Breaking News English Lesson: Ig Nobel Prize

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Upside-down rhino experiment wins Ig Nobel Prize (13th September, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Ig Nobel Prize - Level 6

Everyone is familiar with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, fewer people are aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is bestowed to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented on the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter.

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Ig Nobel Prize - Level 4 or Ig Nobel Prize - Level 5

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ig_Nobel_Prize
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58507100
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ig-nobel-prize-awards-recognise-063744595.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58507100
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ig-nobel-prize-awards-recognise-063744595.html

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. NOBEL PRIZES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Nobel Prizes. 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?
Nobel / prizes / physics / literature / peace / humankind / achievements / helicopter /
science / humor / satirical / award / bacteria / chewing gum / beards / punch / face
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RHINOS: Students A strongly believe we should never relocate rhinos by helicopter; Students B strongly believe it's OK. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PRIZES: Who should get prizes for these things? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Who?	Why?
Sport
Business
Politics
Environment
Entertainment
Literature

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

Rhinos
Hippos
Elephants
Buffalo
Lions
Bears
Cows
Kangaroos

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	contributed	a.	Move to a new place.
2.	benefit	b.	Gave something in order to help achieve or provide something.
3.	bestowed	c.	A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
4.	honor	d.	An advantage or profit gained from something.
5.	effect	e.	Regard with great respect.
6.	ascertain	f.	Gave or present an honor, right, or gift.
7.	relocate	g.	Find something out for certain; make sure of.

Paragraph 2

8.	satirical	h.	Containing a humor to expose and criticize people's stupidity, particularly in the context of politics and other topical issues.
9.	trivial	i.	No longer existing or functioning.
10.	pun	j.	Of little value or importance.
11.	parody	k.	Developed gradually.
12.	recipient	l.	A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.
13.	evolved	m.	An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with exaggeration for comic effect.
14.	defunct	n.	A person or thing that receives or is awarded something.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says there is a Nobel Prize for medicine. T / F
The article says many people are familiar with the Ig Nobel Prize. T / F
The Ig Nobel Prize is for people who make us laugh and think. T / F
Researchers looked at ways to relocate hippos by helicopter. T / F
The Ig Nobel Prize is organized by a science humor magazine. T / F
The Ig Nobel Prize was first awarded 20 years ago. T / F
An Ig Nobel winner studied chewing gum stuck to train seats. T / F
Ig Nobel Prize winners receive an old $10 trillion note. T / F

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

familiar
benefit
achievements
effects
ascertain
satirical
trivial
recipients
evolved
defunct

unimportant
consequences
obsolete
find out
well known
beneficiaries
feats
developed
plus point
mocking

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

Everyone is familiar with
those who have contributed the greatest
make people
experimented
the healthiest way to relocate the
The Ig Nobel Prize is a
celebrate ten unusual or
Other recipients of
protect themselves from punches
a now-defunct Zimbabwean

$10 trillion note
animals by helicopter
this year's award
the Nobel Prizes
satirical prize
laugh
to the face
benefit to humankind
trivial achievements
on the effects

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

benefit
familiar
ascertain
bestowed
literature
relocate
aware
effects

Everyone is (1) _____________________ with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, (2) _____________________, and peace. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest (3) _____________________ to humankind". However, fewer people are (4) _____________________ of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is (5) _____________________ to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented on the (6) _____________________ on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to (7) _____________________ the healthiest way to (8) _____________________ the animals by helicopter.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

trivial
recipients
humor
beards
annually
defunct
pun
pavements

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science (9) _____________________ magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded (10) _____________________ since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or (11) _____________________ achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a (12) _____________________ on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other (13) _____________________ of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to (14) _____________________, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans evolved to grow (15) _____________________ to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now- (16) _____________________ Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Everyone is familiar with the Nobel Prizes, which are ______
     a. awarded for physic
     b. awarded of physics
     c. awarded for physics
     d. awarded from physic
2) These are given to those who have contributed the greatest ______
     a. benefit to humane kind
     b. benefit to who man kind
     c. benefit two humans kind
     d. benefit to humankind
3) One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented _____
     a. on the effects
     b. in the effects
     c. at the effects
     d. non the effects
4) The rhino study won the award for ______
     a. transport lotion research
     b. transport ration research
     c. transport nation research
    d. transportation research
5) were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to ______
     a. reel locate the animals
     b. real locate the animals
     c. relocates the animals
     d. relocate the animals

