Breaking News English Lesson on Lockdown

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Italy mayors scold people not following lockdown (28th March, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Lockdown - Level 3

Mayors across Italy are taking direct action to make sure people follow lockdown rules. The whole of Italy is under lockdown. It is one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The country has reported over 80,000 cases of infections. There have also been 8,215 deaths, the most of any country in the world. The whole country is under lockdown but not everyone is following the rules. There are many videos online of mayors going into the streets to order people to stay at home. Over 100,000 people in Italy have been fined for being on the streets without a good reason. Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to contain the virus.

Some mayors in Italy are posting angry messages on social media. The mayor of one town said he was tired of people walking their dogs many times a day. He posted a video saying: "Where are you going with these incontinent dogs? You need to stay home. People are dying. Don't you get it? You are irresponsible idiots, colossal idiots." The president of Lombardy, Italy's worst affected region, said: "Too many people are still out and about." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "Everyone's efforts are needed as the survival of the social and economic fabric of our country is at stake." Italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to cheer people up.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Lockdown - Level 0, Lockdown - Level 1 or Lockdown - Level 2

Sources

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/italian-mayors-coronavirus-lockdown-videos_n_5e798776c5b6f5b7c54a03c4
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/23/world/italian-mayors-scolding-residents-coronavirus-lockdown-trnd/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/this-is-not-a-film-italian-mayors-rage-coronavirus-lockdown-dodgers

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. LOCKDOWN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about lockdown. 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?
mayor / direct / action / lockdown / infection / rules / videos / home / reason / virus
angry / message / dog / idiots / region / survival / fabric / balcony / singing / cheer
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GLOBAL LOCKDOWN: Students A strongly believe the whole world should be locked down for two weeks; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MAYORS: What should mayors and other leaders do about these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What They Should Do?	Challenges
Lockdown
Security
Food
Jobs
Education
Health

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. STREETS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "streets". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RULES: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important lockdown rules at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

social distance
wear a mask
stay at home
check your temperature
do not shake hands
exercise indoors
hand washing
sneeze into a tissue

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	direct	a.	Having a virus in your body or in a computer.
2.	affected	b.	Had to pay money for doing something wrong or breaking the law.
3.	infection	c.	Immediate and straightforward.
4.	following	d.	Made a difference to.
5.	order	e.	Doing what people tell you to do.
6.	fined	f.	Tell someone to do something.
7.	contain	g.	Control something to stop it getting bigger or worse.

Paragraph 2

8.	angry	h.	An area of a town, country of the world.
9.	posted	i.	Having a strong feeling or showing annoyance.
10.	incontinent	j.	A stupid person.
11.	idiot	k.	The structure of something, especially a society or culture.
12.	region	l.	Uploaded something on the Internet.
13.	fabric	m.	Something that many people are doing within a short period of time.
14.	trend	n.	Having no control over doing what you do in the toilet.

Before reading / listening

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

Mayors in Italy are taking action to make people follow lockdown rules. T / F
Italy is the country with the highest number of infections. T / F
Almost 10,000 people have been fined for being on the streets. T / F
Around 75 per cent of the world is in lockdown. T / F
A mayor is angry at people walking dogs too often. T / F
The mayor called people on the streets "idiots". T / F
Italy's leader said the survival of the Italian fabric industry is at risk. T / F
Italians try to cheer each other up by singing on their balcony. T / F

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

direct
whole
following
try
contain
posting
tired
idiots
region
at stake

area
attempt
control
fed up
entire
at risk
fools
straight
uploading
obeying

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

Mayors across Italy are
It is one of the countries worst
not everyone is following
fined for being
Three-
he was tired
irresponsible
Too many people are still out
Everyone's efforts are
singing from their balcony

the rules
quarters of the world
to cheer people up
affected
idiots
taking direct action
needed
of people
on the streets
and about

