Breaking News English Lesson: Reindeer
Reindeer help Santa Claus to deliver presents to children. However, the animals are in danger. Many reindeer are being killed by wolves. Reindeer owners say wolves killed 1,950 reindeer in Finland this year. That is a 70% increase from last year. This increase has upset the natural balance between reindeer and wolves.
A reindeer owner joked about his animals, but he is worried. He said: "These are Santa's reindeer. We are really lucky because Santa needs them for one day, so we can fly them for 364 days." Many people believe the Ukraine War is why there are more wolves. Many wolf hunters in Russia have gone to fight in Ukraine.
Try the same news story at these levels:
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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.
Phrase Matching Paragraph 1- Reindeer help
- deliver presents
- the animals are
- Many reindeer are being
- owners say wolves killed
- That is a 70% increase
- This increase has upset the
- reindeer and
- 1,950 reindeer
- Santa Claus
- killed by wolves
- wolves
- to children
- natural balance
- from last year
- in danger
- A reindeer owner joked
- he is
- These are Santa's
- We are really
- Santa needs them for
- we can fly them
- people believe the Ukraine War
- wolf hunters in Russia have
- one day
- reindeer
- is why
- about his animals
- gone to fight
- worried
- for 364 days
- lucky
Reindeer help Santa Claus (1) _________________________________________________ to children. However, the animals (2) _________________________________________________. Many reindeer (3) _________________________________________________ by wolves. Reindeer (4) _________________________________________________ killed 1,950 reindeer in Finland this year. That is a 70% increase from last year. This (5) ________________________________________________ the (6) _________________________________________________ reindeer and wolves.
A reindeer (7) _________________________________________________ his animals, but he is worried. He said: "These are Santa's reindeer. We (8) _________________________________________________ because Santa needs (9) _________________________________________________ day, so we can fly them for 364 days." Many (10) _________________________________________________ Ukraine War is (11) _________________________________________________ more wolves. Many wolf hunters in Russia have (12) _________________________________________________ in Ukraine.
Put a slash (/) where the spaces areReindeerhelpSantaClaustodeliverpresentstochildren.However,thea nimalsareindanger.Manyreindeerarebeingkilledbywolves.Reindeer ownerssaywolveskilled1,950reindeerinFinlandthisyear.Thatisa70% increasefromlastyear.Thisincreasehasupsetthenaturalbalancebetw eenreindeerandwolves.Areindeerownerjokedabouthisanimals,buth eisworried.Hesaid:"TheseareSanta'sreindeer.Wearereallyluckybec auseSantaneedsthemforoneday,sowecanflythemfor364days."Man ypeoplebelievetheUkraineWariswhytherearemorewolves.Manywolf huntersinRussiahavegonetofightinUkraine.
Student surveyWrite 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 — Write your own questionsSTUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
(a) ________________
(b) ________________
(c) ________________
(d) ________________
(e) ________________
(f) ________________
(g) ________________
(h) ________________
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
(i) ________________
(j) ________________
(k) ________________
(l) ________________
(m) ________________
(n) ________________
(o) ________________
(p) ________________
Free writingWrite about this topic for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.
Answers(Please check your answers against the article above.
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