Breaking News English Lesson: Mount Everest

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Mt Everest climbers must now keep their poo (22nd February 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Mount Everest - Level 3

There is a new rule about going to the toilet on Mount Everest. People climbing the world's highest peak will now have to take their own poo back to Base Camp. There has been an increase in the number of climbers on the mountain. This has led to a problem of human waste being left on the slopes. Mingma Sherpa, a local official, told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to stink." He added: "We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable. It damages our image." The new rule requires climbers to buy a bio-degradable "poop bag". They can dispose of the bag and its contents when they come down from the mountain. It will be "checked" by workers there.

The problem of waste, litter and pollution on Mt Everest has been growing for years. Many people leave camping equipment on the slopes. Thousands of discarded cans of oxygen litter the mountain. An environmental organization estimated that there was around three tons of human poo between Base Camp and the summit of Everest. Much of this freezes and does not degrade. The India Today website said the poop bags will help with the waste problem. It wrote: "It is hoped that this measure, along with ongoing clean-up campaigns, will help restore the dignity of this iconic peak." It added that the waste bags would, "safeguard the health of both climbers and the local environment".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Mount Everest - Level 0, Mount Everest - Level 1 or Mount Everest - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68237123
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3251452/mount-everest-climbers-must-now-buy-poop-bags-and-bring-their-waste-down-our-mountains-have-begun
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/mount-everests-poop-problem-heres-what-climbers-will-have-to-do-2499388-2024-02-08

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. POO: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about poo. 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?
rules / the toilet / Mount Everest / poo / climbers / mountains / stink / bio-degradable
litter / pollution / camping equipment / oxygen / summit / waste / dignity / health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EVEREST BAN: Students A strongly believe climbing Everest should be banned; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MOUNTAIN RULES: What rules should there be for mountains? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Rule	Why?
Toilets
Cooking
Camping
Flora and fauna
Cars
Taking things

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

Mount Everest
Amazon rainforest
Antarctica
River Nile
Uluru
The Sahara Desert
Grand Canyon
Great Barrier Reef

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	peak (noun)	a.	Can be seen.
2.	waste (noun)	b.	Things that are not needed anymore and are thrown away; the solid thing(s) that come out of your body after passing through your stomach.
3.	slopes	c.	To smell very bad.
4.	stink (verb)	d.	The very top of a mountain or a high point.
5.	complaint	e.	To get rid of something, usually by throwing it away.
6.	visible	f.	The sides of a mountain or a hill that are not flat.
7.	dispose of	g.	The thing you tell someone that you are unhappy about.

Paragraph 2

8.	litter (noun)	h.	Guessed about how much or how many.
9.	equipment	i.	Thrown away or left behind.
10.	discarded	j.	To find out how big, heavy, long, etc., something is.
11.	estimated	k.	Trash or garbage that is left lying around in public places.
12.	summit	l.	Tools or things you need to do a particular activity or job.
13.	measure	m.	Well-known and represents a particular idea or thing.
14.	iconic	n.	The very top of a mountain.

Before reading / listening

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

There are new toilets at Base Camp on Mount Everest. T / F
The number of people climbing Everest has fallen. T / F
A local official said the mountains are starting to smell really bad. T / F
Climbers have to put their poop in a special bio-degradable bag. T / F
Climbers have left thousands of oxygen cans on Mount Everest. T / F
An environmental group said there are about 3 tons of poo on Everest. T / F
Most of the poo washes into the rocks when it rains. T / F
A website said the poo bags would have little effect on the environment. T / F

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

rule
increase
stink
sick
dispose of
estimated
measure
campaigns
peak
safeguard

throw away
ill
rise
action
mountain
regulation
protect
calculated
drives
smell bad

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

There is a new rule about
People climbing the world's highest
human
some climbers are falling
They can dispose of
camping
discarded cans
Much of this freezes and does not
restore the dignity of
safeguard the health of both climbers and

of oxygen
the bag and its contents
this iconic peak
equipment
peak
degrade
going to the toilet
the local environment
sick
waste

