The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Researchers in Britain are telling schools that children should be doing more learning outdoors. The researchers say there is currently too much focus on sitting in classrooms to pass exams. They say outdoor learning is important for students' social skills, health and development. It also increases their quality of life. There have been five major reports over the past decade that stress the need for students to learn outdoors and experience nature more. The researchers say that schools are not taking the advice of these reports. They say outdoor learning is on the decline in Britain. The researchers want Britain's government to act to put outdoor learning on the curriculum of all schools.

The report is from researchers at the University of Plymouth and the organisation Natural England. It says there are many benefits of outdoor learning for children. One advantage is that it builds confidence in children as they experience things that were normal for their parents, like climbing trees. Another advantage is that it makes children more aware of the environment and teaches them to respect nature. There are also health benefits as children exercise more instead of sitting in a classroom or being at home with video games. A final benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger danger'. This is an idea many children in the UK today grow up hearing.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk /nursery-world/news/1158179/put-outdoor-learning-on-curriculum-policymakers-urged
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk /education/2016/07/11/schools-should-hold-more-lessons-outdoors-despite-unpredictable/
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/science-environment-36795912


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. OUTDOOR LEARNING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about outdoor learning. 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?

       researchers / outdoors / focus / social skills / development / quality of life / advice /
       organisation / benefits / advantage / climbing trees / respect / nature / stranger

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

3. OUTSIDE: Students A strongly believe learning outside is better than learning inside; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. LEARNING: How can we make these better places to learn? Talk about this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Classrooms
  • Internet
  • Libraries
  • Bedrooms
  • Parks
  • Public spaces
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. CHILDREN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "children". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SCHOOL: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important subjects at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • physical education
  • English
  • religion
  • social responsibility
  • woodwork
  • history
  • IT
  • design

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Researchers say there is too big a focus in schools on exams.     T / F
  2. Researchers say outdoor learning increases quality of life.     T / F
  3. Schools took the advice of five reports on outdoor learning.     T / F
  4. Outdoor learning is becoming more popular in Britain.     T / F
  5. The report is from the Natural England University.     T / F
  6. Outdoor learning helps students with things like climbing trees.     T / F
  7. Researchers say outdoor learning has health benefits for children.     T / F
  8. Researchers say outdoor learning helps kids with stranger danger.     T / F

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

  1. currently
  2. focus
  3. major
  4. advice
  5. in decline
  6. organisation
  7. benefits
  8. normal
  9. final
  10. danger
  1. group
  2. presently
  3. dying
  4. last
  5. emphasis
  6. usual
  7. threat
  8. important
  9. advantages
  10. guidance

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

  1. currently too much focus
  2. It also increases their quality
  3. five major reports over the
  4. outdoor learning is on
  5. put outdoor learning on the
  6. there are many benefits of
  7. it builds
  8. teaches them to
  9. health
  10. the problem of what is called
  1. outdoor learning
  2. 'stranger danger'
  3. the decline in Britain
  4. confidence
  5. of life
  6. on sitting in classrooms
  7. past decade
  8. benefits
  9. respect nature
  10. curriculum of all schools

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
major
doing
decline
social
curriculum
focus
taking
need

Researchers in Britain are telling schools that children should be (1) ____________ more learning outdoors. The researchers say there is currently too much (2) ____________ on sitting in classrooms to pass exams. They say outdoor learning is important for students' (3) ____________ skills, health and development. It also increases their quality of life. There have been five (4) ____________ reports over the past decade that stress the (5) ____________ for students to learn outdoors and experience nature more. The researchers say that schools are not (6) ____________ the advice of these reports. They say outdoor learning is on the (7) ____________ in Britain. The researchers want Britain's government to act to put outdoor learning on the (8) ____________ of all schools.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
climbing
benefits
instead
normal
idea
advantage
final
respect

