. The Dinosaurs - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
The Dinosaurs - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
The Dinosaurs - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: The Dinosaurs

A new series has scored 100 per cent on the review site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number one on Netflix. The mini-series is a four-episode Netflix documentary. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has powerful figures from Hollywood behind it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is the executive producer. He also directed the blockbuster movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to help make the show. They recreated what life on Earth looked like between 235 million and 66 million years ago. The four episodes document how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, and became extinct.

The producers used CGI to create the landscapes and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the ancient supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land mass that slowly broke apart over tens of millions of years to form the continents of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, sand storms, floods, million-year-old forests, and (of course) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the birth of tiny dinosaurs. It ends with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most iconic dinosaurs of all time". It also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed off the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper reviewed the series. It said, "the geology and meteorology are powerfully rendered".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2026/03/09/netflixs-new-no-1-show-has-a-perfect-100-rotten-tomatoes-score/
  • https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/mar/06/the-dinosaurs-review-morgan-freemans-narration-is-so-soothing-you-could-use-this-as-a-relaxation-aid
  • https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/netflix-show-based-extinct-creatures-044000479.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 :-)

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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. DINOSAURS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about dinosaurs. 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? TV series / review / Netflix / documentary / dinosaurs/ Hollywood / experts / extinct / CGI / continents / volcanic / sand storms / floods / forests / T. rex / asteroid / geology Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. BRINGING BACK THE DINOSAURS: Students A strongly believe we should bring back the dinosaurs; Students B strongly believe that would be crazy. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. HISTORY: What do you know about these periods of history? Would you like to have lived in them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

What I Know

Living in This Period

The Jurassic Era

The Stone Age

The Iron Age

The Middle Ages

The Renaissance

The Industrial Age

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Recreate dinosaurs
  • Space battles
  • Mythical creatures
  • Superheroes
  • Natural disasters
  • Fantasy cities
  • Crowd scenes
  • Dangerous stunts
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. series a. One part of a television or radio series. 2. review b. A group of related television programmes that tell one story or have the same topic. 3. episode c. A film or television programme that shows real people, places, and events. 4. documentary d. People who know a lot about a subject because they have studied it for a long time. 5. experts e. An opinion about a film, book, show, or product that says if it is good or bad. 6. prehistory f. No longer existing because all members of the group have died. 7. extinct g. The time before people wrote things down or kept written records.

Paragraph 2

8. ancient h. The seven very large pieces of land on Earth such as Africa, Asia, and Europe. 9. continents i. Very big in size. 10. eruptions j. Very old and from a long time ago in history. 11. floods k. Events when hot lava, ash, and gas come out of a volcano. 12. enormous l. Very famous and well known, often representing something important. 13. iconic m. Large amounts of water that cover land that is usually dry. 14. asteroid n. A large rock from space that travels through space and can hit a planet. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. The article says The Dinosaurs is the first series to ever get 100%. T / F
  2. The Dinosaurs is a mini-series that has four parts. T / F
  3. The Dinosaurs is narrated by the legendary director Steven Spielberg. T / F
  4. The mini-series shows what life on Earth was like 50 million years ago. T / F
  5. Designers used computer-generated imagery to make the show. T / F
  6. There was once just one giant continent on Earth, called Pangea. T / F
  7. A famous actor said the brontosaurus was the most iconic dinosaur ever. T / F
  8. A newspaper said the series had powerful geologists and meteorites. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. separated
  2. parts
  3. specialists
  4. reproduced
  5. recorded
  6. arrival
  7. people
  8. legendary
  9. died out
  10. of long ago
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. The mini-series is a four-episode Netflix
  2. It has powerful figures from Hollywood
  3. Spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to
  4. document how the earliest
  5. survived for millions of years, and
  6. The producers used CGI to
  7. designers recreated the ancient supercontinent
  8. This was a single land mass that slowly broke
  9. the most iconic dinosaurs
  10. the asteroid impact event that killed
  1. help make the show
  2. apart
  3. became extinct
  4. of Pangea
  5. behind it
  6. of all time
  7. dinosaurs developed
  8. off the dinosaurs
  9. documentary
  10. create the landscapes
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. documentary blockbuster review extinct director episodes figures prehistory

