The Reading / Listening - Bed Poverty - Level 3

A children's charity has reported that more than a million children in the UK live in 'Bed poverty'. This means they have no bed of their own to sleep in. They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with parents or siblings. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is a result of people becoming poorer. The cost of living has greatly increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher gas and electricity bills mean people on low incomes cannot afford basic items. Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is now a "luxury" item. It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep on the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them to concentrate at school.

Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was just one sign that many people in Britain are struggling. She said: "Bed poverty is just one aspect of child poverty." She added that it highlights the painful challenges that many parents face. She said parents do not have enough money "to afford the essentials needed to raise happy and healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such as food, heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is affecting children's mental health. She called on the government to take "urgent action to address these deep-rooted issues".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Bed Poverty - Level 0,  Bed Poverty - Level 1   or  Bed Poverty - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/29/more-than-1-million-children-in-uk-sleep-on-floor-or-share-bed-study-finds
  • https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/6-october/news/uk/hundreds-of-thousands-of-children-suffer-bed-poverty-says-barnardo-s
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cost-of-living-uk-bed-poverty-children-b2420763.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. BEDS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about beds. 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?
       charity / million / bed / poverty / children / cost of living / food prices / concentrate /
       Britain / struggling / challenges / money / crisis / electricity / bedding / urgent
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FREE BEDS: Students A strongly believe governments should give free beds to poor families; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SLEEP: What are the good and bad things about sleeping in these places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

A bed

 

 

A sofa

 

 

A futon

 

 

The beach

 

 

The floor

 

 

A train

 

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

  • No beds
  • Poor diets
  • No holidays
  • No Internet
  • No heating
  • No entertainment
  • No healthcare
  • Worn-out clothes

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. charity a. An organization that helps and raises money for those in need.
      2. siblings b. Something you don't need (but want) which is very expensive.
      3. result c. Brothers or sisters.
      4. rising d. A printed or written statement of the money you have to pay for goods or services.
      5. bills e. A thing that is caused or produced by something else.
      6. luxury f. Going up, increasing, or sloping upward.
      7. concentrate g. Focus all one's attention on a particular object or activity.

    Paragraph 2

      8. struggling h. Things that are absolutely necessary.
      9. challenge i. Have money to pay for something.
      10. face j. Really trying to do or get something in the face of difficulty or resistance.
      11. afford k. Needing immediate action.
      12. essentials l. A task or situation that tests someone's abilities.
      13. urgent m. Think about and begin to deal with an issue or problem.
      14. address n. Have or accept a difficult or unpleasant task or situation.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The WHO said a million children worldwide have no bed.     T / F
  2. Many children in the UK share a bed with a brother or sister.     T / F
  3. More children sleep on the floor than share beds.     T / F
  4. Having no bed affects how children study at school.     T / F
  5. A charity said bed poverty shows there is child poverty.     T / F
  6. Some parents have too little money to keep their children healthy.     T / F
  7. Families can afford to fix broken beds.     T / F
  8. The charity boss said the government would not address these issues.     T / F

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

  1. siblings
  2. incomes
  3. item
  4. tired
  5. concentrate
  6. aspect
  7. essentials
  8. fixing
  9. urgent
  10. issues
  1. repairing
  2. thing
  3. focus
  4. necessities
  5. salaries
  6. problems
  7. brothers or sisters
  8. emergency
  9. worn out
  10. feature

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

  1. share a bed with parents
  2. bed poverty is a result of people
  3. The cost of living
  4. Rising food prices and higher gas
  5. it is difficult for them to concentrate
  6. many people in Britain
  7. Bed poverty is just one aspect
  8. parents do not have enough money to
  9. She called on the government to
  10. address these deep-
  1. rooted issues
  2. and electricity bills
  3. at school
  4. afford the essentials
  5. are struggling
  6. becoming poorer
  7. take urgent action
  8. of child poverty
  9. or siblings
  10. has greatly increased

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bills
own
items
concentrate
siblings
sharing
reported
cost

