential	i.	When food is picked or taken from plants or fields.
10.	sustainable	j.	The long, thin part of a plant that holds the leaves or flowers.
11.	species	k.	Able to continue (or be used) without harming nature.
12.	harvested	l.	To come out or appear.
13.	emerge	m.	A group of the same kind of plant or animal.
14.	stalk (noun)	n.	Often; by many people.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says health websites are full of information about bamboo. T / F
Bamboo shoots are high in calories and low in fibre. T / F
Bamboo shoots are bad for people with high blood pressure. T / F
Bamboo shoots must be cooked because they contain a poison. T / F
A scientist said bamboo shoots could become popular worldwide. T / F
Bamboo can grow as much as 90 cm in one day. T / F
There are 1,400 species of bamboo. T / F
Bamboo is very popular with pandas. T / F

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

full
latest
beneficial
important
toxins
author
huge
addition
correctly
emerge

come out
poisons
writer
supplement
packed
essential
right
most recent
very big
good

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

Health websites are full of information
These are packed
the shoots can be beneficial
blood
raw bamboo shoots contain toxins
it must be prepared
grow up to
There are around 1,400 species
bamboo shoots are harvested as they
These are popular

to our well-being
and must be cooked
of bamboo worldwide
with pandas
pressure
about superfoods
emerge from the ground
90 cm a day
with nutrients
correctly

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

beneficial
control
information
raw
calories
pressure
discussed
contains

Health websites are full of (1) ______________________________________________ about superfoods. These are packed with nutrients and are particularly good for our health. The latest superfood being (2) ______________________________________________ is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked at many studies to find out just how good they are for us. Researchers say the shoots can be (3) ______________________________________________ to our well-being. They are low in (4) ______________________________________________ and high in fibre, which helps with digestion and weight (5) ______________________________________________. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo (6) ______________________________________________ iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for sugar levels, blood (7) ______________________________________________, and muscle function. However, (8) ______________________________________________ bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eating.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

species
pandas
commonly
author
ground
tallest
possible
diets

The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Lead (9) ______________________________________________ Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review shows bamboo's clear promise as a (10) ______________________________________________ superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already (11) ______________________________________________ eaten in parts of Asia, and it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to (12) ______________________________________________ worldwide, but it must be prepared correctly." Most of us know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's (13) ______________________________________________ grass and can grow up to 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 (14) ______________________________________________ of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they emerge from the (15) ______________________________________________, while they are still soft. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. These are popular with (16) ______________________________________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) These are packed with nutrients and are particularly good ______
     a. for our healthy
     b. for hour health
     c. for our health
     d. four our health
2) many studies to find out just how good they ______
     a. are for us
     b. after us
     c. are forums
     d. are four as
3) They are low in calories and high in fibre, which helps with digestion ______
     a. and weighty control
     b. and weights control
     c. and weighted control
     d. and weight control
4) Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important ______
     a. for sugared levels
     b. for sugary levels
     c. for sugar levels
     d. for sugars levels
5) raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be ______
     a. cooked before eat in
     b. cooked afore eating
     c. cooks before eating
     d. cooked before eating

6) Our review shows bamboo's clear promise as ______
     a. a impossible superfood
     b. a posable superfood
     c. a possible superfood
     d. a possibly superfood
7) it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable ______
     a. addition too diets
     b. addition to diets
     c. addition two diets
     d. additions to diets
8) It is the world's tallest grass and can grow up to ______
     a. 90 cm an day
     b. 90 cm a day
     c. 90 cm at day
     d. 90 cm the day
9) people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they emerge ______
     a. from the gourd
     b. from the ground
     c. from the grand
     d. from the grind
10) We do not eat the ______
     a. hard, woody stalks
     b. hard, woody staked
     c. hard, woody stalkers
     d. hard, woody talks

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Health websites are (1) __________________________________________________ about superfoods. These are packed with nutrients and are (2) __________________________________________________ our health. The latest superfood being discussed is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked at many studies to find out just how good they are for us. Researchers say the shoots can (3) __________________________________________________ our well-being. They are low in calories and high in fibre, which helps with digestion (4) __________________________________________________. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important (5) __________________________________________________, blood pressure, and muscle function. However, raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be (6) __________________________________________________.

