The Reading / Listening - Right-handedness - Level 3

Around 90 per cent of people worldwide are right-handed. Scientists have spent decades trying to find out why. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have a possible answer. Their research suggests that the answer is because of two features of human evolution. The first is walking on two legs, and the other is the large size of the human brain. When humans first started walking on two legs, their hands were free to do things. Our large brain worked out many things to do with our hands like using tools. If most people used the same hand, using tools and working with others became easier. This became useful for things like hunting and cooking.

Scientists thought the key to finding the answer was why only humans are largely right-handed. Primates (monkeys and apes) use both hands equally. The researchers compared human behaviour and brain patterns with 41 species of monkeys and apes. The research findings showed that humans have longer legs compared to their arm length. Another reason is that the left side of the brain controls the right hand. It is also responsible for motor skills and coordination. A researcher said: "By looking across many primate species, we can begin to understand which aspects of handedness are ancient and shared, and which are uniquely human."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Right-handedness - Level 0,  Right-handedness - Level 1   or  Right-handedness - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.popsci.com/science/human-right-handed-leg-evolution/
  • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm
  • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/why-is-almost-everyone-right-handed-the-answer-may-lie-in-how-we-learned-to-walk/ar-AA23iiAz


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. BEING RIGHT-HANDED: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about being right-handed. 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?
       scientists / decades / research / evolution / hands / brain / tools / cooking / hunting
       key / monkeys / apes / human behaviour / arm length / motor skills / reason / ancient
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BOTH HANDS: Students A strongly believe we should all use both our hands equally well; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HAND PARTS: What do you know about these things? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Palm

 

 

Fingerprints

 

 

Nails

 

 

Thumb

 

 

Index finger

 

 

Knuckles

 

 
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. HUMAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "human". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. HANDS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to do with your hands at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Cook
  • Draw
  • Play music
  • Garden
  • Text friends
  • Clean
  • Clap
  • Wave

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. worldwide a. The large grey thing inside your head that controls thinking and movement.
      2. decades b. A period of ten years.
      3. possible c. Shows that something may be true.
      4. suggests d. In all parts of the world.
      5. evolution e. The activity of looking for and killing animals for food.
      6. brain f. Something that may happen or be true.
      7. hunting g.

The slow change and development of living things over time.

    Paragraph 2

      8. scientists h. The way a person or animal acts.
      9. key i. In the same way or amount.
      10. equally j. A group of animals or plants that are similar.
      11. behaviour k. People who study science.
      12. coordination l. The most important part of something.
      13. species m. Very, very old.
      14. ancient n.

The ability to move different parts of the body well together.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Exactly 90% of people in the world are right-handed.     T / F
  2. Scientists have researched right-handedness for thousands of years.     T / F
  3. One reason for right-handedness may be the fact we walk on two legs.    T / F
  4. It is possible that using the same tools made most of us right-handed.    T / F
  5. Many animal species are only right-handed.     T / F
  6. Scientists compared 41 apes with 41 monkeys.     T / F
  7. The left side of the brain controls our right hand.     T / F
  8. A researcher said monkeys cannot help us understand right-handedness. T / F

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

  1. worldwide
  2. decade
  3. evolution
  4. started
  5. useful
  6. key
  7. largely
  8. species
  9. aspects
  10. ancient
  1. development
  2. points
  3. beneficial
  4. mostly
  5. globally
  6. kinds
  7. began
  8. 10 years
  9. very old
  10. answer

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

  1. Around 90 per cent of people worldwide
  2. Scientists have spent decades
  3. two features of human
  4. When humans first started
  5. This became useful for things
  6. the key
  7. 41 species
  8. longer legs compared
  9. responsible for motor skills and
  10. we can begin
  1. trying to find out
  2. coordination
  3. are right-handed
  4. to finding the answer
  5. of monkeys and apes
  6. walking on two legs
  7. evolution
  8. to understand
  9. to their arm length
  10. like hunting and cooking

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
suggests
free
worldwide
others
legs
things
decades
tools

