Breaking News English Lesson: Food Wrapping

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Iran war turns Japan's snack packaging black and white (18th May 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Food Wrapping - Level 6

The Iran war has brought unexpected consequences for food makers in Japan. A shortage of a product needed to manufacture ink has caused several companies to change the design of their food wrapping. Major snack manufacturer Calbee is temporarily changing the packaging for some of its most popular products to black and white. The company sells some of the best-selling potato chips in Japan. A spokesperson said some of its products will come with a printed message that explains: "Packaged to save oil-related materials." Meanwhile, food and beverage maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a bid to deal with the ink shortage.

Tensions in the Middle East are responsible for a shortage of a hydrocarbon liquid called naphtha. This is an important component in the production of plastics, solvents and printing ink. It is derived from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured industry leaders that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be taken to ensure a supply of the liquid. These include a ramping up of domestic production, and a threefold increase in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However, Calbee said: "Depending on how the situation evolves, we anticipate the possibility of additional impacts arising."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Food Wrapping - Level 4 or Food Wrapping - Level 5

Sources

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16557789
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260430_17/
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260514/p2g/00m/0bu/043000c

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. FOOD PACKAGING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about food packaging. 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?
Iran war / consequences / food makers / ink / black and white / snacks / potato chips
tensions / the Middle East / hydrocarbon / plastics / industry leaders / production
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BLACK AND WHITE: Students A strongly believe all packaging should be black and white; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PACKAGING: What do you think of the packaging for these things? How could it be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Think	Improvements
Potato chips
Computers
Fast food
Smartphones
Online shopping parcels
Medicines

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. INK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "ink". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SHORTAGES: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst shortages at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Printer ink
Chocolates
Antibiotics
Coffee
Semiconductors
Rice
Coal
Housing

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	unexpected	a.	A drink.
2.	consequences	b.	An attempt to do something.
3.	wrapping	c.	Something surprising that you did not think would happen.
4.	packaged	d.	Things that happen because of something else.
5.	beverage	e.	Put into a box, bag, or other container.
6.	transparent	f.	Clear so you can see through it.
7.	bid	g.	Paper, plastic, or other material around a product.

Paragraph 2

8.	shortage	h.	Changes or develops over time.
9.	hydrocarbon	i.	Increasing something.
10.	component	j.	Actions taken to stop a problem or make it less bad.
11.	countermeasures	k.	Not having enough of something.
12.	ramping up	l.	Think that something will happen in the future.
13.	evolves	m.	A substance made from oil or gas.
14.	anticipate	n.	One part of something larger.

Before reading / listening

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

All of the packaging ink in Japan has run out. T / F
A Japanese snack maker is changing all its packaging to black and white. T / F
A message on the potato chips explains the black and white packaging. T / F
A company that makes ketchup will change its ketchup colour from red. T / F
The ink shortage is because of the increased price of crude oil. T / F
Japan's prime minister said her country has enough ink until next year. T / F
Japan will buy three times more naphtha from Middle Eastern countries. T / F
A potato chip maker said it is thinking about future problems. T / F

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

consequences
shortage
temporarily
products
beverage
tensions
liquid
secured
ramping up
anticipate

drink
provisionally
obtained
scarcity
strained relations
expect
results
increasing
goods
fluid

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

unexpected consequences
A shortage of a product needed
its products will come
food and beverage
in a bid to deal
a shortage of a hydrocarbon liquid
an important component in the
enough naphtha to last
a ramping up
a threefold increase

with a printed message
maker
beyond this year
called naphtha
to manufacture ink
of domestic production
consequences for food makers
in naphtha imports
with the ink shortage
production of plastics