A new series has scored 100 per cent on the (1) ______________________________________________ site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number one on Netflix. The mini-series is a four-episode Netflix (2) ______________________________________________. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has powerful (3) ______________________________________________ from Hollywood behind it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it. Legendary (4) ______________________________________________ Steven Spielberg is the executive producer. He also directed the (5) ______________________________________________ movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 experts on (6) ______________________________________________ to help make the show. They recreated what life on Earth looked like between 235 million and 66 million years ago. The four (7) ______________________________________________ document how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, and became (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

birth apart iconic landscapes geology continents asteroid ancient

The producers used CGI to create the (9) ______________________________________________ and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the (10) ______________________________________________ supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land mass that slowly broke (11) ______________________________________________ over tens of millions of years to form the (12) ______________________________________________ of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, sand storms, floods, million-year-old forests, and (of course) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the (13) ______________________________________________ of tiny dinosaurs. It ends with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most (14) ______________________________________________ dinosaurs of all time". It also shows us the (15) ______________________________________________ impact event that killed off the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper reviewed the series. It said, "the (16) ______________________________________________ and meteorology are powerfully rendered".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A new series has scored 100 per cent on ______ a. the review sight b. the renew site c. the reviews eight d. the review site 2) The mini-series is a four-______ a. episode Netflix documentary b. episode Netflix documented c. episode Netflix document airy d. episode Netflix dock you meant airy 3) Superstar actor Morgan ______ a. Freeman negated it b. Freeman narrated it c. Freeman narration it d. Freeman narrate tidied it 4) Mr Spielberg used 50 ______ a. experts on prehistory b. experts in prehistory c. expert son prehistory d. experts on free history 5) how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, ______ a. and became extinction b. and became extinct c. and became tincture d. and became eggs inked

6) slowly broke apart over tens of millions of years to form the ______ a. continent soft today b. continents off today c. continents of today d. continent of today 7) The series starts with the birth ______ a. of tinny dinosaurs b. of tiny dinosaur c. of tiny dinosaurs d. off tinny dinosaurs 8) T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are the most iconic dinosaurs ______ a. off all time b. offal time c. over time d. of all time 9) It also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed ______ a. doff the dinosaurs b. of the dinosaurs c. over the dinosaurs d. off the dinosaurs 10) It said the geology and meteorology ______ a. are powerfully blended b. are powerfully gendered c. are powerfully rendered d. are powerfully wronged

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new (1) __________________________________________________ 100 per cent on the review site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number one on Netflix. The mini-series is (2) __________________________________________________ Netflix documentary. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has (3) __________________________________________________ Hollywood behind it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is (4) __________________________________________________. He also directed the blockbuster movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to help make the show. They recreated what life on Earth (5) __________________________________________________ 235 million and 66 million years ago. The four episodes document how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, (6) __________________________________________________.

The producers used CGI to (7) __________________________________________________ and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the ancient supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land mass that (8) __________________________________________________ over tens of millions of years to form the continents of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, (9) __________________________________________________, million-year-old forests, and (of course) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the (10) __________________________________________________ dinosaurs. It ends with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most iconic dinosaurs of all time". It also shows us (11) __________________________________________________ event that killed off the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper reviewed the series. It said, "(12) __________________________________________________ meteorology are powerfully rendered".

Comprehension questions
  1. What position is The Dinosaurs on the Netflix charts?
  2. How many episodes are there in The Dinosaurs?
  3. Who does the article say is behind the mini-series?
  4. How many prehistory experts helped make the show?
  5. What does the show document besides the dinosaurs' birth and survival?
  6. What did the producers use Computer-Generated Imagery to create?
  7. What was Pangea?
  8. What did the show start with?
  9. What killed off the dinosaurs?
  10. What did a newspaper say the series "powerfully rendered"?
Multiple choice quiz

1) What position is The Dinosaurs on the Netflix charts? a) It hasn't charted yet. b) number 10 c) number one d) just inside the top 100. 2) How many episodes are there in The Dinosaurs? a) four b) eight c) ten d) twelve 3) Who does the article say is behind the mini-series? a) powerful figures from Hollywood b) a powerful story c) a dramatic story d) lots of Hollywood money 4) How many prehistory experts helped make the show? a) 15 b) 50 c) 55 d) 80 5) What does the show document besides the dinosaurs' birth and survival? a) their movements b) their diet c) their size d) their extinction

6) What did the producers use Computer-Generated Imagery to create? a) fight scenes b) landscapes and dinosaurs c) earthquakes d) the Big Bang 7) What was Pangea? a) an ancient supercontinent b) a very scary dinosaur c) a plant that killed many dinosaurs d) the name of an ancient disease 8) What did the show start with? a) the Big Bang b) a dinosaur hatching from an egg c) the birth of tiny dinosaurs d) a fight scene 9) What killed off the dinosaurs? a) an ice age b) a virus c) climate change d) an asteroid impact 10) What did a newspaper say the series "powerfully rendered"? a) geology and meteorology b) geography and metaphysics c) geometry and mathematics d) genealogy and musicology

Role play

Role A – Recreating Dinosaurs You think recreating dinosaurs is the best use of GCI. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): making space battles, giving superheroes powers or creating dangerous stunts.

