Breaking News English Lesson: Hottest Month

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Scientists say July was hottest month ever (16th August, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Hottest Month - Level 3

We hear about climate change pretty much every day now. We see pictures of floods, fires and heatwaves on TV news. Scientists have just announced that July was the hottest month ever recorded. The scientists are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. A spokesperson from NOAA said: "July is typically the world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself as the hottest July and hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's land and ocean surface temperature in July was 0.93 degree Celsius higher than the 20th-century average of 15.8 degrees Celsius. The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than average.

The NOAA spokesperson said this new record was worrying. He said: "In this case, first place is the worst place to be." The announcement from NOAA comes a week after a 4,000-page report on climate change from the United Nations. Its report is from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It clearly stated that humans had changed the climate. It wrote: "It is [clear] that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land." A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries worked on the report. It warns that extreme weather will continue to get worse. It says "every region" will experience "multiple changes" in weather, like sweltering heat and flooding.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Hottest Month - Level 0, Hottest Month - Level 1 or Hottest Month - Level 2

Sources

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/13/1027521725/july-hottest-month-in-recorded-human-history
https://weather.com/science/environment/news/2021-08-13-hottest-month-on-earth-july
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/july-2021-hottest-month-ugh_n_6116c197e4b07c140314d288

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. HOT WEATHER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about hot weather. 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?
climate change / floods / fires / heatwaves / hottest / ocean / temperature / average /
record / announcement / report / humans / influence / ocean / land / extreme / heat
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LIFESTYLE: Students A strongly believe we all need to greatly change our lifestyles; Students B strongly believe we don't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CLIMATE CHANGE: What can we do to limit the effects of climate change? What do you do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What We Can Do	What I Do
Recycling
Transport
Food
Water
Travel
Technology

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

Heatwave
Torrential rain
Blizzard
Freezing cold
Hurricane
Giant hailstones
Heavy snow
Tornadoes

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	pretty much	a.	Was more successful, bigger or greater than.
2.	flood	b.	Said something in public about a fact, plan, event, etc.
3.	announced	c.	Large amounts of water that cover the land and goes into houses.
4.	typically	d.	How hot or cold something is in ºC or ºF.
5.	outdid	e.	Almost
6.	surface	f.	Usually; in most cases.
7.	temperature	g.	The top (or top level) of something.

Paragraph 2

8.	case	h.	The power to change or affect something.
9.	climate change	i.	Reaching a high or the highest degree; very great.
10.	clearly	j.	One of the five huge areas of water on Earth that are larger than a sea.
11.	influence	k.	The changes in weather patterns around the world.
12.	ocean	l.	Having or involving several parts, elements, or members.
13.	extreme	m.	Example; situation.
14.	multiple	n.	Very easy to see and understand.

Before reading / listening

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

The article said we see floods on TV almost every day. T / F
The agency NOAA is from the USA. T / F
Earth's land and ocean surface temperature was 0.93 degree higher. T / F
The Southern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees hotter than average. T / F
A NOAA spokesperson wasn't worried about the new record. T / F
The UN published a 5,000-page report on climate change. T / F
A total of 66 scientists helped to write a climate change report. T / F
The UN report said many regions would experience sweltering heat. T / F

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

pretty much
announced
typically
outdid
average
worrying
influence
extreme
region
sweltering

area
usually
boiling
normal
made it known
severe
disturbing
almost
effect
exceeded

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

pretty
pictures of floods, fires
July is typically the
Earth's land and ocean
1.54 degrees Celsius
first place is the
human influence has warmed
extreme weather will
experience multiple
sweltering

world's warmest month
continue to get worse
hotter than average
the atmosphere
heat
and heatwaves
changes in weather
surface temperature
worst place to be
much every day

