The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has made animal rights groups angry. The photo is one of four released by the royal family to celebrate the third birthday of William's son, Prince George. It shows him sitting on the grass offering white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog. An animal charity immediately issued a warning to all pet owners about giving ice cream and chocolate to pets. The charity is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It said although Prince George was just trying to be kind to his dog, it wasn't a good thing to do because chocolate and ice cream are bad for dogs. The RSPCA charity said it did not advise others to follow the child's example.

Some people have defended the photo and said Prince George is not wrong. They said a three-year-old does not know which things are dangerous for dogs. They said he was just playing like any child, and being kind to his pet. They also pointed out that the dog was not actually eating the ice cream in the photo. The RSPCA said: "It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog cool in high temperatures [but] we would advise pet owners to be cautious when giving their dogs food meant for human consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to digest." Chocolate poisons dogs, and can lead to a dog's death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://time.com/4419956/prince-george-birthday-photo/
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/23/prince-george-ice-cream-animal-cruelty_n_11153632.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/22/prince-george-photographs-third-birthday


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. ANIMAL RIGHTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about animal rights. 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?

       photo / animal rights / royal family / third birthday / warning / ice cream / advise /
       dangerous / high temperatures / cautious / food / dairy items / digest / poison

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

3. DOGS: Students A strongly believe dogs are the best pets; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. PETS: What is good and bad about having these as a pet? Talk about this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Dog
  • Snake
  • Goldfish
  • Horse
  • Tarantula
  • Rabbit
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. PHOTO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "photo". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. BAD IDEA: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst things to do to a dog at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Leave a dog in car
  • Hit it
  • Make it live outside
  • Call it 'Fido' or 'Rover'
  • Feed it human food
  • Dye its fur
  • Put clothes on it
  • Never walk it

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Photos were released for a British prince's third birthday.     T / F
  2. A photo shows the child sitting on a picnic table.     T / F
  3. The child is offering his dog some dark chocolate ice cream.     T / F
  4. Ice cream is good for dogs.     T / F
  5. People said a 3-year-old should know not to give a dog ice cream.     T / F
  6. The dog was not eating the ice cream in the photo.     T / F
  7. It is difficult for dogs to digest dairy products.     T / F
  8. Chocolate can kill dogs.     T / F

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

  1. released
  2. immediately
  3. warning
  4. advise
  5. example
  6. defended
  7. actually
  8. cautious
  9. highly
  10. digest
  1. piece of advice
  2. very
  3. lead
  4. supported
  5. made available
  6. really
  7. break down
  8. recommend
  9. careful
  10. instantly

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

  1. The photo is one of four
  2. It shows him sitting
  3. issued a warning to all pet
  4. it wasn't a good
  5. it did not advise others to follow
  6. a three-year-
  7. keep his family dog cool in high
  8. food meant for human
  9. dairy items can be difficult for them
  10. Chocolate poisons dogs, and can
  1. owners
  2. thing to do
  3. consumption
  4. temperatures
  5. released by the royal family
  6. lead to a dog's death
  7. to digest
  8. the child's example
  9. old
  10. on the grass

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
celebrate
trying
warning
advise
angry
example
grass
charity

A photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has made animal rights groups (1) ____________. The photo is one of four released by the royal family to (2) ____________ the third birthday of William's son, Prince George. It shows him sitting on the (3) ____________ offering white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog. An animal charity immediately issued a                        (4) ____________ to all pet owners about giving ice cream and chocolate to pets. The (5) ____________ is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It said although Prince George was just (6) ____________ to be kind to his dog, it wasn't a good thing to do because chocolate and ice cream are bad for dogs. The RSPCA charity said it did not (7) ____________ others to follow the child's (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
poisons
defended
pointed
meant
actually
dairy
just
high

Some people have (9) ____________ the photo and said Prince George is not wrong. They said a three-year-old does not know which things are dangerous for dogs. They said he was (10) ____________ playing like any child, and being kind to his pet. They also (11) ____________ out that the dog was not (12) ____________ eating the ice cream in the photo. The RSPCA said: "It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog cool in (13) ____________ temperatures [but] we would advise pet owners to be cautious when giving their dogs food (14) ____________ for human consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and (15) ____________ items can be difficult for them to digest." Chocolate (16) ____________ dogs, and can lead to a dog's death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has made animal ______
     a.  rights groups angrily
     b.  rights groups angered
     c.  rights groups angry
     d.  rights groups anger

