The Reading / Listening - Aboriginal Flag - Level 3

Australia's government has bought the rights to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or fly the flag for free. The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and a clothing company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had to get copyright permission from them. The $20-million deal to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a former Aboriginal politician, led the Free the Flag campaign. She was overjoyed that the government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represents 50,000 years of history and it's a way of unifying...this country." She added: "It's a magical day for all Australians."

Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people to have their own flag. His flag was originally used as a protest for indigenous rights. However, it soon became widely used and became an official national flag of Australia in 1995. It now flies on government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' artwork our own. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it high as a point of pride." He added: "In reaching this agreement to solve the copyright issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Aboriginal Flag - Level 0,  Aboriginal Flag - Level 1   or  Aboriginal Flag - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/7593236/indigenous-advocates-welcome-freed-flag/
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60120997
  • https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/free-for-all-copyright-for-aboriginal-flag-transferred-to-public-hands-in-20m-deal-20220124-p59qpb.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. AUSTRALIA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Australia. 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?
       government / rights / flag / designer / copyright / permission / politician / magical /
       indigenous / artist / protest / Australia / marched / pride / agreement / issues
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WORLD FLAG: Students A strongly believe there should be a world flag; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FLAGS: What do you think of these flags? What do you know about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Think

What I Know

Aboriginal

 

 

Australian

 

 

USA

 

 

UK

 

 

Chinese

 

 

Brazilian

 

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

  • Language
  • Food
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Dance
  • Festivals
  • Religion
  • Clothes

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. rights a. The action of allowing someone to do something.
      2. clothing b. The things we should all have because of laws or because we are people.
      3. copyright c. The legal right to print, publish, perform, film, or record music, art, books, writing, etc.
      4. permission d. Very, very, very happy.
      5. campaign e. Make or become united or whole.
      6. overjoyed f. Clothes of all kinds.
      7. unifying g. A plan of action to achieve a goal.

    Paragraph 2

      8. indigenous h. Someone who talks for a company or country.
      9. originally i. Have a party or do something nice for a happy day or event.
      10. protest j. A feeling of deep happiness from one's own achievements or the achievements others.
      11. spokesperson k. An action in public to show you are unhappy about something and want it changed.
      12. marched l. Walked along public roads in an organized protest.
      13. pride m. Originating or happening naturally in a particular place.
      14. celebrate n. At first.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. People have to pay a small charge to use the Aboriginal flag.     T / F
  2. It cost Australia $20 million to buy the copyright to the flag.     T / F
  3. A Free the Flag campaigner was very, very happy.     T / F
  4. The campaigner said the flag was very magical.     T / F
  5. The Aboriginal flag is over 100 years old.     T / F
  6. The Aboriginal flag became a national flag in Australia in 1971.     T / F
  7. The Aboriginal flag does not fly from government buildings.     T / F
  8. Australia said the flag can be used to celebrate indigenous culture.     T / F

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

  1. bought
  2. free
  3. permission
  4. former
  5. unifying
  6. created
  7. originally
  8. spokesperson
  9. pride
  10. celebrate
  1. at first
  2. ex-
  3. made
  4. no charge
  5. representative
  6. purchased
  7. uniting
  8. honour
  9. consent
  10. self-respect

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

  1. Australia's government has bought the
  2. The flag was owned
  3. had to get copyright permission
  4. She was
  5. It's a magical
  6. indigenous
  7. His flag was originally used
  8. It now flies on government
  9. as a point of
  10. solve the copyright
  1. overjoyed
  2. pride
  3. day for all Australians
  4. by its designer
  5. people
  6. buildings
  7. rights to the Aboriginal flag
  8. issues
  9. from them
  10. as a protest

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
anyone
former
bought
deal
represents
free
magical
campaign

