Breaking News English Lesson: Lobsters & Pain

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Lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain says U.K. (25th November, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Lobsters and Pain - Level 3

Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to change their cooking methods. They will no longer be able to boil seafood alive. The U.K. government is looking at research that accepts that sea life like lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how people treat and kill these creatures. The research is part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that all animals with a spine are "sentient beings". Being "sentient" means being able to feel things like pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different studies to reach their conclusion that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have feelings.

Dr Jonathan Birch, a professor at the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, commented on the research. He said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than others. He said the research showed strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient. He said the new law means the fishing, retail and restaurant industries must change the way they treat and kill these creatures. This means the end of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should now be trained so they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government said it has "some of the strongest protections in the world" for animals.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Lobsters and Pain - Level 0, Lobsters and Pain - Level 1 or Lobsters and Pain - Level 2

Sources

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/can-lobsters-octopuses-feel-pain-scientists-say-yes-uk-listening-rcna6378
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/22/europe/uk-sentient-beings-crabs-octopus-and-lobsters-scn/index.html
https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/22/boiling-lobsters-alive-to-be-illegal-as-study-confirms-they-feel-pain-15643209/

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. SEAFOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about seafood. 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?
chefs / cooking / boil / seafood / research / lobster / crab / octopus / welfare / pain /
sea / creatures / feelings / evidence / fishing / retail / restaurants / protection
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VEGETARIAN: Students A strongly believe we should all be vegetarian and not eat meat, seafood, fish or insects; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SEA CREATURES: What do you know about these sea creatures? 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
Octopuses
Lobsters
Crabs
Squid
Prawns
Oysters

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

Octopus
Mussels
Oyster
Tuna
Squid
Lobster
Mackerel
Crab

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	chef	a.	Believe that something is true.
2.	method	b.	A professional cook, usually one who works in a restaurant or hotel.
3.	boil	c.	Bring water to a temperature of 100ºC.
4.	accept	d.	An animal, but not a human being.
5.	treat	e.	The end or finish of an event, process, or text.
6.	creature	f.	A way of doing something.
7.	conclusion	g.	Act towards someone or deal with them in a certain way.

Paragraph 2

8.	commented	h.	Areas of economic activity in a country of the world (e.g. car making, fishing, tourism, health, oil...).
9.	evidence	i.	The action of being safe from something.
10.	retail	j.	In a way that you show you care.
11.	industry	k.	The act of selling things in small quantities in shops for people to use.
12.	inhumane	l.	Without caring about someone's pain.
13.	humanely	m.	Gave an opinion on or said something.
14.	protection	n.	Facts or information to show that something is true.

Before reading / listening

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

Chefs worldwide will soon have to stop boiling lobsters. T / F
The research into sea creatures is part of an animal welfare bill. T / F
The sea-creature research is from the London School of Economics. T / F
Research suggests that squid do not have feelings. T / F
A researcher said all sea creatures experienced the same level of pain. T / F
The retail industry may have to change the way it treats sea creatures. T / F
A researcher wants people trained to kill sea creatures humanely. T / F
The U.K. government said it's animal protection laws are weak. T / F

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

chefs
methods
treat
distress
conclusion
commented on
evidence
inhumane
trained
protections

spoke about
deal with
opinion
instructed
cooks
cruel
suffering
techniques
safeguards
proof

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

change their cooking
They will no longer be able to boil
The U.K. government is looking
change how people treat and
all animals with a
He said some sea creatures
evidence that octopuses and
the fishing, retail and restaurant
This means the end of inhumane
they know how to kill these animals

industries
kill these creatures
experienced pain
humanely
at research
practices
methods
lobsters are sentient
seafood alive
spine

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

like
joy
squid
soon
spine
boil
studies
treat

Chefs in the United Kingdom may (1) _____________________ have to change their cooking methods. They will no longer be able to (2) _____________________ seafood alive. The U.K. government is looking at research that accepts that sea life (3) _____________________ lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how people (4) _____________________ and kill these creatures. The research is part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that all animals with a (5) _____________________ are "sentient beings". Being "sentient" means being able to feel things like pain, distress and (6) _____________________. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different (7) _____________________ to reach their conclusion that octopuses, (8) _____________________, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have feelings.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

sentient
way
commented
retail
trained
others
strongest
end

Dr Jonathan Birch, a professor at the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, (9) _____________________ on the research. He said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than (10) _____________________. He said the research showed strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are (11) _____________________. He said the new law means the fishing, (12) _____________________ and restaurant industries must change the (13) _____________________ they treat and kill these creatures. This means the (14) _____________________ of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should now be (15) _____________________ so they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government said it has "some of the (16) _____________________ protections in the world" for animals.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to change ______
     a. their cooker methods
     b. their cook king methods
     c. their cooking methods
     d. their cook kin methods
2) They will no longer be able to ______
     a. boil seafood live
     b. boil seafood believe
    c. boil seafood relive
     d. boil seafood alive
3) accepts that sea life like lobsters, octopuses and ______
     a. crabs feel pain
     b. crab feeling pain
     c. crabs feeler pain
     d. crab feel pain
4) This recognizes that all animals with a spine ______
     a. are sent ant beings
     b. are sentence beings
     c. are sentient beings
     d. are sentience beings
5) London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different studies to ______
     a. reach their conclusion
     b. breach their conclusion
     c. bleach their conclusion
     d. retch their conclusion

