Breaking News English Lesson: Christmas Beetles

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Australia's Christmas beetles are disappearing (26th December, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - Christmas Beetles - Level 6

There is a select group of creatures that is synonymous with Christmas – donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not spring to mind when thinking of the festive season. However, there is actually a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an indication that the holiday season was on its way in the land down under. Its numbers have declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the age of 35 remembers there being huge numbers of Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just doesn't seem to happen any more."

The Christmas beetle is as unique to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really unique biological event where Christmas is associated with the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely critical" to find out why there are so few around. Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss. In 2020, bushfires wiped out huge swathes of forest that were home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Scientists fear the Christmas beetle may also soon die out. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Christmas Beetles - Level 4 or Christmas Beetles - Level 5

Sources

https://phys.org/news/2022-11-christmas-beetles.html
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/the-curious-case-around-christmas-beetles-20161212-gt94rx.html
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-08/christmas-beetle-mystery-citizen-science/101744318

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. CHRISTMAS ANIMALS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Christmas animals. 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?
creatures / Christmas / donkeys / reindeer / turkeys / festive season / beetles / age /
Australia / kangaroos / glittery / scientists / habitat / forest / bushfires / extinction
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EXTINCTION: Students A strongly believe governments should receive huge fines if their wildlife becomes extinct; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CHRISTMAS: What do you know about these things associated with Christmas? What is Christmassy about them? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

	What i Know	What's Christmassy
Snow
A star
Santa Claus
Turkey
Tree
Presents

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

World Water Day
New Year
Labour Day
World Religion Day
Safer Internet Day
Public Service Day
World Teachers' Day
World Toilet Day

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	select	a.	A time of the year relating to a happy occasion, especially Christmas.
2.	creature	b.	Of a group of people or things carefully chosen from a larger number.
3.	synonymous	c.	Closely associated with or suggestive of something.
4.	festive season	d.	Became smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.
5.	indication	e.	A person who studies or is an expert on insects.
6.	declined	f.	An animal, as distinct from a human being.
7.	entomologist	g.	A sign or piece of information that shows something.

Paragraph 2

8.	unique	h.	Having a decisive or crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something.
9.	biological	i.	The state or process of dying out.
10.	glittery	j.	A broad strip or area of something.
11.	critical	k.	Reflecting a bright, shimmering light.
12.	dwindling	l.	Reducing gradually in size, amount, or strength.
13.	swathe	m.	Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
14.	extinction	n.	Relating to living organisms.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says five creatures are associated with Christmas. T / F
The article says beetles spring to mind when we think of Christmas. T / F
The Christmas beetle tells people worldwide that Christmas is coming. T / F
An entomologist said kids today see lots of Christmas beetles. T / F
In Australia, Christmas beetles are as unique as kangaroos. T / F
An entomologist said bushfires contributed to the beetle's decline. T / F
Australia has the world's best rates of mammal preservation. T / F
An entomologist asked people to send her photos of Christmas beetles. T / F

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

creatures
spring
indication
declined
huge
unique
associated
habitat
swathes
die out

gargantuan
areas
animals
distinctive
environment
sign
become extinct
reduced
linked
leap

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

a select group of creatures that is
The image of a beetle does not
the festive
an indication that the holiday season
that just doesn't
It is a colourful, shiny
this really unique biological
their dwindling numbers are
bushfires wiped out
the worst rate of mammal

and harmless bug
was on its way
extinction in the world
season
due to habitat loss
synonymous with Christmas
huge swathes of forest
event
spring to mind
seem to happen any more

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

down
mind
select
numbers
indication
happen
image
entomologist

There is a (1) _____________________ group of creatures that is synonymous with Christmas - donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The (2) _____________________ of a beetle does not spring to (3) _____________________ when thinking of the festive season. However, there is actually a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an (4) _____________________ that the holiday season was on its way in the land (5) _____________________ under. Its numbers have declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an (6) _____________________ from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the age of 35 remembers there being huge (7) _____________________ of Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just doesn't seem to (8) _____________________ any more."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

glittery
unique
extinction
event
dwindling
loss
few
swathes

The Christmas beetle is as (9) _____________________ to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really unique biological (10) _____________________ where Christmas is associated with the arrival of these beautiful, (11) _____________________, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely critical" to find out why there are so (12) _____________________ around. Scientists suspect that their (13) _____________________ numbers are due to habitat (14) _____________________. In 2020, bushfires wiped out huge (15) _____________________ of forest that were home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate of mammal (16) _____________________ in the world. Scientists fear the Christmas beetle may also soon die out. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) There is a select group of creatures that is ______
     a. synonymous with Christmas
     b. anonymous with Christmas
     c. antonymous with Christmas
     d. eponymous with Christmas
2) The image of a beetle does not spring to mind when thinking of ______
     a. the festive seasonal
     b. the festive season
     c. the festival season
     d. a festivity season
3) an indication that the holiday season was on its way in the ______
     a. land down over
     b. land down above
     c. land down under
     d. land down here
4) Everybody over the age of 35 remembers there ______
     a. being huge numbers
     b. being hug numbers
     c. being hugely numbers
     d. being hugs numbers
5) Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just doesn't seem to ______
     a. happens any more
     b. happening any more
     c. happen any more
     d. happened any more