The report is from researchers at the University of Plymouth and the organisation Natural England. It says there are many (9) ____________ of outdoor learning for children. One (10) ____________ is that it builds confidence in children as they experience things that were (11) ____________ for their parents, like (12) ____________ trees. Another advantage is that it makes children more aware of the environment and teaches them to (13) ____________ nature. There are also health benefits as children exercise more (14) ____________ of sitting in a classroom or being at home with video games. A (15) ____________ benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger danger'. This is an (16) ____________ many children in the UK today grow up hearing.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  there is currently too much focus on sitting in classrooms ______
     a.  to past exams
     b.  to pass exams
     c.  to passes the exams
     d.  to pass the exam

2)  five major reports over the past decade that ______
     a.  stresses the need
     b.  stressed the need
     c.  dress the nerd
     d.  stress the need

3)  The researchers say that schools are not taking the advice ______
     a.  of those reports
     b.  of these reports
     c.  of them reports
     d.  of these report

4)  They say outdoor learning is ______
     a.  in the decline
     b.  of the decline
     c.  on the decline
     d.  an the decline

5) researchers want Britain's government to act to put outdoor learning ______
     a.  on the curriculum
     b.  on a curriculum
     c.  in the curriculum
     d.  in a curriculum

6) they experience things that were normal ______
     a.  four their parents
     b.  for them parents
     c.  for their parents
     d.  for their parent

7)  it makes children more aware of the environment and teaches them ______
     a.  to respect natures
     b.  too respect nature
     c.  to respected nature
     d.  to respect nature

8)  There are also health benefits as children exercise more ______
     a.  instead of sitting
     b.  instead off sitting
     c.  instead have sitting
     d.  instead if sitting

9)  A final benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called '______'
     a.  'stranger dangers
     b.  'stranger danger
     c.  'strangers dangers
     d.  'strangers danger

10)  This is an idea many children in the UK today ______
     a.  grown up hearing
     b.  growing up hearing
     c.  grow up hearing
     d.  grows up hearing

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Researchers in Britain are telling schools that children (1) ___________________ more learning outdoors. The researchers say there is currently too much (2) ___________________ in classrooms to pass exams. They say outdoor learning is important for students' social skills, health and development. It also increases (3) ___________________ life. There have been five major reports over the past decade that stress the need for students (4) ___________________ and experience nature more. The researchers say that schools are not taking the advice of these reports. They say outdoor learning is (5) ___________________ in Britain. The researchers want Britain's government to act to put outdoor learning on the (6) ___________________ all schools.

The report is from researchers at the University of Plymouth and the organisation Natural England. It says there (7) ___________________ of outdoor learning for children. One advantage is that (8) ___________________ in children as they experience things that were normal for their parents, (9) ___________________. Another advantage is that it makes children (10) ___________________ the environment and teaches them to respect nature. There are also health benefits as children exercise (11) ___________________ sitting in a classroom or being at home with video games. A final benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger danger'. This (12) ___________________ children in the UK today grow up hearing.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did researchers say there is too big a focus on?
  2. What kind of skills did researchers say outdoor learning is important for?
  3. How many important reports have there been in the past ten years?
  4. What did researchers say children needed to experience more?
  5. What did researchers say is happening to outdoor learning in Britain?
  6. What organisation helped make the report?
  7. What does outdoor learning build in children?
  8. What should children do that was normal for their parents?
  9. What does outdoor learning teach children to respect?
  10. What is the name of the danger mentioned in the article?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did researchers say there is too big a focus on?
a) Britain
b) passing exams
c) eyesight
d) outdoor learning

2) What kind of skills did researchers say outdoor learning is important for?
a) outdoor
b) communication
c) elementary
d) social

3) How many important reports have there been in the past ten years?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8

4) What did researchers say children needed to experience more?
a) sitting
b) exams
c) nature
d) the indoors

5) What did researchers say is happening to outdoor learning in Britain?
a) it's in-lining
b) it's declining
c) it's reclining
d) it's inclining

6) What organisation helped make the report?
a) Natural England
b) Natural Britain
c) Natural UK
d) Natural Brexit

7) What does outdoor learning build in children?
a) bones
b) houses
c) confidence
d) Lego

8) What should children do that was normal for their parents?
a) climb trees
b) eat fish
c) clean their teeth
d) go to bed early

9) What does outdoor learning teach children to respect?
a) nature
b) researchers
c) video games
d) classrooms

10) What is the name of the danger mentioned in the article?
a) strangers' dangers
b) strangely dangerous
c) strange danger
d) stranger danger

Role play

Role A — IT

You think IT is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): physical education, English or social responsibility.