Australia's government has (1) _____________________ the rights to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or fly the flag for (2) _____________________. The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and a clothing company. This meant that (3) _____________________ who used the flag had to get copyright permission from them. The $20-million (4) _____________________ to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a (5) _____________________ Aboriginal politician, led the Free the Flag (6) _____________________. She was overjoyed that the government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag (7) _____________________ 50,000 years of history and it's a way of unifying...this country." She added: "It's a (8) _____________________ day for all Australians."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
last
originally
celebrate
stood
artist
solve
flies
widely

Indigenous (9) _____________________ Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people to have their own flag. His flag was (10) _____________________ used as a protest for indigenous rights. However, it soon became (11) _____________________ used and became an official national flag of Australia in 1995. It now (12) _____________________ on government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the (13) _____________________ 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' artwork our own. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, (14) _____________________ behind it, and flew it high as a point of pride." He added: "In reaching this agreement to (15) _____________________ the copyright issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to (16) _____________________ indigenous culture."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) This means anyone can now use or fly the ______
     a.  flag for freeze
     b.  flag for three
     c.  flag for thee
     d.  flag for free
2)  The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and ______
     a.  a clothe company
     b.  a closing company
     c.  a clothe in company
     d.  a clothing company
3)  This meant that anyone who used the flag had to ______
     a.  get copyright permission
     b.  get copyright persimmon
     c.  get copyright per remission
     d.  get copyright pre-mission
4)  a former Aboriginal politician, led the Free ______
     a.  the Flag campaigner
     b.  the Flag campaigned
     c.  the Flag campaign
     d.  the Flag camp pain
5)  it's a way of unifying...this country." She added: "It's ______
     a.  a magician day
     b.  a magic all day
     c.  a magical day
     d.  a magically day

6)  He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people to have ______
     a.  their owner flag
     b.  their own flag
     c.  their owns flag
     d.  their round flag
7)  His flag was originally used as a protest ______
     a.  for indigenous lights
     b.  for indigenous rites
     c.  for indigenous rights
     d.  for indigenous slights
8)  it soon became widely used and became an ______
     a.  official national flag
     b.  officially national flag
     c.  official nationally flag
     d.  officially nationally flag
9)  Over the last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' ______
     a.  art were cower own
     b.  are twerk our own
     c.  a twerk our own
     d.  artwork our own
10)  He added: "In reaching this agreement to solve ______
     a.  the copied right issues
     b.  the cop pea right issues
     c.  the copyright issues
     d.  the cop pea light issues

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Australia's government has (1) ____________________ to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or fly the flag for free. The flag was (2) ____________________ designer Harold Thomas and a clothing company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had (3) ____________________ permission from them. The $20-million deal to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the public can (4) ____________________. Nova Peris, a former Aboriginal politician, led the Free the Flag campaign. She was (5) ____________________ government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represents 50,000 years of history and it's a way of unifying...this country." She added: "It's (6) ____________________ for all Australians."

Indigenous artist Harold Thomas (7) ____________________ in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people to have their own flag. His flag was originally used (8) ____________________ for indigenous rights. However, it soon became widely used and became an official national flag of Australia in 1995. It (9) ____________________ government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' (10) ____________________. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it high as a (11) ____________________." He added: "In reaching this agreement to solve the copyright issues, all Australians can (12) ____________________ use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who can use the Aboriginal flag for free?
  2. What is the name of the man who designed the flag?
  3. How much did the government pay for the flag?
  4. What's the name of the campaign that Nova Peris led?
  5. How many years of history did Nova Paeris say the flag represents?
  6. What was the flag used for at first?
  7. When did the flag become an official Australian flag?
  8. Where does the article say the flag now flies?
  9. What did a government spokesperson say the flag was a point of?
  10. What did the spokesperson say Australians can use the flag to celebrate?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who can use the Aboriginal flag for free?
a) designers
b) only Australians
c) government ministers
d) anyone
2) What is the name of the man who designed the flag?
a) Harry Harold
b) Harold Thomas
c) Tommy Tom
d) Thomas Harold
3) How much did the government pay for the flag?
a) $12 million
b) $80 million
c) $20 million
d) $30 million
4) What's the name of the campaign that Nova Peris led?
a) Free the Flag
b) Freedom Flag
c) Flag the Free
d) Flag for All
5) How many years of history did Nova Peris say the flag represents?
a) 55,000
b) 15,000
c) 50,000
d) 500,000

