The Reading / Listening - Stonehenge - Level 3

Scientists say they have uncovered details about who built the 5,000-year-old prehistoric monument Stonehenge. The ancient stones in the southwest of England are famous all over the world. How Stonehenge was built has been a mystery for thousands of years. A new study shows that the architects and builders of Stonehenge could have come from Wales, which is more than 160 kilometres away. Researchers wrote in the Scientific Reports journal that some human bones found at the site were from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The researchers said the oldest human remains discovered so far date back to about 3000 BC, which is over 5,000 years ago.

Stonehenge is a ring of standing monoliths - giant stones. Each standing stone is around four metres high and 2.1 metres wide. They each weigh around 25 tons. Scientists say Stonehenge was first used as a burial mound. The giant monoliths also came from the Preseli Mountains. Scientists are not sure how ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to their site in Stonehenge. They now believe the people who are buried at Stonehenge helped transport, position and erect the stones. Researcher John Pouncett said: "People from the Preseli Mountains not only supplied the bluestones used to build the stone circle but moved with the stones and were buried there too."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Stonehenge - Level 0,  Stonehenge - Level 1   or  Stonehenge - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.npr.org/2018/08/03/635363118/builders-of-stonehenge-may-have-been-from-wales-more-than-100-miles-away
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/who-built-stonehenge-ancient-druids-britons-pre-roman-a8474381.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/02/revealed-stonehenge-buried-welsh


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. STONEHENGE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Stonehenge. 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?
       details / prehistoric / monument / ancient / famous / architects / bones / journal /
       stones / burial mound / weigh / scientists / transport / position / circle / buried
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ANCIENT: Students A strongly believe ancient monuments are better than modern monuments; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SITES: What do you know about these sites? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Stonehenge

 

 

The Pyramids

 

 

Machu Picchu

 

 

Petra

 

 

Taj Mahal

 

 

Great Wall of China

 

 
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. PREHISTORIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "prehistoric". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MONUMENTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best monuments at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Taj Mahal
  • Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Acropolis
  • Angkor Wat
  • Stonehenge
  • Statue of Liberty
  • Eiffel Tower
  • The Sphinx

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. uncovered a. Remove a cover or covering from something.
      2. details b. Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.
      3. prehistoric c. Small features, facts or parts of something.
      4. monument d. Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
      5. ancient e. Relating to or about the period thousands of years ago before written records.
      6. mystery f. A statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a famous or notable person or event.
      7. remains g. A person's body or bones after death.

    Paragraph 2

      8. giant h. An area of ground on which a town, building, or monument is built.
      9. burial i. Took or carried people or goods from one place to another by means of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship.
      10. believe j. Very, very, very big.
      11. transported k. Build or put up a building, wall, or other upright structure.
      12. site l. The action or practice of putting a dead body under the ground.
      13. erect m. Gave things to people that need them.
      14. supplied n. Accept something as true; feel sure of the truth of something.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Scientists know the names of the people who built Stonehenge.     T / F
  2. The ancient stones are in the southeast of England.     T / F
  3. Scientists believe Stonehenge's architects are Welsh and not English.     T / F
  4. The oldest human remains found at Stonehenge are 3,000 years old.     T / F
  5. Each stone at Stonehenge is four metres wide.     T / F
  6. Scientists don't know how the stones got from Wales to Stonehenge.     T / F
  7. The people who transported the stones may be buried at Stonehenge.     T / F
  8. The stones that make up Stonehenge are bluestones.     T / F

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

  1. uncovered
  2. ancient
  3. mystery
  4. found
  5. remains
  6. giant
  7. transported
  8. erect
  9. supplied
  10. buried
  1. huge
  2. puzzle
  3. provided
  4. carried
  5. very old
  6. build
  7. bones
  8. exposed
  9. laid to rest
  10. discovered

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

  1. details about who built the 5,000-year-old
  2. famous all
  3. a mystery for
  4. human
  5. human remains discovered so far date
  6. Stonehenge is a ring
  7. They each weigh
  8. ancient people transported
  9. transport, position and erect
  10. supplied the
  1. back to about 3000 BC
  2. the giant stones
  3. bones
  4. the stones
  5. over the world
  6. around 25 tons
  7. bluestones
  8. prehistoric monument
  9. of standing monoliths
  10. thousands of years

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
builders
remains
uncovered
famous
away
monument
bones
mystery