A children's charity has (1) _____________________ that more than a million children in the UK live in "bed poverty". This means they have no bed of their (2) _____________________ to sleep in. They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with parents or (3) _____________________. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is a result of people becoming poorer. The (4) _____________________ of living has greatly increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher gas and electricity (5) _____________________ mean people on low incomes cannot afford basic (6) _____________________. Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is now a "luxury" item. It said around 700,000 children are (7) _____________________ beds, while 440,000 children sleep on the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them to (8) _____________________ at school.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
face
fixing
afford
address
sign
health
child
such

Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was just one (9) _____________________ that many people in Britain are struggling. She said: "Bed poverty is just one aspect of (10) _____________________ poverty." She added that it highlights the painful challenges that many parents (11) _____________________. She said parents do not have enough money "to (12) _____________________ the essentials needed to raise happy and healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials (13) _____________________ as food, heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or (14) _____________________ a rotten or broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is affecting children's mental (15) _____________________. She called on the government to take "urgent action to (16) _____________________ these deep-rooted issues".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with ______
     a.  parents or siblings
     b.  parents or sidings
     c.  parents or saplings
     d.  parents or sibling
2)  higher gas and electricity bills mean people on low incomes cannot ______
     a.  afford basically items
     b.  afford basis items
     c.  afford basic items
     d.  afford basics items
3)  Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is now ______
     a.  a "luxury" itemized
     b.  a "luxury" itemize
     c.  a "luxury" items
     d.  a "luxury" item
4)  It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep ______
     a.  in the floor
     b.  on the floor
     c.  pun the floor
     d.  on the floored
5)  This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them to ______
     a.  concentrate by school
     b.  concentrate at school
     c.  concentrate of school
     d.  concentrate to school

6)  bed poverty was just one sign that many people in ______
     a.  Britain are snuggling
     b.  Britain are smuggling
     c.  Britain are struggling
     d.  Britain are juggling
7)  She added that it highlights the painful challenges that ______
     a.  many parents face
     b.  many parents farce
     c.  many parents phase
     d.  many parents faze
8)  She said parents do not have enough money to ______
     a.  afford the essences
     b.  afford the essential
     c.  afford the essentially
     d.  afford the essentials
9)  things like replacing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten ______
     a.  or broke bed
     b.  or break bed
     c.  or bracken bed
     d.  or broken bed
10)  She called on the government to take urgent action to address these ______
     a.  depth-rooted issues
     b.  deep-rooted issues
     c.  deepen-rooted issues
     d.  deeps-rooted issues

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A children's charity has reported that more (1) ____________________ children in the UK live in "bed poverty". This means they have no bed of their own to sleep in. They (2) ____________________ the floor or share a bed with parents or siblings. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is (3) ____________________ people becoming poorer. The cost of living has greatly increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher gas (4) ____________________ mean people on low incomes cannot afford basic items. Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is now (5) ____________________. It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep on the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them (6) ____________________ school.

Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was (7) ____________________ that many people in Britain are struggling. She said: "Bed poverty is (8) ____________________ of child poverty." She added that it highlights the painful challenges that many parents face. She said parents do not have enough money "(9) ____________________ essentials needed to raise happy and healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise (10) ____________________ food, heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding (11) ____________________ rotten or broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is affecting children's mental health. She called on the government to (12) ____________________ to address these deep-rooted issues".

Comprehension questions

  1. Who do children share a bed with, besides parents?
  2. What has greatly increased in the UK?
  3. What kind of item is a bed for many people in the UK?
  4. How many children in the UK sleep on the floor?
  5. What might children not be able to do at school?
  6. What is bed poverty a sign of British people doing?
  7. What kind of challenges do many parents face in the UK?
  8. What can many UK families not afford?
  9. What is bed poverty affecting in children with no bed?
  10. Who does a charity want to address deep-rooted issues?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who do children share a bed with, besides parents?
a) cousins
b) siblings
c) grandparents
d) teddy bears
2) What has greatly increased in the UK?
a) bedbugs
b) the number of children
c) parents
d) the cost of living
3) What kind of item is a bed for many people in the UK?
a) a big item
b) something comfortable
c) a luxury item
d) a cheap item
4) How many children in the UK sleep on the floor?
a) 440,000
b) 700,000
c) 400,000
d) 770,000
5) What might children not be able to do at school?
a) play
b) concentrate
c) make friends
d) sleep

6) What is bed poverty a sign of British people doing?
a) struggling
b) having babies
c) saving money
d) sleeping
7) What kind of challenges do many parents face in the UK?
a) big challenges
b) interesting challenges
c) painful challenges
d) easy challenges
8) What can many UK families not afford?
a) necessities
b) holidays
c) children
d) school
9) What is bed poverty affecting in children with no bed?
a) back pain
b) their weight
c) their friendships
d) their mental health
10) Who does a charity want to address deep-rooted issues?
a) doctors
b) parents
c) the government
d) bed makers

Role play

Role  A – No Beds
You think having no beds is the worst aspect of poverty. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): poor diets, no Internet or worn-out clothes.

