The Reading / Listening - Sleep - Level 6

A new study has discovered that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of this, sleep disorders experienced by the sexes need to be treated differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times more common among women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – our body clock. Women's circadian cycles are about six minutes shorter than men's. This means women physically have less time in which to rest. Another reason is motherhood, which places unequal strains and burdens on mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their brain was half-listening out for their children in the middle of the night, in case they needed something."

People worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a good night's rest. The stress and pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to get forty winks. It is estimated that around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation. This is having adverse effects on our health. A lack of sleep can lead to detrimental and often life-threatening health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Insufficient sleep can also negatively impact our powers to concentrate, and lead to a deterioration in mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar said: "There is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric disorders and insomnia."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Sleep - Level 4  or  Sleep - Level 5

Sources
  • https://sleepopolis.com/news/womens-internal-clocks-faster-than-men-sleep/
  • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/men-really-sleep-better-women-002500418.html
  • https://www.goodto.com/wellbeing/wellbeing-news/the-rest-gap-is-stopping-women-getting-enough-sleep-and-mums-are-suffering-the-most


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. SLEEP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sleep. 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?
       study / researchers / sleep disorders / insomnia / circadian rhythms / burden / brain /
       stress / getting forty winks / diabetes / heart disease / concentrate / mental health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SLEEP LESSONS: Students A strongly believe people should have sleep lessons at school; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BETTER SLEEP: How effective are these things at helping you sleep? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Effectiveness

Why?

Meditation

 

 

No smartphone

 

 

Light

 

 

Air-con / heating

 

 

Food / drink

 

 

Sleeping pills

 

 
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. INSOMNIA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "insomnia". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. LACK OF SLEEP: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst effects of a lack of sleep at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Tiredness
  • Reduced alertness
  • Poor memory
  • Bad mood
  • Stress
  • Mistake-making
  • Non-stop yawning
  • Tired-looking face

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. disorder a. A physical or mental problem or illness.
      2. the sexes b. When something is too difficult or causes stress on your body or mind.
      3. insomnia c. The two main groups of people: males and females.
      4. circadian d. A pattern that repeats over and over again.
      5. cycle e. Have trouble sleeping or can't sleep at all during the night.
      6. strain f. About the body's natural rhythm or cycle, like when you feel awake during the day and sleepy at night.
      7. burden g. Something that is heavy to carry, either physically or mentally.

    Paragraph 2

      8. forty winks h. When something gets worse over time.
      9. detrimental i. There not being enough of something.
      10. diabetes j. A short nap or a quick sleep.
      11. insufficient k. A connection or relationship between two things.
      12. deterioration l. Being harmful or bad for you.
      13. correlation m. Relating to mental health and the medical treatment of mental illnesses.
      14. psychiatric n. A health condition where the body has trouble controlling the amount of sugar in the blood.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Treatment for sleep disorders should be the same for men and women.   T / F
  2. Insomnia is 15% more common in women than in men.     T / F
  3. Women have a shorter circadian rhythm than men.     T / F
  4. A researcher said mothers with children find it difficult to sleep well.     T / F
  5. A good night's sleep is getting easier for most people around the world.   T / F
  6. It takes most people forty minutes to fall asleep.     T / F
  7. A lack of sleep can lead to diabetes.     T / F
  8. There is a very small link between psychiatric disorders and insomnia.     T / F

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

  1. study
  2. disorders
  3. common
  4. strains
  5. needed
  6. forty winks
  7. deprivation
  8. detrimental
  9. insufficient
  10. correlation
  1. a nap
  2. struggles
  3. inadequate
  4. impoverishment
  5. conditions
  6. link
  7. required
  8. research
  9. harmful
  10. prevalent

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

  1. sleep
  2. our body
  3. women physically have less
  4. unequal strains and burdens
  5. their brain was half-listening
  6. People worldwide are finding it increasingly
  7. The stress and pressures of
  8. This is having adverse
  9. lead to a deterioration
  10. There is a high
  1. day-to-day life
  2. time in which to rest
  3. on mothers
  4. clock
  5. in mental health
  6. disorders
  7. correlation
  8. out for their children
  9. effects on our health
  10. harder

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
discovered
common
case
motherhood
listening
disorders
brain
cycles