6) The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded ______
     a. annual since 1991
     b. annul since 1991
     c. a know-all since 1991
     d. annually since 1991
7) The name of the award is a pun on the Nobel Prize, ______
     a. which it parodies
     b. which it paradise
     c. which it presides
     d. which it parades
8) recipients of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum ______
     a. struck to pavements
     b. stuck two pavements
     c. stuck to pavements
     d. struck to pavement
9) whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from ______ face
     a. bunches to the
     b. punch its to the
     c. punches to the
     d. punishes to the
10) All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean ______
     a. $10 trillion note
     b. $10 trillion oat
     c. $10 trillion not
     d. $10 trillion ate

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everyone (1) ____________________ the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, (2) ____________________. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, (3) ____________________ aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This (4) ____________________ "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists (5) ____________________ the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest (6) ____________________ the animals by helicopter.

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the (7) ____________________ Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is (8) ____________________ awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten (9) ____________________ achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is (10) ____________________ the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the (11) ____________________ gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans (12) ____________________ beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Comprehension questions

Who does the article say is familiar with the Nobel Prizes?
Who does the article say is familiar with the Ig Nobel Prize?
What do the Ig Nobel Prizes honor besides making people laugh?
What award did the rhino researchers win?
Where were the researchers from?
When was the first Ig Nobel Prize awarded?
How many Ig Nobel categories are there?
Which animal's communication did researchers look at?
What did researchers look at the evolution of in humans?
What do the winners of the Ig Nobel receive?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who does the article say is familiar with the Nobel Prizes?
a) fewer people
b) Nobel Prize winners
c) everyone
d) Norwegian people
2) Who does the article say is familiar with the Ig Nobel Prize?
a) fewer people
b) Nobel Prize winners
c) everyone
d) Norwegian people
3) What do the Ig Nobel Prizes honor besides making people laugh?
a) raising eyebrows
b) making people think
c) making people sigh in disbelief
d) intelligence
4) What award did the rhino researchers win?
a) Gravity Research
b) the Wildlife Prize
c) the Upside Down Prize
d) Transportation Research
5) Where were the researchers from?
a) Oslo University
b) the Sorbonne
c) Cornell University
d) Tokyo University

6) When was the first Ig Nobel Prize awarded?
a) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1993
7) How many Ig Nobel categories are there?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
8) Which animal's communication did researchers look at?
a) goldfish
b) cats
c) dogs
d) parrots
9) What did researchers look at the evolution of in humans?
a) the brain
b) the growth of beards
c) smiling
d) the big toe
10) What do the winners of the Ig Nobel receive?
a) a defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note
b) a statue of a brain
c) a cheese sandwich
d) nothing

Role play

Role A – Rhinos
You think rhinos are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hippos, bears or kangaroos.

Role B – Hippos
You think hippos are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): rhinos, bears or kangaroos.

Role C – Bears
You think bears are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hippos, rhinos or kangaroos.

Role D – Kangaroos
You think kangaroos are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hippos, bears or rhinos.

After reading / listening

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

'rhino'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'prize'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

familiar

greatest

first

effects

transportation

relocate

magazine

annually

trivial

pun

carried

note

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 - Ig Nobel Prize

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 'prize'?
What do you know about the Nobel Prizes?
Who has contributed the most to benefit humankind?
What have you contributed to humankind?
What do you think of the Ig Nobel prizes?
Why are scientists relocating rhinoceroses?
What do you think is the best way to relocate rhinoceroses?
What is the effect on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down?
How can we keep rhinoceroses safe in the wild?

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 'rhino'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of the Nobel Prizes?
How do you think the Ig Nobel winners feel about winning?
How can knowledge of the bacteria in chewing gum help us?
Why is research on cat communication important?
Do you think humans developed beards to protect themselves?
What do you think of the Ig Nobel prize?
What questions would you like to ask the Ig Nobel committee?