Around 90 per cent of people (1) ______________________________________________ are right-handed. Scientists have spent (2) ______________________________________________ trying to find out why. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have a possible answer. Their research (3) ______________________________________________ that the answer is because of two features of human evolution. The first is walking on two (4) ______________________________________________, and the other is the large size of the human brain. When humans first started walking on two legs, their hands were (5) ______________________________________________ to do things. Our large brain worked out many things to do with our hands like using (6) ______________________________________________. If most people used the same hand, using tools and working with (7) ______________________________________________ became easier. This became useful for (8) ______________________________________________ like hunting and cooking.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
compared
monkeys
coordination
human
controls
understand
key
patterns

Scientists thought the (9) ______________________________________________ to finding the answer was why only humans are largely right-handed. Primates ((10) ______________________________________________ and apes) use both hands equally. The researchers compared human behaviour and brain (11) ______________________________________________ with 41 species of monkeys and apes. The research findings showed that humans have longer legs (12) ______________________________________________ to their arm length. Another reason is that the left side of the brain (13) ______________________________________________ the right hand. It is also responsible for motor skills and (14) ______________________________________________. A researcher said: "By looking across many primate species, we can begin to (15) ______________________________________________ which aspects of handedness are ancient and shared, and which are uniquely (16) ______________________________________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists have spent decades trying to ______
     a.  fine doubt why
     b.  fine doubt why
     c.  fined out why
     d.  find out why
2)  Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have ______
     a.  a possibles answer
     b.  a possibly answer
     c.  a possible answer
     d.  a possibility answer
3)  research suggests that the answer is because of two features ______
     a.  of humane evolution
     b.  of human evolution
     c.  of human revolution
     d.  off human evolution
4)  When humans first started walking on two legs, their hands were free ______
     a.  to do things
     b.  two do things
     c.  to do thing
     d.  to does things
5)  If most people used the same hand, using tools and working with ______
     a.  others became easily
     b.  other became easier
     c.  others became easier
     d.  others become easier

6)  Scientists thought the key to finding the answer was why only humans are ______
     a.  large right-handed
     b.  larger right-handed
     c.  largely right-handed
     d.  largest right-handed
7)  Primates (monkeys and apes) use ______
     a.  both hand equally
     b.  both hands equals
     c.  both hand equal
     d.  both hands equally
8)  findings showed that humans have longer legs compared to ______
     a.  their army length
     b.  there arm length
     c.  their arms length
     d.  their arm length
9)  It is also responsible for motor ______
     a.  skill and coordination
     b.  skills and coordination
     c.  skills sand coordination
     d.  skill sand coordination
10)  which aspects of handedness are ancient and shared, and which ______
     a.  are uniquely humanly
     b.  are uniquely humane
     c.  are uniquely human
     d.  are uniquely humans

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Around 90 per cent of (1) __________________________________________________ right-handed. Scientists have spent (2) __________________________________________________ find out why. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have a possible answer. Their research (3) __________________________________________________ answer is because of two features of human evolution. The first is walking on two legs, and the other is the large size of (4) __________________________________________________. When humans first started walking on two legs, their hands were free to do things. Our large brain (5) __________________________________________________ things to do with our hands like using tools. If most people used the same hand, using tools and working with others became easier. This became useful for things like (6) __________________________________________________.

Scientists thought the (7) __________________________________________________ the answer was why only humans are largely right-handed. Primates (monkeys and apes) use (8) __________________________________________________. The researchers compared human behaviour and brain patterns with 41 species of monkeys and apes. The research findings showed that humans have (9) __________________________________________________ to their arm length. Another reason is that the left side of the brain (10) __________________________________________________ hand. It is also responsible for motor skills and coordination. A researcher said: "By looking across many primate species, we can begin to understand (11) __________________________________________________ handedness are ancient and shared, and which (12) __________________________________________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. For how long have scientists been looking into right-handedness?
  2. Where are the researchers from?
  3. How many features of human evolution does the article mention?
  4. What did our brain find our hands could do after we started walking?
  5. What two useful things could we do if we used the same hand?
  6. Who are largely right-handed?
  7. Who uses both hands equally?
  8. What are longer compared to our arm length?
  9. What part of our brain controls our right hand?
  10. What can we look at to understand right- and left-handedness?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For how long have scientists been looking into right-handedness?
a) centuries
b) decades
c) years
d) months
2) Where are the researchers from?
a) Tokyo University
b) New York University
c) Cambridge University
d) Oxford University
3) How many features of human evolution does the article mention?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
4) What did our brain find our hands could do after we started walking?
a) wave
b) wash dishes
c) use tools
d) hold a pen
5) What two useful things could we do if we used the same hand?
a) fish and shoot
b) hunt and cook
c) wave and scratch
d) write and type