The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Lead author Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review shows bamboo's (7) __________________________________________________ a possible superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already (8) __________________________________________________ parts of Asia, and it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to diets worldwide, but it must (9) __________________________________________________." Most of us know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's tallest grass and can (10) __________________________________________________ 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 species of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they (11) __________________________________________________ ground, while they are still soft. We do not (12) __________________________________________________, woody stalks. These are popular with pandas.

Comprehension questions

Where can we find lots of information about superfoods?
What are bamboo shoots low in?
What two things are bamboo shoots a good source of?
What do bamboo shoots contain besides magnesium and potassium?
What things in bamboo shoots are dangerous?
Where are bamboo shoots commonly eaten?
By how much can bamboo grow each day?
How many species of bamboo are there?
What does the article say we do not eat?
Who are bamboo shoots popular with?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where can we find lots of information about superfoods?
a) in supermarkets
b) in magazines
c) at health centres
d) on health websites
2) What are bamboo shoots low in?
a) protein
b) calories
c) carbs
d) vitamins
3) What two things are bamboo shoots a good source of?
a) vitamin B12 and zinc
b) magnesium and calcium
c) vitamins and minerals
d) salt and pepper
4) What do bamboo shoots contain besides magnesium and potassium?
a) iron
b) lead
c) gold
d) copper
5) What things in bamboo shoots are dangerous?
a) bugs
b) thorns
c) toxins
d) bacteria

6) Where are bamboo shoots commonly eaten?
a) in cafes
b) Asia
c) street stalls
d) Mongolia
7) By how much can bamboo grow each day?
a) up to 60 cm
b) up to 70 cm
c) up to 80 cm
d) up to 90 cm
8) How many species of bamboo are there?
a) around 1,400
b) exactly 1,400
c) just over 1,400
d) just under 1,400
9) What does the article say we do not eat?
a) bamboo leaves
b) the roots of bamboo
c) the hard, woody stalks of bamboo
d) bamboo flowers
10) Who are bamboo shoots popular with?
a) birds
b) pandas
c) spiders
d) children

Role play

Role A – Clothes
You think the best use of bamboo is for clothes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): scaffolding, flutes or food.

Role B – Scaffolding
You think the best use of bamboo is for scaffolding. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): clothes, flutes or food.

Role C – Flutes
You think the best use of bamboo is for flutes Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): scaffolding, clothes or food.

Role D – Food
You think the best use of bamboo is for food Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): scaffolding, flutes or clothes.

After reading / listening

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

'bamboo'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'superfood'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

full

latest

just

low

source

raw

review

commonly

most

species

soft

pandas

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 - Bamboo Superfood

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 'bamboo'?
What do you think of health websites?
What do you know about superfoods?
How healthy is the food you eat?
What do you know about bamboo?
What do you think of bamboo shoots as a food?
What food is best for us?
What food is good and bad for our blood pressure?
What other uses does bamboo have?

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 'superfood'?
What do you think about what you read?
Should we all eat more superfood and less junk food every day?
In what dishes can we eat bamboo shoots?
What do you know about grass?
How good is Asian food?
Do you think pandas are happy eating only bamboo?
What do think about pandas?
What questions would you like to ask 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)

Health websites are (1) ____ of information about superfoods. These are packed with (2) ____ and are particularly good for our health. The latest superfood being discussed is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked at many studies to find out (3) ____ how good they are for us. Researchers say the shoots can be beneficial to our well-being. They are low in calories and high in fibre, which helps (4) ____ digestion and weight control. They are also a good (5) ____ of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle function. However, (6) ____ bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eating.

