Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Suicide Bombers

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to “find and destroy” those behind the deadly Moscow Metro attacks on Monday. The double suicide bombing left at least 38 people dead and injured more than 60 others. The attacks happened during the busy morning rush hour as people were waiting to board a train. They were the deadliest in Moscow since February 2004, when 40 people were also killed by a bomb in the Metro. Security official Alexander Bortnikov said Monday’s attack was carried out by two female suicide bombers. The first attack took place on a train waiting at the central Lubyanka metro station. This is directly below the headquarters of the Federal Security Service. The second, 42 minutes later, happened six stations away at Park Kultury.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet. Security services have been quick to blame rebels from Chechnya and Ingushetia. These two regions, from the south of Russia, have been fighting for independence for over a decade. Over 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Former President Vladimir Putin believed he had beaten the rebels in Chechnya when he was Russian leader. Meanwhile, other world leaders have been quick to add their support to Russia. American President Barack Obama phoned President Medvedev to express his sympathy to the Russian people. He also offered U.S. help in finding the group behind the attacks. The foreign ministers from the G8 countries, the world’s biggest industrial powers, also sent their condolences.

WARM-UPS

1. TERRORISM: Walk around the class and talk to other students about terrorism. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

suicide bombers / promises / rush hour / trains / security / central / metro stations / responsibility / blame / rebels / fighting / independence / leaders / support / powers

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. FEARS: What are you worried about today? Complete this table. Talk about what you wrote with your partner(s).Change partners and share what you heard.

Thing	Worries	What to do about worrying
Terrorism
Crime
Global warming
Job security
Cyber crime
War

4. TERROR: Students A strongly believe terrorism will completely disappear in the future; Students B strongly believe terrorism will never disappear. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. DANGEROUS PLACES: Which of these places are most dangerous? Rank them and share your rankings with your partner(s). Put the most dangerous at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.

train station
highway
shopping mall
sports stadium

airplane
street market
school
a tourist attraction

6. REBEL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘rebel’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Russia has said it will find all of the world’s suicide bombers.	T / F
b.	The attacks occurred in the busy evening rush hour on Moscow’s Metro.	T / F
c.	This attack is the deadliest ever in Moscow.	T / F
d.	The two attacks were separated by 42 minutes and six train stops.	T / F
e.	A group from Chechnya said it carried out the attacks.	T / F
f.	More than 100,000 died in fighting between Russia and Chechnya.	T / F
g.	The U.S. President called his Russian counterpart with an offer of aid.	T / F
h.	The foreign ministers from G8 countries offered their condolences.	T / F

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

1.	promised	a.	wipe out
2	destroy	b.	get on
3.	double	c.	happened
4.	board	d.	sympathy
5.	took place	e.	areas
6.	quick	f.	vowed
7.	blame	g.	called
8.	regions	h.	accuse
9.	phoned	i.	twin
10.	condolences	j.	speedy

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

1.	destroy those behind the deadly	a.	Lubyanka metro station
2	The double suicide	b.	to add their support
3.	The attacks happened during the busy	c.	to the Russian people
4.	carried out by two female	d.	Moscow Metro attacks
5.	a train waiting at the central	e.	suicide bombers
6.	No group has claimed responsibility	f.	over a decade
7.	fighting for independence for	g.	bombing
8.	world leaders have been quick	h.	industrial powers
9.	express his sympathy	i.	morning rush hour
10.	the world’s biggest	j.	for the attacks

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has ____________ to “find and destroy” those behind the deadly Moscow Metro attacks on Monday. The ____________ suicide bombing left at least 38 people dead and injured more than 60 others. The attacks happened ____________ the busy morning rush hour as people were waiting to board a train. They were the ____________ in Moscow since February 2004, when 40 people were also killed by a bomb in the Metro. Security official Alexander Bortnikov said Monday’s attack was ____________ out by two female suicide bombers. The first attack took place on a train ____________ at the central Lubyanka metro station. This is directly ____________ the headquarters of the Federal Security Service. The second, 42 minutes later, ____________ six stations away at Park Kultury.

