. The Middle East - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
The Middle East - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
The Middle East - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: The Middle East

The Middle East is in turmoil after coordinated attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with precision-guided missiles as Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for all to obliterate Iran's nuclear capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people to rise up and for government forces to surrender. He wrote: "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country." The strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key figures in Iran's military.

Iran immediately retaliated by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe. A quarter of the world's oil and a third of its liquefied natural gas travel through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause sky-high oil prices and inflation worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals out of control.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://theconversation.com/us-israeli-attack-on-iran-risks-plunging-the-world-into-turmoil-276818
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/28/multiple-gulf-arab-states-that-host-us-assets-targeted-in-iran-retaliation
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-us-israel-strikes-nuclear-weapons-trump-b2929402.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 :-)

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities, and more.

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News

"Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers; but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publications has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools."

The Portland Eastern Herald (June 8, 1795)

"News is history in its first and best form, its vivid and fascinating form, and. history is the pale and tranquil reflection of it."

Mark Twain, in his autobiography (1906)

"Current events provide authentic learning experiences for students at all grade levels. In studying current events, students are required to use a range of cognitive, affective, critical thinking and research skills."

Haas, M. and Laughlin, M. (2000) Teaching Current Events: It's Status in Social Studies Today.

Warm-ups

1. THE MIDDLE EAST: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Middle East. 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? The Middle East / turmoil / missiles / nuclear capabilities / industry / rise up / military retaliate / neighbours / military targets / enemy / oil prices / inflation / refugee crisis Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. PEACE: Students A strongly believe peace will come to the Middle East in the next ten years; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. THE FUTURE: How do you think the attacks on Iran will affect these things? What can we do to prepare for these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Effects

Preparations

Iranian society

Refugees

Oil prices

Middle East peace

Financial markets

Global security

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Ongoing war
  • A refugee crisis
  • Water shortages
  • Internet restrictions
  • Political freedom
  • Economic sanctions
  • Corruption
  • A brain drain
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. in turmoil a. Attacked non-stop with bombs or missiles. 2. bombarded b. Destroy something completely. 3. precision c. In a state of great trouble, confusion, or disorder. 4. obliterate d. Stand together and fight against a government or leader. 5. platform e. A website or app where people share messages, photos, or videos. 6. rise up f. Stop fighting and say you accept defeat. 7. surrender g. Great care and exactness; being very accurate.

Paragraph 2

8. retaliated h. Quickly become worse and worse. 9. relentlessly i. A situation becoming more serious, dangerous, or more intense. 10. decisively j. A narrow area of water between two larger areas of sea. 11. escalation k. Attacked back after being attacked first. 12. strait l. In a way that is determined and non-stop. 13. sky-high m. Extremely high. 14. spiral n. In a clear and final way. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. The article says American forces hit seven Iranian cities. T / F
  2. The article says America has obliterated Iran's nuclear capabilities. T / F
  3. President Trump called for the Iranian people to surrender. T / F
  4. Mr Trump suggested this was a unique change for Iranians to be free. T / F
  5. Iran took it's time in responding to the attacks on its cities. T / F
  6. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard said it had defeated the enemy. T / F
  7. Around 25% of the world's oil goes through the Strait of Hormuz. T / F
  8. The conflict could lead to a major refugee crisis. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. fought back
  2. give up
  3. deteriorates
  4. accuracy
  5. specialists
  6. wipe out
  7. leading
  8. upheaval
  9. intensification
  10. non-stop
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. The Middle East is in turmoil after
  2. bombarded with precision-
  3. raze their missile industry
  4. the single greatest chance
  5. key figures in
  6. Iran immediately retaliated
  7. This operation will continue
  8. This would cause sky-
  9. Experts warn there could be a major
  10. if the conflict
  1. by launching missiles
  2. Iran's military
  3. refugee crisis
  4. coordinated attacks
  5. spirals out of control
  6. guided missiles
  7. high oil prices
  8. for the Iranian people
  9. relentlessly
  10. to the ground
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. industry capital key surrender coordinated obliterate strikes bombarded