Role B — Physical education

You think physical education is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): IT, English or social responsibility.

Role C — English

You think English is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): physical education, IT or social responsibility.

Role D — Social responsibility

You think social responsibility is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why):  physical education, English or IT.

After reading / listening

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

'outdoor'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'learning'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • organisation
    • builds
    • trees
    • teaches
    • final
    • idea
    • should
    • currently
    • social
    • five
    • taking
    • act

    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 - Educators recommend more outdoor learning

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'outdoor'?
    3. What is 'outdoor learning'?
    4. What are the good things about outdoor learning?
    5. What are the bad things about outdoor learning?
    6. How much time did you spend outdoors at school?
    7. Why is it bad for schools to only focus on exams?
    8. What did you think of your school?
    9. How does outdoor learning increase quality of life?
    10. Why do you think outdoor learning is on the decline?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. How does outdoor learning increase children's confidence?
    3. Was it better to be a child 20 or 30 years ago?
    4. How important is it for children to climb trees?
    5. How can we teach children to respect nature?
    6. What was the best thing for you about school?
    7. What advice would you give to schools?
    8. What are the dangers to children of video games?
    9. What do to think of the idea of 'stranger danger'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    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)

    Researchers in Britain are (1) ____ schools that children should be doing more learning outdoors. The researchers say there is (2) ____ too much focus on sitting in classrooms to pass exams. They say outdoor learning is (3) ____ for students' social skills, health and development. It also increases their (4) ____ of life. There have been five major reports over the past decade that stress the need for students to learn outdoors and experience nature more. The researchers say that schools are not (5) ____ the advice of these reports. They say outdoor learning is on the decline in Britain. The researchers want Britain's government to (6) ____ to put outdoor learning on the curriculum of all schools.

    The report is from researchers at the University of Plymouth and the organisation Natural England. It says there are many benefits (7) ____ outdoor learning for children. One advantage is that it builds (8) ____ in children as they experience things that were normal for their parents, like climbing trees. Another advantage is that it makes children more (9) ____ of the environment and teaches them to respect nature. There are also health benefits (10) ____ children exercise more instead (11) ____ sitting in a classroom or being at home with video games. A final benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger danger'. This is an idea many children in the UK today grow (12) ____ hearing.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     told     (b)     tell     (c)     telling     (d)     tells    
    2. (a)     currently     (b)     currency     (c)     currants     (d)     creatively    
    3. (a)     important     (b)     imported     (c)     importance     (d)     importantly    
    4. (a)     quality     (b)     qualify     (c)     quantity     (d)     quantify    
    5. (a)     doing     (b)     taking     (c)     making     (d)     having    
    6. (a)     perform     (b)     show     (c)     pretend     (d)     act    
    7. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     contents     (b)     coincidence     (c)     conference     (d)     confidence    
    9. (a)     aware     (b)     beware     (c)     wearing     (d)     wore    
    10. (a)     as     (b)     has     (c)     is     (d)     was    
    11. (a)     off     (b)     of     (c)     have     (d)     for    
    12. (a)     over     (b)     down     (c)     up     (d)     in

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. there is tylnecrur too much focus
    2. social skills, health and tonedvemelp
    3. over the past eacdde
    4. taking the deciva of these reports
    5. learning is on the lecendi in Britain
    6. on the rmicuculur of all schools

    Paragraph 2

    1. there are many ebeitsnf
    2. it builds neoncefdci in children
    3. Another tegvaanda is that…
    4. teaches them to crestep nature
    5. children esxrceei more
    6. the problem of what is called 'gstraren danger'

    Put the text back together

    (    )     The report is from researchers at the University of Plymouth and the organisation Natural England. It says there are

    (    )     major reports over the past decade that stress the need for students to learn outdoors and experience

    (    )     reports. They say outdoor learning is on the decline in Britain. The researchers want Britain's government to act

    1  )     Researchers in Britain are telling schools that children should be doing more learning outdoors. The researchers

    (    )     experience things that were normal for their parents, like climbing trees. Another advantage is that it makes

    (    )     nature more. The researchers say that schools are not taking the advice of these

    (    )     say there is currently too much focus on sitting in classrooms to pass exams. They say outdoor learning is

    (    )     to put outdoor learning on the curriculum of all schools.

