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Children in US safest for two decades (25th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A report from Duke University in the USA says American children are safer today than at any time in the past 20 years. The study is based on the annual Child Well-Being Index, which has been compiled by Duke since 1975. It measures and tracks 28 aspects about the quality of life among children across America. Perhaps the most promising figure in the report is that child death rates have gone down by a third since 1975. In addition, suicide rates among teens have declined in the past 20 years. Fewer youngsters are victims of violent crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births are at their lowest level in decades. The report says US kids are also better educated than they were 20 years ago.

The report highlighted a few of the negatives of the past 20 years. In spite of fewer children dying and infant mortality rates decreasing, child health has deteriorated. A major contributory factor to this is the increasing levels of obesity because of poor diet, the abundance of fast food, and less exercise. The latter is due to teens spending much longer indoors using technology. The report suggests that technology may protect kids from physical dangers outdoors but can harm their health indoors. Child poverty still affects millions of children in the USA and has remained largely unchanged in the past 20 years. About 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty line in 2013, which is about the same as it was in 1995.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20141217/New-report-finds-that-American-children-are-generally-safer-better-educated.aspx
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-american-kids-safer-healthier-balancing-20141218-column.html
http://childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Child-Well-Being-Report.pdf

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 :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. SAFETY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about safety. 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?

report / safer / annual / measures / quality of life / teens / youngsters / violent crimes / negatives / major / obesity / abundance / fast food / physical dangers / poverty line

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

3. CHILDHOOD: What are the good and bad things for children about the following? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good	Bad
Internet
Fast food
School
Money
Gaming
Shopping malls

4. BETTER TODAY: Students A strongly believe it's better being a child than it was 50 years ago; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. KIDS' STUFF: Rank these with your partner. Put the things kids love most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• mobile phone

• siblings

• ice cream

• their bed

• favourite teacher

• gaming

• shopping

• family holidays

6. 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.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	The report is from King University in the USA.	T / F
b.	The Child Well-Being Index has been going for over 75 years.	T / F
c.	The child death rate has halved since 1975.	T / F
d.	The report says kids get a better education today than 20 years ago.	T / F
e.	Children's health has got worse in the past two decades.	T / F
f.	The report says obesity causes an abundance of fast food.	T / F
g.	Child poverty still affects millions of kids in the USA.	T / F
h.	The number of kids below the poverty line hasn't changed for 20 years.	T / F

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

1.	report	a.	schooled
2.	annual	b.	worsened
3.	compiled	c.	encouraging
4.	promising	d.	study
5.	educated	e.	child
6.	infant	f.	put together
7.	deteriorated	g.	damage
8.	due to	h.	stayed
9.	harm	i.	yearly
10.	remained	j.	because of

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

1.	safer today than at	a.	mortality
2.	based on the annual	b.	any time in the past
3.	the quality	c.	third since 1975
4.	gone down by a	d.	dangers
5.	better	e.	Child Well-Being Index
6.	The report highlighted a few	f.	millions of children
7.	infant	g.	as it was in 1995
8.	physical	h.	educated
9.	Child poverty still affects	i.	of life
10.	about the same	j.	of the negatives

GAP FILL

A report from Duke University in the USA says American children are safer today than at (1) ____________ time in the past 20 years. The study is based on the annual Child Well-Being Index, which has been (2) ____________ by Duke since 1975. It measures and tracks 28 (3) ____________ about the quality of life among children across America. Perhaps the most promising (4) ____________ in the report is that child death rates have gone down by a third since 1975. In addition, (5) ____________ rates among teens have declined in the past 20 years. Fewer youngsters are victims of (6) ____________ crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births are at their lowest (7) ____________ in decades. The report says US kids are also better (8) ____________ than they were 20 years ago.

aspects
violent
any
figure
educated
compiled
level
suicide

The report highlighted a (9) ____________ of the negatives of the past 20 years. In spite of fewer children dying and (10) ____________ mortality rates decreasing, child health has deteriorated. A major contributory factor to this is the increasing levels of (11) ____________ because of poor diet, the abundance of fast food, and less exercise. The (12) ____________ is due to teens spending much longer indoors using technology. The report suggests that technology may (13) ____________ kids from physical dangers outdoors but can harm their health indoors. Child poverty still (14) ____________ millions of children in the USA and has remained largely (15) ____________ in the past 20 years. About 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty (16) ____________ in 2013, which is about the same as it was in 1995.