A new study has (1) _____________________ that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of this, sleep (2) _____________________ experienced by the sexes need to be treated differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times more (3) _____________________ among women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – our body clock. Women's circadian (4) _____________________ are about six minutes shorter than men's. This means women physically have less time in which to rest. Another reason is (5) _____________________, which places unequal strains and burdens on mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their (6) _____________________ was half- (7) _____________________ out for their children in the middle of the night, in (8) _____________________ they needed something."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
rest
deprivation
concentrate
detrimental
increasingly
underlying
winks
hypertension

People worldwide are finding it (9) _____________________ harder to get a good night's (10) _____________________. The stress and pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to get forty (11) _____________________. It is estimated that around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep (12) _____________________. This is having adverse effects on our health. A lack of sleep can lead to (13) _____________________ and often life-threatening health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and (14) _____________________. Insufficient sleep can also negatively impact our powers to (15) _____________________, and lead to a deterioration in mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar said: "There is a high correlation with (16) _____________________ psychiatric disorders and insomnia."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  sleep disorders experienced by the sexes need to _____
     a.  be treated different
     b.  be treated deferentially
     c.  be treated differently
     d.  be treated differential
2)  Insomnia is about 1.5 times more ______
     a.  commons among women
     b.  common aiming women
     c.  common anon women
     d.  common among women
3)  The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian ______
     a.  rhythms – our body clock
     b.  rhythms – our bodily clock
     c.  rhythms – our buddy clock
     d.  rhythms – our bodied clock
4)  Another reason is motherhood, which places unequal ______
     a.  strains and biddings
     b.  strains and bird dens
     c.  strains and burr dens
     d.  strains and burdens
5)  Doctor Alaina Tiani said it's almost like their brain ______
     a.  was halve-listening
     b.  was half-listening
     c.  was half-listened
     d.  was halve-listen in

6)  People worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a ______
     a.  good night's lest
     b.  good nights lest
     c.  good night's rest
     d.  good night's abreast
7)  pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to ______
     a.  get fifty winks
     b.  get forty winks
     c.  get thirty winks
     d.  get twenty winks
8)  A lack of sleep can lead to detrimental and often life-______
     a.  threaten in health conditions
     b.  threatening health conditions
     c.  threatened healthy conditions
     d.  treating health conditions
9)  …sleep can also negatively impact our powers to concentrate, and lead ______
     a.  to a deteriorate shun
     b.  to a degradation
     c.  to a deteriorating
     d.  to a deterioration
10)  There is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric ______
     a.  disorders and insomnia
     b.  disorder sand insomniac
     c.  disorders end insomnia
     d.  disorders and insomniac

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study has discovered that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of this, (1) ____________________ by the sexes need to be treated differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times (2) ____________________ women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – (3) ____________________. Women's circadian cycles are about six minutes shorter than men's. This means women physically have less time in (4) ____________________. Another reason is motherhood, which places unequal strains (5) ____________________ mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their brain was half-listening out for their children in the middle of the night, (6) ____________________ needed something."

People worldwide are finding (7) ____________________ to get a good night's rest. The stress and pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to get forty winks. It (8) ____________________ around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation. This is having adverse effects on our health. A lack of sleep can (9) ___________________ and often life-threatening health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. (10) ____________________ also negatively impact our powers to concentrate, and lead to (11) ____________________ mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar said: "There is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What needs to be treated differently between the sexes?
  2. How much more is insomnia common in women than in men?
  3. What is six minutes shorter in women?
  4. What places unequal strains and burdens on women?
  5. What did a researcher say mothers "half-listen" for at night?
  6. What does the article say more of us are struggling to get?
  7. How much of the world's population is experiencing sleep deprivation?
  8. What can a lack of sleep cause besides diabetes and heart disease?
  9. What is Eric Sklar's job?
  10. What did a researcher say insomnia was highly correlated to?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What needs to be treated differently between the sexes?
a) pillows
b) sleep disorders
c) nightmares
d) upset stomachs
2) How much more is insomnia common in women than in men?
a) 1.25 times more common
b) 1.2 times more common
c) 1.55 times more common
d) 1.5 times more common
3) What is six minutes shorter in women?
a) average sleep times
b) bedtime
c) the circadian cycle
d) waking up time
4) What places unequal strains and burdens on women?
a) motherhood
b) hard pillows
c) soft pillows
d) working
5) What did a researcher say mothers "half-listen" for at night?
a) monsters
b) their children
c) burglars
d) snoring family