The Middle East is in turmoil after (1) _________________________________ attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several Iranian cities, including the (2) _________________________________ Tehran, were (3) _________________________________ with precision-guided missiles as Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for all to (4) _________________________________ Iran's nuclear capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile (5) _________________________________ to the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people to rise up and for government forces to (6) _________________________________. He wrote: "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country." The (7) _________________________________ on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and (8) _________________________________ figures in Iran's military.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

escalation targets waterway spirals retaliated liquefied sky relentlessly

Iran immediately (9) _________________________________ by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck Israeli and US military (10) _________________________________ in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue (11) _________________________________ until the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears this (12) _________________________________ will create turmoil across the globe. A quarter of the world's oil and a third of its (13) _________________________________ natural gas travel through the strategic Strait of Hormuz (14) _________________________________, which Iran could close. This would cause (15) _________________________________ -high oil prices and inflation worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict (16) _________________________________ out of control.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with ______ a. precision-guided missile b. precision-guidance missiles c. precision-guided missiles d. presiding-guided missiles 2) Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for all to obliterate ______ a. Iran's nuclear capabilities b. Iran's unclear capabilities c. Iran's nucleus capabilities d. Iran nuclear capabilities 3) We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry ______ a. to the grind b. to aground c. to a ground d. to the ground 4) Trump called for the Iranian people to rise up and for government ______ a. force is to surrender b. forces to surrenders c. forces to surrender d. forces to surrendered 5) strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key figures ______ a. on Iran's military b. in Iran's militarily c. in Iran's militarize d. in Iran's military

6) Iran immediately retaliated by launching missiles and drones ______ a. on its neighbours b. on its neighbour c. on its neighbourly d. on its neighbourhood 7) Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck Israeli and ______ a. US military target b. US military targets c. US militarily targets d. US military targeting 8) This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy ______ a. is decisively defeat it b. is decisively defeats c. is decisively defeating d. is decisively defeated 9) travel through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, which ______ a. Iran could closed b. Iran could cloze c. Iran could close d. Iran could closet 10) Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals ______ a. outer control b. out off control c. out of control d. out oft control

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Middle East is in turmoil (1) _______________________________________________ by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with (2) _______________________________________________ as Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for (3) _______________________________________________ Iran's nuclear capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their (4) _______________________________________________ the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people to rise up and for government forces to surrender. He wrote: "This is the (5) _______________________________________________ for the Iranian people to take back their country." The strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and (6) _______________________________________________ Iran's military.

Iran immediately (7) _______________________________________________ missiles and drones on its neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed (8) _______________________________________________ Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy (9) _______________________________________________." There are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe. A quarter of the world's oil and a third of its (10) _______________________________________________ travel through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause (11) _______________________________________________ prices and inflation worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the (12) _______________________________________________ of control.

Comprehension questions
  1. How Iranian many cities does the article say have been bombed?
  2. What kind of missiles struck Iranian cities?
  3. What did President Trump say the US would do to Iran's missile industry?
  4. What did President Trump call for the Iranian people to do?
  5. What did President Trump say the Iranian people could take back?
  6. What did Iran do immediately after being attacked?
  7. When did Iran's Revolutionary Guard say its action would stop?
  8. How much of the world's oil goes through the Strait of Hormuz?
  9. What could happen to oil prices?
  10. What kind of major crisis could come from the conflict?
Multiple choice quiz

1) How Iranian many cities does the article say have been bombed? a) seventy b) seventeen c) seven d) several 2) What kind of missiles struck Iranian cities? a) ICBMs b) precision-guided missiles c) low-altitude missiles d) surface-to-air missiles 3) What did President Trump say the US would do to Iran's missile industry? a) Bomb it. b) Invest in it. c) Raze it to the ground. d) Find all of it. 4) What did President Trump call for the Iranian people to do? a) rise up b) march c) go underground d) stay at home 5) What did President Trump say the Iranian people could take back? a) money b) power c) their country d) their passports