6) What was the flag used for at first?
a) for decoration
b) for protests
c) for houses
d) badges
7) When did the flag become an official Australian flag?
a) 1971
b) 1982
c) 1992
d) 1995
8) Where does the article say the flag now flies?
a) on government buildings
b) in the Outback
c) in the sky
d) the Sydney Opera House
9) What did a government spokesperson say the flag was a point of?
a) time
b) honour
c) pride
d) view

10) What did the spokesperson say Australians can use the flag to celebrate?
a) birthdays
b) indigenous culture
c) Australia Day
d) life

Role play

Role  A – Food
You think food is the most important aspect of culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): literature, fashion or dance.

Role  B – Literature
You think literature is the most important aspect of culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): food, fashion or dance.

Role  C – Fashion
You think fashion is the most important aspect of culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): literature, food or dance.

Role  D – Dance
You think dance is the most important aspect of culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): literature, fashion or food.

After reading / listening

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

'flag'

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

    • and 'copyright'.

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

    • • 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:

    • means
    • clothing
    • permission
    • public
    • represents
    • day
    • artist
    • originally
    • widely
    • last
    • solve
    • display

    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 - Aboriginal Flag

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'flag'?
    3. What do you think of flags?
    4. What do you think of your country's flag?
    5. What flags have a really good design?
    6. Is it right that a flag is copyrighted?
    7. Why are national flags important?
    8. What do you know about Australia's indigenous peoples?
    9. What do you think when you see your country's flag?
    10. Should there be a world flag?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'copyright'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about copyright?
    5. What do you think of copyright?
    6. Should everyone have a flag of their country in their house?
    7. How proud should people be of their national flag?
    8. Have you ever marched behind a flag?
    9. What do you know about the history of your country's flag?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Free the Flag leaders?

    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)

    Australia's government has (1) ____ the rights to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or (2) ____ the flag for free. The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and a clothing company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had to get copyright (3) ____ from them. The $20-million deal to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a former Aboriginal politician, (4) ____ the Free the Flag campaign. She was (5) ____ that the government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represents 50,000 years of history and it's a way (6) ____ unifying...this country." She added: "It's a magical day for all Australians."

    Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people to have their (7) ____ flag. His flag was originally used as a protest for indigenous rights. However, it soon became (8) ____ used and became an (9) ____ national flag of Australia in 1995. It now flies on government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the (10) ____ 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' artwork our own. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it (11) ____ as a point of pride." He added: "In reaching this agreement (12) ____ solve the copyright issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     borough     (b)     bought     (c)     bough     (d)     brought    
    2. (a)     soar     (b)     sail     (c)     fly     (d)     mast    
    3. (a)     omission     (b)     mission     (c)     remission     (d)     permission    
    4. (a)     lead     (b)     led     (c)     leader     (d)     leaded    
    5. (a)     overjoyed     (b)     joyous     (c)     joyfully     (d)     joy    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     owns     (b)     down     (c)     owner     (d)     own    
    8. (a)     deeply     (b)     narrowly     (c)     longing     (d)     widely    
    9. (a)     official     (b)     famous     (c)     country     (d)     all    
    10. (a)     least     (b)     last     (c)     lest     (d)     lost    
    11. (a)     height     (b)     high     (c)     highs     (d)     heights    
    12. (a)     on     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     as

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The flag was owned by its ersegdni
    2. get copyright risesnpiom
    3. a former Aboriginal ipliiacnto
    4. led the Free the Flag nampicga
    5. a way of iinnuygf this country
    6. It's a mglaiac day for all Australians

    Paragraph 2

    1. His flag was yliargolin used as a protest
    2. an ficaolif national flag of Australia
    3. We hecamdr under the Aboriginal flag
    4. flew it high as a point of idpre
    5. solve the copyright eiusss
    6. use the flag to eeertcabl indigenous culture

