Breaking News English Lesson: Banknotes

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Anger in UK over wildlife pictures on banknotes (19th March 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Banknotes - Level 3

Some people in the UK are angry that pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has been caused by the Bank of England replacing famous historical figures with wildlife. The process to make this change was democratic. More than 26,000 people voted after a public discussion. The theme of nature was the most popular choice. This means national heroes like WWII leader Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be replaced by animals and birds. Sustainability expert Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in all our hands."

The Bank explained that images of wildlife would make faking banknotes more difficult. It said nature was a great choice when looking at the security of banknotes. Despite this, many leading politicians are very unhappy about removing the historical figures. The head of the Conservative Party said: "Removing Churchill from banknotes is erasing our history. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing to do. I absolutely do not support it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't think of a worse time to do this with a war waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter had no problem with an animal replacing her grandfather.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Banknotes - Level 0, Banknotes - Level 1 or Banknotes - Level 2

Sources

https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/11/putting-biodiversity-in-our-hands-british-wildlife-will-soon-be-celebrated-on-banknotes
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-official-warns-labour-over-183244760.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy03zy1lr8go

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. BANKNOTES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about banknotes. 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?
angry / banknotes / bank / democratic / discussion / choice / artist / biodiversity / bird
wildlife / nature / politician / historical figure / history / silly things / war / grandfather
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WILDLIFE: Students A strongly believe pictures of wildlife are better to put on banknotes than pictures of national heroes; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PAYMENTS: What are the pros and cons of these methods of payment? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
Banknotes
Coins
Credit cards
Crypto
Smartphone
Cheques

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. CASH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "cash". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BANKNOTE PICTURES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best pictures to put on banknotes at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

National heroes
Wild animals
Flowers
Literary characters
Famous buildings
National food
Shopping items
Famous paintings

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	caused	a.	About a system where people choose their leaders by voting.
2.	figures	b.	The act of picking one thing from two or more things.
3.	process (noun)	c.	Someone or something made something else happen.
4.	democratic	d.	The many different kinds of plants and animals in nature.
5.	choice	e.	People who are important or well known.
6.	sustainability	f.	A series of actions or steps to do something.
7.	biodiversity	g.	The idea of using things in a way that does not harm the future.

Paragraph 2

8.	faking	h.	A fight between countries or large groups using soldiers and weapons.
9.	security	i.	Pretending something is real when it is not.
10.	politicians	j.	Safety and protection from danger.
11.	erasing	k.	Not serious and a little foolish/stupid.
12.	silly	l.	Removing things from something.
13.	absolutely	m.	People who work in government and make decisions for a country.
14.	war	n.	Completely or totally.

Before reading / listening

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

The Bank of London is changing the pictures on Scottish banknotes. T / F
More than 26,000 people voted to choose the new banknote theme. T / F
Pictures of wildlife will replace figures from politics, literature, and art. T / F
Very few British people feel connected to nature. T / F
Pictures of animals and birds make it more difficult to fake banknotes. T / F
All British politicians think the wildlife pictures are a good idea. T / F
A politician said changing banknotes at a time of war is a bad idea. T / F
A grandchild of Winston Churchill has no problem with the new images. T / F

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

angry
replacing
theme
expert
opportunity
faking
security
erasing
absolutely
problem

safety
specialist
totally
substituting
issue
chance
furious
forging
deleting
subject

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

Some people in
replacing famous historical
The theme of nature was the most
how deeply people feel connected to and
put biodiversity in all
images of wildlife would make faking
Removing Churchill from banknotes is
a silly
I can't think of a worse time
a war waging in

figures with wildlife
banknotes more difficult
our hands
Europe
value British wildlife
thing to do
the UK are angry
erasing our history
popular choice
to do this