Scientists say they have (1) ____________ details about who built the 5,000-year-old prehistoric (2) ____________ Stonehenge. The ancient stones in the southwest of England are (3) ____________ all over the world. How Stonehenge was built has been a (4) ____________ for thousands of years. A new study shows that the architects and (5) ____________ of Stonehenge could have come from Wales, which is more than 160 kilometres (6) ____________. Researchers wrote in the Scientific Reports journal that some human (7) ____________ found at the site were from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The researchers said the oldest human (8) ____________ discovered so far date back to about 3000 BC, which is over 5,000 years ago.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sure
position
high
circle
ring
supplied
site
first

Stonehenge is a (9) ____________ of standing monoliths - giant stones. Each standing stone is around four metres (10) ____________ and 2.1 metres wide. They each weigh around 25 tons. Scientists say Stonehenge was (11) ____________ used as a burial mound. The giant monoliths also came from the Preseli Mountains. Scientists are not (12) ____________ how ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to their (13) ____________ in Stonehenge. They now believe the people who are buried at Stonehenge helped transport, (14) ____________ and erect the stones. Researcher John Pouncett said: "People from the Preseli Mountains not only (15) ____________ the bluestones used to build the stone (16) ____________ but moved with the stones and were buried there too."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  they have uncovered details about who built the 5,000-year-old ______
     a.  pre-history monument
     b.  pre-historical monument
     c.  pre-hysteric monument
     d.  prehistoric monument
2)  The ancient stones in the southwest of England are famous ______ world
     a.  all over the
     b.  all under the
     c.  all overt the
     d.  all lover the
3)  How Stonehenge was built has been a mystery ______ years
     a.  for thousands off
     b.  for thousand of
     c.  four thousands of
     d.  for thousands of
4)  A new study shows that the architects and ______ Stonehenge
     a.  builders off
     b.  builders of
     c.  builder soft
     d.  build a soft
5)  the oldest human remains discovered so far date ______ 3000 BC
     a.  back too about
     b.  back to about
     c.  black to about
     d.  black to a bout

6)  Stonehenge is a ring of standing monoliths - ______
     a.  grant stones
     b.  gaunt stones
     c.  giant stones
     d.  gant stones
7)  Each standing stone is around four metres high and 2.1 ______
     a.  metres wide
     b.  metres width
     c.  metres widen
     d.  metres wild
8)  Scientists say Stonehenge was first used ______ mound
     a.  as a burial
     b.  as a bury all
     c.  as a berry all
     d.  as a burly all
9)  people who are buried at Stonehenge helped transport, position and ______
     a.  erect the stones
     b.  elect the stones
     c.  eject the stones
     d.  effect the stones
10)  used to build the stone circle but moved with the stones and were ______
     a.  buried them too
     b.  buried then too
     c.  buried their too
     d.  buried there too

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists say they have uncovered details (1) ___________________ the 5,000-year-old prehistoric monument Stonehenge. The (2) ___________________ the southwest of England are famous all over the world. How Stonehenge was built has (3) ___________________ for thousands of years. A new study shows that the architects and builders of Stonehenge could have come from Wales, (4) ___________________ than 160 kilometres away. Researchers wrote in the Scientific Reports journal that (5) ___________________ found at the site were from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The researchers said the oldest human remains discovered so far date back to about 3000 BC, (6) ___________________ 5,000 years ago.

Stonehenge is (7) ___________________ standing monoliths - giant stones. Each standing stone is around four metres high and 2.1 metres wide. They (8) ___________________ 25 tons. Scientists say Stonehenge was first used as a burial mound. The giant monoliths also came from the Preseli Mountains. Scientists are (9) ___________________ ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to their site in Stonehenge. They now believe the people who (10) ___________________ Stonehenge helped transport, position and (11) ___________________. Researcher John Pouncett said: "People from the Preseli Mountains not only supplied the bluestones used to build the stone (12) ___________________ with the stones and were buried there too."

Comprehension questions

  1. How old is Stonehenge?
  2. Where in England is Stonehenge?
  3. How far did the article say Stonehenge was from Wales?
  4. What is the name of the journal mentioned in the article?
  5. What 5,000-year-old remains were found at Stonehenge?
  6. What did the article say monoliths were?
  7. How much does each of the stones at Stonehenge weigh?
  8. What do scientists think Stonehenge was first used for?
  9. Where might people who transported stones to Stonehenge be buried?
  10. What kind of stone is the stone used to build Stonehenge?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old is Stonehenge?
a) about 5,000 years
b) about 3,000 years
c) about 8,000 years
d) about 2,000 years
2) Where in England is Stonehenge?
a) in the northwest
b) in the southeast
c) in the southwest
d) in London
3) How far did the article say Stonehenge was from Wales?
a) just under 160 kilometres
b) more than 160 kilometres
c) exactly 160 kilometres
d) around 160 kilometres
4) What is the name of the journal mentioned in the article?
a) Report Sciences
b) Reporting Science
c) Science Reports
d) Scientific Reports
5)  What 5,000-year-old remains were found at Stonehenge?
a) human remains
b) pottery
c) an old castle
d) clothing and fabric