6) What did Iran do immediately after being attacked? a) It had a meeting. b) It retaliated. c) It protected its missiles. d) It made a press release. 7) When did Iran's Revolutionary Guard say its action would stop? a) After there is a ceasefire. b) When the enemy stops. c) It said it would never stop. d) When "the enemy is decisively defeated". 8) How much of the world's oil goes through the Strait of Hormuz? a) a quarter of it b) a third of it c) two-fifths of it d) three-quarters of it 9) What could happen to oil prices? a) They could double. b) Nothing at the moment. c) They could be sky-high. d) They could actually go down. 10) What kind of major crisis could come from the conflict? a) a strategic crisis b) a major refugee crisis c) a humanitarian crisis d) a water shortage crisis

Role play

Role A – Ongoing War You think ongoing war is the biggest challenge facing the Iranian people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): internet restrictions, water shortages or a possible refugee crisis.

Role B – Internet Restrictions You think internet restrictions is the biggest challenge facing the Iranian people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): ongoing war, water shortages or a possible refugee crisis.

Role C – Water Shortages You think water shortages is the biggest challenge facing the Iranian people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): internet restrictions, ongoing war or a possible refugee crisis.

Role D – A Possible Refugee Crisis You think a possible refugee crisis is the biggest challenge facing the Iranian people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): internet restrictions, water shortages or ongoing war.

After reading / listening

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

• 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:

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 - The Middle East

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 'Middle East'?
  3. What do you know about Iran?
  4. What do you think of the recent attacks on Iran?
  5. How might the world change because of the attacks on Iran?
  6. What needs to happen to resolve this crisis?
  7. What do you think the Iranian people will do now?
  8. What would happen if the US put boots on the ground?
  9. How could this escalate over the next week or two?
  10. What advice do you have for the Iranian people?

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 'Iran'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. Why is Iran attacking its neighbours?
  5. How will this war affect public opinion in the USA?
  6. How do you feel about higher prices because of this war?
  7. What problems would a refugee crisis bring?
  8. What will the Middle East be like in 10 years from now?
  9. What is needed to bring peace across the Middle East?
  10. What questions would you like to ask Iran's leaders?
Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The Middle East is in turmoil after (1) ____ attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with precision-(2) ____ missiles as Washington and Jerusalem attempted (3) ____ and for all to obliterate Iran's nuclear capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and (4) ____ their missile industry to the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people to rise up and for government forces to surrender. He wrote: "(5) ____ is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country." The strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei and key (6) ____ in Iran's military.

Iran immediately retaliated (7) ____ launching missiles and drones on its neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had (8) ____ Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly (9) ____ the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe. A (10) ____ of the world's oil and a third of its liquefied natural gas travel through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause (11) ____-high oil prices and inflation worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals out (12) ____ control.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) coordinates (b) coordinated (c) coordinate (d) coordination
  2. (a) guidance (b) guided (c) guides (d) guide
  3. (a) ones (b) one (c) only (d) once
  4. (a) rise (b) raze (c) arise (d) raise
  5. (a) What (b) This (c) How (d) Thus
  6. (a) figurative (b) figurines (c) figures (d) figured
  7. (a) at (b) to (c) by (d) as
  8. (a) stricken (b) strike (c) struck (d) striking
  9. (a) then (b) whatsoever (c) since (d) until
  10. (a) quarter (b) quarterly (c) quartered (d) quartile
  11. (a) sky (b) cloud (c) atmosphere (d) space
  12. (a) to (b) up (c) of (d) in
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. ndeicooadrt attacks
  2. cities, including the capital Tehran, were aebbrdmod
  3. sernpcioi-guided missiles
  4. erebaotilt Iran's nuclear capabilities
  5. zera their missile industry to the ground
  6. government forces to drurnseer
Paragraph 2
  1. Iran immediately leaitredat
  2. This operation will continue reetesylslln
  3. until the enemy is idesyeclvi defeated
  4. this acnlstoaei will create turmoil
  5. a third of its udefleiiq natural gas
  6. if the conflict rspsila out of control
Put the text back together