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

democratic
deeply
angry
leader
hands
nature
figures
expert

Some people in the UK are (1) ______________________________________________ that pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has been caused by the Bank of England replacing famous historical (2) ______________________________________________ with wildlife. The process to make this change was (3) ______________________________________________. More than 26,000 people voted after a public discussion. The theme of (4) ______________________________________________ was the most popular choice. This means national heroes like WWII (5) ______________________________________________ Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be replaced by animals and birds. Sustainability (6) ______________________________________________ Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder of how (7) ______________________________________________ people feel connected to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in all our (8) ______________________________________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

support
war
great
head
problem
images
erasing
security

The Bank explained that (9) ______________________________________________ of wildlife would make faking banknotes more difficult. It said nature was a (10) ______________________________________________ choice when looking at the (11) ______________________________________________ of banknotes. Despite this, many leading politicians are very unhappy about removing the historical figures. The (12) ______________________________________________ of the Conservative Party said: "Removing Churchill from banknotes is (13) ______________________________________________ our history. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing to do. I absolutely do not (14) ______________________________________________ it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't think of a worse time to do this with a (15) ______________________________________________ waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter had no (16) ______________________________________________ with an animal replacing her grandfather.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Some people in the UK are angry that pictures on British ______
     a. banknotes will chance
     b. banknotes will change
     c. banknotes will changed
     d. banknote will change
2) caused by the Bank of England replacing ______
     a. famous historically figures
     b. famous historical figure
     c. famous historical figures
     d. famously historical figures
3) The process to make this ______
     a. chance was democratic
     b. change were democratic
     c. change was democratically
     d. change was democratic
4) This is a powerful reminder of how ______
     a. deeply people feel
     b. deeply people feels
     c. deeply people feeling
     d. deeply people feelings
5) It's a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in ______
     a. every our hands
     b. whole our hands
     c. all our hands
     d. every our hands

6) The Bank explained that images of wildlife would make faking ______
     a. banknotes more difficultness
     b. banknotes more difficulties
     c. banknotes more difficulty
     d. banknotes more difficult
7) It said nature was a great choice when looking at the ______
     a. security of banknotes
     b. security off banknotes
     c. secure of banknotes
     d. scarcity of banknotes
8) Removing Churchill from banknotes is ______
     a. erasing our historically
     b. erasing our historical
     c. erasing our historian
     d. erasing our history
9) I can't think of a worse time to do this with a war ______
     a. wage in in Europe
     b. waging on Europe
     c. waging in European
     d. waging in Europe
10) Churchill's granddaughter had no problem with an animal ______
     a. replace in her grandfather
     b. replacing them grandfather
     c. replacing his grandfather
     d. replacing her grandfather

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Some people in the UK (1) __________________________________________________ pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has (2) __________________________________________________ the Bank of England replacing famous historical figures with wildlife. The process to (3) __________________________________________________ was democratic. More than 26,000 people voted after a public discussion. The theme of nature was the most popular choice. This means (4) __________________________________________________ WWII leader Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be (5) __________________________________________________ and birds. Sustainability expert Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a (6) __________________________________________________ put biodiversity in all our hands."

The Bank explained (7) __________________________________________________ wildlife would make faking banknotes more difficult. It said nature was a great choice when looking at (8) __________________________________________________ banknotes. Despite this, many leading politicians are very (9) __________________________________________________ the historical figures. The head of the Conservative Party said: "Removing Churchill from banknotes is (10) __________________________________________________. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is (11) __________________________________________________ to do. I absolutely do not support it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't think of a worse time to do this with a war waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter had (12) __________________________________________________ an animal replacing her grandfather.

Comprehension questions

What is replacing the pictures on the banknotes?
How many people voted to change the banknotes?
Which writer is going to be replaced by an image of wildlife?
What might the new banknotes make people value?
What did a sustainability expert say people could have in their hands?
What do wildlife pictures make it more difficult to do?
What did the head of the Conservative Party say is being erased?
What did the head of the Conservative Party call the change?
Where did the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party say war was waging?
Who had no problem with Sir Winston Churchill's image being replaced?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is replacing the pictures on the banknotes?
a) the bank of Mum and Dad
b) the Bank of England
c) the World Bank
d) the IMF
2) How many people voted to change the banknotes?
a) around 26,000
b) just fewer than 26,000
c) exactly 26,000
d) more than 26,000
3) Which writer is going to be replaced by an image of wildlife?
a) Jane Austen
b) J.K. Rowling
c) Charles Dickens
d) William Shakespeare
4) What might the new banknotes make people value?
a) British banks
b) money
c) British wildlife
d) themselves
5) What did a sustainability expert say people could have in their hands?
a) more cash
b) biodiversity
c) animals
d) the whole world