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

popular
unexpected
ketchup
temporarily
shortage
message
manufacture
beverage

The Iran war has brought (1) _________________________________ consequences for food makers in Japan. A shortage of a product needed to (2) _________________________________ ink has caused several companies to change the design of their food wrapping. Major snack manufacturer Calbee is (3) _________________________________ changing the packaging for some of its most (4) _________________________________ products to black and white. The company sells some of the best-selling potato chips in Japan. A spokesperson said some of its products will come with a printed (5) _________________________________ that explains: "Packaged to save oil-related materials." Meanwhile, food and (6) _________________________________ maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular (7) _________________________________ transparent in a bid to deal with the ink (8) _________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

threefold
derived
ensure
shortage
arising
solvents
industry
situation

Tensions in the Middle East are responsible for a (9) _________________________________ of a hydrocarbon liquid called naphtha. This is an important component in the production of plastics, (10) _________________________________ and printing ink. It is (11) _________________________________ from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured (12) _________________________________ leaders that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be taken to (13) _________________________________ a supply of the liquid. These include a ramping up of domestic production, and a (14) _________________________________ increase in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However, Calbee said: "Depending on how the (15) _________________________________ evolves, we anticipate the possibility of additional impacts (16) _________________________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The Iran war has brought unexpected consequences ______
     a. four food makers
     b. for foodie makers
     c. for food makers
     d. for food maker
2) ink has caused several companies to change the design of ______
     a. their food warping
     b. their food rapping
     c. their food lapping
     d. their food wrapping
3) Major snack manufacturer Calbee is temporarily ______
     a. changing the package in
     b. changing a packaging
     c. changing the packaging
     d. change in the packaging
4) A spokesperson said some of its products will come with ______
     a. a print it message
     b. a printable message
     c. a printed massage
     d. a printed message
5) beverage maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its ______
     a. popular ketchup transparency
     b. popular ketchup transparent
     c. poplar ketchup transparent
     d. populate ketchup transparent

6) Tensions in the Middle East are responsible for a shortage ______
     a. of a hypo-carbon
     b. of a hydra carbon
     c. of a hidden carbon
     d. of a hydrocarbon
7) This is an important component in the ______
     a. production of plasticity
     b. production of plasters
     c. production of plastics
     d. production of plasterers
8) Takaichi assured industry leaders that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last _____
     a. beyond this year
     b. beyond this years
     c. beneath this year
     d. behind this year
9) She said countermeasures would be taken to ______
     a. insure a supply
     b. ensure a supply
     c. ensure a supple
     d. ensure a supplied
10) Depending on how the situation evolves, we anticipate the possibility of ______
     a. additional impacts a rising
     b. additional impacts arising
     c. additional impacts a rise in
     d. additional impacts arisen

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Iran war (1) _______________________________________________ consequences for food makers in Japan. A shortage of a product (2) _______________________________________________ ink has caused several companies to change the design of their food wrapping. Major snack manufacturer Calbee (3) _______________________________________________ the packaging for some of its most popular products to black and white. The company sells some of (4) _______________________________________________ potato chips in Japan. A spokesperson said some of its products will come with a printed message that explains: "Packaged to save (5) _______________________________________________." Meanwhile, food and beverage maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a bid to deal with (6) _______________________________________________.

Tensions in the Middle East are responsible for a shortage (7) _______________________________________________ liquid called naphtha. This is an important component in the production of (8) _______________________________________________ printing ink. It is derived from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (9) _______________________________________________ that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be taken to (10) _______________________________________________ of the liquid. These include a ramping up of domestic production, and (11) _______________________________________________ in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However, Calbee said: "Depending on how the situation evolves, we anticipate the possibility of (12) _______________________________________________."

Comprehension questions

What kind of consequences does the article say the Iran war has had?
What is there a shortage of?
For how long will the potato chip packaging be black and white?
What does a message on a potato chip bag say the packaging will save?
What will happen to some of the packaging of a popular ketchup?
What kind of liquid is naphtha?
What is naphtha used to make besides plastics and printing ink?
Who assured Japanese industry that there would be enough naphtha?
What will Japan do to domestic naphtha production?
What will the company Calbee anticipate the possibility of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of consequences does the article say the Iran war has had?
a) economic consequences
b) tragic consequences
c) unexpected consequences
d) political consequences
2) What is there a shortage of?
a) a product needed to make ink
b) potatoes
c) plastic bags
d) international cooperation
3) For how long will the potato chip packaging be black and white?
a) temporarily
b) for quite a while
c) a week or two
d) years
4) What does a message on a potato chip bag say the packaging will save?
a) money
b) oil-related materials
c) space
d) ink
5) What will happen to some of the packaging of a popular ketchup?
a) It'll be thinner.
b) It'll be smaller.
c) It'll be white.
d) It'll be transparent.

