A new report from the United Nations Children's Fund warns that hundreds of millions of children in the world’s cities are living in poverty. UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children Report" says a staggering proportion of children lack the most basic of services, including clean water, education, health, proper toilets. "Urbanization leaves hundreds of millions of children in cities and towns excluded from vital services," the Children's Fund said. The Fund also says these children are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world because they live in fear of violence and exploitation on a daily basis. Millions of children are forced into child labour and the sex industry.
The report explains how the slums where children live have diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of the biggest killers of children under five in the world. UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado, says many children are disadvantaged from birth and are excluded from “normal” society in which richer children can thrive. She says: “One-third of children in urban areas are not registered at birth [and that] makes them much more vulnerable to exploitation throughout their lives.” UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake added: "Children are vulnerable to.…the injuries, illnesses and death that result from living in crowded settlements atop hazardous rubbish dumps or alongside railroad tracks."
1. CHILD POVERTY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about child poverty. 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.
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report / world cities / basic services / proper toilets / vulnerable / child labour / fear / diseases / killers / pneumonia / disadvantaged / urban areas / vulnerable / dumps |
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VULNERABLE: How do we protect vulnerable children? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.
| Protect from… |
How |
Problems / Barriers |
disease |
|
|
violence |
|
|
child labour |
|
|
gangs |
|
|
crime |
|
|
drugs |
|
|
4. BETTER: Students A strongly believe conditions for the world’s poor children will get better; Students B strongly believe they will get worse. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
5. BASIC SERVICES: Which are most important to you? Rank them and share your rankings with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.
- toilets
- education
- house
- Internet
|
- heat
- clean water
- hospitals
- police
|
6. POVERTY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘poverty’. 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. |
The article is about a WHO report on poor children. |
T / F |
b. |
Hundreds of millions of children are living without vital services. |
T / F |
c. |
The report says millions of poor children live in fear every day. |
T / F |
d. |
The report says millions of children volunteer to work. |
T / F |
e. |
Pneumonia & diarrhoea are among the deadliest diseases for children. |
T / F |
f. |
A UNICEF official said many children have a bad life from birth. |
T / F |
g. |
Around 33% of children born in urban areas are registered. |
T / F |
h. |
A UNICEF official said children are safer living on top of rubbish dumps. |
T / F |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
| 1. |
proportion |
a. |
absence |
2. |
poverty |
b. |
dangerous |
3. |
lack |
c. |
hovels |
4. |
proper |
d. |
impoverishment |
5. |
exploitation |
e. |
denied access to |
6. |
slums |
f. |
abuse |
7. |
excluded |
g. |
built-up |
8. |
thrive |
h. |
amount |
9. |
urban |
i. |
real |
10. |
hazardous |
j. |
do well |
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
| 1. |
lack the most basic |
a. |
from vital services |
2. |
proper |
b. |
in urban areas |
3. |
excluded |
c. |
into child labour |
4. |
they live in fear |
d. |
birth |
5. |
Millions of children are forced |
e. |
children under five |
6. |
the biggest killers of |
f. |
to exploitation |
7. |
disadvantaged from |
g. |
of violence |
8. |
One-third of children |
h. |
toilets |
9. |
much more vulnerable |
i. |
settlements |
10. |
living in crowded |
j. |
of services |
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
A new report from the United Nations Children's Fund (1) ____________ that hundreds of millions of children in the world’s cities are living in poverty. UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children Report" says a staggering proportion of children (2) ____________ the most basic of services, including clean water, education, health, (3) ____________ toilets. "Urbanization leaves hundreds of millions of children in cities and towns excluded from (4) ____________ services," the Children's Fund said. The Fund also says these children are (5) ____________ the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world because they live in (6) ____________ of violence and exploitation on a daily (7) ____________. Millions of children are (8) ____________ into child labour and the sex industry. |
|
forced
among
lack
basis
proper
warns
fear
vital
|
The report explains how the (9) ____________ where children live have diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of the biggest (10) ____________ of children under five in the world. UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado, says many children are disadvantaged from (11) ____________ and are excluded from “normal” society in which richer children can (12) ____________. She says: “One-third of children in (13) ____________ areas are not registered at birth [and that] makes them much more vulnerable to exploitation throughout their lives.” UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake added: "Children are (14) ____________ to.…the injuries, illnesses and death that (15) ____________ from living in crowded settlements atop hazardous rubbish dumps or (16) ____________ railroad tracks." |
|
vulnerable
alongside
killers
result
thrive
slums
birth
urban |
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
A new report from the United Nations Children's Fund __________________ of millions of children in the world’s cities are living in poverty. UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children Report" says __________________ of children lack __________________ services, including clean water, education, health, __________________. "Urbanization leaves hundreds of millions of children in cities and towns excluded __________________," the Children's Fund said. The Fund also says these children are __________________ disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world because __________________ of violence and exploitation __________________. Millions of children are forced into child labour and the sex industry.