6) What do wildlife pictures make it more difficult to do?
a) save money
b) spend money
c) fake banknotes
d) lose banknotes
7) What did the head of the Conservative Party say is being erased?
a) savings
b) cash
c) pencils
d) history
8) What did the head of the Conservative Party call the change?
a) silly
b) clever
c) annoying
d) bad
9) Where did the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party say war was waging?
a) Europe
b) the USA
c) Iran
d) online
10) Who had no problem with Sir Winston Churchill's image being replaced?
a) the UK's leader
b) his granddaughter
c) the leader of the Conservative Party
d) the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party

Role play

Role A – National Heroes
You think pictures of national heroes are the best things to put on banknotes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pictures. Also, tell the others which is the worst idea of these (and why): wild animals, national food or famous paintings.

Role B – Wild Animals
You think pictures of wild animals are the best things to put on banknotes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pictures. Also, tell the others which is the worst idea of these (and why): national heroes, national food or famous paintings.

Role C – National Food
You think pictures of national food are the best things to put on banknotes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pictures. Also, tell the others which is the worst idea of these (and why): wild animals, national heroes or famous paintings.

Role D – Famous Paintings
You think pictures of famous paintings are the best things to put on banknotes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their pictures. Also, tell the others which is the worst idea of these (and why): wild animals, national food or national heroes.

After reading / listening

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

'bank'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'note'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

angry

process

voted

means

powerful

hands

difficult

looking

politicians

silly

war

grandfather

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 - Banknotes

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 'banknote'?
Is the British English word 'banknote' or American English 'bill' best?
What do you think of the design of banknotes in your country?
Do you like banknotes, or is digital money better?
What are the pros and cons of using cash?
What do you think of the anger in the UK over the wildlife pictures?
Which are better to put on banknotes, wildlife or national heroes?
How connected do you feel to nature?
How much do you worry about biodiversity?

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 'coin'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of what the angry politicians said?
What do you think of the pictures on your banknotes?
Why might pictures of animals be more difficult to fake?
Who are your country's most important historical figures?
What do you know about Sir Winston Churchill?
Do you agree with what Sir Winston Churchill's daughter said?
What questions would you like to ask a banknote designer?

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)

Some people in the UK are (1) ____ that pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has been caused by the Bank of England (2) ____ famous historical figures with wildlife. The process to make this change was democratic. More than 26,000 people voted (3) ____ a public discussion. The theme of nature was the most popular choice. This means national heroes (4) ____ WWII leader Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be replaced by animals and birds. Sustainability expert Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder (5) ____ how deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a beautiful opportunity (6) ____ put biodiversity in all our hands."

The Bank explained that images of wildlife would (7) ____ faking banknotes more difficult. It said nature was a great choice when looking at the security of banknotes. Despite this, many (8) ____ politicians are very unhappy about removing the historical figures. The (9) ____ of the Conservative Party said: "Removing Churchill from banknotes is erasing our history. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing to (10) ____. I absolutely do not support it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't think of a (11) ____ time to do this with a war waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter had (12) ____ problem with an animal replacing her grandfather.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) angrily (b) anger (c) angry (d) angers
(a) replacing (b) replaced (c) replace (d) replaces
(a) after (b) ahead (c) later (d) then
(a) like (b) liking (c) liked (d) likes
(a) as (b) at (c) by (d) of
(a) at (b) by (c) in (d) to
(a) make (b) take (c) fake (d) bake
(a) unhappily (b) cleverly (c) victory (d) leading
(a) head (b) skull (c) body (d) foot
(a) have (b) do (c) make (d) be
(a) badly (b) worse (c) baddie (d) baddish
(a) no (b) now (c) not (d) non