6) What kind of liquid is naphtha?
a) a silicone
b) a hydrocarbon liquid
c) an alcohol-based one
d) a highly flammable one
7) What is naphtha used to make besides plastics and printing ink?
a) solvents
b) fertilizers
c) pesticides
d) varnish
8) Who assured Japanese industry that there would be enough naphtha?
a) the head of the World Naphtha Group
b) oil companies
c) Japan's prime minister
d) Iran's leaders
9) What will Japan do to domestic naphtha production?
a) assess it
b) switch it
c) halt it
d) ramp it up
10) What will the company Calbee anticipate the possibility of?
a) additional impacts arising
b) changing consumer tastes
c) potato prices
d) introducing transparent packaging

Role play

Role A – Chocolate
You think chocolate is the worst thing for there to be shortages in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): antibiotics, semiconductors or coal.

Role B – Antibiotics
You think antibiotics are the worst things for there to be shortages in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): chocolate, semiconductors or coal.

Role C – Semiconductors
You think semiconductors are the worst things for there to be shortages in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): antibiotics, chocolate or coal.

Role D – Coal
You think coal is the worst thing for there to be shortages in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): antibiotics, semiconductors or chocolate.

After reading / listening

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

'packaging'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'snacks'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

unexpected

several

major

sells

printed

bid

tensions

important

end

ensure

domestic

situation

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 - Food Wrapping

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 'packaging'?
What do you think of food packaging?
Would you mind if all food packaging was black and white?
How has the war in Iran affected you?
What do you think of potato chips?
Have you ever experienced shortages in anything?
What are the snacks in your country like?
What do you think of printer ink?
Is there too much information and 'stuff' on food packaging?

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 'snack'?
What do you think about what you read?
What has happened in the Middle East recently?
How important is oil in our lives?
What should we do about plastics being used for food packaging?
How good or bad are potato chips for us?
What additional impacts might arise from the Iran war?
What is your favourite food packaging?
What questions would you like to ask the food makers?

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 Iran war has (1) ____ unexpected consequences for food makers in Japan. A shortage of a product needed (2) ____ manufacture ink has caused several companies to change the design of their food wrapping. Major snack manufacturer Calbee is (3) ____ changing the packaging for some of its most popular products to black (4) ____ white. The company sells some of the best-selling potato chips in Japan. A spokesperson said some of its products will (5) ____ with a printed message that explains: "Packaged to save oil-related materials." Meanwhile, food and beverage maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a (6) ____ to deal with the ink shortage.

Tensions in the Middle East are responsible (7) ____ a shortage of a hydrocarbon liquid called naphtha. This is an important (8) ____ in the production of plastics, solvents and printing ink. It is derived from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (9) ____ industry leaders that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be (10) ____ to ensure a supply of the liquid. These include a ramping up of domestic production, and a threefold increase (11) ____ naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However, Calbee said: "Depending on how the situation evolves, we anticipate the possibility of additional impacts (12) ____."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) bought (b) blight (c) brought (d) blighted
(a) to (b) by (c) for (d) at
(a) temporary (b) temporarily (c) temping (d) temporal
(a) to (b) as (c) or (d) and
(a) take (b) give (c) come (d) go
(a) hid (b) bid (c) lid (d) rid
(a) for (b) at (c) to (d) on
(a) compliant (b) complement (c) compliment (d) component
(a) insured (b) surely (c) assured (d) surety
(a) presided (b) paid (c) up (d) taken
(a) at (b) in (c) on (d) up
(a) arising (b) arisen (c) arise (d) arises

Spelling

Paragraph 1

unexpected qesncesucneo for food makers
a product needed to ftcaamunure ink
Calbee is tmralieoryp changing the packaging
food and bregveae maker
wrapping for its popular pkchetu
ratenasnptr