obesity
unchanged
few
line
protect
infant
affects
latter

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	children are safer today than at any time in the ______
	a. passed 20 years b. parsed 20 years c. paste 20 years d. past 20 years
2)	It measures and tracks 28 aspects about the ______
	a. quality for life b. quality of life c. quality the life d. quality by life
3)	child death rates have gone down by a ______
	a. third since 1975 b. thirds since 1975 c. thirdly since 1975 d. third of since 1975
4)	Fewer youngsters are victims of violent ______
	a. crimes today b. grime today c. criminal today d. criminals today
5)	teen births are at their lowest level ______
	a. in decadence b. in decade c. in decanters d. in decades
6)	The report highlighted a few ______
	a. for the negatives b. all the negatives c. off the negatives d. of the negatives
7)	A major contributory factor to this is the increasing ______
	a. levels of obese city b. levels of obesity c. levels of obese d. levels of oh beast city
8)	The report suggests that technology may protect kids ______
	a. from physical dangers b. from physical dangerous c. from physically dangerous d. from physically dangers
9)	Child poverty still ______
	a. affects millions b. infects millions c. afflicts millions d. reflects millions
10)	About 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty ______
	a. curve in 2013 b. level in 2013 c. limit in 2013 d. line in 2013

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A report from Duke University in the USA says American (1) ___________________ today than at any time in the past 20 years. The study (2) ___________________ annual Child Well-Being Index, which has been compiled by Duke since 1975. It measures and tracks 28 aspects about (3) ___________________ among children across America. Perhaps the most promising figure (4) ___________________ child death rates have gone down by a third since 1975. In addition, suicide rates among teens have declined in the past 20 years. Fewer youngsters (5) ___________________ crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births are at their lowest level in decades. The report says US kids (6) ___________________ educated than they were 20 years ago.

The report highlighted (7) ___________________ negatives of the past 20 years. In spite of fewer children dying and infant mortality rates decreasing, child health (8) ___________________. A major contributory factor to this is the increasing levels of obesity because of poor diet, the abundance of fast food, (9) ___________________. The latter is due to teens spending much longer indoors using technology. (10) ___________________ that technology may protect kids from physical dangers outdoors but can harm their health indoors. Child (11) ___________________ millions of children in the USA and has remained largely unchanged in the past 20 years. About 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty line in 2013, (12) ___________________ same as it was in 1995.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Which university in the USA made the report on childhood?
2.	When did the Child Well-Being Index first appear?
3.	By how much have child death rates decreased since 1975?
4.	What are fewer children the victim of these days?
5.	What is at its lowest level in 20 years?
6.	What has deteriorated in children in the past 20 years?
7.	What major factor has led to a worsening of children's health?
8.	Where do teens spend more of their time these days?
9.	What affects millions of children in the USA?
10.	What was the percentage of children below the poverty line in 2013?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Which university in the USA made the report on childhood?	6.	What has deteriorated in children in the past 20 years?
	a) Duke b) Earl c) King d) Lord		a) ambition b) manners c) their teeth d) kids' health
2.	When did the Child Well-Being Index first appear?	7.	What major factor has led to a worsening of children's health?
	a) 1955 b) 1965 c) 1975 d) 1985		a) school b) alcohol c) obesity d) environment
3.	By how much have child death rates decreased since 1975?	8.	Where do teens spend more of their time these days?
	a) a half b) a quarter c) a fifth d) a third		a) in bed b) indoors c) in the gym d) shopping malls
4.	What are fewer children the victim of these days?	9.	What affects millions of children in the USA?
	a) smoking b) violent crime c) fashion d) bullies		a) loneliness b) short-sightedness c) poverty d) bad breath
5.	What is at its lowest level in 20 years?	10.	What was the percentage of children below the poverty line in 2013?
	a) teen births b) the oil price c) student morale d) education standards		a) 30 b) 20 c) 40 d) 5

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Technology

You think technology is the best thing about being a kid today. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for kids. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): travel, shopping or food.

Role B – Travel

You think travel is the best thing about being a kid today. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for kids. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): technology, shopping or food.

