Breaking News English Lesson: Cockroaches

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Thousands of hissing cockroaches seized in Australia (8th June 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Cockroaches - Level 6

Customs officials in Australia have seized more than 100,000 cockroaches that were being smuggled into the country. Included in the seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are giant insects that can be as large as the palm of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The value of the confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest ever seizure of illegal invertebrates. An environment spokesperson warned potential roach breeders: "If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches…they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal law."

The seized cockroaches were probably imported to be fed to pet reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were more "cost-effective" than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added that the roaches could have become an invasive species and caused a lot of harm to indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds rely on. She said: "If they got out and they had a disease on them, they could potentially wipe out all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered the food chain, they could "potentially wipe out a whole lot of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and disposed of by authorities.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Cockroaches - Level 4 or Cockroaches - Level 5

Sources

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-05/dubia-cockroaches-seized-from-alleged-bathurst-breeder/106762346
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/australia-seizes-100-000-cockroaches-034129678.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwpwv18910o

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. COCKROACHES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cockroaches. 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?
customs officials / Australia / cockroaches / Madagascar / bugs / exotic / penalties /
pets / reptiles / snakes / lizards / invasive species / food chain / native animals
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. INVASIVE SPECIES: Students A strongly believe all countries should eradicate their invasive species; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. INVERTEBRATES: What do you know about these invertebrates? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Share what you wrote and change partners often.

	What I Know	What I Think
Cockroaches
Ants
Jellyfish
Snails
Crabs
Earthworms

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. BUG: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "bug". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. GIANT CREATURES: Rank these with your partner. Put the most terrifying one-metre-long creatures (were they giant) at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Cockroaches
Hornets
Earthworms
Fleas
Tarantulas
Leeches
Centipedes
Ants

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	customs	a.	A punishment given for breaking a law or rule.
2.	smuggled	b.	Taken away by an official authority.
3.	seized	c.	Animals without a backbone.
4.	hissing	d.	People who check goods entering or leaving a country.
5.	invertebrates	e.	From a foreign country and unusual.
6.	exotic	f.	Taken into or out of a country illegally.
7.	penalties	g.	Making a sound like lots of air coming out of something.

Paragraph 2

8.	reptiles	h.	Living animals or other living things.
9.	invasive species	i.	To need someone or something for help or support.
10.	indigenous	j.	Got rid of; killed.
11.	creatures	k.	A plant or animal that spreads in a new place and causes problems.
12.	rely on	l.	To destroy completely.
13.	wipe out	m.	Existing naturally in a place.
14.	disposed of	n.	Cold-blooded animals such as snakes, lizards, and turtles.

Before reading / listening

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

Officials in Australia stopped 100,000 from entering the country. T / F
Many of the cockroaches were as big as the palm of our hand. T / F
One of the exotic cockroaches was valued at $143,000. T / F
Authorities said they found the largest invertebrate they'd ever seen. T / F
It is probable the cockroaches were to become pet food for reptiles. T / F
A snake catcher said the cockroaches could have killed many snakes. T / F
The snake catcher said the cockroaches could have killed all crickets. T / F
The cockroaches are now on a plane back to Madagascar. T / F

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

seized
smuggled
breed
exotic
penalties
harm
indigenous
wipe out
killed
disposed of

native
non-native
destroy
rear
brought illegally
exterminated
confiscated
thrown away
punishments
damage

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

customs officials
be as large as the palm
The value of the confiscated bugs was
possess, breed or
you could face penalties under
cockroaches were probably imported to
invasive
they could potentially wipe
if diseased cockroaches entered the food
the impounded bugs will be killed

trade exotic cockroaches
species
and disposed of
of a person's hand
out all the crickets
federal law
chain
in Australia
around $143,000
be fed to pet reptiles