The report explains how the slums where children live __________________ as pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of __________________ of children under five in the world. UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado, says many children are __________________ birth and __________________ “normal” society in which richer children can thrive. She says: “One-third of children __________________ are not registered at birth [and that] makes them much more vulnerable to exploitation __________________.” UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake added: "Children are vulnerable to.…the injuries, illnesses and death __________________ living in crowded settlements atop hazardous __________________ or alongside railroad tracks."
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘child’ and ‘poverty’.
- 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:
- warns
- lack
- proper
- vital
- fear
- industry
|
- such
- under
- normal
- areas
- lives
- rubbish
|
CHILD POVERTY SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about child poverty 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.
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|
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Q.2.
|
|
|
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Q.3.
|
|
|
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Q.4.
|
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|
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Q.5.
|
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|
|
- 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.
CHILD POVERTY 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 ‘poverty’? |
c) |
What’s the poorest you’ve ever been? |
d) |
Why do you think there is still child poverty ii the world? |
e) |
What would life be like without the most basic services? |
f) |
How can we stop children from living in fear? |
g) |
Why don’t rich companies do more to reduce child poverty? |
h) |
To what extent does child poverty exist in your country? |
i) |
What does it say about our world that children are living in poverty? |
j) |
How can we stop children being forced into child labour and the sex industry? |
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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
| a) |
Did you like reading this article? |
b) |
What could you do this week to help children living in poverty? |
c) |
Why do illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia still kill people? |
d) |
What would it be like to be excluded from normal society? |
e) |
Did you thrive as a child? |
f) |
What questions would you like to ask a child slum dweller? |
g) |
What do you think his/her answers might be? |
h) |
Will children still be living in poverty fifty years from now? Why? |
i) |
What do you think poor children think of the rich world? |
j) |
What questions would you like to ask UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado? |
LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE
A new report from the United Nations Children's Fund (1) ____ that hundreds of millions of children in the world’s cities are living (2) ____ poverty. UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children Report" says a staggering proportion of children (3) ____ the most basic of services, including clean water, education, health, proper toilets. "Urbanization leaves hundreds of millions of children in cities and towns excluded from (4) ____ services," the Children's Fund said. The Fund also says these children are (5) ____ the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world because they live in fear of violence and exploitation on a (6) ____ basis. Millions of children are forced into child labour and the sex industry.
The report explains how the slums where children live have diseases (7) ____ as pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of the biggest killers of children under five in the world. UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado, says many children are disadvantaged from (8) ____ and are excluded from “normal” society in which richer children can thrive. She says: “One-third of children in (9) ____ areas are not registered at birth [and that] makes them (10) ____ more vulnerable to exploitation (11) ____ their lives.” UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake added: "Children are vulnerable to.…the injuries, illnesses and death that result from living in crowded settlements (12) ____ hazardous rubbish dumps or alongside railroad tracks."