Role  B – Poor Diets
You think having poor diets is the worst aspect of poverty. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): no beds, no Internet or worn-out clothes.

Role  C – No Internet
You think having no Internet is the worst aspect of poverty. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): poor diets, no beds or worn-out clothes.

Role  D – Worn-out Clothes
You think having worn-out clothes is the worst aspect of poverty. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): poor diets, no Internet or no beds.

After reading / listening

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

'bed'

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

    • and 'poverty'.

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

    • • 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:

    • reported
    • own
    • result
    • higher
    • basic
    • difficult
    • sign
    • aspect
    • face
    • crisis
    • broken
    • take

    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 - Bed Poverty

    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 'bed'?
    3. How important is your bed to you?
    4. What do you think of 'bed poverty'?
    5. What would you do if you had no bed?
    6. What do you think of the UK having bed poverty?
    7. What's the cost of living like in your country?
    8. What do you think of a bed being a 'luxury item'?
    9. Have you ever had to share a bed?
    10. What advice do you have for poor parents?

    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 'poverty'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Have you ever struggled because of money?
    5. Why do you think there is child poverty in the UK?
    6. How sad is it for parents to choose between heating or eating?
    7. How important is it for children to sleep on a bed?
    8. How can bed poverty affect children's health?
    9. What can the government do to address the 'deep-rooted' issues?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the charity?

    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)

    A children's charity has reported (1) ____ more than a million children in the UK live in 'Bed poverty'. This means they have no bed of their (2) ____ to sleep in. They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with parents or (3) ____. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is a result of people becoming poorer. The cost of living has greatly increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher gas and electricity (4) ____ mean people on low incomes cannot afford (5) ____ items. Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is now a "luxury" item. It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep on the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them to concentrate (6) ____ school.

    Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was just one sign that many people in Britain are (7) ____. She said: "Bed poverty is just one aspect of child poverty." She added that it highlights the painful challenges that many parents (8) ____. She said parents do not have enough money "to afford the essentials needed to (9) ____ happy and healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such as food, heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or (10) ____ a rotten or broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is (11) ____ children's mental health. She called on the government to take "urgent action to address these deep-(12) ____ issues".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     so     (b)     that     (c)     which     (d)     what    
    2. (a)     down     (b)     own     (c)     gown     (d)     owner    
    3. (a)     heritage     (b)     sidings     (c)     ancestors     (d)     siblings    
    4. (a)     fills     (b)     bills     (c)     hills     (d)     pills    
    5. (a)     basis     (b)     basically     (c)     basics     (d)     basic    
    6. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     struggling     (b)     snuggling     (c)     smuggling     (d)     juggling    
    8. (a)     head     (b)     back     (c)     face     (d)     stomach    
    9. (a)     rise     (b)     lift     (c)     elevate     (d)     raise    
    10. (a)     fixing     (b)     affixing     (c)     fixed     (d)     fix    
    11. (a)     affecting     (b)     infecting     (c)     deflecting     (d)     detecting    
    12. (a)     rooted     (b)     branched     (c)     flowered     (d)     stemmed

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. A children's rhyaict
    2. share a bed with parents or lbssinig
    3. a rtelsu of people becoming poorer
    4. higher gas and eteclicrtyi bills
    5. a bed is now a urxuly item
    6. toeectrnnca at school

    Paragraph 2

    1. people in Britain are sutnirgggl
    2. one asptce of child poverty
    3. it highlights the painful shalecngle
    4. enough money to arofdf the essentials
    5. fixing a nrteot or broken bed
    6. take renugt action