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

breeders
palm
smuggled
law
value
possess
illegal
seizure

Customs officials in Australia have seized more than 100,000 cockroaches that were being (1) _________________________________ into the country. Included in the (2) _________________________________ were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are giant insects that can be as large as the (3) _________________________________ of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The (4) _________________________________ of the confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest ever seizure of (5) _________________________________ invertebrates. An environment spokesperson warned potential roach (6) _________________________________: "If you are found to (7) _________________________________, breed or trade exotic cockroaches...they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal (8) _________________________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

whole
disposed
effective
invasive
wipe
rely
imported
chain

The seized cockroaches were probably (9) _________________________________ to be fed to pet reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were more "cost-(10) _________________________________ " than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added that the roaches could have become an (11) _________________________________ species and caused a lot of harm to indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds (12) _________________________________ on. She said: "If they got out and they had a disease on them, they could potentially (13) _________________________________ out all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered the food (14) _________________________________, they could "potentially wipe out a (15) _________________________________ lot of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and (16) _________________________________ of by authorities.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Customs officials in Australia have seized more ______
     a. than 10,000 cockroaches
     b. than 100,000 cockroaches
     c. than hundreds of thousands of cockroaches
     d. than thousands of cockroaches
2) These are giant insects that can be as large ______
     a. as the psalm
     b. as the palm
     c. was the palm
     d. has the psalm
3) Authorities said it was the largest ever seizure ______
     a. of illegally invertebrates
     b. of legal invertebrates
     c. of illegal invertebrates
     d. of ill eagle invertebrates
4) If you are found to possess, breed or ______
     a. trade exotica cockroaches
     b. trade exotically cockroaches
     c. trade eggs optic cockroaches
     d. trade exotic cockroaches
5) they will be seized and you could face penalties ______
     a. under federal lawn
     b. under federal law
     c. under federal flaw
     d. under federal lore

6) The seized cockroaches were probably imported ______
     a. to beef fed
     b. to be feed
     c. to be fed
     d. to beefed
7) Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were ______
     a. more lost-effective
     b. more cost-effective
     c. more frost-effective
     d. more coast-effective
8) caused a lot of harm to indigenous creatures like crickets, which ______
     a. birds rely in
     b. birds rely yon
     c. birds rely on
     d. birds relay on
9) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered ______
     a. the feed chain
     b. the fed chain
     c. the fodder chain
     d. the food chain
10) Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and disposed ______
     a. of by authorities
     b. of buy authorities
     c. off by authorities
     d. off buy authorities

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Customs officials in Australia have seized more than 100,000 cockroaches that were (1) _______________________________________________ the country. Included in the seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are (2) _______________________________________________ can be as large as the palm of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The value of the (3) _______________________________________________ around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest ever (4) _______________________________________________ invertebrates. An environment spokesperson warned potential roach breeders: "If you are found to possess, breed (5) _______________________________________________ cockroaches...they will be seized and you could face penalties (6) _______________________________________________."

The seized cockroaches were probably imported to be (7) _______________________________________________ reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were (8) _______________________________________________ than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added that the roaches could have become an invasive species and caused a lot of (9) _______________________________________________ creatures like crickets, which birds rely on. She said: "If they got out and they had a disease on them, they could (10) _______________________________________________ all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered the food chain, they could "(11) _______________________________________________ a whole lot of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and (12) _______________________________________________ authorities.

Comprehension questions

Who seized more than 100,000 cockroaches in Australia?
How big can Madagascar hissing cockroaches be?
What was the value of the confiscated insects?
Who warned potential cockroach breeders?
Under what law could breeders face penalties?
What might the cockroaches have become food for?
Who said the giant cockroaches were cost-effective as food?
What relies on crickets for food?
What could it be damaging for the cockroaches to enter?
What will happen to the cockroaches?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who seized more than 100,000 cockroaches in Australia?
a) a cockroach expert
b) customs officials
c) a man called Bob
d) an insect zoo
2) How big can Madagascar hissing cockroaches be?
a) as big as a coconut
b) as big as an egg
c) the size of a water melon
d) as big as the palm of a person's hand
3) What was the value of the confiscated insects?
a) $143,000
b) $134,000
c) $133,000
d) $144,000
4) Who warned potential cockroach breeders?
a) reptile breeders
b) a zoo owner
c) an environment spokesperson
d) a pest control officer
5) Under what law could breeders face penalties?
a) the 1867 Insect Law
b) federal law
c) consumer law
d) a health and safety law