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
| 1. |
(a) |
warnings |
(b) |
warning |
(c) |
warn |
(d) |
warns |
2. |
(a) |
up |
(b) |
out |
(c) |
in |
(d) |
of |
3. |
(a) |
back |
(b) |
lack |
(c) |
tack |
(d) |
rack |
4. |
(a) |
vital |
(b) |
ritual |
(c) |
virtual |
(d) |
viral |
5. |
(a) |
between |
(b) |
through |
(c) |
among |
(d) |
via |
6. |
(a) |
daytime |
(b) |
day’s |
(c) |
day |
(d) |
daily |
7. |
(a) |
much |
(b) |
such |
(c) |
many |
(d) |
so |
8. |
(a) |
birth |
(b) |
born |
(c) |
delivery |
(d) |
pregnancy |
9. |
(a) |
mundane |
(b) |
urban |
(c) |
prominent |
(d) |
prosper |
10. |
(a) |
many |
(b) |
such |
(c) |
much |
(d) |
from |
11. |
(a) |
throughout |
(b) |
thought |
(c) |
thorough |
(d) |
though |
12. |
(a) |
topping |
(b) |
top |
(c) |
tops |
(d) |
atop |
WRITING
Write about child poverty for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.
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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 the UNICEF report. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. CHILD POVERTY: Make a poster about child poverty. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. SLUM: Write a magazine article about a child living in a slum. Include imaginary interviews with that child and a rich child.
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 a child slum dweller. Ask him/her three questions about his/her life. Give him/her three pieces of advice. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
| a. |
F |
b. |
T |
c. |
T |
d. |
F |
e. |
T |
f. |
T |
g. |
F |
h. |
F |
SYNONYM MATCH:
| 1. |
proportion |
a. |
amount |
2. |
poverty |
b. |
impoverishment |
3. |
lack |
c. |
absence |
4. |
proper |
d. |
real |
5. |
exploitation |
e. |
abuse |
6. |
slums |
f. |
hovels |
7. |
excluded |
g. |
denied access to |
8. |
thrive |
h. |
do well |
9. |
urban |
i. |
built-up |
10. |
hazardous |
j. |
dangerous |
PHRASE MATCH:
| 1. |
lack the most basic |
a. |
of services |
2. |
proper |
b. |
toilets |
3. |
excluded |
c. |
from vital services |
4. |
they live in fear |
d. |
of violence |
5. |
Millions of children are forced |
e. |
into child labour |
6. |
the biggest killers of |
f. |
children under five |
7. |
disadvantaged from |
g. |
birth |
8. |
One-third of children |
h. |
in urban areas |
9. |
much more vulnerable |
i. |
to exploitation |
10. |
living in crowded |
j. |
settlements |
GAP FILL:
Child poverty grows as cities expand
A new report from the United Nations Children's Fund (1) warns that hundreds of millions of children in the world’s cities are living in poverty. UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children Report" says a staggering proportion of children (2) lack the most basic of services, including clean water, education, health, (3) proper toilets. "Urbanization leaves hundreds of millions of children in cities and towns excluded from (4) vital services," the Children's Fund said. The Fund also says these children are (5) among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world because they live in (6) fear of violence and exploitation on a daily (7) basis. Millions of children are (8) forced into child labour and the sex industry.
The report explains how the (9) slums where children live have diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, two of the biggest (10) killers of children under five in the world. UNICEF spokeswoman, Marixie Mercado, says many children are disadvantaged from (11) birth and are excluded from “normal” society in which richer children can (12) thrive. She says: “One-third of children in (13) urban areas are not registered at birth [and that] makes them much more vulnerable to exploitation throughout their lives.” UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake added: "Children are (14) vulnerable to.…the injuries, illnesses and death that (15) result from living in crowded settlements atop hazardous rubbish dumps or (16) alongside railroad tracks."
LANGUAGE WORK
| 1 - d |
2 - c |
3 - b |
4 - a |
5 - c |
6 - d |
7 - b |
8 - a |
9 - b |
10 - c |
11 - a |
12 - d |