    Put the text back together

    (...)   on the government to take "urgent action to address these deep-rooted issues".
    (...)   as food, heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or
    (...)   broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is affecting children's mental health. She called
    (...)   happy and healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such
    (  1  ) A children's charity has reported that more than a million children in the UK live in "bed poverty". This means they
    (...)   bed is now a "luxury" item. It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep
    (...)   Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was just one sign that many people in Britain are
    (...)   have no bed of their own to sleep in. They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with
    (...)   parents or siblings. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is a result of people becoming
    (...)   poorer. The cost of living has greatly increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher gas
    (...)   and electricity bills mean people on low incomes cannot afford basic items. Barnardo's said for many families, a
    (...)   on the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them to concentrate at school.
    (...)   challenges that many parents face. She said parents do not have enough money "to afford the essentials needed to raise
    (...)   struggling. She said: "Bed poverty is just one aspect of child poverty." She added that it highlights the painful

    Put the words in the right order

    1. no   have   own   .   their   bed   of   They
    2. cost   of   The   greatly   living   has   increased   .
    3. low   on   afford   incomes   basic   People   items   .   cannot
    4. It   said   700,000   around   beds   .   children   are   sharing
    5. to   at   concentrate   difficult   school   .   for   them   It's
    6. just   was   poverty   bed   said   one   She   sign   .
    7. child   Bed   poverty   poverty   .   aspect   is   of   one
    8. painful   The   many   that   face   .   parents   challenges
    9. children's   health   .   poverty   is   mental   Bed   affecting
    10. called   to   government   action   .   on   the   take   She

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A children's charity has reported that / what more than a million children in the UK live in "bed poverty". This means they have no bed of their down / own to sleep in. They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with parents or sibling / siblings. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is a result of people becoming poverty / poorer. The cost of living has greatly decreased / increased in the UK. Rising food prices and heighten / higher gas and electricity bills mean people on low / slow incomes cannot afford basic items. Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is know / now a "luxury" item. It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep on / in the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult / difficulty for them to concentrate at school.

    Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was just one / once sign that many people in Britain are snuggling / struggling. She said: "Bed poverty is just one inspect / aspect of child poverty." She added that it highlights the pain / painful challenges that many parents face / head. She said parents do not have enough money "to afford the essentials needed to raise happy and health / healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such as food, heating and electric / electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or broke / broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is affecting / infecting children's mental health. She called on the government to take "urgent action to address these deep-rooted tissues / issues".

    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)

    _  ch_ldr_n's  ch_r_ty  h_s  r_p_rt_d  th_t  m_r_  th_n  _  m_ll__n  ch_ldr_n  _n  th_  _K  l_v_  _n  "b_d  p_v_rty".  Th_s  m__ns  th_y  h_v_  n_  b_d  _f  th__r  _wn  t_  sl__p  _n.  Th_y  __th_r  sl__p  _n  th_  fl__r  _r  sh_r_  _  b_d  w_th  p_r_nts  _r  s_bl_ngs.  Th_  ch_r_ty,  B_rn_rd_'s,  s__d  b_d  p_v_rty  _s  _  r_s_lt  _f  p__pl_  b_c_m_ng  p__r_r.  Th_  c_st  _f  l_v_ng  h_s  gr__tly  _ncr__s_d  _n  th_  _K.  R_s_ng  f__d  pr_c_s  _nd  h_gh_r  g_s  _nd  _l_ctr_c_ty  b_lls  m__n  p__pl_  _n  l_w  _nc_m_s  c_nn_t  _ff_rd  b_s_c  _t_ms.  B_rn_rd_'s  s__d  f_r  m_ny  f_m_l__s,  _  b_d  _s  n_w  _  "l_x_ry"  _t_m.  _t  s__d  _r__nd  700,000  ch_ldr_n  _r_  sh_r_ng  b_ds,  wh_l_  440,000  ch_ldr_n  sl__p  _n  th_  fl__r.  Th_s  m_k_s  ch_ldr_n  t_r_d,  s_  _t  _s  d_ff_c_lt  f_r  th_m  t_  c_nc_ntr_t_  _t  sch__l.