6) What might the cockroaches have become food for?
a) pet reptiles
b) hamsters
c) pet spiders
d) chickens
7) Who said the giant cockroaches were cost-effective as food?
a) a snake oil salesman
b) a snake charmer
c) a snake catcher
d) a snake dancer
8) What relies on crickets for food?
a) birds
b) dogs
c) cows
d) leopards
9) What could it be damaging for the cockroaches to enter?
a) the food chain
b) abandoned buildings
c) construction sites
d) caves
10) What will happen to the cockroaches?
a) They'll go back to Madagascar.
b) They'll be pit in an insect zoo.
c) They'll be sold as pets.
d) They will be killed.

Role play

Role A – One-metre-long Cockroaches
You think one-metre-long cockroaches would be the scariest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their one-metre-long creatures wouldn't be as scary. Also, tell the others which would be the least scary of these (and why): one-metre-long hornets, one-metre-long tarantulas or one-metre-long leeches.

Role B – One-metre-long Hornets
You think one-metre-long hornets would be the scariest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their one-metre-long creatures wouldn't be as scary. Also, tell the others which would be the least scary of these (and why): one-metre-long cockroaches, one-metre-long tarantulas or one-metre-long leeches.

Role C – One-metre-long Tarantulas
You think one-metre-long tarantulas would be the scariest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their one-metre-long creatures wouldn't be as scary. Also, tell the others which would be the least scary of these (and why): one-metre-long hornets, one-metre-long cockroaches or one-metre-long leeches.

Role D – One-metre-long Leeches
You think one-metre-long leeches would be the scariest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their one-metre-long creatures wouldn't be as scary. Also, tell the others which would be the least scary of these (and why): one-metre-long hornets, one-metre-long tarantulas or one-metre-long cockroaches.

After reading / listening

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

'cockroach'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'Australia'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

seized

thousands

palm

value

warned

face

fed

cost

harm

wipe

chain

sadly

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 - Cockroaches

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 'cockroach'?
What do you know about cockroaches?
What do think of a palm-sized cockroach?
What should happen to people who smuggle insects?
How do you feel about a cockroach making a hissing sound?
What are your favourite insects?
What good do cockroaches do?
How would you feel if all insects were giant sized?
Do you think insects are good pets?

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 'insects'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of cockroaches?
What experiences do you have of cockroaches?
What can governments do to combat invasive species?
What invasive species are in there in your country?
What damage do invasive species do to ecosystems?
Do you think the seized cockroaches should be killed?
What questions would you like to ask a cockroach expert?

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)

100,000 cockroaches that were being (1) ____ into the country. Included in the seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are giant insects that can be as large as the (2) ____ of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The value (3) ____ the confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest ever seizure (4) ____ illegal invertebrates. An environment spokesperson warned (5) ____ roach breeders: "If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches...they will be seized and you could face penalties (6) ____ federal law."

The seized cockroaches were probably imported to be (7) ____ to pet reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were more "cost- (8) ____" than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added that the roaches could have become an invasive species and caused a lot of harm to indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds rely (9) ____. She said: "If they got out and they had a disease on them, they could potentially wipe (10) ____ all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches (11) ____ the food chain, they could "potentially wipe out a whole lot of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and (12) ____ of by authorities.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) snuggled (b) struggled (c) slugged (d) smuggled
(a) palmistry (b) psalm (c) palmful (d) palm
(a) to (b) of (c) at (d) by
(a) to (b) at (c) of (d) on
(a) potentate (b) potentially (c) potential (d) potent
(a) under (b) above (c) below (d) over
(a) feeder (b) fed (c) feeds (d) feeding
(a) effective (b) reflective (c) affective (d) inflective
(a) in (b) on (c) at (d) of
(a) up (b) off (c) out (d) over
(a) ate (b) cooked (c) entered (d) died
(a) dispossessed (b) displeased (c) displaced (d) disposed