6) What did the article say monoliths were?
a) wooden doors
b) tools
c) single sites
d) giant stones
7) How much does each of the stones at Stonehenge weigh?
a) 21 tons
b) 25 tons
c) 23 tons
d) 19 tons
8) What do scientists think Stonehenge was first used for?
a) accommodation
b) a giant clock
c) a meeting place
d) a burial mound
9) Where might people who transported stones to Stonehenge be buried?
a) no one knows
b) a London cemetery
c) at Stonehenge
d) in Wales
10) What kind of stone is the stone used to build Stonehenge?
a) grey stone
b) bluestone
c) rock stone
d) hard stone

Role play

Role  A – Stonehenge
You think Stonehenge is the word's best monument. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their monuments. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal or Statue of Liberty.

Role  B – Eiffel Tower
You think the Eiffel Tower is the word's best monument. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their monuments. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Stonehenge, Taj Mahal or Statue of Liberty.

Role  C – Taj Mahal
You think the Taj Mahal is the word's best monument. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their monuments. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge or Statue of Liberty.

Role  D – Statue of Liberty
You think the Statue of Liberty is the word's best monument. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their monuments. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal or Stonehenge.

After reading / listening

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

'ancient'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'stones'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • ring
    • weigh
    • giant
    • believe
    • position
    • supplied
    • uncovered
    • famous
    • thousands
    • 160
    • wrote
    • 3000

    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 - Scientists solve mystery of Stonehenge

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Stonehenge'?
    3. What do you think of ancient monuments?
    4. What ancient monuments are there in your country?
    5. Are ancient monuments better than modern ones?
    6. What do you know about Stonehenge?
    7. Why did ancient people build huge monuments?
    8. How do you think people moved huge stones so far?
    9. What do you think life was like 5,000 years ago?
    10. What can ancient people teach us?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'stones'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the great modern monuments?
    5. Why can't scientists find out more about Stonehenge?
    6. Which is best, Stonehenge, the Pyramids or Machu Picchu?
    7. What giant monument would you like to be built?
    8. What would it be like to work as an archaeologist?
    9. Where would you like to be buried or cremated?
    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)

    Scientists say they have uncovered (1) ____ about who built the 5,000-year-old prehistoric monument Stonehenge. The ancient stones in the southwest of England are famous (2) ____ over the world. How Stonehenge was built has (3) ____ a mystery for thousands of years. A new study shows that the architects and builders of Stonehenge could have come from Wales, which is more than 160 kilometres (4) ____. Researchers wrote in the Scientific Reports journal that some human bones found at the (5) ____ were from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The researchers said the oldest human remains discovered so far (6) ____ back to about 3000 BC, which is over 5,000 years ago.

    Stonehenge is a ring of standing monoliths - (7) ____ stones. Each standing stone is around four metres high and 2.1 metres wide. They each weigh around 25 tons. Scientists say Stonehenge was first used as a (8) ____ mound. The giant monoliths also came from the Preseli Mountains. Scientists are not sure how ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to (9) ____ site in Stonehenge. They now believe the people who are buried at Stonehenge helped transport, position and (10) ____ the stones. Researcher John Pouncett said: "People from the Preseli Mountains (11) ____ only supplied the bluestones used to build the stone circle but moved with the stones and were buried there (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     detailing     (b)     detailed     (c)     details     (d)     detail    
    2. (a)     all     (b)     whole     (c)     every     (d)     entire    
    3. (a)     been     (b)     being     (c)     be     (d)     done    
    4. (a)     away     (b)     up     (c)     around     (d)     over    
    5. (a)     sight     (b)     site     (c)     sate     (d)     spite    
    6. (a)     time     (b)     year     (c)     month     (d)     date    
    7. (a)     grant     (b)     gaunt     (c)     giant     (d)     glint    
    8. (a)     briar     (b)     berry     (c)     bury     (d)     burial    
    9. (a)     their     (b)     there     (c)     them     (d)     these    
    10. (a)     eject     (b)     erect     (c)     elect     (d)     edit     
    11. (a)     now     (b)     not     (c)     known     (d)     non    
    12. (a)     well     (b)     only     (c)     too     (d)     now