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

stink
damages
number
contents
waste
peak
bio-degradable
visible

There is a new rule about going to the toilet on Mount Everest. People climbing the world's highest (1) _____________________ will now have to take their own poo back to Base Camp. There has been an increase in the (2) _____________________ of climbers on the mountain. This has led to a problem of human (3) _____________________ being left on the slopes. Mingma Sherpa, a local official, told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to (4) _____________________." He added: "We are getting complaints that human stools are (5) _____________________ on rocks, and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable. It (6) _____________________ our image." The new rule requires climbers to buy a (7) _____________________ "poop bag". They can dispose of the bag and its (8) _____________________ when they come down from the mountain. It will be "checked" by workers there.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

dignity
local
litter
measure
safeguard
estimated
slopes
degrade

The problem of waste, (9) _____________________ and pollution on Mt Everest has been growing for years. Many people leave camping equipment on the (10) _____________________. Thousands of discarded cans of oxygen litter the mountain. An environmental organization (11) _____________________ that there was around three tons of human poo between Base Camp and the summit of Everest. Much of this freezes and does not (12) _____________________. The India Today website said the poop bags will help with the waste problem. It wrote: "It is hoped that this (13) _____________________, along with ongoing clean-up campaigns, will help restore the (14) _____________________ of this iconic peak." It added that the waste bags would, "(15) _____________________ the health of both climbers and the (16) _____________________ environment".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) new rule about going to the toilet on Mount Everest. People climbing the ______
     a. world's highest perk
     b. world's highest park
     c. world's highest peak
     d. world's highest pack
2) This has led to a problem of human waste being left ______
     a. on the slips
     b. on the slaps
     c. on the slopes
     d. on the slops
3) complaints that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers ______
     a. are falling sick
     b. are fallen sick
     c. are fall in sick
     d. are failing sick
4) This is not acceptable. It ______
     a. damages our imaged
     b. damages our imagine
     c. damages hour image
     d. damages our image
5) They can dispose of the bag and its contents when ______
     a. they came down
     b. they come down
     c. they comes down
     d. they coming down

6) The problem of waste, litter and pollution on Mt Everest has been ______
     a. growing for years
     b. grown for years
     c. growth for years
     d. grow in for years
7) Thousands of discarded cans of oxygen ______
     a. letter the mountain
     b. latter the mountain
     c. little the mountain
     d. litter the mountain
8) three tons of human poo between Base Camp and the ______
     a. sum mitt of Everest
     b. some mitt of Everest
     c. sum might of Everest
     d. summit of Everest
9) The India Today website said the poop bags will help with ______
     a. the haste problem
     b. the baste problem
     c. the waste problem
     d. the paste problem
10) waste bags would, "safeguard the health of both climbers and _______"
     a. the focal environment
     b. the locally environment
     c. the locals environment
     d. the local environment

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is a new rule about going to (1) ____________________ Mount Everest. People climbing the world's (2) ____________________ now have to take their own poo back to Base Camp. There has been an increase in the number of climbers on the mountain. This has led to a problem of (3) ____________________ left on the slopes. Mingma Sherpa, a local official, told the BBC: "Our mountains have (4) ____________________." He added: "We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are falling sick. This (5) ____________________. It damages our image." The new rule requires climbers to buy a bio-degradable "poop bag". They (6) ____________________ the bag and its contents when they come down from the mountain. It will be "checked" by workers there.

The problem of waste, litter and pollution on Mt Everest has been (7) ____________________. Many people leave camping equipment on the slopes. Thousands of discarded (8) ____________________ litter the mountain. An environmental organization estimated that there was around (9) ____________________ human poo between Base Camp and the summit of Everest. Much of this freezes and (10) ____________________. The India Today website said the poop bags will help with the waste problem. It wrote: "It is hoped that this measure, along with ongoing clean-up campaigns, will help restore (11) ____________________ this iconic peak." It added that the waste bags would, "(12) ____________________ of both climbers and the local environment".