Spelling

Paragraph 1

customs faficisol in Australia
being eudlgmgs into the country
the value of the ifoaesnctcd bugs
seizure of illegal beatetisrnver
breed or trade coitxe cockroaches
you could face penalties under edaelrf law

Paragraph 2

be fed to pet letpsrei
roaches were more cost-eetifcevf
become an vsivinae species
caused a lot of harm to gnuiiesndo creatures
wipe out a whole lot of avneti animals
podsidse of by authorities

Put the text back together

(    )   bugs. Ms Lesser added that the roaches could have become an invasive species and caused a lot of
(    )   catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were more "cost-effective" than feeding lizards smaller
( 1 )   Customs officials in Australia have seized more than 100,000 cockroaches that were being smuggled
(    )   ever seizure of illegal invertebrates. An environment spokesperson warned potential
(    )   harm to indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds rely on. She said: "If they got out and they had a disease
(    )   if diseased cockroaches entered the food chain, they could "potentially wipe
(    )   insects that can be as large as the palm of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The value
(    )   into the country. Included in the seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are giant
(    )   of the confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest
(    )   on them, they could potentially wipe out all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that
(    )   out a whole lot of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and disposed of by authorities.
(    )   roach breeders: "If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches...they will be
(    )   seized and you could face penalties under federal law."
(    )   The seized cockroaches were probably imported to be fed to pet reptiles. Professional snake

Put the words in the right order

Australia Customs have in more officials seized .
being Cockroaches country into smuggled that the were .
$143,000 bugs confiscated of The the value was .
An breeders environment potential roach spokesperson warned .
could face federal law penalties under You .
be Cockroaches fed imported reptiles to to were .
an become could have invasive roaches species The .
a Caused creatures harm indigenous lot of to .
a animals lot native of out whole Wipe .
authorities be bugs by impounded killed The will .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Customs officials in Australia have seized more than 100,000 cockroaches that were being snuggled / smuggled into the country. Included / Inclusive in the seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are giant / gaunt insects that can be as large as the palm / psalm of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The value of / at the confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest ever / even seizure of illegal invertebrates. An environment spokesperson waned / warned potential roach breeders: "If you be / are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches...they will be seized and you could head / face penalties under / over federal law."

The seized cockroaches were probably imported for / to be fed to pet reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were more / much "cost-effective" than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added that / what the roaches could have become an invasion / invasive species and caused a lot of harm to / as indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds rely in / on. She said: "If they got out and they had a disease on them, they could potentially wipe in / out all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered their / the food chain, they could "potentially wipe out a whole lot / lots of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and disposed at / of by authorities.

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)

100,000 c_ckr__ch_s th_t w_r_ b__ng sm_ggl_d _nt_ th_ c__ntry. _ncl_d_d _n th_ s__z_r_ w_r_ th__s_nds _f M_d_g_sc_r h_ss_ng c_ckr__ch_s. Th_s_ _r_ g__nt _ns_cts th_t c_n b_ _s l_rg_ _s th_ p_lm _f _ p_rs_n's h_nd. Th_r_ w_s _ls_ _ l_rg_ n_mb_r _f d_b__ c_ckr__ch_s. Th_ v_l__ _f th_ c_nf_sc_t_d b_gs w_s _r__nd $143,000. __th_r_t__s s__d _t w_s th_ l_rg_st _v_r s__z_r_ _f _ll_g_l _nv_rt_br_t_s. _n _nv_r_nm_nt sp_k_sp_rs_n w_rn_d p_t_nt__l r__ch br__d_rs: "_f y__ _r_ f__nd t_ p_ss_ss, br__d _r tr_d_ _x_t_c c_ckr__ch_s...th_y w_ll b_ s__z_d _nd y__ c__ld f_c_ p_n_lt__s _nd_r f_d_r_l l_w."