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the 5,000-year-old prehistoric notneumm
    2. The icatnne stones
    3. a tyysemr for thousands of years
    4. the ahrtcciste and builders
    5. in the Scientific Reports aourljn
    6. the oldest human reasinm discovered so far

    Paragraph 2

    1. gtnia stones
    2. They each giehw around 25 tons
    3. first used as a ilurab mound
    4. transport, sioniopt and erect the stones
    5. uisppdel the bluestones
    6. used to build the stone clrice

    Put the text back together

    (...)  the stones. Researcher John Pouncett said: "People from the Preseli Mountains not
    (  1  ) Scientists say they have uncovered details about who built the 5,000-year-old prehistoric
    (...)  remains discovered so far date back to about 3000 BC, which is over 5,000 years ago.
    (...)  sure how ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to their site in Stonehenge. They now
    (...)  world. How Stonehenge was built has been a mystery for thousands of years. A new study
    (...)  Stonehenge is a ring of standing monoliths - giant stones. Each standing stone is around
    (...)  four metres high and 2.1 metres wide. They each weigh around 25 tons. Scientists say Stonehenge was first
    (...)  bones found at the site were from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The researchers said the oldest human
    (...)  believe the people who are buried at Stonehenge helped transport, position and erect
    (...)  used as a burial mound. The giant monoliths also came from the Preseli Mountains. Scientists are not
    (...)  shows that the architects and builders of Stonehenge could have come from Wales, which is more
    (...)  than 160 kilometres away. Researchers wrote in the Scientific Reports journal that some human
    (...)  monument Stonehenge. The ancient stones in the southwest of England are famous all over the
    (...)  only supplied the bluestones used to build the stone circle but moved with the stones and were buried there too."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. 5,000-year-old  Details  about   who   the  monument . built  prehistoric
    2. in   The   of   the   England   .   stones   ancient   southwest
    3. was   built   Stonehenge   has   How   mystery   .   a   been
    4. have   Stonehenge   Builders   could   Wales   .   come   from   of
    5. discovered   remains   oldest   so   human   The   far   .
    6. standing   a   Stonehenge   ring   is   monoliths   .   of
    7. is   around   stone   high   .   four   standing   metres   Each
    8. mound   .   burial   Stonehenge   used   as   first   was   a
    9. ancient   people   How   stones   .   transported   giant   the
    10. with   the   there   .   buried   and   stones   Moved   were

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists say they have uncovered detail / details about who built the 5,000-year-old prehistoric monument Stonehenge. The ancient stones on / in the southwest of England are famous all / every over the world. How Stonehenge was built has been a mysterious / mystery for thousands of years. A new study shows that the architects and builds / builders of Stonehenge could have come / coming from Wales, which is more than 160 kilometres away / afar. Researchers wrote in the Scientific Reports journal that some / same human bones found at the site were from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The researchers said the oldest human remainder / remains discovered so far date back to about 3000 BC, which is over 5,000 years age / ago.

    Stonehenge is a ring / rung of standing monoliths - giant stones. Each standing stone is around four metres height / high and 2.1 metres wide. They each weigh / weight around 25 tons. Scientists say Stonehenge was first used as a burial / bury mound. The giant monoliths also came from the Preseli Mountains. Scientists are not sure / surely how ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to their sight / site in Stonehenge. They now believe / belief the people who are buried at Stonehenge helped transport, position and elect / erect the stones. Researcher John Pouncett said: "People from the Preseli Mountains not only supplier / supplied the bluestones used to build the stone circle but moved with the stones and were buried there / them too."

    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)

    S c__ n t_s t s s_y t h_y h_v_ _n c_v_r_d d_t__ l s _b__ t w h_ b__ l t t h_ 5 , 0 0 0 - y__ r -_l d p r_h_s t_r_c m_n_m_n t S t_n_h_n g_. T h_ _n c__ n t s t_n_s _n t h_ s__ t h w_s t _f E n g l_n d _r_ f_m__ s _l l _v_r t h_ w_r l d . H_w S t_n_h_n g_ w_s b__ l t h_s b__ n _ m y s t_r y f_r t h__ s_n d s _f y__ r s . A n_w s t_d y s h_w s t h_t t h_ _r c h_t_c t s _n d b__ l d_r s _f S t_n_h_n g_ c__ l d h_v_ c_m_ f r_m W_l_s , w h_c h _s m_r_ t h_n 1 6 0 k_l_m_t r_s _w_y . R_s__ r c h_r s w r_t_ _n t h_ S c__ n t_f_c R_p_r t s j__ r n_l t h_t s_m_ h_m_n b_n_s f__ n d _t t h_ s_t_ w_r_ f r_m t h_ P r_s_l_ M__ n t__ n s _n w_s t W_l_s . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s s__ d t h_ _l d_s t h_m_n r_m__ n s d_s c_v_r_d s_ f_r d_t_ b_c k t_ _b__ t 3 0 0 0 B C , w h_c h _s _v_r 5 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _g_.