    (    )     danger'. This is an idea many children in the UK today grow up hearing.

    (    )     children exercise more instead of sitting in a classroom or being at home with video

    (    )     many benefits of outdoor learning for children. One advantage is that it builds confidence in children as they

    (    )     children more aware of the environment and teaches them to respect nature. There are also health benefits as

    (    )     important for students' social skills, health and development. It also increases their quality of life. There have been five

    (    )     games. A final benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger

    Put the words in the right order

    1. be   outdoors   doing   Children   more   should   learning   .
    2. currently   focus   in   is   much   sitting   There   too  on   classrooms   .
    3. is   learning   Outdoor   skills   social   students'   for   important   .
    4. act   researchers   Britain's   to   The   want   government   .
    5. schools   the   Put   curriculum   outdoor   of   learning   all   on   .
    6. children   of   There   outdoor   are   learning   many   for   benefits   .
    7. in   that   children   it   One   builds   advantage   confidence   is   .
    8. makes   It   environment   the   of   aware   more   children   .
    9. more   children   benefits   also   There   exercise   as   health   are   .
    10. what  problem  of  is   called  'stranger   It   helps  danger'  with   the   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Researchers in Britain are telling / told schools that children should be doing more learning outdoors. The researchers say there is currency / currently too much focus on / of sitting in classrooms to pass exams. They say outdoor learning is importance / important for students' social skills, health / healthy and development. It also increases their quality / quantity of life. There have been five major report / reports over the past decade that stress the need / needy for students to learn outdoors and experience nature more. The researchers say that schools are not taking the advise / advice of these reports. They say outdoor learning is on the decline in Britain. The researchers want Britain's government to act to put outdoor learning on the curriculum / calculation of all schools.

    The report is from researcher / researchers at the University of Plymouth and the organisation Natural England. It says there are many / much benefits of outdoor learning of / for children. One advantage is that it builds confidence in children has / as they experience things that were normal for their parents, like / likes climbing trees. Another advantage is that it makes child / children more aware of the environment and teaches them / they to respect nature. There are also health beneficial / benefits as children exercise more instead of sitting in a classroom or being at home with video games. A final / finally benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger danger'. This is an idea many children in the UK today growing / grow up hearing.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    R_s__rch_rs _n Br_t__n _r_ t_ll_ng sch__ls th_t ch_ldr_n sh__ld b_ d__ng m_r_ l__rn_ng __td__rs. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s_y th_r_ _s c_rr_ntly t__ m_ch f_c_s _n s_tt_ng _n cl_ssr__ms t_ p_ss _x_ms. Th_y s_y __td__r l__rn_ng _s _mp_rt_nt f_r st_d_nts' s_c__l sk_lls, h__lth _nd d_v_l_pm_nt. _t _ls_ _ncr__s_s th__r q__l_ty _f l_f_. Th_r_ h_v_ b__n f_v_ m_j_r r_p_rts _v_r th_ p_st d_c_d_ th_t str_ss th_ n__d f_r st_d_nts t_ l__rn __td__rs _nd _xp_r__nc_ n_t_r_ m_r_. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s_y th_t sch__ls _r_ n_t t_k_ng th_ _dv_c_ _f th_s_ r_p_rts. Th_y s_y __td__r l__rn_ng _s _n th_ d_cl_n_ _n Br_t__n. Th_ r_s__rch_rs w_nt Br_t__n's g_v_rnm_nt t_ _ct t_ p_t __td__r l__rn_ng _n th_ c_rr_c_l_m _f _ll sch__ls.