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

typically
higher
pretty
average
outdid
scientists
surface
announced

We hear about climate change (1) _____________________ much every day now. We see pictures of floods, fires and heatwaves on TV news. Scientists have just (2) _____________________ that July was the hottest month ever recorded. The (3) _____________________ are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. A spokesperson from NOAA said: "July is (4) _____________________ the world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 (5) _____________________ itself as the hottest July and hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's land and ocean (6) _____________________ temperature in July was 0.93 degree Celsius (7) _____________________ than the 20th-century average of 15.8 degrees Celsius. The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

place
influence
worrying
region
clearly
sweltering
week
total

The NOAA spokesperson said this new record was (9) _____________________. He said: "In this case, first place is the worst (10) _____________________ to be." The announcement from NOAA comes a (11) _____________________ after a 4,000-page report on climate change from the United Nations. Its report is from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It (12) _____________________ stated that humans had changed the climate. It wrote: "It is [clear] that human (13) _____________________ has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land." A (14) _____________________ of 234 scientists from 66 countries worked on the report. It warns that extreme weather will continue to get worse. It says "every (15) _____________________" will experience "multiple changes" in weather, like (16) _____________________ heat and flooding.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) every day now. We see pictures of floods, ______
     a. fire sand heatwaves
     b. fires and heat weaves
     c. fire sand heat weaves
     d. fires and heatwaves
2) July is typically the world's warmest month of the year, but July ______
     a. 2021 outdid herself
     b. 2021 outdid himself
     c. 2021 outdid myself
     d. 2021 outdid itself
3) hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's land and ocean ______
     a. surfaces temperature
     b. surface temperature
     c. surfaced temperature
     d. surf ice temperature
4) July was 0.93 degree Celsius higher than the 20th-century average ______
     a. of 15.8 degrees
     b. of 15.18 degrees
     c. of 18.8 degrees
     d. of 18.5 degrees
5) The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius ______
     a. hotter than averaged
     b. hotter than averaging
     c. hotter than average
     d. hotter than a verge

6) The NOAA spokesperson said this new ______
     a. recording was worrying
     b. recorder was worrying
     c. record was worrying
     d. records was worrying
7) He said in this case, first place is the worst ______
     a. place to be
     b. plaice to be
     c. plays to be
     d. places to be
8) It is clear that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ______
     a. oceans and land
     b. ocean and land
     c. ocean and lands
     d. oceans and lands
9) It warns that extreme weather will continue ______
     a. to get worst
     b. to get worse
     c. to got worse
     d. too get worse
10) experience "multiple changes" in weather, like sweltering ______
     a. heat and flood din
     b. heat and flooded in
     c. heat and floods in
     d. heat and flooding

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

We hear about climate change (1) ____________________ day now. We see pictures of floods, (2) ____________________ on TV news. Scientists have just announced that July was the hottest month ever recorded. The scientists (3) ____________________ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. A spokesperson from NOAA said: "July (4) ____________________ world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself as the hottest July and hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's (5) ____________________ surface temperature in July was 0.93 degree Celsius higher than the 20th-century average of 15.8 degrees Celsius. The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius (6) ____________________.

The NOAA spokesperson said this new (7) ____________________. He said: "In this case, first place is the (8) ____________________ be." The announcement from NOAA comes a week after a 4,000-page report on climate change from the United Nations. Its report is from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It (9) ____________________ humans had changed the climate. It wrote: "It is [clear] that (10) ____________________ warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land." A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries worked on the report. It warns that (11) ____________________ continue to get worse. It says "every region" will experience "multiple changes" in weather, (12) ____________________ and flooding.

Comprehension questions

Where do we see pictures of floods pretty much every day?
Which month is usually the warmest?
Which country is NOAA from?
How much hotter than average were temperatures in July?
What was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than average?
Where did a NOAA spokesperson say was the worst place to be?
How many pages did a U.N. report contain?
What did the IPCC say had changed the climate?
How many scientists contributed to the IPCC report?
What kind of changes did the report say every region would experience?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where do we see pictures of floods pretty much every day?
a) on TV
b) the Internet
c) in magazines
d) on the streets
2) Which month is usually the warmest?
a) September
b) June
c) July
d) August
3) Which country is NOAA from?
a) Pakistan
b) the USA
c) Norway
d) Switzerland
4) How much hotter than average were temperatures in July?
a) 0.90 degree Celsius
b) 0.91 degree Celsius
c) 0.92 degree Celsius
d) 0.93 degree Celsius
5) What was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than average?
a) the Northern Hemisphere
b) the Equator
c) the South Pole
d) deserts