Role C – Shopping

You think shopping is the best thing about being a kid today. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for kids. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): travel, technology or food.

Role D – Food

You think food is the best thing about being a kid today. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for kids. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): travel, shopping or technology.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

child

hood

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:

based
tracks
figure
addition
crimes
educated

spite
major
fast
protect
affects
2013

CHILDHOOD SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about childhood 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.

CHILDHOOD DISCUSSION

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 'childhood'?
3)	How was your childhood?
4)	How are things different for kids nowadays?
5)	Do you thinks kids are safer today than they were 20 years ago?
6)	How have things improved for kids in your country?
7)	What's the best thing about childhood?
8)	How is education today different from 20 years ago?
9)	What would you like to have changed about your childhood?
10)	Is today's world good for children?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How can the world help children in need?
13)	What's the most important thing you learnt as a child?
14)	What will childhood be like in 50 years from now?
15)	How can we get kids to exercise more?
16)	How have things got worse for kids in your country?
17)	What's the worst thing about childhood?
18)	How harmful is it for kids to stay indoors?
19)	Why are children in the USA still living below the poverty line?
20)	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)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A report from Duke University in the USA says American children are safer today than at (1) ____ time in the past 20 years. The study is based (2) ____ the annual Child Well-Being Index, which has been compiled (3) ____ Duke since 1975. It measures and tracks 28 aspects about the quality of life among children across America. Perhaps the most (4) ____ figure in the report is that child death rates have gone down by a third since 1975. In addition, suicide rates among teens have declined in the past 20 years. (5) ____ youngsters are victims of violent crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births are at their lowest level (6) ____ decades. The report says US kids are also better educated than they were 20 years ago.

The report highlighted a few of the (7) ____ of the past 20 years. In spite of fewer children dying and infant mortality rates decreasing, child health has deteriorated. A major (8) ____ factor to this is the increasing levels of obesity because of poor diet, the abundance of fast food, and less exercise. The latter is (9) ____ to teens spending much longer indoors using technology. The report suggests that technology may protect kids from physical dangers (10) ____ but can harm their health indoors. Child poverty still affects millions of children in the USA and has remained (11) ____ unchanged in the past 20 years. About 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty (12) ____ in 2013, which is about the same as it was in 1995.

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

1.	(a)	the	(b)	any	(c)	all	(d)	some
2.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	to	(d)	of
3.	(a)	of	(b)	to	(c)	on	(d)	by
4.	(a)	promissory	(b)	promising	(c)	promises	(d)	premises
5.	(a)	Less	(b)	Fewer	(c)	Smaller	(d)	Much
6.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	in	(d)	of
7.	(a)	negates	(b)	negatively	(c)	negatives	(d)	negations
8.	(a)	contributed	(b)	contributes	(c)	contributory	(d)	contribution
9.	(a)	of	(b)	because	(c)	for	(d)	due
10.	(a)	outdoors	(b)	doors	(c)	door	(d)	back doors
11.	(a)	largely	(b)	largest	(c)	largesse	(d)	large
12.	(a)	curve	(b)	mark	(c)	line	(d)	limit

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	the anluna Child Well-Being Index
2.	the iluytaq of life
3.	the most promising rgifue
4.	ucsdiie rates among teens
5.	victims of vtoneli crimes
6.	better daedutce
Paragraph 2
7.	a few of the vesitgena
8.	infant rotiylamt
9.	increasing levels of sbteyio
10.	less eriesecx
11.	protect kids from ycsiplah dangers
12.	below the erovtpy line

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	life among children across America. Perhaps the most promising figure in the report is that child death
( )	rates have gone down by a third since 1975. In addition, suicide rates among teens have declined in the past 20 years. Fewer
( )	by Duke since 1975. It measures and tracks 28 aspects about the quality of
( )	kids from physical dangers outdoors but can harm their health indoors. Child poverty still affects
( )	rates decreasing, child health has deteriorated. A major contributory factor to this is the increasing
( 1 )	A report from Duke University in the USA says American children are safer today than at
( )	of children lived below the poverty line in 2013, which is about the same as it was in 1995.
( )	millions of children in the USA and has remained largely unchanged in the past 20 years. About 20 per cent
( )	to teens spending much longer indoors using technology. The report suggests that technology may protect
( )	youngsters are victims of violent crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births are at their lowest level in
( )	decades. The report says US kids are also better educated than they were 20 years ago.
( )	any time in the past 20 years. The study is based on the annual Child Well-Being Index, which has been compiled
( )	levels of obesity because of poor diet, the abundance of fast food, and less exercise. The latter is due
( )	The report highlighted a few of the negatives of the past 20 years. In spite of fewer children dying and infant mortality