6) a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project commented ______
     a. on a research
     b. on the research
     c. on them research
     d. on then research
7) some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings ______
     a. more than another
     b. more then other
     c. more than others
     d. more then others
8) strong evidence that octopuses and ______
     a. lobsters be sentient
     b. lobsters can sentient
     c. lobsters been sentient
     d. lobsters are sentient
9) He said the new law means the fishing, retail and restaurant ______
     a. industries must chance
     b. industries must change
     c. industries must charge
     d. industries must changed
10) people should now be trained so they know how to kill ______
     a. these animals humanly
     b. these animals humanely
     c. these animals who manly
     d. these animals whom manly

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to change (1) ____________________. They will no longer be able to boil seafood alive. The U.K. government is looking at (2) ____________________ that sea life like lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how people treat and (3) ____________________. The research is part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that all animals with a spine are "sentient beings". Being (4) ____________________ able to feel things like pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different (5) ____________________ their conclusion that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and (6) ____________________.

Dr Jonathan Birch, (7) ____________________ the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, commented on the research. He said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings (8) ____________________. He said the research showed strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient. He said the new law means the fishing, (9) ____________________ industries must change the way they treat and kill these creatures. This means (10) ____________________ inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should now (11) ____________________ they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government said it (12) ____________________ the strongest protections in the world" for animals.

Comprehension questions

Where might chefs soon have to change the way they cook seafood?
Who is looking at research into sea life and pain?
What does the article say animals with a spine are?
What do sentient beings feel besides pain and distress?
How many different studies did researchers look at?
What is Jonathan Birch's job title at the LSE?
What industries must change besides the retail and fishing industries?
What did a researcher call practices like boiling lobsters alive?
What did a researcher say people should be trained to do to animals?
What did the U.K. government say it had for animals?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where might chefs soon have to change the way they cook seafood?
a) hotels
b) around camp fires
c) in the U.K.
d) cafeterias
2) Who is looking at research into sea life and pain?
a) the U.K. government
b) scuba divers
c) a website
d) journalists
3) What does the article say animals with a spine are?
a) spineless
b) sentient beings
c) spiny
d) pained
4) What do sentient beings feel besides pain and distress?
a) hunger
b) excitement
c) the cold
d) joy

5) How many different studies did researchers look at?
a) 500
b) 200
c) 300
d) 400

6) What is Jonathan Birch's job title at the LSE?
a) dean
b) professor
c) coordinator
d) expert
7) What industries must change besides the retail and fishing industries?
a) the aquarium industry
b) tourism
c) fashion
d) the restaurant industry
8) What did a researcher call practices like boiling lobsters alive?
a) a thing of the past
b) inhumane
c) bad
d) shocking
9) What did a researcher say people should be trained to do to animals?
a) prepare them
b) kill them humanely
c) cook them
d) protect them
10) What did the U.K. government say it had for animals?
a) the strongest protections
b) a new home
c) ideas
d) many, many laws

Role play

Role A – Octopus
You think octopus is the tastiest seafood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their seafood. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): mussels, oysters or crab.

Role B – Mussels
You think mussels are the tastiest seafood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their seafood. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): octopus, oysters or crab.

Role C – Oyster
You think oysters are the tastiest seafood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their seafood. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): mussels, octopus or crab.

Role D – Crab
You think crab is the tastiest seafood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their seafood. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): mussels, oysters or octopus.

After reading / listening

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

'lobster'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'crab'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

chefs

accepts

part

spine

joy

conclusion

professor

others

retail

end

trained

strongest

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 - Lobsters and Pain

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 'lobster'?
What do you think of seafood?
What seafood do you like to eat?
What cooking methods do you know about for seafood?
Which is tastier - octopus or crab?
Do you think lobsters and crabs have feelings?
Should people eat sentient creatures?
Should we all be vegetarian?
What do you think of boiling seafood alive?