Paragraph 2

shortage of a roybhacrodn
This is an important ptmoecnon
plastics, etsvnslo and printing ink
It is derived from eudrc oil
a lrhtofede increase
we eaicnitpta the possibility

Put the text back together

(    )   Calbee said: "Depending on how the situation evolves, we anticipate the possibility of additional impacts arising."
(    )   explains: "Packaged to save oil-related materials." Meanwhile, food and beverage
(    )   in Japan. A spokesperson said some of its products will come with a printed message that
(    )   ink. It is derived from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured industry
(    )   leaders that Japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be
(    )   maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a bid to deal with the ink shortage.
(    )   naphtha. This is an important component in the production of plastics, solvents and printing
(    )   needed to manufacture ink has caused several companies to change the design
(    )   of their food wrapping. Major snack manufacturer Calbee is temporarily changing the packaging for some of its most
(    )   popular products to black and white. The company sells some of the best-selling potato chips
(    )   production, and a threefold increase in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However,
(    )   taken to ensure a supply of the liquid. These include a ramping up of domestic
(    )   Tensions in the Middle East are responsible for a shortage of a hydrocarbon liquid called
( 1 )   The Iran war has brought unexpected consequences for food makers in Japan. A shortage of a product

Put the words in the right order

brought consequences has Iran The unexpected war .
a ink manufacture needed of product Shortages to .
changed Companies design food of their the wrapping .
for its ketchup Make popular some transparent wrapping .
A bid deal ink shortage the to with .
are East Middle responsible Tensions the in .
a called hydrocarbon liquid naphtha of shortage A .
An component important in of plastics production the .
a domestic include of production ramping These up .
additional anticipate arising impacts of possibility the We .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The Iran war has brought / bought unexpected consequences for food makers in Japan. A shortage / shortening of a product needed to manufacture ink has caused several companies to change the designing / design of their food wrapping. Major / Majority snack manufacturer Calbee is temporary / temporarily changing the packaging for some of its most popular products to / at black and white. The company sells some of the best-selling potato chips in Japan. A spokesperson said some of its products will come with / on a printed message that / what explains: "Packaged to save oil-related materials." Mean / Meanwhile, food and beverage maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a bid to deal of / with the ink shortage.

Tensions in / on the Middle East are responsible for a shortage of a hydrocarbon liquid name / called naphtha. This is an important component in / on the production of plastics, solvents and printing ink. It is deprived / derived from crude oil. At the end of April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured industry leaders that Japan had security / secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year. She said countermeasures would be taken to insure / ensure a supply of the liquid. These include a ramping down / up of domestic production, and a threefold increase on / in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. However, Calbee said: "Depending in / on how the situation evolves, we anticipate the possibility at / of additional impacts arising."

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_ _r_n w_r h_s br__ght _n_xp_ct_d c_ns_q__nc_s f_r f__d m_k_rs _n J_p_n. _ sh_rt_g_ _f _ pr_d_ct n__d_d t_ m_n_f_ct_r_ _nk h_s c__s_d s_v_r_l c_mp_n__s t_ ch_ng_ th_ d_s_gn _f th__r f__d wr_pp_ng. M_j_r sn_ck m_n_f_ct_r_r C_lb__ _s t_mp_r_r_ly ch_ng_ng th_ p_ck_g_ng f_r s_m_ _f _ts m_st p_p_l_r pr_d_cts t_ bl_ck _nd wh_t_. Th_ c_mp_ny s_lls s_m_ _f th_ b_st-s_ll_ng p_t_t_ ch_ps _n J_p_n. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d s_m_ _f _ts pr_d_cts w_ll c_m_ w_th _ pr_nt_d m_ss_g_ th_t _xpl__ns: "P_ck_g_d t_ s_v_ __l-r_l_t_d m_t_r__ls." M__nwh_l_, f__d _nd b_v_r_g_ m_k_r K_g_m_ w_ll m_k_ s_m_ _f th_ wr_pp_ng f_r _ts p_p_l_r k_tch_p tr_nsp_r_nt _n _ b_d t_ d__l w_th th_ _nk sh_rt_g_.