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	at than today Safer years 20 past the in time any .
2.	across among About America of the children life quality .
3.	by since rates down third Death gone a 1975 have .
4.	of victims today are crimes youngsters violent Fewer .
5.	were 20 years ago Kids are better educated than they .
6.	a negatives highlighted the report of The few .
7.	diet increasing obesity poor The of of levels because .
8.	latter to much The due spending indoors is teens longer .
9.	dangers physical from kids protect may Technology .
10.	poverty the below lived children of cent per 20 About line .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A report from Duke University in the USA says American children are safer today than at some / any time in the past 20 years. The study is based in / on the annual Child Well-Being Index, which has been complied / compiled by Duke since 1975. It measurements / measures and tracks 28 aspects about the quality of life among / between children across America. Perhaps the most promising / promised figure in the report is that child death rates have gone down by a / the third since 1975. In addition, suicide rates among teens have declined / declines in the past 20 years. Fewer youngsters are victims of violent crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births / birthdays are at their lowest level in decades. The report says US kids are also better / well educated than they were 20 years ago.

The report highlighted / lowlighted a few of the negatives / negativity of the past 20 years. In spate / spite of fewer children dying and infant mortality rates decreasing, child health has deteriorated / deteriorating. A major contributory factor to this is the increasing levels of obese / obesity because of poor diet, the abundance of fast food, and less exercise. The latter / letter is due to teens spending much longer indoors using technology. The report suggests that technology may prevent / protect kids from physical dangers outdoors but can harm / harmful their health indoors. Child poverty still affects millions of children in the USA and has remained largely / large unchanged in the past 20 years. About 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty curve / line in 2013, which is about the same as it was in 1995.

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_p_rt fr_m D_k_ _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ _S_ s_ys _m_r_c_n ch_ldr_n _r_ s_f_r t_d_y th_n _t _ny t_m_ _n th_ p_st 20 y__rs. Th_ st_dy _s b_s_d _n th_ _nn__l Ch_ld W_ll-B__ng _nd_x, wh_ch h_s b__n c_mp_l_d by D_k_ s_nc_ 1975. _t m__s_r_s _nd tr_cks 28 _sp_cts _b__t th_ q__l_ty _f l_f_ _m_ng ch_ldr_n _cr_ss _m_r_c_. P_rh_ps th_ m_st pr_m_s_ng f_g_r_ _n th_ r_p_rt _s th_t ch_ld d__th r_t_s h_v_ g_n_ d_wn by _ th_rd s_nc_ 1975. _n _dd_t__n, s__c_d_ r_t_s _m_ng t__ns h_v_ d_cl_n_d _n th_ p_st 20 y__rs. F_w_r y__ngst_rs _r_ v_ct_ms _f v__l_nt cr_m_s t_d_y th_n 20 y__rs _g_ _nd t__n b_rths _r_ _t th__r l_w_st l_v_l _n d_c_d_s. Th_ r_p_rt s_ys _S k_ds _r_ _ls_ b_tt_r _d_c_t_d th_n th_y w_r_ 20 y__rs _g_.