6) It is a colourful, shiny ______
     a. and harmless bugs
     b. and harmless bug
     c. and harmless bugged
     d. and harmless buggy
7) Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really ______
     a. unique biologically event
     b. unique biologist event
     c. unique biological event
     d. unique biology event
8) Christmas is associated with the arrival of these beautiful, ______
     a. glittery, friendly beetles
     b. glittery, friendless beetles
     c. glittery, friendliness beetles
     d. glittery, friended beetles
9) Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due ______
     a. to cohabitate loss
     b. to habitant loss
     c. to habit ate loss
     d. to habitat loss
10) Australia has the worst rate ______
     a. off mammal extinction
     b. of mammal extinct shun
     c. of man mall extinction
     d. of mammal extinction

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is a select (1) ____________________ that is synonymous with Christmas - donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not spring to mind when thinking of (2) ____________________. However, there is actually a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to (3) ____________________ that the holiday season was on its way in the (4) ____________________. Its numbers have declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the (5) ____________________ remembers there (6) ____________________ of Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just doesn't seem to happen any more."

The Christmas beetle (7) ____________________ to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this (8) ____________________ event where Christmas is associated with the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was (9) ____________________ find out why there are so few around. Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss. In 2020, bushfires wiped (10) ____________________ of forest that were home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate (11) ____________________ in the world. Scientists fear the Christmas beetle may also (12) ____________________. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.

Comprehension questions

How many creatures does the article say is synonymous with Xmas?
What does the article say does not spring to mind with Christmas?
What nickname for Australia is mentioned in the article?
What is Tanya Latty's job?
Who remembers there being loads of Christmas beetles as kids?
What in Australia is as unique as Christmas beetles?
What do scientists attribute the dwindling numbers of the beetles to?
What did Australia's 2020 bushfires wipe out?
Which country has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world?
What did Tanya Latty ask people to send her?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many creatures does the article say is synonymous with Xmas?
a) seven
b) three
c) four
d) 18
2) What does the article say does not spring to mind with Christmas?
a) beetles
b) snow
c) Santa
d) socks
3) What nickname for Australia is mentioned in the article?
a) the land up over
b) the land down under
c) the land of the beetles
d) Christmas land
4) What is Tanya Latty's job?
a) a philanthropist
b) a philatelist
c) an epidemiologist
d) an entomologist
5) Who remembers there being loads of Christmas beetles as kids?
a) a beetle collector
b) Santa Claus
c) everybody over the age of 35
d) entomologists

6) What in Australia is as unique as Christmas beetles?
a) beaches and dessert
b) koalas and kangaroos
c) barbecues and opera
d) sharks and crocodiles
7) What do scientists attribute the dwindling numbers of the beetles to?
a) snakes
b) cane toads
c) climate change
d) habitat loss
8) What did Australia's 2020 bushfires wipe out?
a) deserts
b) huge swathes of forest
c) surfing
d) moss
9) Which country has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world?
a) Brazil
b) Australia
c) England
d) Kenya
10) What did Tanya Latty ask people to send her?
a) photos of the beetles
b) beetles
c) advice
d) help

Role play

Role A – World Water Day
You think World Water Day is the best holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their holidays. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy celebration of these (and why): World Teachers' Day, Public Service Day or World Toilet Day.

Role B – World Teachers' Day
You think World Teachers' Day is the best holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their holidays. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy celebration of these (and why): World Water Day, Public Service Day or World Toilet Day.

Role C – Public Service Day
You think Public Service Day is the best holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their holidays. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy celebration of these (and why): World Teachers' Day, World Water Day or World Toilet Day.

Role D – World Toilet Day
You think World Toilet Day is the best holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their holidays. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy celebration of these (and why): World Teachers' Day, Public Service Day or World Water Day.

After reading / listening

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

'Christmas'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'beetle'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

select

spring

actually

land

age

kids

shiny

really

arrival

suspect

huge

die

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 - Christmas Beetles

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 'Christmas'?
What do you think of Christmas?
What do you think of donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins?
What's your favourite festive season?
What do you know about beetles?
Why is Australia called the land down under?
What creatures are in decline in your country?
Would you like to be an entomologist?
What's your favourite festive moment as a kid?