2)  It shows him sitting on the grass offering white chocolate ice cream ______
     a.  to his pet's dog
     b.  to his pet dogs
     c.  to his pets' dogs
     d.  to his pet dog

3)  An animal charity immediately issued a warning to ______
     a.  all pet ownerships
     b.  all pet owners
     c.  all pet owner
     d.  all pet owns

4)  although Prince George was just trying to be kind to his dog, it wasn't a ______
     a.  good thingy to do
     b.  good thing to do
     c.  good things to do
     d.  good thing too do

5)  The RSPCA charity said it did not advise others to follow ______
     a.  the child's example
     b.  the child's examples
     c.  the child's exampled
     d.  the child's exemplar

6)  They said he was just playing ______
     a.  likes any child
     b.  like any child
     c.  liked any child
     d.  liking any child

7)  They also pointed out that the dog was not ______
     a.  actual eating in
     b.  actuality eating
     c.  actually eating
     d.  actually eating in

8)  George is trying to help keep his family dog cool in ______
     a.  highs temperatures
     b.  highly temperatures
     c.  high temperatures
     d.  height temperatures

9)  we would advise pet owners ______
     a.  to being cautious
     b.  to be cautious
     c.  to been cautious
     d.  to bee cautious

10)  dairy items can be difficult for ______
     a.  them to digest
     b.  them to ingest
     c.  them to digress
     d.  them to digitise

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has made animal (1) ___________________. The photo is one of four released by the royal family to celebrate the third birthday of William's son, Prince George. It shows him sitting on (2) ___________________ white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog. An animal charity (3) ___________________ a warning to all pet (4) ___________________ ice cream and chocolate to pets. The charity is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It said although Prince George (5) ___________________ to be kind to his dog, it wasn't a good thing to do because chocolate and ice cream are bad for dogs. The RSPCA charity said it did (6) ___________________ to follow the child's example.

Some people have (7) ___________________ and said Prince George is not wrong. They said a three-year-old does (8) ___________________ things are dangerous for dogs. They said he was just playing (9) ___________________, and being kind to his pet. They also pointed out that the dog was (10) ___________________ the ice cream in the photo. The RSPCA said: "It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog cool in high temperatures [but] we would advise pet owners to be cautious when giving their dogs (11) ___________________ human consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for (12) ___________________." Chocolate poisons dogs, and can lead to a dog's death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous.

Comprehension questions

  1. How old is Britain's Prince George?
  2. Where was George sitting when he tried to feed his dog ice cream?
  3. What is the name of the animal rights charity?
  4. What did the charity say George was trying to be?
  5. What did the charity tell people not to follow?
  6. Who did some people say did not know what was dangerous for dogs?
  7. What was the dog not doing in the photo?
  8. What did the charity advise pet owners to be?
  9. What is highly toxic for dogs?
  10. What kind of items are difficult for dogs to digest?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old is Britain's Prince George?
a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 5

2) Where was George sitting when he tried to feed his dog ice cream?
a) on a picnic table
b) in his car
c) on a sofa
d) on the grass

3) What is the name of the animal rights charity?
a) CPSAR
b) PRSAC
c) RSPCA
d) ASPRC

4) What did the charity say George was trying to be?
a) kind
b) funny
c) a dog
d) naughty

5) What did the charity tell people not to follow?
a) strangers
b) the child's example
c) dogs
d) children

6) Who did some people say did not know what was dangerous for dogs?
a) three-year-olds
b) dog owners
c) vets
d) princes

7) What was the dog not doing in the photo?
a) being good
b) looking at the child
c) eating ice cream
d) sitting

8) What did the charity advise pet owners to be?
a) cautious
b) vegetarian
c) kind
d) lovely

9) What is highly toxic for dogs?
a) humans
b) three-year-olds
c) princes
d) chocolate

10) What kind of items are difficult for dogs to digest?
a) dirty items
b) daring items
c) dairy items
d) daily items

Role play

Role A —Put clothes on it

You think putting clothes on a dog is the worst thing you can do to it. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these a dog would least dislike: dying its fur, never walking it or feeding it human food.