    S t_n_h_n g_ _s _ r_n g _f s t_n d_n g m_n_l_t h s - g__ n t s t_n_s . E_c h s t_n d_n g s t_n_ _s _r__ n d f__ r m_t r_s h_g h _n d 2 . 1 m_t r_s w_d_. T h_y __ c h w__ g h _r__ n d 2 5 t_n s . S c__ n t_s t s s_y S t_n_h_n g_ w_s f_r s t _s_d _s _ b_r__ l m__ n d . T h_ g__ n t m_n_l_t h s _l s_ c_m_ f r_m t h_ P r_s_l_ M__ n t__ n s . S c__ n t_s t s _r_ n_t s_r_ h_w _n c__ n t p__ p l_ t r_n s p_r t_d t h_ g__ n t s t_n_s t h_ 1 6 0 k m t_ t h__ r s_t_ _n S t_n_h_n g_. T h_y n_w b_l__ v_ t h_ p__ p l_ w h_ _r_ b_r__ d _t S t_n_h_n g_ h_l p_d t r_n s p_r t , p_s_t__ n _n d _r_c t t h_ s t_n_s . R_s__ r c h_r J_h n P__ n c_t t s__ d : " P__ p l_ f r_m t h_ P r_s_l_ M__ n t__ n s n_t _n l y s_p p l__ d t h_ b l__ s t_n_s _s_d t_ b__ l d t h_ s t_n_ c_r c l_ b_t m_v_d w_t h t h_ s t_n_s _n d w_r_ b_r__ d t h_r_ t__ . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists say they have uncovered details about who built the 5000yearold prehistoric monument stonehenge the ancient stones in the southwest of england are famous all over the world how stonehenge was built has been a mystery for thousands of years a new study shows that the architects and builders of stonehenge could have come from wales which is more than 160 kilometres away researchers wrote in the scientific reports journal that some human bones found at the site were from the preseli mountains in west wales the researchers said the oldest human remains discovered so far date back to about 3000 bc which is over 5000 years ago

    stonehenge is a ring of standing monoliths  giant stones each standing stone is around four metres high and 21 metres wide they each weigh around 25 tons scientists say stonehenge was first used as a burial mound the giant monoliths also came from the preseli mountains scientists are not sure how ancient people transported the giant stones the 160 km to their site in stonehenge they now believe the people who are buried at stonehenge helped transport position and erect the stones researcher john pouncett said people from the preseli mountains not only supplied the bluestones used to build the stone circle but moved with the stones and were buried there too

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistssaytheyhaveuncovereddetailsaboutwhobuiltthe5,000-ye
    ar-oldprehistoricmonumentStonehenge.Theancientstonesintheso
    uthwestofEnglandarefamousallovertheworld.HowStonehengewasb
    uilthasbeenamysteryforthousandsofyears.Anewstudyshowsthatthe
    architectsandbuildersofStonehengecouldhavecomefromWales,whic
    hismorethan160kilometresaway.ResearcherswroteintheScientificR
    eportsjournalthatsomehumanbonesfoundatthesitewerefromthePre
    seliMountainsinwestWales.Theresearcherssaidtheoldesthumanrem
    ainsdiscoveredsofardatebacktoabout3000BC,whichisover5,000yea
    rsago.Stonehengeisaringofstandingmonoliths-giantstones.Eachst
    andingstoneisaroundfourmetreshighand2.1metreswide.Theyeachw
    eigharound25tons.ScientistssayStonehengewasfirstusedasaburial
    mound.ThegiantmonolithsalsocamefromthePreseliMountains.Scien
    tistsarenotsurehowancientpeopletransportedthegiantstonesthe160
    kmtotheirsiteinStonehenge.Theynowbelievethepeoplewhoareburie
    datStonehengehelpedtransport,positionanderectthestones.Resear
    cherJohnPouncettsaid:"PeoplefromthePreseliMountainsnotonlysup
    pliedthebluestonesusedtobuildthestonecirclebutmovedwiththeston
    esandwereburiedtheretoo."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We should spend lots of money on researching ancient history. Discuss.

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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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. STONEHENGE: Make a poster about Stonehenge. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RESEARCH: Write a magazine article about spending lots of money on researching Stonehenge. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against 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 Stonehenge. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on the ancient site. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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