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

cases
rules
contain
direct
fined
most
whole
order

Mayors across Italy are taking (1) ____________ action to make sure people follow lockdown rules. The (2) ____________ of Italy is under lockdown. It is one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The country has reported over 80,000 (3) ____________ of infections. There have also been 8,215 deaths, the (4) ____________ of any country in the world. The whole country is under lockdown but not everyone is following the (5) ____________. There are many videos online of mayors going into the streets to (6) ____________ people to stay at home. Over 100,000 people in Italy have been (7) ____________ for being on the streets without a good reason. Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to (8) ____________ the virus.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

stay
region
cheer
idiots
posting
stake
tired
survival

Some mayors in Italy are (9) ____________ angry messages on social media. The mayor of one town said he was (10) ____________ of people walking their dogs many times a day. He posted a video saying: "Where are you going with these incontinent dogs? You need to (11) ____________ home. People are dying. Don't you get it? You are irresponsible (12) ____________, colossal idiots." The president of Lombardy, Italy's worst affected (13) ____________, said: "Too many people are still out and about." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "Everyone's efforts are needed as the (14) ____________ of the social and economic fabric of our country is at (15) ____________." Italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to (16) ____________ people up.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Mayors across Italy are taking direct action to make sure people ______
     a. followed lockdown rules
     b. follows lockdown rules
     c. follow lockdown rules
     d. following lockdown rules
2) It is one of the countries ______
     a. worse affected
     b. worst affected
     c. worst affect it
     d. was affected
3) The country has reported over 80,000 ______
     a. case is of infections
     b. case is off infections
     c. cases off infections
     d. cases of infections
4) There are many videos online of mayors going into the streets ______
     a. to order people
     b. tall order people
     c. two orders people
     d. true order people
5) Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to ______
     a. contains the virus
     b. contain the virus
     c. con train the virus
     d. continue the virus

6) The mayor of one town said he was tired of people ______
     a. war king their dogs
     b. walk in their dogs
     c. walking their dogs
     d. wore king their dogs
7) People are dying. Don't you get it? You are ______
     a. irresponsible idiot
     b. irresponsible idiots
     c. irresponsible idiocy
     d. irresponsible idioms
8) The president of Lombardy, Italy's worst ______
     a. affection region
     b. affected region
     c. affective region
     d. affectation region
9) the survival of the social and economic fabric of our country ______
     a. is at steak
     b. is at stoke
     c. is at stake
     d. is at streak
10) started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to ______
     a. char people up
     b. career people up
     c. cheer people up
     d. chair people up

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Mayors across Italy are taking direct (1) ___________________ sure people follow lockdown rules. The whole of Italy is under lockdown. It is one of the countries (2) ___________________ the COVID-19 coronavirus. The country has reported over 80,000 cases of infections. There have also been 8,215 deaths, the (3) ___________________ country in the world. The whole country is under lockdown but not everyone is (4) ___________________. There are many videos online of mayors going into the streets to order people to stay at home. Over 100,000 people in Italy have (5) ___________________ being on the streets without a good reason. Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries (6) ___________________ the virus.

Some mayors in Italy are (7) ___________________ on social media. The mayor of one town said he was tired of people walking their dogs many (8) ___________________. He posted a video saying: "Where are you going with these incontinent dogs? You need to stay home. People are dying. Don't you get it? You (9) ___________________, colossal idiots." The president of Lombardy, Italy's (10) ___________________, said: "Too many people are still out and about." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "Everyone's efforts are needed as the (11) ___________________ social and economic fabric of our country is at stake." Italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their (12) ___________________ people up.

Comprehension questions

What kind of action did the article say mayors are taking?
How much of Italy is under lockdown?
What are Italy's mayors ordering people to do?
What has happened to 100,000 people in Italy?
How much of the world is in lockdown?
Where are the mayors putting their messages?
What is one mayor angry at people doing?
Where did Lombardy's president say too many people were?
Whose efforts did Italy's prime minister say was needed?
From where are Italian people singing?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of action did the article say mayors are taking?
a) insufficient action
b) direct action
c) limited action
d) drastic action
2) How much of Italy is under lockdown?
a) half of Italy
b) about 90% of Italy
c) most of Italy
d) the whole of Italy
3) What are Italy's mayors ordering people to do?
a) help their neighbours
b) wash their hands
c) stay at home
d) sing
4) What has happened to 100,000 people in Italy?
a) they got fined
b) they were moved
c) they received free food
d) they got free masks
5) How much of the world is in lockdown?
a) two-thirds
b) three-quarters
c) four-fifths
d) seven-eighths