6) What does the article say more of us are struggling to get?
a) 40 winks
b) 50 winks
c) 80 winks
d) 100 winks
7) How much of the world's population is experiencing sleep deprivation?
a) about 10 per cent
b) around half
c) around 30 per cent
d) most
8) What can a lack of sleep cause besides diabetes and heart disease?
a) hypertension
b) wrinkles
c) a bad stomach
d) baldness
9) What is Eric Sklar's job?
a) He's a pillow designer.
b) He's a sleep expert.
c) He's a cardiologist.
d) He's a neurologist.
10) What did a researcher say insomnia was highly correlated to?
a) lack of appetite
b) obesity
c) psychiatric disorders
d) low blood pressure

Role play

Role  A – Tiredness
You think tiredness is the worst effect of a lack of sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): poor memory, a tired-looking face or bad mood.

Role  B – Poor Memory
You think poor memory is the worst effect of a lack of sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): tiredness, a tired-looking face or bad mood.

Role  C – Tired-looking Face
You think a tired-looking face is the worst effect of a lack of sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): poor memory, tiredness or bad mood.

Role  D – Bad Mood
You think bad mood is the worst effect of a lack of sleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): poor memory, a tired-looking face or tiredness.

After reading / listening

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

'men'

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

    • and 'women'.

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

    • • 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:

    • discovered
    • sexes
    • common
    • physically
    • places
    • case
    • harder
    • mean
    • global
    • lead
    • powers
    • high

    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 - Sleep

    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 'sleep'?
    3. How are your sleeping patterns?
    4. Do you think men sleep better than women?
    5. Do you ever have problems sleeping?
    6. What can people do to get to sleep?
    7. What do you know about our body clock?
    8. What things can stop us from sleeping?
    9. What different stresses do men and women have?
    10. How do you deal with stress?

    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 'women'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What increasing pressures are you facing in life?
    5. How can governments get us to sleep better?
    6. How might a lack of sleep affect our mental health?
    7. What do you know about diabetes and hypertension?
    8. How do you feel when you do not get enough sleep?
    9. Does counting sheep help us get to sleep more quickly?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A new study has discovered that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of this, sleep (1) ____ experienced by the sexes need to be treated differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times more (2) ____ among women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – our body clock. Women's circadian (3) ____ are about six minutes shorter than men's. This means women physically have less time (4) ____ which to rest. Another reason is motherhood, which places unequal strains and burdens (5) ____ mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their brain was half-listening out for their children in the middle of the night, in (6) ____ they needed something."

    People worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a good night's rest. The stress and pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to get (7) ____ winks. It is estimated that around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation. This is having (8) ____ effects on our health. A (9) ____ of sleep can lead to detrimental and often life-threatening health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Insufficient sleep can also negatively (10) ____ our powers to concentrate, and lead to a (11) ____ in mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar said: "There is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric disorders and (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     disorders     (b)     reorders     (c)     orders     (d)     preorders    
    2. (a)     commonly     (b)     commons     (c)     common     (d)     commoner    
    3. (a)     ratios     (b)     radii     (c)     cycles     (d)     rotations    
    4. (a)     by     (b)     as     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     to    
    6. (a)     lieu     (b)     case     (c)     order     (d)     such    
    7. (a)     sixty     (b)     thirty     (c)     fifty     (d)     forty    
    8. (a)     obtuse     (b)     adverse     (c)     inverse     (d)     recluse    
    9. (a)     slack     (b)     leak     (c)     lack     (d)     flack    
    10. (a)     nonimpact     (b)     compact     (c)     pact     (d)     impact    
    11. (a)     deterrence     (b)     deterring     (c)     deterioration     (d)     deference    
    12. (a)     insomniac     (b)     insomnia     (c)     insomuch     (d)     insofar

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. sleep dorrdssie
    2. nioimnsa is about 1.5 times more common
    3. circadian hmtsryh
    4. women plyiyalchs have less time
    5. unequal ntssiar
    6. rndbues on mothers

    Paragraph 2

    1. sleep driptioeavn
    2. endreltmait and often life-threatening health conditions
    3. edebaist, heart disease, and hypertension
    4. impact our powers to aencnotcret
    5. There is a high norrloticae
    6. underlying scrhyitacpi disorders