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 'beetle'?
What do you think about what you read?
How is Christmas celebrated in your country?
What is the purpose of beetles?
What do you know about Australia's wildlife?
What animals are unique to your country?
How can we reverse habitat loss?
How do you feel about animal extinction?
What questions would you like to ask the entomologists?

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)

There is a (1) ____ group of creatures that is synonymous with Christmas - donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not (2) ____ to mind when thinking of the festive season. However, there is (3) ____ a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an indication that the holiday season was on its way in the land down (4) ____. Its numbers have declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the age of 35 remembers there (5) ____ huge numbers of Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just doesn't seem to happen any (6) ____."

The Christmas beetle is as unique (7) ____ Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, (8) ____ and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really unique biological event where Christmas is associated (9) ____ the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely critical" to find out why there are so (10) ____ around. Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss. In 2020, bushfires wiped (11) ____ huge swathes of forest that were home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Scientists fear the Christmas beetle may also soon (12) ____ out. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) elect (b) select (c) detect (d) eject
(a) boing (b) spring (c) bounce (d) ricochet
(a) actualize (b) actual (c) actuality (d) actually
(a) over (b) under (c) below (d) above
(a) be (b) being (c) being (d) was
(a) much (b) most (c) more (d) such
(a) by (b) to (c) of (d) on
(a) shiny (b) shiner (c) shines (d) shined
(a) at (b) by (c) of (d) with
(a) few (b) many (c) least (d) minimal
(a) of (b) up (c) with (d) out
(a) see (b) pass (c) die (d) go

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a select group of eecrrusta
nooynmyssu with Christmas
thinking of the vstfeei season
used to be an iidntncioa
Its numbers have ddeincle alarmingly
an glsototeinom from the University of Sydney

Paragraph 2

tryiletg, friendly beetles
absolutely tircilac
wgniddiln numbers
due to iatbhat loss
huge westsah of forest
the worst rate of mammal ineixcttno

Put the text back together

(...) season. However, there is actually a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an
(...) over the age of 35 remembers there being huge numbers of Christmas beetles when they were
(...) due to habitat loss. In 2020, bushfires wiped out huge swathes of forest that were
(...) associated with the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely
(...) home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Scientists
(...) critical" to find out why there are so few around. Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are
( 1 ) There is a select group of creatures that is synonymous with Christmas - donkeys, reindeer,
(...) turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not spring to mind when thinking of the festive
(...) kids, but that just doesn't seem to happen any more."
(...) The Christmas beetle is as unique to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny
(...) indication that the holiday season was on its way in the land down under. Its numbers have
(...) fear the Christmas beetle may also soon die out. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.
(...) and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really unique biological event where Christmas is
(...) declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody

Put the words in the right order

group of A with synonymous Christmas . select creatures
to of image spring doesn't The mind . beetles
the down land under . in way On its
being 35 numbers . over remembers Everybody huge there
doesn't seem any more . just that happen to But
to unique as Australia Beetles as are koalas .
glittery associated is these with beautiful, Christmas beetles .
It find absolutely out why . to was critical
to habitat loss . Their numbers are due dwindling
send asked They beetle people them photos . to

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

There is a select / selection group of creatures that is synonymous / anonymous with Christmas - donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not bounce / spring to mind when thinking of the festive seasoning / season. However, there is actually a Christmas Beatle / beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an indication that a / the holiday season was in / on its way in the land down / up under. Its numbers have declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the age of 35 remembers there / their being huge numbers of Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just / justly doesn't seem to happen any more."

The Christmas beetle is has / as unique to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny / shined and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really unique biologist / biological event where Christmas is associated on / with the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely critical" to find out why there are so little / few around. Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss / loses. In 2020, bushfires wiped up / out huge swathes of forest that were home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate of / at mammal extinction in the world. Scientists fear the Christmas beetle may also soon die up / out. They asked people to send them photographers / photos if they see the beetle.

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)

Th_r_ _s _ s_l_ct gr__p _f cr__t_r_s th_t _s syn_nym__s w_th Chr_stm_s - d_nk_ys, r__nd__r, t_rk_ys _nd r_b_ns. Th_ _m_g_ _f _ b__tl_ d__s n_t spr_ng t_ m_nd wh_n th_nk_ng _f th_ f_st_v_ s__s_n. H_w_v_r, th_r_ _s _ct__lly _ Chr_stm_s b__tl_, b_t th_s Chr_stm_s _t h_s g_n_ m_ss_ng. __str_l__'s Chr_stm_s b__tl_ _s_d t_ b_ _n _nd_c_t__n th_t th_ h_l_d_y s__s_n w_s _n _ts w_y _n th_ l_nd d_wn _nd_r. _ts n_mb_rs h_v_ d_cl_n_d _l_rm_ngly. Dr T_ny_ L_tty, _n _nt_m_l_g_st fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f Sydn_y, s__d: "_v_ryb_dy _v_r th_ _g_ _f 35 r_m_mb_rs th_r_ b__ng h_g_ n_mb_rs _f Chr_stm_s b__tl_s wh_n th_y w_r_ k_ds, b_t th_t j_st d__sn't s__m t_ h_pp_n _nym_r_."