The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Lead author Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review shows bamboo's clear (7) ____ as a possible superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already commonly eaten in parts of Asia, and it has huge potential (8) ____ be a healthy, sustainable addition to diets worldwide, but it must be prepared correctly." Most of (9) ____ know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's tallest grass and can grow (10) ____ to 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 species of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they (11) ____ from the ground, while they are still soft. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. (12) ____ are popular with pandas.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) fully (b) fill (c) full (d) fillings
(a) nutrients (b) nutritious (c) nutrient (d) nutritional
(a) so (b) just (c) such (d) very
(a) at (b) to (c) at (d) with
(a) soars (b) sauce (c) source (d) saws
(a) draw (b) raw (c) crawl (d) straw
(a) promise (b) vow (c) word (d) hint
(a) by (b) at (c) for (d) to
(a) people (b) them (c) us (d) pandas
(a) for (b) with (c) as (d) up
(a) merger (b) emerge (c) merge (d) submerge
(a) These (b) Them (c) That's (d) Shoot

Spelling

Paragraph 1

These are packed with uitrsentn
the shoots can be iienelfabc
They are low in elsraoic
a good source of vitamins and armesnli
blood erussrep
raw bamboo shoots contain xitson

Paragraph 2

Our ivwere shows bamboo's clear promise
it has huge loptenait
it must be prepared crorcelyt
1,400 eipscse of bamboo worldwide
harvested as they gmeeer from the ground
These are raouppl with pandas

Put the text back together

(    )   at many studies to find out just how good they are for us. Researchers say the shoots can be
(    )   beneficial to our well-being. They are low in calories and high in fibre, which helps with digestion and weight
(    )   control. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and
(    )   diets worldwide, but it must be prepared correctly." Most of us know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's tallest
(    )   good for our health. The latest superfood being discussed is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked
(    )   grass and can grow up to 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 species of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not
( 1 )   Health websites are full of information about superfoods. These are packed with nutrients and are particularly
(    )   in parts of Asia, and it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to
(    )   know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they emerge from the ground, while they are still
(    )   potassium, which are important for sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle function. However,
(    )   raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eating.
(    )   shows bamboo's clear promise as a possible superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already commonly eaten
(    )   soft. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. These are popular with pandas.
(    )   The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Lead author Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review

Put the words in the right order

about are full Health information of superfoods websites .
bamboo being discussed is latest shoots superfood The .
bamboo being discussed is latest shoots superfood The .
are Find for good how out they us .
and bamboo be contains cooked must Raw toxins .
a as bamboo's clear It promise shows superfood .
already are Asia Bamboo commonly eaten in shoots .
A addition and diets healthy sustainable to worldwide .
90 cm a Bamboo can day grow to up .
are as Bamboo emerge harvested shoots they .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Health websites are fully / full of information about superfoods. These are packed with nutrients / nutritious and are particularly good for our health. The latest superfood being / been discussed is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked at many studies to find / found out just how good they are for them / us. Researchers say the shoots can be beneficial at / to our well-being. They are low of / in calories and high in fibre, which helps with digestion and weight / heavy control. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for sugary / sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle function. However, raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eat / eating.

The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in / at the UK. Lead author Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review showing / shows bamboo's clear promise was / as a possible superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already commonly / common eaten in parts of Asia, and it has hug / huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to diets worldwide, but it must be prepared correct / correctly." Most of us know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's tallest grass and can grow as / up to 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 species of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested / harvest as they emerge from the ground, while they are still hard / soft. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. These are popular with panda / pandas.

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)

H__lth w_bs_t_s _r_ f_ll _f _nf_rm_t__n _b__t s_p_rf__ds. Th_s_ _r_ p_ck_d w_th n_tr__nts _nd _r_ p_rt_c_l_rly g__d f_r __r h__lth. Th_ l_t_st s_p_rf__d b__ng d_sc_ss_d _s b_mb__ sh__ts. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ l__k_d _t m_ny st_d__s t_ f_nd __t j_st h_w g__d th_y _r_ f_r _s. R_s__rch_rs s_y th_ sh__ts c_n b_ b_n_f_c__l t_ __r w_ll-b__ng. Th_y _r_ l_w _n c_l_r__s _nd h_gh _n f_br_, wh_ch h_lps w_th d_g_st__n _nd w__ght c_ntr_l. Th_y _r_ _ls_ _ g__d s__rc_ _f v_t_m_ns _nd m_n_r_ls. B_mb__ c_nt__ns _r_n, m_gn_s__m, _nd p_t_ss__m, wh_ch _r_ _mp_rt_nt f_r s_g_r l_v_ls, bl__d pr_ss_r_, _nd m_scl_ f_nct__n. H_w_v_r, r_w b_mb__ sh__ts c_nt__n t_x_ns _nd m_st b_ c__k_d b_f_r_ __t_ng.

Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ fr_m _ngl__ R_sk_n _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ _K. L__d __th_r Pr_f_ss_r L__ Sm_th s__d: "__r r_v__w sh_ws b_mb__'s cl__r pr_m_s_ _s _ p_ss_bl_ s_p_rf__d." H_ _dd_d: "B_mb__ _s _lr__dy c_mm_nly __t_n _n p_rts _f _s__, _nd _t h_s h_g_ p_t_nt__l t_ b_ _ h__lthy, s_st__n_bl_ _dd_t__n t_ d__ts w_rldw_d_, b_t _t m_st b_ pr_p_r_d c_rr_ctly." M_st _f _s kn_w wh_t b_mb__ l__ks l_k_. _t _s th_ w_rld's t_ll_st gr_ss _nd c_n gr_w _p t_ 90 cm _ d_y. Th_r_ _r_ _r__nd 1,400 sp_c__s _f b_mb__ w_rldw_d_. H_w_v_r, p__pl_ m_y n_t kn_w th_t b_mb__ sh__ts _r_ h_rv_st_d _s th_y _m_rg_ fr_m th_ gr__nd, wh_l_ th_y _r_ st_ll s_ft. W_ d_ n_t __t th_ h_rd, w__dy st_lks. Th_s_ _r_ p_p_l_r w_th p_nd_s.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

health websites are full of information about superfoods these are packed with nutrients and are particularly good for our health the latest superfood being discussed is bamboo shoots scientists have looked at many studies to find out just how good they are for us researchers say the shoots can be beneficial to our wellbeing they are low in calories and high in fibre which helps with digestion and weight control they are also a good source of vitamins and minerals bamboo contains iron magnesium and potassium which are important for sugar levels blood pressure and muscle function however raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eating

the scientists are from anglia ruskin university in the uk lead author professor lee smith said our review shows bamboos clear promise as a possible superfood he added bamboo is already commonly eaten in parts of asia and it has huge potential to be a healthy sustainable addition to diets worldwide but it must be prepared correctly most of us know what bamboo looks like it is the worlds tallest grass and can grow up to 90 cm a day there are around 1400 species of bamboo worldwide however people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they emerge from the ground while they are still soft we do not eat the hard woody stalks these are popular with pandas

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Healthwebsitesarefullofinformationaboutsuperfoods.Thesearepack
edwithnutrientsandareparticularlygoodforourhealth.Thelatestsuper
foodbeingdiscussedisbambooshoots.Scientistshavelookedatmanys
tudiestofindoutjusthowgoodtheyareforus.Researcherssaytheshoot
scanbebeneficialtoourwell-being.Theyarelowincaloriesandhighinfib
re,whichhelpswithdigestionandweightcontrol.Theyarealsoagoodso
urceofvitaminsandminerals.Bamboocontainsiron,magnesium,andp
otassium,whichareimportantforsugarlevels,bloodpressure,andmus
clefunction.However,rawbambooshootscontaintoxinsandmustbeco
okedbeforeeating.ThescientistsarefromAngliaRuskinUniversityinth
eUK.LeadauthorProfessorLeeSmithsaid:"Ourreviewshowsbamboo's
clearpromiseasapossiblesuperfood."Headded:"Bambooisalreadyco
mmonlyeateninpartsofAsia,andithashugepotentialtobeahealthy,su
stainableadditiontodietsworldwide,butitmustbepreparedcorrectly."
Mostofusknowwhatbamboolookslike.Itistheworld'stallestgrassandc
angrowupto90cmaday.Therearearound1,400speciesofbambooworl
dwide.However,peoplemaynotknowthatbambooshootsareharveste
dastheyemergefromtheground,whiletheyarestillsoft.Wedonoteatth
ehard,woodystalks.Thesearepopularwithpandas.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We should all eat superfood and stop eating junk food. 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. BAMBOO: Make a poster about bamboo. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. SUPERFOODS: Write a magazine article about all of us adding superfoods to our daily diet. 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 bamboo. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on bamboo. 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

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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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