Comprehension questions

What is the world's highest peak?
What has there been an increase in?
What did a local official say the mountains were beginning to do?
What is happening to some climbers?
Who will check the poop bags?
What kind of equipment do climbers leave on the slopes of Mt Everest?
What kind of cans do people leave on the mountain?
What happens to much of the poo on Mt Everest?
Who said the poop bags would help the clean-up campaign?
What will the poop bags safeguard besides the health of climbers?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the world's highest peak?
a) Kilimanjaro
b) K2
c) Mount Everest
d) Mount Fuji
2) What has there been an increase in?
a) climbers
b) snow
c) stomach problems
d) accidents
3) What did a local official say the mountains were beginning to do?
a) fight back
b) melt
c) move
d) stink
4) What is happening to some climbers?
a) They are falling over.
b) They are getting sick.
c) They are reaching the top.
d) They are getting angry.
5) Who will check the poop bags?
a) mountain guides
b) climbers
c) workers
d) the police

6) What kind of equipment do climbers leave on the slopes of Mt Everest?
a) computer equipment
b) medical equipment
c) fishing equipment
d) camping equipment
7) What kind of cans do people leave on the mountain?
a) cola cans
b) oxygen cans
c) kerosene cans
d) empty fish cans
8) What happens to much of the poo on Mt Everest?
a) It steams.
b) It decomposes.
c) It melts.
d) It freezes.
9) Who said the poop bags would help the clean-up campaign?
a) the India Today website
b) the pop-bag makers
c) a local official
d) climbers
10) What will the poop bags safeguard besides the health of climbers?
a) water
b) flora and fauna
c) the future of Everest
d) the local environment

Role play

Role A – Mount Everest
You think Mount Everest is the world's greatest sight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Amazon, Antarctica or Sahara.

Role B – The Amazon Rainforest
You think the Amazon is the world's greatest sight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Mount Everest, Antarctica or Sahara.

Role C – Antarctica
You think Antarctica is the world's greatest sight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Amazon, Mount Everest or Sahara.

Role D – The Sahara Desert
You think the Sahara is the world's greatest sight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Amazon, Antarctica or Mount Everest.

After reading / listening

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

'mountain'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'poo'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

new

increase

left

stink

damages

dispose

growing

oxygen

three

website

ongoing

both

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 - Mount Everest

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 'Everest'?
Should there be more toilets on Mount Everest?
Should climbers take all their waste with them?
What do you think of people who climb Mount Everest?
Should there be a limit on the number of climbers on Everest?
Should climbers respect mountains more?
How successful do you think the poop bags will be?
What do you think of public toilets?
What do you think of using toilets in fast food restaurants?

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 'poo'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about Mt. Everest?
Would you like to climb Everest?
How much waste and litter is there in your town?
How can we keep our natural environment clean?
What do you think of fining climbers who leave waste on Everest?
What three adjectives best describe this story?
What questions would you like to ask climbers on Everest?

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 new (1) ____ about going to the toilet on Mount Everest. People climbing the world's highest peak will now have to take their own poo back to Base Camp. There has been an increase (2) ____ the number of climbers on the mountain. This has led to a problem of human waste (3) ____ left on the slopes. Mingma Sherpa, a local official, told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to (4) ____." He added: "We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are (5) ____ sick. This is not acceptable. It damages our image." The new rule requires climbers to buy a bio-degradable "poop bag". They can dispose (6) ____ the bag and its contents when they come down from the mountain. It will be "checked" by workers there.

The problem of waste, litter and pollution on Mt Everest has been (7) ____ for years. Many people leave camping equipment on the slopes. Thousands of discarded cans of oxygen (8) ____ the mountain. An environmental organization estimated that there was around three tons of human poo between Base Camp and the (9) ____ of Everest. Much of this (10) ____ and does not degrade. The India Today website said the poop bags will help with the waste problem. It wrote: "It is hoped that this (11) ____, along with ongoing clean-up campaigns, will help restore the dignity of this iconic peak." It added that the waste bags would, "safeguard the health of both climbers and the (12) ____ environment".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) ruler (b) rule (c) ruled (d) rules
(a) at (b) in (c) up (d) by
(a) was (b) been (c) be (d) being
(a) sting (b) stink (c) tinker (d) tingle
(a) fell (b) falling (c) fallen (d) falls
(a) by (b) at (c) of (d) in
(a) growth (b) grew (c) growing (d) grown
(a) bitter (b) critter (c) litter (d) jitter
(a) snow (b) rock (c) inside (d) summit
(a) freezing (b) frozen (c) freeze (d) freezes
(a) measure (b) tape (c) ruler (d) gauge
(a) localize (b) locals (c) local (d) locally

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a problem of human sewta
We are getting tlonamspci
This is not aalcctpeeb
a iob-dabagedrel poop bag
They can sispode of the bag
its tosnntce