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 'feelings'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about lobsters?
How might restaurants have to change?
Can you be vegetarian and eat fish?
What dishes do you know using lobster?
What do you know about octopuses?
What animal protection laws does your country have?
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)

Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to change their (1) ____ methods. They will no longer be able to boil seafood (2) ____. The U.K. government is looking at research (3) ____ accepts that sea life like lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how people treat and kill (4) ____ creatures. The research is part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that all animals with a spine are "sentient beings". Being "sentient" means being able to feel things (5) ____ pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different studies to reach their conclusion that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have (6) ____.

Dr Jonathan Birch, a professor at the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, commented (7) ____ the research. He said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than (8) ____. He said the research showed strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient. He said the new law means the fishing, (9) ____ and restaurant industries must change the way they (10) ____ and kill these creatures. This means the end of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should now (11) ____ trained so they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government said it has "some of the (12) ____ protections in the world" for animals.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) cooking (b) cooks (c) cooked (d) cooker
(a) lively (b) living (c) alive (d) lives
(a) what (b) then (c) that (d) therefore
(a) their (b) they (c) them (d) these
(a) like (b) such (c) from (d) to
(a) feels (b) feelings (c) feelers (d) felts
(a) by (b) of (c) at (d) on
(a) bothers (b) others (c) another (d) udders
(a) detail (b) oxtail (c) retail (d) entail
(a) teat (b) threat (c) trite (d) treat
(a) take (b) have (c) do (d) be
(a) strongly (b) strongest (c) strength (d) strengthen

Spelling

Paragraph 1

change their cooking mehsotd
how people treat and kill these cretsurae
all animals with a pseni
tnineets beings
feel things like pain, essdrtsi and joy
looked at 300 different studies to reach their uoccnnilos

Paragraph 2

commented on the saceerhr
the research showed strong eciendve
relati and restaurant industries
sacrcepti like boiling lobsters alive
kill these animals yuenmalh
the strongest storoctnipe in the world

Put the text back together

(...) strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient. He said the new law means the fishing,
(...) creatures. The research is part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that all animals with
(...) retail and restaurant industries must change the way they treat and kill these creatures. This means the end
(...) trained so they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government
(...) of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive. He also said people should now be
( 1 ) Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to change their cooking methods. They will no longer be
(...) distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked at 300 different
(...) a spine are "sentient beings". Being "sentient" means being able to feel things like pain,
(...) able to boil seafood alive. The U.K. government is looking at research that accepts that sea
(...) said it has "some of the strongest protections in the world" for animals.
(...) on the research. He said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than others. He said the research showed
(...) studies to reach their conclusion that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have feelings.
(...) life like lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel pain. The studies could change how people treat and kill these
(...) Dr Jonathan Birch, a professor at the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, commented

Put the words in the right order

to Chefs have cooking their change methods . may
these how people Change creatures . treat and kill
beings . with spine animals are sentient a All
means able being pain . to Sentient feel
studies looked reach conclusion . their at to They
creatures experienced said He some pain . sea
evidence are and octopuses sentient . that Strong lobsters
lobsters . The inhumane practices boiling like of end
know They these to kill how humanely . animals
strongest The animals . protections world for in the

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Chefs in the United Kingdom may soon have to charge / change their cooking methods. They will no longer be able to boil / boiling seafood alive. The U.K. government is looking at research that rejects / accepts that sea life like lobsters, octopuses and crabs feel / feeling pain. The studies could change how people treat and kill these creatures. The research is partner / part of the UK's Animal Welfare Bill. This recognizes that whole / all animals with a spine are "sentient beings". Being "sentient" meaning / means being able to feel things like / likely pain, distress and joy. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) looked on / at 300 different studies to reach their conclusion that octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, crabs, lobsters and crayfish have / do feelings.

Dr Jonathan Birch, the / a professor at the LSE and a researcher on the Foundations of Animal Sentience Project, commentary / commented on the research. He said some sea / seas creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than another / others. He said the research showed strongly / strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient. He said the new law means the fishing, retail / detail and restaurant industries must change the way they treat and kill these / them creatures. This means the end of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters lively / alive. He also said people should now be trained such / so they know how to kill these animals humanely. The UK government said it has "some of the strongest protections in the world" for / by animals.

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)

Ch_fs _n th_ _n_t_d K_ngd_m m_y s__n h_v_ t_ ch_ng_ th__r c__k_ng m_th_ds. Th_y w_ll n_ l_ng_r b_ _bl_ t_ b__l s__f__d _l_v_. Th_ _.K. g_v_rnm_nt _s l__k_ng _t r_s__rch th_t _cc_pts th_t s__ l_f_ l_k_ l_bst_rs, _ct_p_s_s _nd cr_bs f__l p__n. Th_ st_d__s c__ld ch_ng_ h_w p__pl_ tr__t _nd k_ll th_s_ cr__t_r_s. Th_ r_s__rch _s p_rt _f th_ _K's _n_m_l W_lf_r_ B_ll. Th_s r_c_gn_z_s th_t _ll _n_m_ls w_th _ sp_n_ _r_ "s_nt__nt b__ngs". B__ng "s_nt__nt" m__ns b__ng _bl_ t_ f__l th_ngs l_k_ p__n, d_str_ss _nd j_y. R_s__rch_rs _t th_ L_nd_n Sch__l _f _c_n_m_cs (LS_) l__k_d _t 300 d_ff_r_nt st_d__s t_ r__ch th__r c_ncl_s__n th_t _ct_p_s_s, sq__d, c_ttl_f_sh, cr_bs, l_bst_rs _nd cr_yf_sh h_v_ f__l_ngs.