Th_ s__z_d c_ckr__ch_s w_r_ pr_b_bly _mp_rt_d t_ b_ f_d t_ p_t r_pt_l_s. Pr_f_ss__n_l sn_k_ c_tch_r St_f_n__ L_ss_r s__d th_ r__ch_s w_r_ m_r_ "c_st-_ff_ct_v_" th_n f__d_ng l_z_rds sm_ll_r b_gs. Ms L_ss_r _dd_d th_t th_ r__ch_s c__ld h_v_ b_c_m_ _n _nv_s_v_ sp_c__s _nd c__s_d _ l_t _f h_rm t_ _nd_g_n__s cr__t_r_s l_k_ cr_ck_ts, wh_ch b_rds r_ly _n. Sh_ s__d: "_f th_y g_t __t _nd th_y h_d _ d_s__s_ _n th_m, p_t_nt__lly _t c__ld w_p_ __t _ll th_ cr_ck_ts." Sh_ t_ld th_ __str_l__n Br__dc_st_ng C_rp_r_t__n th_t _f d_s__s_d c_ckr__ch_s _nt_r_d th_ f__d ch__n, th_y c__ld "p_t_nt__lly w_p_ __t _ wh_l_ l_t _f n_t_v_ _n_m_ls". S_dly, th_ _mp__nd_d b_gs w_ll b_ k_ll_d _nd d_sp_s_d _f by __th_r_t__s.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

customs officials in australia have seized more than 100000 cockroaches that were being smuggled into the country included in the seizure were thousands of madagascar hissing cockroaches these are giant insects that can be as large as the palm of a persons hand there was also a large number of dubia cockroaches the value of the confiscated bugs was around 143000 authorities said it was the largest ever seizure of illegal invertebrates an environment spokesperson warned potential roach breeders if you are found to possess breed or trade exotic cockroaches they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal law

the seized cockroaches were probably imported to be fed to pet reptiles professional snake catcher stefanie lesser said the roaches were more costeffective than feeding lizards smaller bugs ms lesser added that the roaches could have become an invasive species and caused a lot of harm to indigenous creatures like crickets which birds rely on she said if they got out and they had a disease on them they could potentially wipe out all the crickets she told the australian broadcasting corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered the food chain they could potentially wipe out a whole lot of native animals sadly the impounded bugs will be killed and disposed of by authorities

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

CustomsofficialsinAustraliahaveseizedmorethan100,000cockroach
esthatwerebeingsmuggledintothecountry.Includedintheseizurewer
ethousandsofMadagascarhissingcockroaches.Thesearegiantinsects
thatcanbeaslargeasthepalmofaperson'shand.Therewasalsoalargen
umberofdubiacockroaches.Thevalueoftheconfiscatedbugswasarou
nd$143,000.Authoritiessaiditwasthelargesteverseizureofillegalinve
rtebrates.Anenvironmentspokespersonwarnedpotentialroachbreed
ers:"Ifyouarefoundtopossess,breedortradeexoticcockroaches...the
ywillbeseizedandyoucouldfacepenaltiesunderfederallaw."Theseized
cockroacheswereprobablyimportedtobefedtopetreptiles.Profession
alsnakecatcherStefanieLessersaidtheroachesweremore"cost-effec
tive"thanfeedinglizardssmallerbugs.MsLesseraddedthattheroaches
couldhavebecomeaninvasivespeciesandcausedalotofharmtoindige
nouscreatureslikecrickets,whichbirdsrelyon.Shesaid:"Iftheygotout
andtheyhadadiseaseonthem,theycouldpotentiallywipeoutallthecric
kets."ShetoldtheAustralianBroadcastingCorporationthatifdiseasedc
ockroachesenteredthefoodchain,theycould"potentiallywipeoutawh
olelotofnativeanimals".Sadly,theimpoundedbugswillbekilledanddis
posedofbyauthorities.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

All countries should wipe out their invasive species. 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. COCKROACHES: Make a poster about cockroaches. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. INVASIVE SPECIES: Write a magazine article about countries wiping out invasive species. 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 cockroaches. Ask him/her three questions about cockroaches. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Cockroaches

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