( ) back their country." The strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key figures in Iran's military. ( ) capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and ( ) including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had ( ) Iran immediately retaliated by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours, ( ) Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with precision-guided ( ) missiles as Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for all to obliterate Iran's nuclear ( ) of the world's oil and a third of its liquefied natural gas travel through the strategic ( ) raze their missile industry to the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people to rise ( ) Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause sky-high oil prices and inflation ( ) struck Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly until ( ) the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe. A quarter ( 1 ) The Middle East is in turmoil after coordinated attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several ( ) up and for government forces to surrender. He wrote: "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take ( ) worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals out of control.

Put the words in the right order
  1. after attacks coordinated Middle East in is The turmoil .
  2. bombarded capital missiles precision-guided Tehran The was with .
  3. attempted capabilities Iran's It nuclear obliterate to .
  4. ground industry missile raze the their to We'll .
  5. chance for greatest Iranian people single The the .
  6. and by drones immediately Iran launching missiles retaliated .
  7. Continue decisively defeated enemy is relentlessly the until .
  8. are create escalation fears this There turmoil will .
  9. gas Liquefied natural strait strategic the through travels .
  10. a crisis Experts major of refugee warn .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The Middle East is in turmoil after coordination / coordinated attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several Iranian cities, including / included the capital Tehran, were bombarded with precision-guided missile / missiles as Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for every / all to obliterate Iran's nuclear capable / capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raise / raze their missile industry to / up the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people to rise / raise up and for government forces to surrender. He wrote: "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to give / take back their country." The strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key figurines / figures in Iran's military.

Iran immediately retaliated to / by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck / stricken Israeli and US militarily / military targets in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly until / since the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears / scares this escalation will create turmoil across a / the globe. A quartered / quarter of the world's oil and a third of its liquefied natural gas travel through the strategy / strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause sky-high oil prices / price and inflation worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals out of / into control.

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_ M_ddl_ __st _s _n t_rm__l _ft_r c__rd_n_t_d _tt_cks by _sr__l _nd th_ _S_ _n _r_n _n S_t_rd_y. S_v_r_l _r_n__n c_t__s, _ncl_d_ng th_ c_p_t_l T_hr_n, w_r_ b_mb_rd_d w_th pr_c_s__n-g__d_d m_ss_l_s _s W_sh_ngt_n _nd J_r_s_l_m _tt_mpt_d _nc_ _nd f_r _ll t_ _bl_t_r_t_ _r_n's n_cl__r c_p_b_l_t__s. _S Pr_s_d_nt Tr_mp wr_t_ _n h_s Tr_th S_c__l pl_tf_rm: "W_'r_ g__ng t_ d_str_y th__r m_ss_l_s _nd r_z_ th__r m_ss_l_ _nd_stry t_ th_ gr__nd." Tr_mp c_ll_d f_r th_ _r_n__n p__pl_ t_ r_s_ _p _nd f_r g_v_rnm_nt f_rc_s t_ s_rr_nd_r. H_ wr_t_: "Th_s _s th_ s_ngl_ gr__t_st ch_nc_ f_r th_ _r_n__n p__pl_ t_ t_k_ b_ck th__r c__ntry." Th_ str_k_s _n T_hr_n k_ll_d _r_n's l__d_r _y_t_ll_h _l_ Kh_m_n__ _nd k_y f_g_r_s _n _r_n's m_l_t_ry.