Role B —Dye its fur

You think dying a dog's fur is the worst thing you can do to it. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these a dog would least dislike: putting clothes on it, never walking it or feeding it human food.

Role C —Never walk it

You think never walking a dog is the worst thing you can do to it. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these a dog would least dislike: dying its fur, putting clothes on it or feeding it human food.

Role D —Feed it human food

You think feeding a dog human food is the worst thing you can do to it. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these a dog would least dislike:  dying its fur, never walking it or putting clothes on it.

After reading / listening

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

'ice'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'cream'.

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

    • wrong
    • point
    • cool
    • human
    • difficult
    • darker
    • angry
    • four
    • grass
    • warning
    • although
    • follow

    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 - Anger at royal child feeding dog ice cream

    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 'pet'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What rights do animals have?
    5. Should animal rights groups be angry about the photo?
    6. What food is dangerous for animals?
    7. Why do people have pets?
    8. Why are dogs good pets?
    9. Do you think all pet food is good for pets?
    10. What do you know about Prince George?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. How much do you care about animal rights?
    3. Is keeping an animal as a pet against its rights?
    4. What do you think of the photo?
    5. What dangers to pets are there in the home?
    6. What animal is the best pet?
    7. Should Prince William have not released the photo?
    8. What do you think of ice cream?
    9. What do you think of royal families?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the RSPCA?

    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)

    A photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has made animal rights groups (1) ____. The photo is one of four released by the royal family to celebrate the third birthday of William's son, Prince George. It shows him sitting on (2) ____ grass offering white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog. An animal charity immediately (3) ____ a warning to all pet owners about (4) ____ ice cream and chocolate to pets. The charity is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It said (5) ____ Prince George was just trying to be kind to his dog, it wasn't a good thing to do because chocolate and ice cream are bad for dogs. The RSPCA charity said it did not (6) ____ others to follow the child's example.

    Some people have defended the photo and said Prince George is not wrong. They said a three-year-old does not know which things are dangerous for dogs. They said he was just playing (7) ____ any child, and being kind to his pet. They also pointed (8) ____ that the dog was not actually eating the ice cream in the photo. The RSPCA said: "It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help (9) ____ his family dog cool in high temperatures [but] we would advise pet owners to be cautious (10) ____ giving their dogs food meant for human consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be (11) ____ toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to digest." Chocolate poisons dogs, and can (12) ____ to a dog's death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     angered     (b)     angry     (c)     anger     (d)     angrily    
    2. (a)     a     (b)     the     (c)     any     (d)     all    
    3. (a)     tissue     (b)     tissues     (c)     issues     (d)     issued    
    4. (a)     given     (b)     giving     (c)     gives     (d)     gave    
    5. (a)     thoroughly     (b)     throughout     (c)     thorough     (d)     although    
    6. (a)     advisory     (b)     advice     (c)     advise     (d)     advised    
    7. (a)     like     (b)     liking     (c)     likely     (d)     likes    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     out     (d)     on    
    9. (a)     stay     (b)     save     (c)     hold     (d)     keep    
    10. (a)     when     (b)     then     (c)     that     (d)     what    
    11. (a)     highly     (b)     high     (c)     highs     (d)     higher    
    12. (a)     lead     (b)     leash     (c)     collar     (d)     guide

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. animal sihgtr groups
    2. eeedlars by the royal family
    3. btleereac the third birthday
    4. ussied a warning
    5. yuterlc to animals
    6. it did not isvdae others to follow

    Paragraph 2

    1. people have deenefdd the photo
    2. which things are eruangsdo for dogs
    3. the dog was not llyuaact eating the ice
    4. cool in high prueetatesrm
    5. items, like chocolate, can be highly oixct
    6. chocolate iopsnso dogs

    Put the text back together

    (    )     Some people have defended the photo and said Prince George is not wrong. They said a three-year-old does not

    (    )     temperatures [but] we would advise pet owners to be cautious when giving their dogs food meant

    (    )     a warning to all pet owners about giving ice cream and chocolate to pets. The charity is the Royal Society for the

    1  )     A photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has made animal rights groups angry. The photo is

    (    )     to his dog, it wasn't a good thing to do because chocolate and ice cream are bad for

    (    )     one of four released by the royal family to celebrate the third birthday of William's son, Prince George. It shows

    (    )     know which things are dangerous for dogs. They said he was just playing like any child, and being

    (    )     him sitting on the grass offering white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog. An animal charity immediately issued

    (    )     Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It said although Prince George was just trying to be kind

    (    )     dogs. The RSPCA charity said it did not advise others to follow the child's example.