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)

Everyone is familiar (1) ____ the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These are given to (2) ____ who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, fewer people are aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is (3) ____ to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented (4) ____ the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for (5) ____ research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to (6) ____ the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter.

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded (7) ____ since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a (8) ____ on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other (9) ____ of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on (10) ____ of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans (11) ____ beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-(12) ____ Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) of (b) to (c) with (d) at
(a) those (b) they (c) them (d) which
(a) bestowed (b) stowed (c) stowage (d) stowaway
(a) on (b) to (c) of (d) by
(a) transports (b) transported (c) transportable (d) transportation
(a) locale (b) seasonal (c) premium (d) ascertain
(a) annually (b) annul (c) annual (d) annualize
(a) sun (b) fun (c) bun (d) pun
(a) recipients (b) incipient (c) ingredients (d) gradients
(a) farms (b) forms (c) firms (d) frames
(a) revolved (b) evolved (c) involved (d) solved
(a) defunct (b) debunked (c) debauched (d) deepened

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Everyone is ariilmfa with the Nobel Prizes
medicine, tureteilar, and peace
the greatest inbefet to humankind
This is estbdweo to honor achievements
eptirdnemxee on the effects
trying to acainrest the healthiest way

Paragraph 2

The Ig Nobel Prize is a lraitasci prize
unusual or rtiavil achievements
a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it aroiesdp
Other trpnieicse of this year's award
humans vdeloev to grow beards
a now-tdfencu Zimbabwean $10 trillion note

Put the text back together

(...) laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given
(...) out research on whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches
(...) says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or
(...) bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried
(...) to scientists who experimented on the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them
(...) trivial achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a pun
(...) to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.
(...) and peace. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, fewer
(...) people are aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is bestowed to "honor achievements that first make people
(...) on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the
(...) Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter.
( 1 ) Everyone is familiar with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature,
(...) The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia
(...) upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from

Put the words in the right order

awarded familiar peace . prize with the Everyone for
contributed to the humankind . Those who benefit greatest
achievements people Bestowed honor make laugh . that to
for the study rhino transportation . The won award
animals The by helicopter . healthiest relocate way to
since 1991 . It's awarded annually satirical prize a
scientific trivial or research . in unusual Ten achievements
The of a award is pun . the name
The in to chewing bacteria stuck gum pavements .
themselves Humans from protect punches . evolved to beards

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Everyone is familiar / familiarly with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These are given to them / those who have contributed "the greatest beneficial / benefit to humankind". However, fewer people are aware / wary of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is bestowed to "honor / honorable achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". Once / One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists what / who experimented on the effects on / in rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award of / for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest way of / to relocate the animals by helicopter.

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by / as the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a soporific / satirical prize awarded annually / annual since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial / triviality achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a bun / pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on / in the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck / stricken to pavements, conducted tests in / on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans evolved / revolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct / now-derelict Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

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)

_v_ry_n_ _s f_m_l__r w_th th_ N_b_l Pr_z_s, wh_ch _r_ _w_rd_d f_r phys_cs, ch_m_stry, m_d_c_n_, l_t_r_t_r_, _nd p__c_. Th_s_ _r_ g_v_n t_ th_s_ wh_ h_v_ c_ntr_b_t_d "th_ gr__t_st b_n_f_t t_ h_m_nk_nd". H_w_v_r, f_w_r p__pl_ _r_ _w_r_ _f th_ _g N_b_l Pr_z_. Th_s _s b_st_w_d t_ "h_n_r _ch__v_m_nts th_t f_rst m_k_ p__pl_ l__gh, _nd th_n m_k_ th_m th_nk". _n_ _f th_s y__r's _g N_b_l _w_rds h_s b__n g_v_n t_ sc__nt_sts wh_ _xp_r_m_nt_d _n th_ _ff_cts _n rh_n_c_r_s_s _f h_ng_ng th_m _ps_d_ d_wn. Th_ rh_n_ st_dy w_n th_ _w_rd f_r tr_nsp_rt_t__n r_s__rch. R_s__rch_rs fr_m C_rn_ll _n_v_rs_ty w_r_ try_ng t_ _sc_rt__n th_ h__lth__st w_y t_ r_l_c_t_ th_ _n_m_ls by h_l_c_pt_r.