Paragraph 2

litter and oulnltopi
camping eiqnupetm
discarded cans of xygoen
the utmmsi of Everest
the dignity of this cnicio peak
regaufdsa the health

Put the text back together

(...) complaints that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are falling sick. This is not acceptable. It damages our
(...) peak will now have to take their own poo back to Base Camp. There has been an increase in the number
(...) official, told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to stink." He added: "We are getting
(...) up campaigns, will help restore the dignity of this iconic peak." It added that the waste
(...) equipment on the slopes. Thousands of discarded cans of oxygen litter the mountain. An environmental
(...) of the bag and its contents when they come down from the mountain. It will be "checked" by workers there.
(...) The problem of waste, litter and pollution on Mt Everest has been growing for years. Many people leave camping
(...) bags would, "safeguard the health of both climbers and the local environment".
(...) problem. It wrote: "It is hoped that this measure, along with ongoing clean-
(...) freezes and does not degrade. The India Today website said the poop bags will help with the waste
(...) of climbers on the mountain. This has led to a problem of human waste being left on the slopes. Mingma Sherpa, a local
( 1 ) There is a new rule about going to the toilet on Mount Everest. People climbing the world's highest
(...) image." The new rule requires climbers to buy a bio-degradable "poop bag". They can dispose
(...) organization estimated that there was around three tons of human poo between Base Camp and the summit of Everest. Much of this

Put the words in the right order

toilet . new about to rule the A going
have take their Climbers poo to own back .
human This to waste . a problem led of
begun have stink . said He mountains our to
workers there . The by be poo will checked
on camping people leave Many slopes . equipment the
Thousands mountain . of of litter oxygen cans the
degrade . this not does and freezes of Much
restore the dignity peak . Help iconic of this
waste The bags the climbers . safeguard health of

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

There is a new rule / ruler about going to the toilet on Mount Everest. People climbing the world's highest pack / peak will now have to take their own poo back to Base Camp. There has been an increase / decrease in the number of climbers on the mountain. This has fled / led to a problem of human waste being left on / in the slopes. Mingma Sherpa, a local official, told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to stink / sting." He added: "We are getting complaints / complains that human stools are visible on rocks, and some climbers are rising / falling sick. This is not acceptable. It damages our image." The new rule requires climbers to buy a bio-degradable "poop bag". They can dispose to / of the bag and its contents when they come down from the mountain. It will be "checked" by /of workers there.

The problem of waste, litter and pollute / pollution on Mt Everest has been growing / grown for years. Many people leave camping equipment on the slips / slopes. Thousands of discarded cans of oxygen litter the mountain. An environmental organization estimated what / that there was around three tins / tons of human poo between Base Camp and the summit of Everest. Much of this freezes / frozen and does not degrade. The India Today website said the poop bags will help without / with the waste problem. It wrote: "It is hoped that this measure, along / long with ongoing clean-up campaigns, will help restore the dignity of this iconic / ironic peak." It added that the waste bags would, "safety / safeguard the health of both climbers and the local environment".

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 _ n_w r_l_ _b__t g__ng t_ th_ t__l_t _n M__nt _v_r_st. P__pl_ cl_mb_ng th_ w_rld's h_gh_st p__k w_ll n_w h_v_ t_ t_k_ th__r _wn p__ b_ck t_ B_s_ C_mp. Th_r_ h_s b__n _n _ncr__s_ _n th_ n_mb_r _f cl_mb_rs _n th_ m__nt__n. Th_s h_s l_d t_ _ pr_bl_m _f h_m_n w_st_ b__ng l_ft _n th_ sl_p_s. M_ngm_ Sh_rp_, _ l_c_l _ff_c__l, t_ld th_ BBC: "__r m__nt__ns h_v_ b_g_n t_ st_nk." H_ _dd_d: "W_ _r_ g_tt_ng c_mpl__nts th_t h_m_n st__ls _r_ v_s_bl_ _n r_cks, _nd s_m_ cl_mb_rs _r_ f_ll_ng s_ck. Th_s _s n_t _cc_pt_bl_. _t d_m_g_s __r _m_g_." Th_ n_w r_l_ r_q__r_s cl_mb_rs t_ b_y _ b__-d_gr_d_bl_ "p__p b_g". Th_y c_n d_sp_s_ _f th_ b_g _nd _ts c_nt_nts wh_n th_y c_m_ d_wn fr_m th_ m__nt__n. _t w_ll b_ "ch_ck_d" by w_rk_rs th_r_.