    Put the text back together

    (...)  Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous
    (...)  Aboriginal politician, led the Free the Flag campaign. She was overjoyed that the government
    (...)  government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas'
    (...)  issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture."
    (...)  became widely used and became an official national flag of Australia in 1995. It now flies on
    (...)  bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represents 50,000 years of history and it's a way
    (...)  people to have their own flag. His flag was originally used as a protest for indigenous rights. However, it soon
    (...)  high as a point of pride." He added: "In reaching this agreement to solve the copyright
    (...)  of unifying...this country." She added: "It's a magical day for all Australians."
    (...)  use or fly the flag for free. The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and a clothing
    (...)  company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had to get copyright permission from them. The $20-million
    (...)  artwork our own. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it
    (...)  deal to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a former
    (  1  ) Australia's government has bought the rights to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now

    Put the words in the right order

    1. can   Anyone   or   the   flag   .   now   use   fly
    2. used   the   copyright   who   permission   .   needed   Anyone   flag
    3. overjoyed   She   government   was   flag   .   bought   the   the
    4. history   .   The   flag   of   50,000   represents   years
    5. it   She   day   magical   called   Australians   .   for   a
    6. people   have   own   Australia's   their   indigenous   flag   .   to
    7. official   an   national   in   It   flag   1995   .   became
    8. all   the   under   marched   flag   .   We   Aboriginal
    9. to   agreement   this   copyright   the   solve   issues   .   Reaching
    10. Use   flag   indigenous   culture   .   the   to   celebrate

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Australia's government has bought / brought the rights to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or fly the flag for freely / free. The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and a clothe / clothing company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had / have to get copyright permission from they / them. The $20-million deal to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the private / public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a former Aboriginal politician / politics, led the Free the Flag campaign. She was overjoyed what / that the government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represent / represents 50,000 years of history and it's a way of unifying...this country." She added: "It's a magical / magician day for all Australians."

    Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people / person to have their own flag. His flag was origin / originally used as a protest for / at indigenous rights. However, it soon became narrowly / widely used and became an official national flag of Australia in 1995. It now sails / flies on government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the / a last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' artwork our owner / own. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it high was / as a point of pride." He added: "To / In reaching this agreement to solve the copyright issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to / by celebrate indigenous culture."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    __str_l__'s  g_v_rnm_nt  h_s  b__ght  th_  r_ghts  t_  th_  _b_r_g_n_l  fl_g.  Th_s  m__ns  _ny_n_  c_n  n_w  _s_  _r  fly  th_  fl_g  f_r  fr__.  Th_  fl_g  w_s  _wn_d  by  _ts  d_s_gn_r  H_r_ld  Th_m_s  _nd  _  cl_th_ng  c_mp_ny.  Th_s  m__nt  th_t  _ny_n_  wh_  _s_d  th_  fl_g  h_d  t_  g_t  c_pyr_ght  p_rm_ss__n  fr_m  th_m.  Th_  $20-m_ll__n  d__l  t_  t_k_  _wn_rsh_p  _f  th_  fl_g's  c_pyr_ght  m__ns  th_  p_bl_c  c_n  _s_  _t  fr__ly.  N_v_  P_r_s,  _  f_rm_r  _b_r_g_n_l  p_l_t_c__n,  l_d  th_  Fr__  th_  Fl_g  c_mp__gn.  Sh_  w_s  _v_rj_y_d  th_t  th_  g_v_rnm_nt  b__ght  th_  _b_r_g_n_l  fl_g.  Sh_  s__d:  "Th_  fl_g  r_pr_s_nts  50,000  y__rs  _f  h_st_ry  _nd  _t's  _  w_y  _f  _n_fy_ng...th_s  c__ntry."  Sh_  _dd_d:  "_t's  _  m_g_c_l  d_y  f_r  _ll  __str_l__ns."