    Put the text back together

    (...)   have less time in which to rest. Another reason is motherhood, which places unequal strains and
    (...)   clock. Women's circadian cycles are about six minutes shorter than men's. This means women physically
    (..1..) A new study has discovered that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of
    (...)   common among women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – our body
    (...)   around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation. This is having adverse effects on our
    (...)   health. A lack of sleep can lead to detrimental and often life-threatening health conditions. These include
    (...)   day-to-day life mean more of us are struggling to get forty winks. It is estimated that
    (...)   burdens on mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their brain was half-
    (...)   diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Insufficient sleep can also negatively impact our powers to
    (...)   People worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a good night's rest. The stress and pressures of
    (...)   listening out for their children in the middle of the night, in case they needed something."
    (...)   this, sleep disorders experienced by the sexes need to be treated differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times more
    (...)   concentrate, and lead to a deterioration in mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar
    (...)   said: "There is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric disorders and insomnia."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   be   to   differently   .   sexes   treated   need
    2. is   times   more   women   .   1.5   common   Insomnia   among
    3. is   this   rhythms   .   One   reason   for   circadian   our
    4. physically   This   less   women   time   .   means   have
    5. for   children   .   out   their   was   Their   brain   half-listening
    6. a   to   rest   .   get   good   Increasingly   harder   night's
    7. people   More   to   struggling   winks   .   forty   get   are
    8. our   adverse   having   This   health   .   effects   on   is
    9. powers   .   sleep   can   negatively   our   impact   also   Insufficient
    10. said   high   correlation   .   a   neurologist   there   A   is

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study has discovery / discovered that men may sleep better than women. Researchers say that because of this, sleep disorder / disorders experienced by the sexes need to be treated / threatened differently. Insomnia is about 1.5 times more commonly / common among women than men. The researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms – our bodily / body clock. Women's circadian cycles are about six minutes fewer / shorter than men's. This means women physically have less time / times in which to rest. Another reason is motherhood, which places inequality / unequal strains and burdens on mothers. Doctor Alaina Tiani said: "It's almost like their brains / brain was half-listening out for their children in the middle of the night, in case they needed / needy something."

    People worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a well / good night's rest. The stress and pleasures / pressures of day-to-day life mean more of us are straggling / struggling to get forty winks. It is estimates / estimated that around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation / combination. This is having adverse effects on our health. A lack of sleep can lead to detrimentally / detrimental and often life-threatening health conditionals / conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Insufficient sleep can also negatively compact / impact our powers to / of concentrate, and lead to a deterioration in mental health. Neurologist Dr Eric Sklar said: "There is a height / high correlation with underlying psychiatric disorders and insomnia."

    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)

    _  n_w  st_dy  h_s  d_sc_v_r_d  th_t  m_n  m_y  sl__p  b_tt_r  th_n  w_m_n.  R_s__rch_rs  s_y  th_t  b_c__s_  _f  th_s,  sl__p  d_s_rd_rs  _xp_r__nc_d  by  th_  s_x_s  n__d  t_  b_  tr__t_d  d_ff_r_ntly.  _ns_mn__  _s  _b__t  1.5  t_m_s  m_r_  c_mm_n  _m_ng  w_m_n  th_n  m_n.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s_y  th_t  _n_  r__s_n  f_r  th_s  _s  __r  c_rc_d__n  rhythms  –  __r  b_dy  cl_ck.  W_m_n's  c_rc_d__n  cycl_s  _r_  _b__t  s_x  m_n_t_s  sh_rt_r  th_n  m_n's.  Th_s  m__ns  w_m_n  phys_c_lly  h_v_  l_ss  t_m_  _n  wh_ch  t_  r_st.  _n_th_r  r__s_n  _s  m_th_rh__d,  wh_ch  pl_c_s  _n_q__l  str__ns  _nd  b_rd_ns  _n  m_th_rs.  D_ct_r  _l__n_  T__n_  s__d:  "_t's  _lm_st  l_k_  th__r  br__n  w_s  h_lf-l_st_n_ng  __t  f_r  th__r  ch_ldr_n  _n  th_  m_ddl_  _f  th_  n_ght,  _n  c_s_  th_y  n__d_d  s_m_th_ng."