6) Where are the mayors putting their messages?
a) on social media
b) in bottles
c) in newspapers
d) on the TV
7) What is one mayor angry at people doing?
a) meeting in groups
b) holding hands
c) walking dogs
d) running
8) Where did Lombardy's president say too many people were?
a) pit and about
b) outdoors
c) in malls
d) in parks
9) Whose efforts did Italy's prime minister say was needed?
a) teachers
b) nurses
c) the police
d) everyone's effort
10) From where are Italian people singing?
a) opera stages
b) coffee shops
c) balconies
d) theatres

Role play

Role A – Social Distancing
You think social distancing is the most important lockdown rule to follow. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the lest important of these (and why): wearing a mask, staying at home or hand washing.

Role B – Wear A Mask
You think wearing a mask is the most important lockdown rule to follow. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the lest important of these (and why): social distancing, staying at home or hand washing.

Role C – Stay At Home
You think staying at home is the most important lockdown rule to follow. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the lest important of these (and why): wearing a mask, social distancing or hand washing.

Role D – Hand Washing
You think hand washing is the most important lockdown rule to follow. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the lest important of these (and why): wearing a mask, staying at home or social distancing.

After reading / listening

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

'mayor'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'lockdown'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

direct

worst

everyone

order

fined

contain

angry

times

get

region

stake

balcony

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 - Lockdown

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'mayor'?
What do you think of the lockdown rules?
What is the lockdown situation in your country?
How strict should a lockdown be?
What can people do at home during a lockdown?
How can a lockdown affect our health?
Should the whole world be under a lockdown?
How is your country's leader handling this crisis?
For what reasons do people need to be on the streets?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'lockdown'?
What do you think about what you read?
Do you understand why mayors are angry?
What advice do you have for the mayors?
What advice do you have for people in Italy?
Why do people not follow lockdown rules?
What do you think of the trend of singing on the balcony?
What do you think the world will be like this time next week?
What questions would you like to ask Italy's mayors?

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)

Mayors across Italy are taking (1) ____ action to make sure people follow lockdown rules. The whole of Italy is (2) ____ lockdown. It is one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The country has reported over 80,000 cases (3) ____ infections. There have also been 8,215 deaths, the most of any country in the world. The (4) ____ country is under lockdown but not everyone is following the rules. There are many videos online of mayors (5) ____ into the streets to order people to stay at home. Over 100,000 people in Italy have been fined for being on the streets without a good reason. Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to (6) ____ the virus.

Some mayors in Italy are (7) ____ angry messages on social media. The mayor of one town said he was tired of people walking their dogs (8) ____ times a day. He posted a video saying: "Where are you going with these incontinent dogs? You need to stay home. People are dying. Don't you (9) ____ it? You are irresponsible idiots, colossal idiots." The president of Lombardy, Italy's worst affected (10) ____, said: "Too many people are still out and about." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "Everyone's efforts are needed (11) ____ the survival of the social and economic fabric of our country is at stake." Italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to cheer people (12) ____.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) direction (b) directs (c) director (d) direct
(a) around (b) between (c) over (d) under
(a) at (b) of (c) on (d) to
(a) hole (b) holy (c) whole (d) whale
(a) been (b) went (c) going (d) goes
(a) contain (b) content (c) client (d) castanet
(a) jumping (b) upping (c) posting (d) increasing
(a) many (b) much (c) most (d) mere
(a) real (b) get (c) post (d) try
(a) legion (b) ration (c) region (d) portion
(a) was (b) has (c) as (d) is
(a) down (b) over (c) by (d) up

Spelling

Paragraph 1

taking eitcdr action
one of the countries worst edctfafe
over 80,000 cases of tsfeioincn
fedni for being on the streets
Three-rurtqsea of the world
countries try to ctniaon the virus

Paragraph 2

angry agmsssee on social media
irresponsible itiosd
Everyone's ffoters are needed
the rslaivvu of the social and economic fabric
started a worldwide entdr
singing from their bnolyca