Spelling

Paragraph 1

replacing famous sltiaircho figures
The ropessc to make this change
Sustainability rtpeex
velua British wildlife
a beautiful nptotproyui
put dtiroyvebiis in all our hands

Paragraph 2

iesmag of wildlife
iakgfn banknotes
looking at the curyesit of banknotes
many leading csalitipnoi are very unhappy
isgeran our history
I oalbslteyu do not support it

Put the text back together

(    )   "Removing Churchill from banknotes is erasing our history. Changing the pictures to put wild
(    )   and birds. Sustainability expert Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected
(    )   animals on them is a silly thing to do. I absolutely do not support it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't
(    )   caused by the Bank of England replacing famous historical figures with wildlife. The process to make this change
(    )   difficult. It said nature was a great choice when looking at the security of banknotes. Despite this, many leading
(    )   had no problem with an animal replacing her grandfather.
(    )   leader Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be replaced by animals
(    )   of nature was the most popular choice. This means national heroes like WWII
(    )   politicians are very unhappy about removing the historical figures. The head of the Conservative Party said:
( 1 )   Some people in the UK are angry that pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has been
(    )   The Bank explained that images of wildlife would make faking banknotes more
(    )   think of a worse time to do this with a war waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter
(    )   to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in all our hands."
(    )   was democratic. More than 26,000 people voted after a public discussion. The theme

Put the words in the right order

angry are in people Some the UK .
change democratic make process The this to was .
most nature of popular the theme The was .
deeply how of people powerful reminder A .
Beautiful biodiversity hands in our opportunities put to .
a choice great It nature said was .
about are figures historical Politicians removing the unhappy .
banknotes Churchill erasing from history is our Removing .
a can't I of think time worse .
a Do Europe in this war waging with .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Some people in the UK are angrily / angry that pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has been cased/ caused by the Bank of England replacing famous historical figures with / to wildlife. The progress / process to make this change was democratic. More than 26,000 people voted after / ahead a public discussion. The theme of natural / nature was the most popular choice. This means national heroes liked / like WWII leader Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be replaced at / by animals and birds. Sustainability expert Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder of how / what deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in every / all our hands."

The Bank explained / explain that images of wildlife would make faking / taking banknotes more difficult. It said nature was a great choice / choose when looking at the security of / to banknotes. Despite this, many leading politicians are very unhappy about remove / removing the historical figures. The head of the Conservative Party said: "Removing Churchill to / from banknotes is erasing our history. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing / things to do. I absolutely do not support it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't think / thought of a worse time to do these / this with a war waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter had no problem with an / the animal replacing her grandfather.

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)

S_m_ p__pl_ _n th_ _K _r_ _ngry th_t p_ct_r_s _n Br_t_sh b_nkn_t_s w_ll ch_ng_. Th__r _ng_r h_s b__n c__s_d by th_ B_nk _f _ngl_nd r_pl_c_ng f_m__s h_st_r_c_l f_g_r_s w_th w_ldl_f_. Th_ pr_c_ss t_ m_k_ th_s ch_ng_ w_s d_m_cr_t_c. M_r_ th_n 26,000 p__pl_ v_t_d _ft_r _ p_bl_c d_sc_ss__n. Th_ th_m_ _f n_t_r_ w_s th_ m_st p_p_l_r ch__c_. Th_s m__ns n_t__n_l h_r__s l_k_ WW__ l__d_r S_r W_nst_n Ch_rch_ll, wr_t_r J_n_ __st_n, _nd _rt_st JMW T_rn_r w_ll b_ r_pl_c_d by _n_m_ls _nd b_rds. S_st__n_b_l_ty _xp_rt _l_ F_sh_r s__d: "Th_s _s _ p_w_rf_l r_m_nd_r _f h_w d__ply p__pl_ f__l c_nn_ct_d t_ _nd v_l__ Br_t_sh w_ldl_f_." Sh_ _dd_d: "_t's _ b___t_f_l _pp_rt_n_ty t_ p_t b__d_v_rs_ty _n _ll __r h_nds."

