Birds are beautiful. Looking at them could be good for us. Researchers believe birdwatching protects our brains against old age. They said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age." The researchers compared brain scans of veteran and new birdwatchers. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot more active. The veterans had a better memory and could process information quicker.
Birdwatching benefits the brain because we learn new skills. Birdwatching combines the ability to identify things with a sensitivity to detecting patterns. The hobby is good for our mental and physical health. It can reduce stress. This is because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight. We can connect with nature and the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby improves their social life. This is because they meet many people.
Try the same news story at these levels:
Birdwatching - Level 0, Birdwatching - Level 2 or Birdwatching - Level 3
Sources- https://www.newscientist.com/article/2516604-birdwatching-may-reshape-the-brain-and-build-its-buffer-against-ageing/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/birdwatching-birding-brain-boost-cognition-research-rcna259945
- https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/38314282/bird-watching-health-benefits/
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 :-)