    (    )     kind to his pet. They also pointed out that the dog was not actually eating the ice cream in the

    (    )     to digest." Chocolate poisons dogs, and can lead to a dog's death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous.

    (    )     photo. The RSPCA said: "It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog cool in high

    (    )     for human consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   royal   family   The   photo   is   one   of   four   released   by   .
    2. birthday   William's   Celebrate   third   of   son   the   .
    3. warning   animal   immediately   a   An   charity   issued   .
    4. trying   to   be   kind   to   his   dog   Prince   George   was   just   .
    5. follow   example   not   to   child's   did   others   the   It   advise   .
    6. three-   are  know  old  dangerous  which  does   year-   A  things  not  .
    7. in   cream   ice   the   eating  actually  not  was   dog  The  photo  the  .
    8. chocolate   like   ,  items   Some  dogs   to   toxic   highly  be   can   ,   .
    9. digest   difficult   Dairy   for   items   them   can   to   be   .
    10. dogs   ,   and   can   lead   to   a   dog's   death   Chocolate   poisons   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A photo of the three-year-old son of Britain's Prince William has make / made animal rights groups angry. The photo is one of for / four released by the royal family to celebrate / celebration the third birthday of William's son, Prince George. It shows him sitting on the grass offered / offering white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog. An animal charity immediately / immediate issued a warning to all pet owners around / about giving ice cream and chocolate two / to pets. The charity is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It said although / through Prince George was just trying to be kind to his dog, it wasn't a good thing to do / done because chocolate and ice cream are bad for dogs. The RSPCA charity said it did not advise others to follow the child's template / example.

    Some people have defended / defensive the photo and said Prince George is not wrong. They said a three-year-old does not knowledge / know which things are dangerous for / by dogs. They said he was just playing liked / like any child, and being kind to his pet. They also pointed up / out that the dog was not actually eating the ice cream in the photo. The RSPCA said: "It is lovely / loved that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog chill / cool in high temperatures [but] we would advice / advise pet owners to be cautious when giving their dogs food meant for human / humane consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to direct / digest." Chocolate poisons dogs, and can lead to a dog's death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous.

    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)

    _ ph_t_ _f th_ thr__-y__r-_ld s_n _f Br_t__n's Pr_nc_ W_ll__m h_s m_d_ _n_m_l r_ghts gr__ps _ngry. Th_ ph_t_ _s _n_ _f f__r r_l__s_d by th_ r_y_l f_m_ly t_ c_l_br_t_ th_ th_rd b_rthd_y _f W_ll__m's s_n, Pr_nc_ G__rg_. _t sh_ws h_m s_tt_ng _n th_ gr_ss _ff_r_ng wh_t_ ch_c_l_t_ _c_ cr__m t_ h_s p_t d_g. _n _n_m_l ch_r_ty _mm_d__t_ly _ss__d _ w_rn_ng t_ _ll p_t _wn_rs _b__t g_v_ng _c_ cr__m _nd ch_c_l_t_ t_ p_ts. Th_ ch_r_ty _s th_ R_y_l S_c__ty f_r th_ Pr_v_nt__n _f Cr__lty t_ _n_m_ls (RSPC_). _t s__d _lth__gh Pr_nc_ G__rg_ w_s j_st try_ng t_ b_ k_nd t_ h_s d_g, _t w_sn't _ g__d th_ng t_ d_ b_c__s_ ch_c_l_t_ _nd _c_ cr__m _r_ b_d f_r d_gs. Th_ RSPC_ ch_r_ty s__d _t d_d n_t _dv_s_ _th_rs t_ f_ll_w th_ ch_ld's _x_mpl_.