Th_ r_p_rt h_ghl_ght_d _ f_w _f th_ n_g_t_v_s _f th_ p_st 20 y__rs. _n sp_t_ _f f_w_r ch_ldr_n dy_ng _nd _nf_nt m_rt_l_ty r_t_s d_cr__s_ng, ch_ld h__lth h_s d_t_r__r_t_d. _ m_j_r c_ntr_b_t_ry f_ct_r t_ th_s _s th_ _ncr__s_ng l_v_ls _f _b_s_ty b_c__s_ _f p__r d__t, th_ _b_nd_nc_ _f f_st f__d, _nd l_ss _x_rc_s_. Th_ l_tt_r _s d__ t_ t__ns sp_nd_ng m_ch l_ng_r _nd__rs _s_ng t_chn_l_gy. Th_ r_p_rt s_gg_sts th_t t_chn_l_gy m_y pr_t_ct k_ds fr_m phys_c_l d_ng_rs __td__rs b_t c_n h_rm th__r h__lth _nd__rs. Ch_ld p_v_rty st_ll _ff_cts m_ll__ns _f ch_ldr_n _n th_ _S_ _nd h_s r_m__n_d l_rg_ly _nch_ng_d _n th_ p_st 20 y__rs. _b__t 20 p_r c_nt _f ch_ldr_n l_v_d b_l_w th_ p_v_rty l_n_ _n 2013, wh_ch _s _b__t th_ s_m_ _s _t w_s _n 1995.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a report from duke university in the usa says american children are safer today than at any time in the past 20 years the study is based on the annual child well-being index which has been compiled by duke since 1975 it measures and tracks 28 aspects about the quality of life among children across america perhaps the most promising figure in the report is that child death rates have gone down by a third since 1975 in addition suicide rates among teens have declined in the past 20 years fewer youngsters are victims of violent crimes today than 20 years ago and teen births are at their lowest level in decades the report says us kids are also better educated than they were 20 years ago

the report highlighted a few of the negatives of the past 20 years in spite of fewer children dying and infant mortality rates decreasing child health has deteriorated a major contributory factor to this is the increasing levels of obesity because of poor diet the abundance of fast food and less exercise the latter is due to teens spending much longer indoors using technology the report suggests that technology may protect kids from physical dangers outdoors but can harm their health indoors child poverty still affects millions of children in the usa and has remained largely unchanged in the past 20 years about 20 per cent of children lived below the poverty line in 2013 which is about the same as it was in 1995

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AreportfromDukeUniversityintheUSAsaysAmericanchildrenaresafer
todaythanatanytimeinthepast20years.Thestudyisbasedontheannu
alChildWell-BeingIndex,whichhasbeencompiledbyDukesince19
75.Itmeasuresandtracks28aspectsaboutthequalityoflifeamongchild
renacrossAmerica.Perhapsthemostpromisingfigureinthereportistha
tchilddeathrateshavegonedownbyathirdsince1975.Inaddition,suici
deratesamongteenshavedeclinedinthepast20years.Feweryoungste
rsarevictimsofviolentcrimestodaythan20yearsagoandteenbirthsare
attheirlowestlevelindecades.ThereportsaysUSkidsarealsobetteredu
catedthantheywere20yearsago.Thereporthighlightedafewoftheneg
ativesofthepast20years.Inspiteoffewerchildrendyingandinfantmort
alityratesdecreasing,childhealthhasdeteriorated.Amajorcontributor
yfactortothisistheincreasinglevelsofobesitybecauseofpoordiet,thea
bundanceoffastfood,andlessexercise.Thelatterisduetoteensspendin
gmuchlongerindoorsusingtechnology.Thereportsuggeststhattechn
ologymayprotectkidsfromphysicaldangersoutdoorsbutcanharmthei
rhealthindoors.ChildpovertystillaffectsmillionsofchildrenintheUSAa
ndhasremainedlargelyunchangedinthepast20years.About20percen
tofchildrenlivedbelowthepovertylinein2013,whichisaboutthesamea
sitwasin1995.

FREE WRITING

Write about childhood for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It is better to be a child today than it was fifty years ago. 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 childhood. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CHILDHOOD: Make a poster about childhood and the problems children can face. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BETTER: Write a magazine article about childhood being better today. 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 a childhood expert. Ask him/her three questions about childhood. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make childhood better. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	report	a.	study
2.	annual	b.	yearly
3.	compiled	c.	put together
4.	promising	d.	encouraging
5.	educated	e.	schooled
6.	infant	f.	child
7.	deteriorated	g.	worsened
8.	due to	h.	because of
9.	harm	i.	damage
10.	remained	j.	stayed

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Duke University
2.	1975
3.	A third
4.	Violent crime
5.	Teen births
6.	Health
7.	Obesity
8.	Indoors
9.	Poverty
10.	20%

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Children in US safest for two decades (25th December, 2014)

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