    Lynn  P_rry,  th_  C__  _f  B_rn_rd_'s,  s__d  b_d  p_v_rty  w_s  j_st  _n_  s_gn  th_t  m_ny  p__pl_  _n  Br_t__n  _r_  str_ggl_ng.  Sh_  s__d:  "B_d  p_v_rty  _s  j_st  _n_  _sp_ct  _f  ch_ld  p_v_rty."  Sh_  _dd_d  th_t  _t  h_ghl_ghts  th_  p__nf_l  ch_ll_ng_s  th_t  m_ny  p_r_nts  f_c_.  Sh_  s__d  p_r_nts  d_  n_t  h_v_  _n__gh  m_n_y  "t_  _ff_rd  th_  _ss_nt__ls  n__d_d  t_  r__s_  h_ppy  _nd  h__lthy  ch_ldr_n".  Sh_  s__d:  "F_m_l__s  _n  cr_s_s  _r_  h_v_ng  t_  pr__r_t_s_  _ss_nt__ls  s_ch  _s  f__d,  h__t_ng  _nd  _l_ctr_c_ty  _v_r  th_ngs  l_k_  r_pl_c_ng  m__ldy  b_dd_ng  _r  f_x_ng  _  r_tt_n  _r  br_k_n  b_d."  Ms  P_rry  w_rn_d  th_t  b_d  p_v_rty  _s  _ff_ct_ng  ch_ldr_n's  m_nt_l  h__lth.  Sh_  c_ll_d  _n  th_  g_v_rnm_nt  t_  t_k_  "_rg_nt  _ct__n  t_  _ddr_ss  th_s_  d__p-r__t_d  _ss__s".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a childrens charity has reported that more than a million children in the uk live in bed poverty this means they have no bed of their own to sleep in they either sleep on the floor or share a bed with parents or siblings the charity barnardos said bed poverty is a result of people becoming poorer the cost of living has greatly increased in the uk rising food prices and higher gas and electricity bills mean people on low incomes cannot afford basic items barnardos said for many families a bed is now a luxury item it said around 700000 children are sharing beds while 440000 children sleep on the floor this makes children tired so it is difficult for them to concentrate at school

    lynn perry the ceo of barnardos said bed poverty was just one sign that many people in britain are struggling she said bed poverty is just one aspect of child poverty she added that it highlights the painful challenges that many parents face she said parents do not have enough money to afford the essentials needed to raise happy and healthy children she said families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such as food heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or broken bed ms perry warned that bed poverty is affecting childrens mental health she called on the government to take urgent action to address these deeprooted issues

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Achildren'scharityhasreportedthatmorethanamillionchildrenintheU
    Klivein"bedpoverty".Thismeanstheyhavenobedoftheirowntosleepin
    .Theyeithersleeponthefloororshareabedwithparentsorsiblings.Thec
    harity,Barnardo's,saidbedpovertyisaresultofpeoplebecomingpoorer
    .ThecostoflivinghasgreatlyincreasedintheUK.Risingfoodpricesandhi
    ghergasandelectricitybillsmeanpeopleonlowincomescannotaffordb
    asicitems.Barnardo'ssaidformanyfamilies,abedisnowa"luxury"item.
    Itsaidaround700,000childrenaresharingbeds,while440,000children
    sleeponthefloor.Thismakeschildrentired,soitisdifficultforthemtocon
    centrateatschool.LynnPerry,theCEOofBarnardo's,saidbedpovertyw
    asjustonesignthatmanypeopleinBritainarestruggling.Shesaid:"Bed
    povertyisjustoneaspectofchildpoverty."Sheaddedthatithighlightsth
    epainfulchallengesthatmanyparentsface.Shesaidparentsdonothave
    enoughmoney"toaffordtheessentialsneededtoraisehappyandhealth
    ychildren".Shesaid:"Familiesincrisisarehavingtoprioritiseessentials
    suchasfood,heatingandelectricityoverthingslikereplacingmouldybe
    ddingorfixingarottenorbrokenbed."MsPerrywarnedthatbedpovertyi
    saffectingchildren'smentalhealth.Shecalledonthegovernmenttotak
    e"urgentactiontoaddressthesedeep-rootedissues".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Governments should give beds to poor families for free. 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. BEDS: Make a poster about beds. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FUTONS: Write a magazine article about people replacing beds with futons. 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 bed poverty. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reduce poverty. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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