T_ns__ns _n th_ M_ddl_ __st _r_ r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r _ sh_rt_g_ _f _ hydr_c_rb_n l_q__d c_ll_d n_phth_. Th_s _s _n _mp_rt_nt c_mp_n_nt _n th_ pr_d_ct__n _f pl_st_cs, s_lv_nts _nd pr_nt_ng _nk. _t _s d_r_v_d fr_m cr_d_ __l. _t th_ _nd _f _pr_l, J_p_n_s_ Pr_m_ M_n_st_r S_n__ T_k__ch_ _ss_r_d _nd_stry l__d_rs th_t J_p_n h_d s_c_r_d _n__gh n_phth_ t_ l_st b_y_nd th_s y__r. Sh_ s__d c__nt_rm__s_r_s w__ld b_ t_k_n t_ _ns_r_ _ s_pply _f th_ l_q__d. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ _ r_mp_ng _p _f d_m_st_c pr_d_ct__n, _nd _ thr__f_ld _ncr__s_ _n n_phth_ _mp_rts fr_m c__ntr__s __ts_d_ th_ M_ddl_ __st. H_w_v_r, C_lb__ s__d: "D_p_nd_ng _n h_w th_ s_t__t__n _v_lv_s, w_ _nt_c_p_t_ th_ p_ss_b_l_ty _f _dd_t__n_l _mp_cts _r_s_ng."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the iran war has brought unexpected consequences for food makers in japan a shortage of a product needed to manufacture ink has caused several companies to change the design of their food wrapping major snack manufacturer calbee is temporarily changing the packaging for some of its most popular products to black and white the company sells some of the bestselling potato chips in japan a spokesperson said some of its products will come with a printed message that explains packaged to save oilrelated materials meanwhile food and beverage maker kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a bid to deal with the ink shortage

tensions in the middle east are responsible for a shortage of a hydrocarbon liquid called naphtha this is an important component in the production of plastics solvents and printing ink it is derived from crude oil at the end of april japanese prime minister sanae takaichi assured industry leaders that japan had secured enough naphtha to last beyond this year she said countermeasures would be taken to ensure a supply of the liquid these include a ramping up of domestic production and a threefold increase in naphtha imports from countries outside the middle east however calbee said depending on how the situation evolves we anticipate the possibility of additional impacts arising

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheIranwarhasbroughtunexpectedconsequencesforfoodmakersinJ
apan.Ashortageofaproductneededtomanufactureinkhascausedseve
ralcompaniestochangethedesignoftheirfoodwrapping.Majorsnackm
anufacturerCalbeeistemporarilychangingthepackagingforsomeofits
mostpopularproductstoblackandwhite.Thecompanysellssomeofthe
best-sellingpotatochipsinJapan.Aspokespersonsaidsomeofitsprodu
ctswillcomewithaprintedmessagethatexplains:"Packagedtosaveoil-
relatedmaterials."Meanwhile,foodandbeveragemakerKagomewillm
akesomeofthewrappingforitspopularketchuptransparentinabidtode
alwiththeinkshortage.TensionsintheMiddleEastareresponsibleforas
hortageofahydrocarbonliquidcallednaphtha.Thisisanimportantcom
ponentintheproductionofplastics,solventsandprintingink.Itisderive
dfromcrudeoil.AttheendofApril,JapanesePrimeMinisterSanaeTakaic
hiassuredindustryleadersthatJapanhadsecuredenoughnaphthatola
stbeyondthisyear.Shesaidcountermeasureswouldbetakentoensure
asupplyoftheliquid.Theseincludearampingupofdomesticproduction,
andathreefoldincreaseinnaphthaimportsfromcountriesoutsidetheMi
ddleEast.However,Calbeesaid:"Dependingonhowthesituationevolv
es,weanticipatethepossibilityofadditionalimpactsarising."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Using coloured ink on packaging is unnecessary and bad for the environment. 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. FOOD PACKAGING: Make a poster about food packaging. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. BLACK AND WHITE: Write a magazine article about all food packaging being black and white to help protect the environment. 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 food packaging. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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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