6) Where did a NOAA spokesperson say was the worst place to be?
a) last place
b) the Sahara Desert
c) out of place
d) first place
7) How many pages did a U.N. report contain?
a) 3,000
b) 4,000
c) 5,000
d) 2,000
8) What did the IPCC say had changed the climate?
a) plastic
b) ozone
c) trees
d) human influence
9) How many scientists contributed to the IPCC report?
a) 432
b) 324
c) 234
d) 423
10) What kind of changes did the report say every region would experience?
a) big changes
b) multiple changes
c) serious changes
d) tiny changes

Role play

Role A – Heatwave
You think a heatwave is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): torrential rain, freezing cold or giant hailstones.

Role B – Torrential Rain
You think torrential rain is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): heatwave, freezing cold or giant hailstones.

Role C – Freezing Cold
You think freezing cold is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): torrential rain, heatwave or giant hailstones.

Role D – Giant Hailstones
You think giant hailstones is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): torrential rain, freezing cold or heatwave.

After reading / listening

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

'hot'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'month'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

pretty

fires

typically

itself

surface

1.54

worrying

worst

clearly

total

worse

multiple

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 - Hottest Month

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 'hot'?
What do you think of hot weather?
Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
What are the best things to do when it's hot?
How is the weather changing in your country?
How worried are you that July was the hottest weather?
What do you think is causing climate change?
How has climate change affected your life?
What do you do in a heatwave?

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 'climate'?
What do you think about what you read?
Why do many people say climate change is not happening?
What can you do to reduce the effects of climate change?
What does your country need to do about climate change?
How has human influence warmed the atmosphere?
How worried are you about extreme weather?
What extreme weather events have you seen on the news?
What questions would you like to ask the meteorologists?

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)

We hear about climate change (1) ____ much every day now. We see pictures of floods, fires and heatwaves on TV news. Scientists have just announced that July was the hottest month (2) ____ recorded. The scientists are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. A spokesperson from NOAA said: "July is (3) ____ the world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid (4) ____ as the hottest July and hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's land and ocean (5) ____ temperature in July was 0.93 degree Celsius higher than the 20th-century average of 15.8 degrees Celsius. The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than (6) ____.

The NOAA spokesperson said this new record was (7) ____. He said: "In this case, first place is the worst place to (8) ____." The announcement from NOAA comes a week after a 4,000-page report on climate change from the United Nations. Its report is from the Inter-governmental Panel (9) ____ Climate Change (IPCC). It clearly stated that humans had changed the climate. It wrote: "It is [clear] that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land." A total (10) ____ 234 scientists from 66 countries worked (11) ____ the report. It warns that extreme weather will continue to get worse. It says "every region" will experience "multiple changes" in weather, like sweltering (12) ____ and flooding.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) cute (b) handsome (c) pretty (d) beautiful
(a) ever (b) even (c) every (d) event
(a) typically (b) about (c) warmly (d) hotly
(a) itself (b) one (c) them (d) him
(a) spaces (b) service (c) special (d) surface
(a) avarice (b) averaging (c) average (d) average
(a) worrying (b) hoping (c) cooling (d) freezing
(a) warm (b) cool (c) do (d) be
(a) on (b) at (c) by (d) as
(a) at (b) of (c) as (d) on
(a) as (b) on (c) to (d) of
(a) heat (b) tepid (c) warm (d) hot

Spelling

Paragraph 1

We see pictures of sldoof
fires and aetawshve
the hottest month ever dedorecr
July is tpilyycal the world's warmest month
land and ocean surface eueptrrteam
the 20th-erntuyc average