Th_ B_nk _xpl__n_d th_t _m_g_s _f w_ldl_f_ w__ld m_k_ f_k_ng b_nkn_t_s m_r_ d_ff_c_lt. _t s__d n_t_r_ w_s _ gr__t ch__c_ wh_n l__k_ng _t th_ s_c_r_ty _f b_nkn_t_s. D_sp_t_ th_s, m_ny l__d_ng p_l_t_c__ns _r_ v_ry _nh_ppy _b__t r_m_v_ng th_ h_st_r_c_l f_g_r_s. Th_ h__d _f th_ C_ns_rv_t_v_ P_rty s__d: "R_m_v_ng Ch_rch_ll fr_m b_nkn_t_s _s _r_s_ng __r h_st_ry. Ch_ng_ng th_ p_ct_r_s t_ p_t w_ld _n_m_ls _n th_m _s _ s_lly th_ng t_ d_. _ _bs_l_t_ly d_ n_t s_pp_rt _t." Th_ L_b_r_l D_m_cr_t P_rty l__d_r s__d: "_ c_n't th_nk _f _ w_rs_ t_m_ t_ d_ th_s w_th _ w_r w_g_ng _n __r_p_." H_w_v_r, Ch_rch_ll's gr_ndd__ght_r h_d n_ pr_bl_m w_th _n _n_m_l r_pl_c_ng h_r gr_ndf_th_r.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

some people in the uk are angry that pictures on british banknotes will change their anger has been caused by the bank of england replacing famous historical figures with wildlife the process to make this change was democratic more than 26000 people voted after a public discussion the theme of nature was the most popular choice this means national heroes like wwii leader sir winston churchill writer jane austen and artist jmw turner will be replaced by animals and birds sustainability expert ali fisher said this is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected to and value british wildlife she added its a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in all our hands

the bank explained that images of wildlife would make faking banknotes more difficult it said nature was a great choice when looking at the security of banknotes despite this many leading politicians are very unhappy about removing the historical figures the head of the conservative party said removing churchill from banknotes is erasing our history changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing to do i absolutely do not support it the liberal democrat party leader said i cant think of a worse time to do this with a war waging in europe however churchills granddaughter had no problem with an animal replacing her grandfather

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

SomepeopleintheUKareangrythatpicturesonBritishbanknoteswillch
ange.TheirangerhasbeencausedbytheBankofEnglandreplacingfamo
ushistoricalfigureswithwildlife.Theprocesstomakethischangewasde
mocratic.Morethan26,000peoplevotedafterapublicdiscussion.Theth
emeofnaturewasthemostpopularchoice.Thismeansnationalheroesli
keWWIIleaderSirWinstonChurchill,writerJaneAusten,andartistJMW
Turnerwillbereplacedbyanimalsandbirds.SustainabilityexpertAliFis
hersaid:"Thisisapowerfulreminderofhowdeeplypeoplefeelconnecte
dtoandvalueBritishwildlife."Sheadded:"It'sabeautifulopportunityto
putbiodiversityinallourhands."TheBankexplainedthatimagesofwildli
fewouldmakefakingbanknotesmoredifficult.Itsaidnaturewasagreatc
hoicewhenlookingatthesecurityofbanknotes.Despitethis,manyleadi
ngpoliticiansareveryunhappyaboutremovingthehistoricalfigures.Th
eheadoftheConservativePartysaid:"RemovingChurchillfrombankno
tesiserasingourhistory.Changingthepicturestoputwildanimalsonthe
misasillythingtodo.Iabsolutelydonotsupportit."TheLiberalDemocrat
Partyleadersaid:"Ican'tthinkofaworsetimetodothiswithawarwagingi
nEurope."However,Churchill'sgranddaughterhadnoproblemwithan
animalreplacinghergrandfather.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

All banknotes and coins should have pictures of national heroes on them. 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. BANKNOTES: Make a poster about banknotes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. NATIONAL HEROES: Write a magazine article about requiring all banknotes to have pictures of national heroes on them. 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 banknotes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on their design. 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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