Th_ pr_bl_m _f w_st_, l_tt_r _nd p_ll_t__n _n Mt _v_r_st h_s b__n gr_w_ng f_r y__rs. M_ny p__pl_ l__v_ c_mp_ng _q__pm_nt _n th_ sl_p_s. Th__s_nds _f d_sc_rd_d c_ns _f _xyg_n l_tt_r th_ m__nt__n. _n _nv_r_nm_nt_l _rg_n_z_t__n _st_m_t_d th_t th_r_ w_s _r__nd thr__ t_ns _f h_m_n p__ b_tw__n B_s_ C_mp _nd th_ s_mm_t _f _v_r_st. M_ch _f th_s fr__z_s _nd d__s n_t d_gr_d_. Th_ _nd__ T_d_y w_bs_t_ s__d th_ p__p b_gs w_ll h_lp w_th th_ w_st_ pr_bl_m. _t wr_t_: "_t _s h_p_d th_t th_s m__s_r_, _l_ng w_th _ng__ng cl__n-_p c_mp__gns, w_ll h_lp r_st_r_ th_ d_gn_ty _f th_s _c_n_c p__k." _t _dd_d th_t th_ w_st_ b_gs w__ld, "s_f_g__rd th_ h__lth _f b_th cl_mb_rs _nd th_ l_c_l _nv_r_nm_nt".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

there is a new rule about going to the toilet on mount everest people climbing the worlds highest peak will now have to take their own poo back to base camp there has been an increase in the number of climbers on the mountain this has led to a problem of human waste being left on the slopes mingma sherpa a local official told the bbc our mountains have begun to stink he added we are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick this is not acceptable it damages our image the new rule requires climbers to buy a biodegradable poop bag they can dispose of the bag and its contents when they come down from the mountain it will be checked by workers there

the problem of waste litter and pollution on mt everest has been growing for years many people leave camping equipment on the slopes thousands of discarded cans of oxygen litter the mountain an environmental organization estimated that there was around three tons of human poo between base camp and the summit of everest much of this freezes and does not degrade the india today website said the poop bags will help with the waste problem it wrote it is hoped that this measure along with ongoing cleanup campaigns will help restore the dignity of this iconic peak it added that the waste bags would safeguard the health of both climbers and the local environment

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThereisanewruleaboutgoingtothetoiletonMountEverest.Peopleclim
bingtheworld'shighestpeakwillnowhavetotaketheirownpoobacktoB
aseCamp.Therehasbeenanincreaseinthenumberofclimbersonthem
ountain.Thishasledtoaproblemofhumanwastebeingleftontheslopes.
MingmaSherpa,alocalofficial,toldtheBBC:"Ourmountainshavebegu
ntostink."Headded:"Wearegettingcomplaintsthathumanstoolsarevi
sibleonrocks,andsomeclimbersarefallingsick.Thisisnotacceptable.It
damagesourimage."Thenewrulerequiresclimberstobuyabio-degra
dable"poopbag".Theycandisposeofthebaganditscontentswhenthey
comedownfromthemountain.Itwillbe"checked"byworkersthere.The
problemofwaste,litterandpollutiononMtEveresthasbeengrowingfory
ears.Manypeopleleavecampingequipmentontheslopes.Thousandso
fdiscardedcansofoxygenlitterthemountain.Anenvironmentalorganiz
ationestimatedthattherewasaroundthreetonsofhumanpoobetween
BaseCampandthesummitofEverest.Muchofthisfreezesanddoesnotd
egrade.TheIndiaTodaywebsitesaidthepoopbagswillhelpwiththewast
eproblem.Itwrote:"Itishopedthatthismeasure,alongwithongoingcle
an-upcampaigns,willhelprestorethedignityofthisiconicpeak."Itadde
dthatthewastebagswould,"safeguardthehealthofbothclimbersandth
elocalenvironment".

Free writing

Write about Mount Everest poo for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Climbers should remove all waste of any kind from natural environments. 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. POO: Make a poster about poo. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. WASTE: Write a magazine article about all climbers taking their waste with them from mountains. 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 Mt Everest. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how climbers can keep it clean. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Mount Everest

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