waiting
double
happened
deadliest
promised
below
carried
during

No group has ____________ responsibility for the attacks yet. Security services have been quick to ____________ rebels from Chechnya and Ingushetia. These two regions, from the south of Russia, have been fighting for independence for over a ____________. Over 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Former President Vladimir Putin believed he had beaten the ____________ in Chechnya when he was Russian leader. Meanwhile, other world leaders have been ____________ to add their support to Russia. American President Barack Obama phoned President Medvedev to ____________ his sympathy to the Russian people. He also offered U.S. help in finding the group ____________ the attacks. The foreign ministers from the G8 countries, the world’s biggest industrial ____________, also sent their condolences.

express
blame
powers
quick
claimed
behind
decade
rebels

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has _____________________ destroy” those behind the deadly Moscow Metro attacks on Monday. The double suicide bombing _____________________ people dead and injured more than 60 others. The attacks happened during the busy morning rush hour as people _____________________ train. They were the deadliest in Moscow since February 2004, when 40 people were also killed by a bomb in the Metro. Security official Alexander Bortnikov said Monday’s _____________________ out by two female suicide bombers. The first attack took place on a train waiting at the central Lubyanka metro station. _____________________ the headquarters of the Federal Security Service. The second, 42 minutes later, happened _____________________ Park Kultury.

No group has claimed responsibility _____________________. Security services have been _____________________ from Chechnya and Ingushetia. These two regions, from the south of Russia, have been fighting for independence for over a decade. Over 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Former President Vladimir Putin _____________________ the rebels in Chechnya when he was Russian leader. Meanwhile, other world leaders have been _____________________ support to Russia. American President Barack Obama phoned President Medvedev to _____________________ to the Russian people. He also offered U.S. help in finding the group behind the attacks. The foreign ministers from the G8 countries, the world’s biggest industrial powers, also _____________________.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

rush

hour

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:

promised
double
busy
since
place
six

claimed
regions
decade
rebels
phoned
biggest

STUDENT TERRORISM SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about terrorism 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

TERRORISM DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘terrorism’?
c)	What were your first thoughts when you heard about this attack?
d)	Do you worry about terrorism?
e)	What can a city do to protect itself against terrorism?
f)	Do you think security services are effective in fighting terrorism?
g)	What’s the difference between terrorism and freedom fighting?
h)	Is terrorism similar to war, or is it totally different?
i)	What do you know about the attacks on the Moscow Metro?
j)	Do you think Russian authorities will find the group behind the bombings?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	Who do you think is behind the attacks?
c)	What do you know about the recent history of Chechnya and Ingushetia?
d)	Do you think it’s worth fighting for independence?
e)	Do you think rebels fighting for independence will ever give up?
f)	What do you think President Obama said to President Medvedev?
g)	How do you think we can rid the world of terrorism?
h)	What do you think terrorism will look like 50 years from now?
i)	When was the last time you sent your condolences to someone?
j)	What questions would you like to ask President Medvedev?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to “find and destroy” those (1) ____ the deadly Moscow Metro attacks on Monday. The double suicide bombing left at least 38 people dead and (2) ____ more than 60 others. The attacks happened during the busy morning rush hour as people were waiting to (3) ____ a train. They were the deadliest in Moscow since February 2004, when 40 people were also killed by a bomb in the Metro. Security official Alexander Bortnikov said Monday’s attack was carried (4) ____ by two female suicide bombers. The first attack took place on a train waiting at the central Lubyanka metro station. This is (5) ____ below the headquarters of the Federal Security Service. The second, 42 minutes later, happened six stations (6) ____ at Park Kultury.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks (7) ____. Security services have been quick to blame rebels from Chechnya and Ingushetia. These two regions, from the south (8) ____ Russia, have been fighting for independence for over a decade. Over 100,000 people have been killed (9) ____ the fighting. Former President Vladimir Putin believed he had beaten the rebels in Chechnya when he was Russian leader. Meanwhile, other world leaders have been (10) ____ to add their support to Russia. American President Barack Obama phoned President Medvedev to (11) ____ his sympathy to the Russian people. He also offered U.S. help in finding the group behind the attacks. The foreign ministers from the G8 countries, the world’s biggest industrial powers, also (12) ____ their condolences.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	ahead	(b)	sideways	(c)	behind	(d)	above
2.	(a)	injury	(b)	injures	(c)	injuries	(d)	injured
3.	(a)	board	(b)	hoard	(c)	afford	(d)	cord
4.	(a)	in	(b)	out	(c)	up	(d)	at
5.	(a)	direct	(b)	directly	(c)	directs	(d)	direction
6.	(a)	away	(b)	around	(c)	about	(d)	afar
7.	(a)	soon	(b)	since	(c)	yet	(d)	for
8.	(a)	to	(b)	from	(c)	for	(d)	of
9.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	an	(d)	to
10.	(a)	speed	(b)	rush	(c)	quick	(d)	haste
11.	(a)	expression	(b)	express	(c)	expressive	(d)	expressed
12.	(a)	opened	(b)	sympathized	(c)	did	(d)	sent