Paragraph 2

The ennnuemnctao from NOAA
human elnueifcn
warmed the repoamtseh
xmereet weather
every rnigoe will experience multiple changes
weegrnstli heat

Put the text back together

( 1 ) We hear about climate change pretty much every day now. We see pictures of floods, fires and
(...) stated that humans had changed the climate. It wrote: "It is [clear] that human influence has
(...) recorded. The scientists are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. A spokesperson
(...) Celsius. The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than average.
(...) from NOAA said: "July is typically the world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself
(...) warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land." A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries worked
(...) heatwaves on TV news. Scientists have just announced that July was the hottest month ever
(...) in July was 0.93 degree Celsius higher than the 20th-century average of 15.8 degrees
(...) climate change from the United Nations. Its report is from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It clearly
(...) experience "multiple changes" in weather, like sweltering heat and flooding.
(...) as the hottest July and hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's land and ocean surface temperature
(...) place to be." The announcement from NOAA comes a week after a 4,000-page report on
(...) on the report. It warns that extreme weather will continue to get worse. It says "every region" will
(...) The NOAA spokesperson said this new record was worrying. He said: "In this case, first place is the worst

Put the words in the right order

every day . about hear change We nearly climate
month . hottest that announced Scientists the was July
typically warmest the July is world's month .
July outdid itself as hottest 2021 July . the
1.54 Hemisphere Northern was Celsius The degrees hotter .
be . the to worst is place First place
humans clear It's the atmosphere have warmed that
countries . scientists A 234 total from 66 of
that weather extreme It continue . will warns
says region multiple every will experience It changes .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

We hear about climate change prettily / pretty much every day now. We see pictures of floods, fires and heatwaves on TV news / newsworthy. Scientists have adjust / just announced that July was the hottest month ever recording / recorded. The scientists are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA. A spokesperson from NOAA said: "July is typical / typically the world's warmest month off / of the year, but July 2021 outdid / did itself as the hottest July and hottest month ever." NOAA said Earth's land and ocean surface / bottom temperature in July was 0.93 degree Celsius higher than the 20th-century average to / of 15.8 degrees Celsius. The Northern Hemisphere was 1.54 degrees Celsius hotter than average / averaging.

The NOAA spokesperson said this newly / new record was worrying. He said: "In this case, first place is the worsen / worst place to be." The announcement from NOAA comes / goes a week after a 4,000-page report in / on climate change from the United Nations. Its report is from the Inter-governmental Panel in / on Climate Change (IPCC). It clearly stated that humans / human had changed the climate. It write / wrote: "It is [clear] that human influence has warmed / warned the atmosphere, ocean and land." A total of 234 scientists from 66 countries worked on the report. It warns that extremely / extreme weather will continue to get worse. It says "every region" will experience "multiple changes" in weather, like sweltering heat and flood / flooding.

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)

W_ h__r _b__t cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ pr_tty m_ch _v_ry d_y n_w. W_ s__ p_ct_r_s _f fl__ds, f_r_s _nd h__tw_v_s _n TV n_ws. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ j_st _nn__nc_d th_t J_ly w_s th_ h_tt_st m_nth _v_r r_c_rd_d. Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ fr_m th_ N_t__n_l _c__n_c _nd _tm_sph_r_c _dm_n_str_t__n (N___) _n th_ _S_. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n fr_m N___ s__d: "J_ly _s typ_c_lly th_ w_rld's w_rm_st m_nth _f th_ y__r, b_t J_ly 2021 __td_d _ts_lf _s th_ h_tt_st J_ly _nd h_tt_st m_nth _v_r." N___ s__d __rth's l_nd _nd _c__n s_rf_c_ t_mp_r_t_r_ _n J_ly w_s 0.93 d_gr__ C_ls__s h_gh_r th_n th_ 20th-c_nt_ry _v_r_g_ _f 15.8 d_gr__s C_ls__s. Th_ N_rth_rn H_m_sph_r_ w_s 1.54 d_gr__s C_ls__s h_tt_r th_n _v_r_g_.