Dr J_n_th_n B_rch, _ pr_f_ss_r _t th_ LS_ _nd _ r_s__rch_r _n th_ F__nd_t__ns _f _n_m_l S_nt__nc_ Pr_j_ct, c_mm_nt_d _n th_ r_s__rch. H_ s__d s_m_ s__ cr__t_r_s _xp_r__nc_d p__n _nd h_d f__l_ngs m_r_ th_n _th_rs. H_ s__d th_ r_s__rch sh_w_d str_ng _v_d_nc_ th_t _ct_p_s_s _nd l_bst_rs _r_ s_nt__nt. H_ s__d th_ n_w l_w m__ns th_ f_sh_ng, r_t__l _nd r_st__r_nt _nd_str__s m_st ch_ng_ th_ w_y th_y tr__t _nd k_ll th_s_ cr__t_r_s. Th_s m__ns th_ _nd _f _nh_m_n_ pr_ct_c_s l_k_ b__l_ng l_bst_rs _l_v_. H_ _ls_ s__d p__pl_ sh__ld n_w b_ tr__n_d s_ th_y kn_w h_w t_ k_ll th_s_ _n_m_ls h_m_n_ly. Th_ _K g_v_rnm_nt s__d _t h_s "s_m_ _f th_ str_ng_st pr_t_ct__ns _n th_ w_rld" f_r _n_m_ls.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

chefs in the united kingdom may soon have to change their cooking methods they will no longer be able to boil seafood alive the uk government is looking at research that accepts that sea life like lobsters octopuses and crabs feel pain the studies could change how people treat and kill these creatures the research is part of the uks animal welfare bill this recognizes that all animals with a spine are sentient beings being sentient means being able to feel things like pain distress and joy researchers at the london school of economics lse looked at 300 different studies to reach their conclusion that octopuses squid cuttlefish crabs lobsters and crayfish have feelings

dr jonathan birch a professor at the lse and a researcher on the foundations of animal sentience project commented on the research he said some sea creatures experienced pain and had feelings more than others he said the research showed strong evidence that octopuses and lobsters are sentient he said the new law means the fishing retail and restaurant industries must change the way they treat and kill these creatures this means the end of inhumane practices like boiling lobsters alive he also said people should now be trained so they know how to kill these animals humanely the uk government said it has some of the strongest protections in the world for animals

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ChefsintheUnitedKingdommaysoonhavetochangetheircookingmeth
ods.Theywillnolongerbeabletoboilseafoodalive.TheU.K.government
islookingatresearchthatacceptsthatsealifelikelobsters,octopusesan
dcrabsfeelpain.Thestudiescouldchangehowpeopletreatandkillthese
creatures.TheresearchispartoftheUK'sAnimalWelfareBill.Thisrecog
nizesthatallanimalswithaspine*are"sentientbeings".Being"sentient
"meansbeingabletofeelthingslikepain,distressandjoy.Researchersa
ttheLondonSchoolofEconomics(LSE)lookedat300differentstudiesto
reachtheirconclusionthatoctopuses,squid,cuttlefish,crabs,lobstersa
ndcrayfishhavefeelings.DrJonathanBirch,aprofessorattheLSEandar
esearcherontheFoundationsofAnimalSentienceProject,commented
ontheresearch.Hesaidsomeseacreaturesexperiencedpainandhadfe
elingsmorethanothers.Hesaidtheresearchshowedstrongevidenceth
atoctopusesandlobstersaresentient.Hesaidthenewlawmeansthefish
ing,retailandrestaurantindustriesmustchangethewaytheytreatandk
illthesecreatures.Thismeanstheendofinhumanepracticeslikeboilingl
obstersalive.Healsosaidpeopleshouldnowbetrainedsotheyknowhow
tokilltheseanimalshumanely.TheUKgovernmentsaidithas"someofth
estrongestprotectionsintheworld"foranimals.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Sea creatures should be treated like farm animals. 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. SEAFOOD: Make a poster about seafood. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LIVING CREATURES: Write a magazine article about banning the eating of any living creature. 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 seafood. Ask him/her three questions about seafood. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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