WRITING

Write about terrorism for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the Moscow Metro attacks. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TERRORISM: Make a poster about terrorism. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. HELP: Write a magazine article about ending terrorism around the world. Include imaginary interviews with a world citizen and a world leader.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of a security service. Ask him/her three questions about terrorism. Give him/her three of your opinions on how to end terrorism. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	promised	a.	vowed
2	destroy	b.	wipe out
3.	double	c.	twin
4.	board	d.	get on
5.	took place	e.	happened
6.	quick	f.	speedy
7.	blame	g.	accuse
8.	regions	h.	areas
9.	phoned	i.	called
10.	condolences	j.	sympathy

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	destroy those behind the deadly	a.	Moscow Metro attacks
2	The double suicide	b.	bombing
3.	The attacks happened during the busy	c.	morning rush hour
4.	carried out by two female	d.	suicide bombers
5.	a train waiting at the central	e.	Lubyanka metro station
6.	No group has claimed responsibility	f.	for the attacks
7.	fighting for independence for	g.	over a decade
8.	world leaders have been quick	h.	to add their support
9.	express his sympathy	i.	to the Russian people
10.	the world’s biggest	j.	industrial powers

GAP FILL:

Russia vows to find suicide bomb group

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has promised to “find and destroy” those behind the deadly Moscow Metro attacks on Monday. The double suicide bombing left at least 38 people dead and injured more than 60 others. The attacks happened during the busy morning rush hour as people were waiting to board a train. They were the deadliest in Moscow since February 2004, when 40 people were also killed by a bomb in the Metro. Security official Alexander Bortnikov said Monday’s attack was carried out by two female suicide bombers. The first attack took place on a train waiting at the central Lubyanka metro station. This is directly below the headquarters of the Federal Security Service. The second, 42 minutes later, happened six stations away at Park Kultury.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet. Security services have been quick to blame rebels from Chechnya and Ingushetia. These two regions, from the south of Russia, have been fighting for independence for over a decade. Over 100,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Former President Vladimir Putin believed he had beaten the rebels in Chechnya when he was Russian leader. Meanwhile, other world leaders have been quick to add their support to Russia. American President Barack Obama phoned President Medvedev to express his sympathy to the Russian people. He also offered U.S. help in finding the group behind the attacks. The foreign ministers from the G8 countries, the world’s biggest industrial powers, also sent their condolences.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - c

2 - d

3 - a

4 - b

5 - b

6 - a

7 - c

8 - d

9 - a

10 - c

11 - b

12 - d

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Breaking News English

March 30, 2010

Russia Vows To Find Suicide Bomb Group