Th_ _g N_b_l pr_z_s _r_ _rg_n_z_d by th_ sc__nc_ h_m_r m_g_z_n_ _nn_ls _f _mpr_b_bl_ R_s__rch. W_k_p_d__ s_ys: "Th_ _g N_b_l Pr_z_ _s _ s_t_r_c_l pr_z_ _w_rd_d _nn__lly s_nc_ 1991 t_ c_l_br_t_ t_n _n_s__l _r tr_v__l _ch__v_m_nts _n sc__nt_f_c r_s__rch." _t _dd_d: "Th_ n_m_ _f th_ _w_rd _s _ p_n _n th_ N_b_l Pr_z_, wh_ch _t p_r_d__s, _nd _n th_ w_rd _gn_bl_ (n_t n_bl_)." _th_r r_c_p__nts _f th_s y__r's _w_rd st_d__d th_ b_ct_r__ _n ch_w_ng g_m st_ck t_ p_v_m_nts, c_nd_ct_d t_sts _n f_rms _f c_t c_mm_n_c_t__n, _nd c_rr__d __t r_s__rch _n wh_th_r h_m_ns _v_lv_d t_ gr_w b__rds t_ pr_t_ct th_ms_lv_s fr_m p_nch_s t_ th_ f_c_. _ll _w_rd w_nn_rs r_c__v_ _ n_w-d_f_nct Z_mb_bw__n $10 tr_ll__n n_t_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

everyone is familiar with the nobel prizes which are awarded for physics chemistry medicine literature and peace these are given to those who have contributed the greatest benefit to humankind however fewer people are aware of the ig nobel prize this is bestowed to honor achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think one of this years ig nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented on the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down the rhino study won the award for transportation research researchers from cornell university were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter

the ig nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine annals of improbable research wikipedia says the ig nobel prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research it added the name of the award is a pun on the nobel prize which it parodies and on the word ignoble not noble other recipients of this years award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements conducted tests on forms of cat communication and carried out research on whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches to the face all award winners receive a nowdefunct zimbabwean 10 trillion note

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

EveryoneisfamiliarwiththeNobelPrizes,whichareawardedforphysics,
chemistry,medicine,literature,andpeace.Thesearegiventothosewho
havecontributed"thegreatestbenefittohumankind".However,fewerp
eopleareawareoftheIgNobelPrize.Thisisbestowedto"honorachievem
entsthatfirstmakepeoplelaugh,andthenmakethemthink".Oneofthis
year'sIgNobelawardshasbeengiventoscientistswhoexperimentedon
theeffectsonrhinocerosesofhangingthemupsidedown.Therhinostud
ywontheawardfortransportationresearch.ResearchersfromCornellU
niversityweretryingtoascertainthehealthiestwaytorelocatetheanim
alsbyhelicopter.TheIgNobelprizesareorganizedbythesciencehumor
magazineAnnalsofImprobableResearch.Wikipediasays:"TheIgNobe
lPrizeisasatiricalprizeawardedannuallysince1991tocelebratetenunu
sualortrivialachievementsinscientificresearch."Itadded:"Thenameo
ftheawardisapunontheNobelPrize,whichitparodies,andonthewordig
noble(notnoble)."Otherrecipientsofthisyear'sawardstudiedthebacte
riainchewinggumstucktopavements,conductedtestsonformsofcatco
mmunication,andcarriedoutresearchonwhetherhumansevolvedtogr
owbeardstoprotectthemselvesfrompunchestotheface.Allawardwinn
ersreceiveanow-defunctZimbabwean$10trillionnote.

Free writing

Write about Ig Nobel Prize for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Nobel Prizes are the most important prizes in the world. 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. PRIZES: Make a poster about prizes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. IG NOBEL PRIZES: Write a magazine article about the Ig Nobel Prizes. 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 prizes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what to award prizes for. 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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