6) Who are largely right-handed?
a) researchers
b) apes
c) humans
d) monkeys
7) Who uses both hands equally?
a) basketball players
b) children
c) humans
d) monkeys and apes
8) What are longer compared to our arm length?
a) our legs
b) our bones
c) our ribs
d) our spines
9) What part of our brain controls our right hand?
a) the left part
b) the top part
c) the right side
d) the front part
10) What can we look at to understand right- and left-handedness?
a) encyclopaedia
b) primates (monkeys and apes)
c) history
d) the Internet

Role play

Role  A – Cook
You think to cook is the best thing to do with your hands. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): draw, text friends or wave.

Role  B – Draw
You think to draw is the best thing to do with your hands. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): cook, text friends or wave.

Role  C – Text Friends
You think to text friends is the best thing to do with your hands. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): draw, cook or wave.

Role  D – Wave
You think wave is the best thing to do with your hands. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): draw, text friends or cook.

After reading / listening

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

'right'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'left'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • spent
    • possible
    • large
    • free
    • tools
    • easier
    • key
    • both
    • 41
    • length
    • skills
    • ancient

    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 - Right-handedness

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'right'?
    3. Do you ever think about being right- or left-handed?
    4. Would you like to be able to use both hands equally well?
    5. What do you know about human evolution?
    6. Are you good with your hands?
    7. What things do you do most with your left hand?
    8. How are smartphones changing what we use our hands for?
    9. Does being left-handed have any disadvantages?
    10. Should we shake hands with right and left hands?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'left'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the differences between monkeys and apes?
    5. Are you a left brain or a right brain person?
    6. Do you have good hand-eye coordination?
    7. How often do you 'give someone a hand'?
    8. When was the last time you 'had your hands full'?
    9. When was the last time you 'washed your hands of something'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    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)

    Around 90 per cent of people (1) ____ are right-handed. Scientists have spent decades trying to find (2) ____ why. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have a possible answer. Their research suggests that the answer is because of two (3) ____ of human evolution. The first is walking on two legs, and the other is the large size of the human brain. When humans first started walking on two legs, their hands were (4) ____ to do things. Our large brain worked out many things to (5) ____ with our hands like using tools. If most people used the same hand, using tools and working with others became easier. This became useful for things (6) ____ hunting and cooking.

    Scientists thought the (7) ____ to finding the answer was why only humans are largely right-handed. Primates (monkeys and apes) use both hands (8) ____. The researchers compared human behaviour and brain patterns with 41 species of monkeys and apes. The research findings showed that humans have longer legs compared (9) ____ their arm length. Another reason is that the left side of the brain controls the right hand. It is also responsible (10) ____ motor skills and coordination. A researcher said: "By (11) ____ across many primate species, we can begin to understand which aspects of handedness are ancient and shared, and which (12) ____ uniquely human."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     worldly     (b)     worldwide     (c)     world     (d)     worldliness    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     out    
    3. (a)     futures     (b)     features     (c)     fractures     (d)     feathers    
    4. (a)     without     (b)     liberty     (c)     free     (d)     safe    
    5. (a)     do     (b)     done     (c)     doing     (d)     doer    
    6. (a)     like     (b)     as     (c)     by     (d)     at    
    7. (a)     pitch     (b)     chain     (c)     lock     (d)     key    
    8. (a)     equally     (b)     equality     (c)     equal     (d)     equals    
    9. (a)     by     (b)     to     (c)     of     (d)     at    
    10. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     for     (d)     from    
    11. (a)     looks     (b)     looked     (c)     looking     (d)     look    
    12. (a)     being     (b)     are     (c)     be     (d)     is

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. 90 per cent of people lirwoedwd
    2. Scientists have spent eddasec trying to find
    3. the answer is because of two eustreaf
    4. human otvueniol
    5. the large size of the human iabrn
    6. This became uulfes for things like hunting

    Paragraph 2

    1. kyesomn and apes use both hands
    2. 41 eipsecs
    3. longer legs orpecmda to their arm length
    4. epesbsrnlio for motor skills and coordination
    5. we can begin to understand which cptesas
    6. enquiluy human