Th_ Chr_stm_s b__tl_ _s _s _n_q__ t_ __str_l__ _s k__l_s _nd k_ng_r__s. _t _s _ c_l__rf_l, sh_ny _nd h_rml_ss b_g. Dr L_tty t_ld th_ BBC: "W_ h_v_ _n __str_l__ th_s r__lly _n_q__ b__l_g_c_l _v_nt wh_r_ Chr_stm_s _s _ss_c__t_d w_th th_ _rr_v_l _f th_s_ b___t_f_l, gl_tt_ry, fr__ndly b__tl_s." Sh_ s__d _t w_s "_bs_l_t_ly cr_t_c_l" t_ f_nd __t why th_r_ _r_ s_ f_w _r__nd. Sc__nt_sts s_sp_ct th_t th__r dw_ndl_ng n_mb_rs _r_ d__ t_ h_b_t_t l_ss. _n 2020, b_shf_r_s w_p_d __t h_g_ sw_th_s _f f_r_st th_t w_r_ h_m_ t_ th_ b__tl_s. __str_l__ h_s th_ w_rst r_t_ _f m_mm_l _xt_nct__n _n th_ w_rld. Sc__nt_sts f__r th_ Chr_stm_s b__tl_ m_y _ls_ s__n d__ __t. Th_y _sk_d p__pl_ t_ s_nd th_m ph_t_s _f th_y s__ th_ b__tl_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

there is a select group of creatures that is synonymous with christmas donkeys reindeer turkeys and robins the image of a beetle does not spring to mind when thinking of the festive season however there is actually a christmas beetle but this christmas it has gone missing australias christmas beetle used to be an indication that the holiday season was on its way in the land down under its numbers have declined alarmingly dr tanya latty an entomologist from the university of sydney said everybody over the age of 35 remembers there being huge numbers of christmas beetles when they were kids but that just doesnt seem to happen any more

the christmas beetle is as unique to australia as koalas and kangaroos it is a colourful shiny and harmless bug dr latty told the bbc we have in australia this really unique biological event where christmas is associated with the arrival of these beautiful glittery friendly beetles she said it was absolutely critical to find out why there are so few around scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss in 2020 bushfires wiped out huge swathes of forest that were home to the beetles australia has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world scientists fear the christmas beetle may also soon die out they asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThereisaselectgroupofcreaturesthatissynonymouswithChristmas-
donkeys,reindeer,turkeysandrobins.Theimageofabeetledoesnotspr
ingtomindwhenthinkingofthefestiveseason.However,thereisactuall
yaChristmasbeetle,butthisChristmasithasgonemissing.Australia'sC
hristmasbeetleusedtobeanindicationthattheholidayseasonwasonits
wayinthelanddownunder.Itsnumbershavedeclinedalarmingly.DrTa
nyaLatty,anentomologistfromtheUniversityofSydney,said:"Everyb
odyovertheageof35rememberstherebeinghugenumbersofChristma
sbeetleswhentheywerekids,butthatjustdoesn'tseemtohappenanym
ore."TheChristmasbeetleisasuniquetoAustraliaaskoalasandkangaro
os.Itisacolourful,shinyandharmlessbug.DrLattytoldtheBBC:"Wehav
einAustraliathisreallyuniquebiologicaleventwhereChristmasisassoci
atedwiththearrivalofthesebeautiful,glittery,friendlybeetles."Shesai
ditwas"absolutelycritical"tofindoutwhytherearesofewaround.Scient
istssuspectthattheirdwindlingnumbersareduetohabitatloss.In2020,
bushfireswipedouthugeswathesofforestthatwerehometothebeetles.
Australiahastheworstrateofmammalextinctionintheworld.Scientists
feartheChristmasbeetlemayalsosoondieout.Theyaskedpeopletosen
dthemphotosiftheyseethebeetle.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Governments should be fined heavily when one of their species dies out. 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. CHRISTMAS ANIMALS: Make a poster about Christmas animals. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Write a magazine article about encouraging people to celebrate Christmas according to its true spirit. 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 Christmas. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make the holiday more meaningful. 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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