    _nd_g_n__s  _rt_st  H_r_ld  Th_m_s  cr__t_d  th_  fl_g  _n  1971.  H_  w_nt_d  _ll  _f  __str_l__'s  _nd_g_n__s  p__pl_  t_  h_v_  th__r  _wn  fl_g.  H_s  fl_g  w_s  _r_g_n_lly  _s_d  _s  _  pr_t_st  f_r  _nd_g_n__s  r_ghts.  H_w_v_r,  _t  s__n  b_c_m_  w_d_ly  _s_d  _nd  b_c_m_  _n  _ff_c__l  n_t__n_l  fl_g  _f  __str_l__  _n  1995.  _t  n_w  fl__s  _n  g_v_rnm_nt  b__ld_ngs.  _  g_v_rnm_nt  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d:  "_v_r  th_  l_st  50  y__rs,  w_  m_d_  H_r_ld  Th_m_s'  _rtw_rk  __r  _wn.  W_  m_rch_d  _nd_r  th_  _b_r_g_n_l  fl_g,  st__d  b_h_nd  _t,  _nd  fl_w  _t  h_gh  _s  _  p__nt  _f  pr_d_."  H_  _dd_d:  "_n  r__ch_ng  th_s  _gr__m_nt  t_  s_lv_  th_  c_pyr_ght  _ss__s,  _ll  __str_l__ns  c_n  fr__ly  d_spl_y  _nd  _s_  th_  fl_g  t_  c_l_br_t_  _nd_g_n__s  c_lt_r_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    australias government has bought the rights to the aboriginal flag this means anyone can now use or fly the flag for free the flag was owned by its designer harold thomas and a clothing company this meant that anyone who used the flag had to get copyright permission from them the 20million deal to take ownership of the flags copyright means the public can use it freely nova peris a former aboriginal politician led the free the flag campaign she was overjoyed that the government bought the aboriginal flag she said the flag represents 50000 years of history and its a way of unifyingthis country she added its a magical day for all australians

    indigenous artist harold thomas created the flag in 1971 he wanted all of australias indigenous people to have their own flag his flag was originally used as a protest for indigenous rights however it soon became widely used and became an official national flag of australia in 1995 it now flies on government buildings a government spokesperson said over the last 50 years we made harold thomas artwork our own we marched under the aboriginal flag stood behind it and flew it high as a point of pride he added in reaching this agreement to solve the copyright issues all australians can freely display and use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Australia'sgovernmenthasboughttherightstotheAboriginalflag.This
    meansanyonecannowuseorflytheflagforfree.Theflagwasownedbyits
    designerHaroldThomasandaclothingcompany.Thismeantthatanyon
    ewhousedtheflaghadtogetcopyrightpermissionfromthem.The$20-
    milliondealtotakeownershipoftheflag'scopyrightmeansthepubliccan
    useitfreely.NovaPeris,aformerAboriginalpolitician,ledtheFreetheFla
    gcampaign.ShewasoverjoyedthatthegovernmentboughttheAborigi
    nalflag.Shesaid:"Theflagrepresents50,000yearsofhistoryandit'saw
    ayofunifying...thiscountry."Sheadded:"It'samagicaldayforallAustra
    lians."IndigenousartistHaroldThomascreatedtheflagin1971.Hewant
    edallofAustralia'sindigenouspeopletohavetheirownflag.Hisflagwaso
    riginallyusedasaprotestforindigenousrights.However,itsoonbecame
    widelyusedandbecameanofficialnationalflagofAustraliain1995.Itno
    wfliesongovernmentbuildings.Agovernmentspokespersonsaid:"Ov
    erthelast50years,wemadeHaroldThomas'artworkourown.Wemarch
    edundertheAboriginalflag,stoodbehindit,andflewithighasapointofpri
    de."Headded:"Inreachingthisagreementtosolvethecopyrightissues,
    allAustralianscanfreelydisplayandusetheflagtocelebrateindigenous
    culture."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    There is no need for countries to have a flag. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. ABORIGINAL CULTURES: Make a poster about Aboriginal cultures. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FLAGS: Write a magazine article about not needing national flags. 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 flags. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on your country's flag. 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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