    S_m_ p__pl_ h_v_ d_f_nd_d th_ ph_t_ _nd s__d Pr_nc_ G__rg_ _s n_t wr_ng. Th_y s__d _ thr__-y__r-_ld d__s n_t kn_w wh_ch th_ngs _r_ d_ng_r__s f_r d_gs. Th_y s__d h_ w_s j_st pl_y_ng l_k_ _ny ch_ld, _nd b__ng k_nd t_ h_s p_t. Th_y _ls_ p__nt_d __t th_t th_ d_g w_s n_t _ct__lly __t_ng th_ _c_ cr__m _n th_ ph_t_. Th_ RSPC_ s__d: "_t _s l_v_ly th_t Pr_nc_ G__rg_ _s try_ng t_ h_lp k__p h_s f_m_ly d_g c__l _n h_gh t_mp_r_t_r_s [b_t] w_ w__ld _dv_s_ p_t _wn_rs t_ b_ c__t___s wh_n g_v_ng th__r d_gs f__d m__nt f_r h_m_n c_ns_mpt__n _s s_m_ _t_ms, l_k_ ch_c_l_t_, c_n b_ h_ghly t_x_c t_ d_gs _nd d__ry _t_ms c_n b_ d_ff_c_lt f_r th_m t_ d_g_st." Ch_c_l_t_ p__s_ns d_gs, _nd c_n l__d t_ _ d_g's d__th. D_rk_r ch_c_l_t_ _s m_r_ d_ng_r__s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a photo of the three-year-old son of britain's prince william has made animal rights groups angry the photo is one of four released by the royal family to celebrate the third birthday of william's son prince george it shows him sitting on the grass offering white chocolate ice cream to his pet dog an animal charity immediately issued a warning to all pet owners about giving ice cream and chocolate to pets the charity is the royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (rspca) it said although prince george was just trying to be kind to his dog it wasn't a good thing to do because chocolate and ice cream are bad for dogs the rspca charity said it did not advise others to follow the child's example

    some people have defended the photo and said prince george is not wrong they said a three-year-old does not know which things are dangerous for dogs they said he was just playing like any child and being kind to his pet they also pointed out that the dog was not actually eating the ice cream in the photo the rspca said "it is lovely that prince george is trying to help keep his family dog cool in high temperatures [but] we would advise pet owners to be cautious when giving their dogs food meant for human consumption as some items like chocolate can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to digest" chocolate poisons dogs and can lead to a dog's death darker chocolate is more dangerous

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Aphotoofthethree-year-oldsonofBritain'sPrinceWilliamhasmadean
    imalrightsgroupsangry.Thephotoisoneoffourreleasedbytheroyalfa
    milytocelebratethethirdbirthdayofWilliam'sson,PrinceGeorge.Itsho
    wshimsittingonthegrassofferingwhitechocolateicecreamtohispetdo
    g.Ananimalcharityimmediatelyissuedawarningtoallpetownersabout
    givingicecreamandchocolatetopets.ThecharityistheRoyalSocietyfor
    thePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals(RSPCA).ItsaidalthoughPrinceGeo
    rgewasjusttryingtobekindtohisdog,itwasn'tagoodthingtodobecause
    chocolateandicecreamarebadfordogs.TheRSPCAcharitysaiditdidnot
    adviseotherstofollowthechild'sexample.Somepeoplehavedefendedt
    hephotoandsaidPrinceGeorgeisnotwrong.Theysaidathree-year-ol
    ddoesnotknowwhichthingsaredangerousfordogs.Theysaidhewasjus
    tplayinglikeanychild,andbeingkindtohispet.Theyalsopointedoutthat
    thedogwasnotactuallyeatingtheicecreaminthephoto.TheRSPCAsaid
    :"ItislovelythatPrinceGeorgeistryingtohelpkeephisfamilydogcoolinh
    ightemperatures[but]wewouldadvisepetownerstobecautiouswheng
    ivingtheirdogsfoodmeantforhumanconsumptionassomeitems,likec
    hocolate,canbehighlytoxictodogsanddairyitemscanbedifficultforthe
    mtodigest."Chocolatepoisonsdogs,andcanleadtoadog'sdeath.Darke
    rchocolateismoredangerous.

    Free writing

    Write about animal rights for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    What are the good and bad things about being a pet (for an animal)?

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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 dogs and chocolate. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. ANIMAL RIGHTS: Write a magazine article about whether having a pet is taking away its rights. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree with this and with those who disagree with it.

    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 animal rights. Ask him/her three questions about this issue. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to better protect animals' rights. 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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