Put the text back together

(...) tired of people walking their dogs many times a day. He posted a video saying: "Where are you
(...) the rules. There are many videos online of mayors going into the streets to order people to stay
(...) Some mayors in Italy are posting angry messages on social media. The mayor of one town said he was
(...) idiots, colossal idiots." The president of Lombardy, Italy's worst affected region, said: "Too
(...) efforts are needed as the survival of the social and economic fabric of our country is at
(...) going with these incontinent dogs? You need to stay home. People are dying. Don't you get it? You are irresponsible
(...) reason. Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to contain the virus.
(...) of Italy is under lockdown. It is one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The country has
(...) of any country in the world. The whole country is under lockdown but not everyone is following
(...) reported over 80,000 cases of infections. There have also been 8,215 deaths, the most
(...) stake." Italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to cheer people up.
(...) at home. Over 100,000 people in Italy have been fined for being on the streets without a good
(...) many people are still out and about." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "Everyone's
( 1 ) Mayors across Italy are taking direct action to make sure people follow lockdown rules. The whole

Put the words in the right order

people lockdown sure make to Action rules . follow
under lockdown . The Italy whole of is
worst It of affected . countries is one the
a the Being streets without reason . good on
world is in lockdown . the Three-quarters of
in angry Italy are mayors posting messages . Some
dogs . people was of their tired He walking
still are people Too many out and about .
started Italians have also trend . a worldwide
people from balcony Singing their cheer to up .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Mayors across Italy are taking direct / direction action to make sure people follow lockdown rules. The whole of Italy is over / under lockdown. It is one of the countries worst affection / affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The country has reported over 80,000 cases / castes of infections. There have also been 8,215 deaths, the most of many / any country in the world. The whole country is under lockdown but not everyone is following / followed the rules. There are many videos online of mayors gone / going into the streets to order people to stay at / to home. Over 100,000 people in Italy have been fined for being on the streets without a good reason / reasons. Three-quarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to container / contain the virus.

Some mayors in Italy are posting angrily / angry messages on social media. The mayor of one town said he was tired / tried of people walking their dogs many times the / a day. He posted a video saying: "Where are you going with these incontinent / continental dogs? You need to stay home. People are dying. Don't you get it? You are responsibility / irresponsible idiots, colossal idiots." The president of Lombardy, Italy's bad / worst affected region, said: "Too many people are still out and about / abut." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said: "Everyone's effort / efforts are needed as the survival of the social and economic fabric of our country is at steak / stake." Italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to cheer people up / down.

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)

M_y_r s _c r_s s I t_l y _r_ t_k_n g d_r_c t _c t__ n t_ m_k_ s_r_ p__ p l_ f_l l_w l_c k d_w n r_l_s . T h_ w h_l_ _f I t_l y _s _n d_r l_c k d_w n . I t _s _n_ _f t h_ c__ n t r__ s w_r s t _f f_c t_d b y t h_ C O V I D - 1 9 c_r_n_v_r_s . T h_ c__ n t r y h_s r_p_r t_d _v_r 8 0 , 0 0 0 c_s_s _f _n f_c t__ n s . T h_r_ h_v_ _l s_ b__ n 8 , 2 1 5 d__ t h s , t h_ m_s t _f _n y c__ n t r y _n t h_ w_r l d . T h_ w h_l_ c__ n t r y _s _n d_r l_c k d_w n b_t n_t _v_r y_n_ _s f_l l_w_n g t h_ r_l_s . T h_r_ _r_ m_n y v_d__ s _n l_n_ _f m_y_r s g__ n g _n t_ t h_ s t r__ t s t_ _r d_r p__ p l_ t_ s t_y _t h_m_. O v_r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 p__ p l_ _n I t_l y h_v_ b__ n f_n_d f_r b__ n g _n t h_ s t r__ t s w_t h__ t _ g__ d r__ s_n . T h r__ - q__ r t_r s _f t h_ w_r l d _s _n l_c k d_w n _s c__ n t r__ s t r y t_ c_n t__ n t h_ v_r_s .