    Th_ r_p_rt _s fr_m r_s__rch_rs _t th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f Plym__th _nd th_ _rg_n_s_t__n N_t_r_l _ngl_nd. _t s_ys th_r_ _r_ m_ny b_n_f_ts _f __td__r l__rn_ng f_r ch_ldr_n. _n_ _dv_nt_g_ _s th_t _t b__lds c_nf_d_nc_ _n ch_ldr_n _s th_y _xp_r__nc_ th_ngs th_t w_r_ n_rm_l f_r th__r p_r_nts, l_k_ cl_mb_ng tr__s. _n_th_r _dv_nt_g_ _s th_t _t m_k_s ch_ldr_n m_r_ _w_r_ _f th_ _nv_r_nm_nt _nd t__ch_s th_m t_ r_sp_ct n_t_r_. Th_r_ _r_ _ls_ h__lth b_n_f_ts _s ch_ldr_n _x_rc_s_ m_r_ _nst__d _f s_tt_ng _n _ cl_ssr__m _r b__ng _t h_m_ w_th v_d__ g_m_s. _ f_n_l b_n_f_t _s th_t _t h_lps w_th th_ pr_bl_m _f wh_t _s c_ll_d 'str_ng_r d_ng_r'. Th_s _s _n _d__ m_ny ch_ldr_n _n th_ _K t_d_y gr_w _p h__r_ng.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    researchers in britain are telling schools that children should be doing more learning outdoors the researchers say there is currently too much focus on sitting in classrooms to pass exams they say outdoor learning is important for students' social skills health and development it also increases their quality of life there have been five major reports over the past decade that stress the need for students to learn outdoors and experience nature more the researchers say that schools are not taking the advice of these reports they say outdoor learning is on the decline in britain the researchers want britain's government to act to put outdoor learning on the curriculum of all schools

    the report is from researchers at the university of plymouth and the organisation natural england it says there are many benefits of outdoor learning for children one advantage is that it builds confidence in children as they experience things that were normal for their parents like climbing trees another advantage is that it makes children more aware of the environment and teaches them to respect nature there are also health benefits as children exercise more instead of sitting in a classroom or being at home with video games a final benefit is that it helps with the problem of what is called 'stranger danger' this is an idea many children in the uk today grow up hearing

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ResearchersinBritainaretellingschoolsthatchildrenshouldbedoingm
    orelearningoutdoors.Theresearcherssaythereiscurrentlytoomuchfo
    cusonsittinginclassroomstopassexams.Theysayoutdoorlearningisi
    mportantforstudents'socialskills,healthanddevelopment.Italsoincre
    asestheirqualityoflife.Therehavebeenfivemajorreportsoverthepast
    decadethatstresstheneedforstudentstolearnoutdoorsandexperienc
    enaturemore.Theresearcherssaythatschoolsarenottakingtheadvice
    ofthesereports.TheysayoutdoorlearningisonthedeclineinBritain.The
    researcherswantBritain'sgovernmenttoacttoputoutdoorlearningont
    hecurriculumofallschools.ThereportisfromresearchersattheUniversi
    tyofPlymouthandtheorganisationNaturalEngland.Itsaystherearema
    nybenefitsofoutdoorlearningforchildren.Oneadvantageisthatitbuild
    sconfidenceinchildrenastheyexperiencethingsthatwerenormalforth
    eirparents,likeclimbingtrees.Anotheradvantageisthatitmakeschildr
    enmoreawareoftheenvironmentandteachesthemtorespectnature.T
    herearealsohealthbenefitsaschildrenexercisemoreinsteadofsittingi
    naclassroomorbeingathomewithvideogames.Afinalbenefitisthatithe
    lpswiththeproblemofwhatiscalled'strangerdanger'.Thisisanideaman
    ychildrenintheUKtodaygrowuphearing.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    It is better to learn outdoors than indoors. 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 outdoor learning. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. OUTDOOR LEARNING: Make a poster about outdoor learning. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. OUTDOORS: Write a magazine article about learning outdoors being better than learning indoors. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and disagree with 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 outdoor learning. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what children can do to learn outdoors. 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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