    Put the text back together

    (    )   across many primate species, we can begin to understand which aspects
    (    )   answer. Their research suggests that the answer is because of two features of human evolution. The first is walking on
    (  1  )   Around 90 per cent of people worldwide are right-handed. Scientists have spent decades trying to find
    (    )   behaviour and brain patterns with 41 species of monkeys and apes. The research findings showed that humans have
    (    )   controls the right hand. It is also responsible for motor skills and coordination. A researcher said: "By looking
    (    )   easier. This became useful for things like hunting and cooking.
    (    )   free to do things. Our large brain worked out many things to do with our hands like using
    (    )   handed. Primates (monkeys and apes) use both hands equally. The researchers compared human
    (    )   longer legs compared to their arm length. Another reason is that the left side of the brain
    (    )   of handedness are ancient and shared, and which are uniquely human."
    (    )   out why. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have a possible
    (    )   Scientists thought the key to finding the answer was why only humans are largely right-
    (    )   tools. If most people used the same hand, using tools and working with others became
    (    )   two legs, and the other is the large size of the human brain. When humans first started walking on two legs, their hands were

    Put the words in the right order

    1. 90   Around   are   per cent   of   people   right-handed   worldwide   .
    2. Scientists   decades   find   have   out   spent   to   trying   .
    3. answer   because   features   is   of   The   two   .
    4. first   humans   legs   on   started   two   walking   When   .
    5. became   for   hunting   like   things   This   useful   .
    6. both   equally   hands   like   monkeys   Primates   use   .
    7. 41   Brain   monkeys   of   patterns   species   with   .
    8. findings   have   humans   legs   longer   Research   showed   that   .
    9. brain   controls   it   left   of   side   The   the   .
    10. aspects   begin   can   to   understand   We   which   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Around 90 per cent of people worldly / worldwide are right-handed. Scientists have spent decades trying / tried to find out why. Researchers from Oxford University in the UK believe they have a possibly / possible answer. Their research suggests that the answer is because of two features of human revolution / evolution. The first is walking in / on two legs, and the other is the large size of the human brain. When humans first started walking on two legs, their hand / hands were free to do things. Our large brain worked out / in many things to do with our hands like using tools. If most / much people used the same hand, using tools and working with others become / became easier. This became useful for things like hunting and cook / cooking.

    Scientists thought the lock / key to finding the answer was why only humans are large / largely right-handed. Primates (monkeys and ape / apes) use both hands equal / equally. The researchers compared human behaviour and brain patterns with 41 specials / species of monkeys and apes. The research findings showed that humans have longer legs compared to / for their arm length. Another reason is that the left side to / of the brain controls the right hand. It is also responsible of / for motor skills and coordination. A researcher said: "By looking across many primate species, we can beginning / begin to understand which aspects of handedness are ancient and shared, and which are uniquely / unique human."

    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)

    _r__nd  90  p_r  c_nt  _f  p__pl_  w_rldw_d_  _r_  r_ght-h_nd_d.  Sc__nt_sts  h_v_  sp_nt  d_c_d_s  try_ng  t_  f_nd  __t  why.  R_s__rch_rs  fr_m  _xf_rd  _n_v_rs_ty  _n  th_  _K  b_l__v_  th_y  h_v_  _  p_ss_bl_  _nsw_r.  Th__r  r_s__rch  s_gg_sts  th_t  th_  _nsw_r  _s  b_c__s_  _f  tw_  f__t_r_s  _f  h_m_n  _v_l_t__n.  Th_  f_rst  _s  w_lk_ng  _n  tw_  l_gs,  _nd  th_  _th_r  _s  th_  l_rg_  s_z_  _f  th_  h_m_n  br__n.  Wh_n  h_m_ns  f_rst  st_rt_d  w_lk_ng  _n  tw_  l_gs,  th__r  h_nds  w_r_  fr__  t_  d_  th_ngs.  __r  l_rg_  br__n  w_rk_d  __t  m_ny  th_ngs  t_  d_  w_th  __r  h_nds  l_k_  _s_ng  t__ls.  _f  m_st  p__pl_  _s_d  th_  s_m_  h_nd,  _s_ng  t__ls  _nd  w_rk_ng  w_th  _th_rs  b_c_m_  __s__r.  Th_s  b_c_m_  _s_f_l  f_r  th_ngs  l_k_  h_nt_ng  _nd  c__k_ng.