S_m_ m_y_r s _n I t_l y _r_ p_s t_n g _n g r y m_s s_g_s _n s_c__ l m_d__ . T h_ m_y_r _f _n_ t_w n s__ d h_ w_s t_r_d _f p__ p l_ w_l k_n g t h__ r d_g s m_n y t_m_s _ d_y . H_ p_s t_d _ v_d__ s_y_n g : " W h_r_ _r_ y__ g__ n g w_t h t h_s_ _n c_n t_n_n t d_g s ? Y__ n__ d t_ s t_y h_m_. P__ p l_ _r_ d y_n g . D_n ' t y__ g_t _t ? Y__ _r_ _r r_s p_n s_b l_ _d__ t s , c_l_s s_l _d__ t s . " T h_ p r_s_d_n t _f L_m b_r d y , I t_l y ' s w_r s t _f f_c t_d r_g__ n , s__ d : " T__ m_n y p__ p l_ _r_ s t_l l __ t _n d _b__ t . " P r_m_ M_n_s t_r G__ s_p p_ C_n t_ s__ d : " E v_r y_n_' s _f f_r t s _r_ n__ d_d _s t h_ s_r v_v_l _f t h_ s_c__ l _n d _c_n_m_c f_b r_c _f __ r c__ n t r y _s _t s t_k_. " I t_l__ n s h_v_ _l s_ s t_r t_d _ w_r l d w_d_ t r_n d _f s_n g_n g f r_m t h__ r b_l c_n y t_ c h__ r p__ p l_ _p .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

mayors across italy are taking direct action to make sure people follow lockdown rules the whole of italy is under lockdown it is one of the countries worst affected by the covid19 coronavirus the country has reported over 80000 cases of infections there have also been 8215 deaths the most of any country in the world the whole country is under lockdown but not everyone is following the rules there are many videos online of mayors going into the streets to order people to stay at home over 100000 people in italy have been fined for being on the streets without a good reason threequarters of the world is in lockdown as countries try to contain the virus

some mayors in italy are posting angry messages on social media the mayor of one town said he was tired of people walking their dogs many times a day he posted a video saying where are you going with these incontinent dogs you need to stay home people are dying dont you get it you are irresponsible idiots colossal idiots the president of lombardy italys worst affected region said too many people are still out and about prime minister giuseppe conte said everyones efforts are needed as the survival of the social and economic fabric of our country is at stake italians have also started a worldwide trend of singing from their balcony to cheer people up

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

MayorsacrossItalyaretakingdirectactiontomakesurepeoplefollowloc
kdownrules.ThewholeofItalyisunderlockdown.Itisoneofthecountrie
sworstaffectedbytheCOVID-19coronavirus.Thecountryhasreported
over80,000casesofinfections.Therehavealsobeen8,215deaths,the
mostofanycountryintheworld.Thewholecountryisunderlockdownbut
noteveryoneisfollowingtherules.Therearemanyvideosonlineofmayo
rsgoingintothestreetstoorderpeopletostayathome.Over100,000peo
pleinItalyhavebeenfinedforbeingonthestreetswithoutagoodreason.
Three-quartersoftheworldisinlockdownascountriestrytocontainthe
virus.SomemayorsinItalyarepostingangrymessagesonsocialmedia.
Themayorofonetownsaidhewastiredofpeoplewalkingtheirdogsmany
timesaday.Hepostedavideosaying:"Whereareyougoingwiththesein
continentdogs?Youneedtostayhome.Peoplearedying.Don'tyougetit
?Youareirresponsibleidiots,colossalidiots."ThepresidentofLombardy
,Italy'sworstaffectedregion,said:"Toomanypeoplearestilloutandabo
ut."PrimeMinisterGiuseppeContesaid:"Everyone'seffortsareneeded
asthesurvivalofthesocialandeconomicfabricofourcountryisatstake."
Italianshavealsostartedaworldwidetrendofsingingfromtheirbalcony
tocheerpeopleup.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

People who do not follow lockdown rules should be put in prison. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. CORONAVIRUS: Make a poster about the coronavirus. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LOCKDOWNS: Write a magazine article about lockdowns. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
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 lockdowns. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what to do during a lockdown. 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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Breaking News English Lesson on Lockdown

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