_r_n _mm_d__t_ly r_t_l__t_d by l__nch_ng m_ss_l_s _nd dr_n_s _n _ts n__ghb__rs, _ncl_d_ng th_ ___, B_hr__n, K_w__t, _nd Q_t_r. _r_n's _sl_m_c R_v_l_t__n_ry G__rd C_rps cl__m_d _t h_d str_ck _sr__l_ _nd _S m_l_t_ry t_rg_ts _n th_ M_ddl_ __st. _t w_rn_d: "Th_s _p_r_t__n w_ll c_nt_n__ r_l_ntl_ssly _nt_l th_ _n_my _s d_c_s_v_ly d_f__t_d." Th_r_ _r_ f__rs th_s _sc_l_t__n w_ll cr__t_ t_rm__l _cr_ss th_ gl_b_. _ q__rt_r _f th_ w_rld's __l _nd _ th_rd _f _ts l_q__f__d n_t_r_l g_s tr_v_l thr__gh th_ str_t_g_c Str__t _f H_rm_z w_t_rw_y, wh_ch _r_n c__ld cl_s_. Th_s w__ld c__s_ sky-h_gh __l pr_c_s _nd _nfl_t__n w_rldw_d_. _xp_rts w_rn th_r_ c__ld b_ _ m_j_r r_f_g__ cr_s_s _f th_ c_nfl_ct sp_r_ls __t _f c_ntr_l.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the middle east is in turmoil after coordinated attacks by israel and the usa on iran on saturday several iranian cities including the capital tehran were bombarded with precisionguided missiles as washington and jerusalem attempted once and for all to obliterate irans nuclear capabilities us president trump wrote on his truth social platform were going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground trump called for the iranian people to rise up and for government forces to surrender he wrote this is the single greatest chance for the iranian people to take back their country the strikes on tehran killed irans leader ayatollah ali khamenei and key figures in irans military

iran immediately retaliated by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours including the uae bahrain kuwait and qatar irans islamic revolutionary guard corps claimed it had struck israeli and us military targets in the middle east it warned this operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated there are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe a quarter of the worlds oil and a third of its liquefied natural gas travel through the strategic strait of hormuz waterway which iran could close this would cause skyhigh oil prices and inflation worldwide experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals out of control

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheMiddleEastisinturmoilaftercoordinatedattacksbyIsraelandtheUS AonIranonSaturday.SeveralIraniancities,includingthecapitalTehran ,werebombardedwithprecision-guidedmissilesasWashingtonandJer usalemattemptedonceandforalltoobliterateIran'snuclearcapabilitie s.USPresidentTrumpwroteonhisTruthSocialplatform:"We'regoingto destroytheirmissilesandrazetheirmissileindustrytotheground."Tru mpcalledfortheIranianpeopletoriseupandforgovernmentforcestosur render.Hewrote:"ThisisthesinglegreatestchancefortheIranianpeopl etotakebacktheircountry."ThestrikesonTehrankilledIran'sleaderAy atollahAliKhameneiandkeyfiguresinIran'smilitary.Iranimmediatelyr etaliatedbylaunchingmissilesanddronesonitsneighbours,includingt heUAE,Bahrain,Kuwait,andQatar.Iran'sIslamicRevolutionaryGuard CorpsclaimedithadstruckIsraeliandUSmilitarytargetsintheMiddleEa st.Itwarned:"Thisoperationwillcontinuerelentlesslyuntiltheenemyis decisivelydefeated."Therearefearsthisescalationwillcreateturmoilac rosstheglobe.Aquarteroftheworld'soilandathirdofitsliquefiednatural gastravelthroughthestrategicStraitofHormuzwaterway,whichIranc ouldclose.Thiswouldcausesky-highoilpricesandinflationworldwide.E xpertswarntherecouldbeamajorrefugeecrisisiftheconflictspiralsouto fcontrol.

Free writing

Write about Middle East turmoil for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

Academic writing

A long and lasting peace will come to the Middle East. 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. THE MIDDLE EAST: Make a poster about the Middle East. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. IRAN: Write a magazine article about pouring trillions of dollars into Iran to rebuild it. 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 Iran. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how Iran's people can live a comfortable life from now. 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

$US 9.99

Answers

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

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