    P__pl_  w_rldw_d_  _r_  f_nd_ng  _t  _ncr__s_ngly  h_rd_r  t_  g_t  _  g__d  n_ght's  r_st.  Th_  str_ss  _nd  pr_ss_r_s  _f  d_y-t_-d_y  l_f_  m__n  m_r_  _f  _s  _r_  str_ggl_ng  t_  g_t  f_rty  w_nks.  _t  _s  _st_m_t_d  th_t  _r__nd  30  p_r  c_nt  _f  th_  gl_b_l  p_p_l_t__n  _s  _xp_r__nc_ng  sl__p  d_pr_v_t__n.  Th_s  _s  h_v_ng  _dv_rs_  _ff_cts  _n  __r  h__lth.  _  l_ck  _f  sl__p  c_n  l__d  t_  d_tr_m_nt_l  _nd  _ft_n  l_f_-thr__t_n_ng  h__lth  c_nd_t__ns.  Th_s_  _ncl_d_  d__b_t_s,  h__rt  d_s__s_,  _nd  hyp_rt_ns__n.  _ns_ff_c__nt  sl__p  c_n  _ls_  n_g_t_v_ly  _mp_ct  __r  p_w_rs  t_  c_nc_ntr_t_,  _nd  l__d  t_  _  d_t_r__r_t__n  _n  m_nt_l  h__lth.  N__r_l_g_st  Dr  _r_c  Skl_r  s__d:  "Th_r_  _s  _  h_gh  c_rr_l_t__n  w_th  _nd_rly_ng  psych__tr_c  d_s_rd_rs  _nd  _ns_mn__."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study has discovered that men may sleep better than women researchers say that because of this sleep disorders experienced by the sexes need to be treated differently insomnia is about 15 times more common among women than men the researchers say that one reason for this is our circadian rhythms  our body clock womens circadian cycles are about six minutes shorter than mens this means women physically have less time in which to rest another reason is motherhood which places unequal strains and burdens on mothers doctor alaina tiani said its almost like their brain was halflistening out for their children in the middle of the night in case they needed something

    people worldwide are finding it increasingly harder to get a good nights rest the stress and pressures of daytoday life mean more of us are struggling to get forty winks it is estimated that around 30 per cent of the global population is experiencing sleep deprivation this is having adverse effects on our health a lack of sleep can lead to detrimental and often lifethreatening health conditions these include diabetes heart disease and hypertension insufficient sleep can also negatively impact our powers to concentrate and lead to a deterioration in mental health neurologist dr eric sklar said there is a high correlation with underlying psychiatric disorders and insomnia

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewstudyhasdiscoveredthatmenmaysleepbetterthanwomen.Rese
    archerssaythatbecauseofthis,sleepdisordersexperiencedbythesexe
    sneedtobetreateddifferently.Insomniaisabout1.5timesmorecommo
    namongwomenthanmen.Theresearcherssaythatonereasonforthisis
    ourcircadianrhythms–ourbodyclock.Women'scircadiancyclesareab
    outsixminutesshorterthanmen's.Thismeanswomenphysicallyhavel
    esstimeinwhichtorest.Anotherreasonismotherhood,whichplacesun
    equalstrainsandburdensonmothers.DoctorAlainaTianisaid:"It'salm
    ostliketheirbrainwashalf-listeningoutfortheirchildreninthemiddleof
    thenight,incasetheyneededsomething."Peopleworldwidearefindingi
    tincreasinglyhardertogetagoodnight'srest.Thestressandpressureso
    fday-to-daylifemeanmoreofusarestrugglingtogetfortywinks.Itisest
    imatedthataround30percentoftheglobalpopulationisexperiencingsl
    eepdeprivation.Thisishavingadverseeffectsonourhealth.Alackofslee
    pcanleadtodetrimentalandoftenlife-threateninghealthconditions.T
    heseincludediabetes,heartdisease,andhypertension.Insufficientsle
    epcanalsonegativelyimpactourpowerstoconcentrate,andleadtoadet
    eriorationinmentalhealth.NeurologistDrEricSklarsaid:"Thereisahigh
    correlationwithunderlyingpsychiatricdisordersandinsomnia."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We all need lessons on how to sleep better.  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. SLEEP: Make a poster about sleep. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SLEEP LESSONS: Write a magazine article about schools providing sleep lessons. 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 sleep. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to get a better night's rest. 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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