    Sc__nt_sts  th__ght  th_  k_y  t_  f_nd_ng  th_  _nsw_r  w_s  why  _nly  h_m_ns  _r_  l_rg_ly  r_ght-h_nd_d.  Pr_m_t_s  (m_nk_ys  _nd  _p_s)  _s_  b_th  h_nds  _q__lly.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  c_mp_r_d  h_m_n  b_h_v___r  _nd  br__n  p_tt_rns  w_th  41  sp_c__s  _f  m_nk_ys  _nd  _p_s.  Th_  r_s__rch  f_nd_ngs  sh_w_d  th_t  h_m_ns  h_v_  l_ng_r  l_gs  c_mp_r_d  t_  th__r  _rm  l_ngth.  _n_th_r  r__s_n  _s  th_t  th_  l_ft  s_d_  _f  th_  br__n  c_ntr_ls  th_  r_ght  h_nd.  _t  _s  _ls_  r_sp_ns_bl_  f_r  m_t_r  sk_lls  _nd  c__rd_n_t__n.  _  r_s__rch_r  s__d:  "By  l__k_ng  _cr_ss  m_ny  pr_m_t_  sp_c__s,  w_  c_n  b_g_n  t_  _nd_rst_nd  wh_ch  _sp_cts  _f  h_nd_dn_ss  _r_  _nc__nt  _nd  sh_r_d,  _nd  wh_ch  _r_  _n_q__ly  h_m_n."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    around 90 per cent of people worldwide are righthanded scientists have spent decades trying to find out why researchers from oxford university in the uk believe they have a possible answer their research suggests that the answer is because of two features of human evolution the first is walking on two legs and the other is the large size of the human brain when humans first started walking on two legs their hands were free to do things our large brain worked out many things to do with our hands like using tools if most people used the same hand using tools and working with others became easier this became useful for things like hunting and cooking

    scientists thought the key to finding the answer was why only humans are largely righthanded primates monkeys and apes use both hands equally the researchers compared human behaviour and brain patterns with 41 species of monkeys and apes the research findings showed that humans have longer legs compared to their arm length another reason is that the left side of the brain controls the right hand it is also responsible for motor skills and coordination a researcher said by looking across many primate species we can begin to understand which aspects of handedness are ancient and shared and which are uniquely human

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Around90percentofpeopleworldwideareright-handed.Scientistshav
    espentdecadestryingtofindoutwhy.ResearchersfromOxfordUniversi
    tyintheUKbelievetheyhaveapossibleanswer.Theirresearchsuggestst
    hattheanswerisbecauseoftwofeaturesofhumanevolution.Thefirstis
    walkingontwolegs,andtheotheristhelargesizeofthehumanbrain.Wh
    enhumansfirststartedwalkingontwolegs,theirhandswerefreetodothi
    ngs.Ourlargebrainworkedoutmanythingstodowithourhandslikeusin
    gtools.Ifmostpeopleusedthesamehand,usingtoolsandworkingwitho
    thersbecameeasier.Thisbecameusefulforthingslikehuntingandcooki
    ng.Scientiststhoughtthekeytofindingtheanswerwaswhyonlyhuman
    sarelargelyright-handed.Primates(monkeysandapes)usebothhand
    sequally.Theresearcherscomparedhumanbehaviourandbrainpatter
    nswith41speciesofmonkeysandapes.Theresearchfindingsshowedth
    athumanshavelongerlegscomparedtotheirarmlength.Anotherreaso
    nisthattheleftsideofthebraincontrolstherighthand.Itisalsoresponsibl
    eformotorskillsandcoordination.Aresearchersaid:"Bylookingacross
    manyprimatespecies,wecanbegintounderstandwhichaspectsofhand
    ednessareancientandshared,andwhichareuniquelyhuman."

    Free writing

    Write about being right-handed for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We need to know more about why so many people are right-handed. Discuss.

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    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. BEING RIGHT-HANDED: Make a poster about being right-handed. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BOTH HANDS: Write a magazine article about being training all children to use both hands equally well. 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 being right-handed. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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