Th_ N___ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d th_s n_w r_c_rd w_s w_rry_ng. H_ s__d: "_n th_s c_s_, f_rst pl_c_ _s th_ w_rst pl_c_ t_ b_." Th_ _nn__nc_m_nt fr_m N___ c_m_s _ w__k _ft_r _ 4,000-p_g_ r_p_rt _n cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ fr_m th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns. _ts r_p_rt _s fr_m th_ _nt_r-g_v_rnm_nt_l P_n_l _n Cl_m_t_ Ch_ng_ (_PCC). _t cl__rly st_t_d th_t h_m_ns h_d ch_ng_d th_ cl_m_t_. _t wr_t_: "_t _s [cl__r] th_t h_m_n _nfl__nc_ h_s w_rm_d th_ _tm_sph_r_, _c__n _nd l_nd." _ t_t_l _f 234 sc__nt_sts fr_m 66 c__ntr__s w_rk_d _n th_ r_p_rt. _t w_rns th_t _xtr_m_ w__th_r w_ll c_nt_n__ t_ g_t w_rs_. _t s_ys "_v_ry r_g__n" w_ll _xp_r__nc_ "m_lt_pl_ ch_ng_s" _n w__th_r, l_k_ sw_lt_r_ng h__t _nd fl__d_ng.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

we hear about climate change pretty much every day now we see pictures of floods fires and heatwaves on tv news scientists have just announced that july was the hottest month ever recorded the scientists are from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa in the usa a spokesperson from noaa said july is typically the worlds warmest month of the year but july 2021 outdid itself as the hottest july and hottest month ever noaa said earths land and ocean surface temperature in july was 093 degree celsius higher than the 20thcentury average of 158 degrees celsius the northern hemisphere was 154 degrees celsius hotter than average

the noaa spokesperson said this new record was worrying he said in this case first place is the worst place to be the announcement from noaa comes a week after a 4000page report on climate change from the united nations its report is from the intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc it clearly stated that humans had changed the climate it wrote it is clear that human influence has warmed the atmosphere ocean and land a total of 234 scientists from 66 countries worked on the report it warns that extreme weather will continue to get worse it says every region will experience multiple changes in weather like sweltering heat and flooding

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Wehearaboutclimatechangeprettymucheverydaynow.Weseepictur
esoffloods,firesandheatwavesonTVnews.Scientistshavejustannoun
cedthatJulywasthehottestmontheverrecorded.Thescientistsarefro
mtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)intheU
SA.AspokespersonfromNOAAsaid:"Julyistypicallytheworld'swarme
stmonthoftheyear,butJuly2021outdiditselfasthehottestJulyandhott
estmonthever."NOAAsaidEarth'slandandoceansurfacetemperaturei
nJulywas0.93degreeCelsiushigherthanthe20th-centuryaverageo
f15.8degreesCelsius.TheNorthernHemispherewas1.54degreesCelsi
ushotterthanaverage.TheNOAAspokespersonsaidthisnewrecordwa
sworrying.Hesaid:"Inthiscase,firstplaceistheworstplacetobe."Thea
nnouncementfromNOAAcomesaweekaftera4,000-pagereportoncl
imatechangefromtheUnitedNations.ItsreportisfromtheInter-gove
rnmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC).Itclearlystatedthathumans
hadchangedtheclimate.Itwrote:"Itis[clear]thathumaninfluencehas
warmedtheatmosphere,oceanandland."Atotalof234scientistsfrom6
6countriesworkedonthereport.Itwarnsthatextremeweatherwillconti
nuetogetworse.Itsays"everyregion"willexperience"multiplechange
s"inweather,likeswelteringheatandflooding.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We must all change the way we live to stop climate change increasing. 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. HOT WEATHER: Make a poster about hot weather. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LIFESTYLE CHANGES: Write a magazine article about all of us changing everything about our lifestyles to slow down climate change. 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 hot weather. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to cope with very hot weather. 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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