Role B – Making Space Battles You think making space battles is the best use of GCI. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): recreating dinosaurs, giving superheroes powers or creating dangerous stunts.

Role C – Superhero Powers You think giving superheroes powers is the best use of GCI. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): making space battles, recreating dinosaurs or creating dangerous stunts.

Role D – Dangerous Stunts You think creating dangerous stunts is the best use of GCI. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): making space battles, giving superheroes powers or recreating dinosaurs.

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 Dinosaurs

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 'series'?
  3. What do you think of Netflix?
  4. What's your favourite streaming service?
  5. What do you know about the dinosaurs?
  6. What do you think of movies about dinosaurs?
  7. What's your favourite show?
  8. What are your favourite dinosaurs?
  9. What do you know about how the dinosaurs became extinct?
  10. Should scientists bring the dinosaurs back?

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 'dinosaurs'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. What do you know about the supercontinent of Pangea?
  5. How important is it to understand the dinosaurs?
  6. What do you think of the Tyrannosaurus Rex?
  7. How important is it to study geology?
  8. What will humans be like in 66 million years from now?
  9. What will Earth be like in 66 million years from now?
  10. What questions would you like to ask a dinosaur expert?
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 series has (1) ____ 100 per cent on the review site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number one on Netflix. The mini-series is a (2) ____-episode Netflix documentary. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has powerful figures from Hollywood (3) ____ it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is the executive producer. He also directed the (4) ____ movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to help make the show. They recreated what life on Earth looked (5) ____ between 235 million and 66 million years ago. The four episodes document how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, and became (6) ____.

The producers used CGI (7) ____ create the landscapes and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the ancient supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land mass that (8) ____ broke apart over tens of millions of years to form the continents of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, sand storms, floods, million-year-old forests, and ((9) ____) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the birth of tiny dinosaurs. It (10) ____ with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most iconic dinosaurs of (11) ____ time". It also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed off the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper reviewed the series. It said, "the (12) ____ and meteorology are powerfully rendered".

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) scored (b) score (c) scoring (d) scores
  2. (a) fourth (b) fours (c) four (d) fourfold
  3. (a) ahead (b) next (c) behind (d) front
  4. (a) buster block (b) block (c) buster (d) blockbuster
  5. (a) at (b) to (c) like (d) up
  6. (a) precinct (b) extinct (c) distinct (d) succinct
  7. (a) for (b) to (c) at (d) and
  8. (a) slowed (b) slowly (c) slows (d) slowish
  9. (a) of coarse (b) off course (c) of course (d) of curse
  10. (a) finish up (b) the end (c) finishing (d) ends
  11. (a) every (b) entire (c) whole (d) all
  12. (a) criminology (b) musicology (c) sociology (d) geology
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. A new erisse has scored 100 per cent
  2. a four-episode Netflix deratyonmcu
  3. Steven Spielberg is the etxueeivc producer
  4. 50 rpestex on prehistory
  5. irudesvv for millions of years
  6. became nxectti
Paragraph 2
  1. recreated the nnecita supercontinent of Pangea
  2. form the etcontisnn of today
  3. icnvacol eruptions
  4. the srouenmo T. rex and triceratops
  5. the doriesta impact event
  6. the oeygogl and meteorology
Put the text back together

( 1 ) A new series has scored 100 per cent on the review site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number ( ) director Steven Spielberg is the executive producer. He also directed the blockbuster ( ) Earth looked like between 235 million and 66 million years ago. The four episodes document how ( ) figures from Hollywood behind it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it. Legendary ( ) forests, and (of course) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the birth of tiny dinosaurs. It ends ( ) movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to help make the show. They recreated what life on ( ) of years to form the continents of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, sand storms, floods, million-year-old ( ) one on Netflix. The mini-series is a four-episode Netflix documentary. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has powerful ( ) reviewed the series. It said, "the geology and meteorology are powerfully rendered". ( ) supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land mass that slowly broke apart over tens of millions ( ) the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, and became extinct. ( ) The producers used CGI to create the landscapes and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the ancient ( ) time". It also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed off the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper ( ) with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most iconic dinosaurs of all

Put the words in the right order
  1. 100 A cent has new per scored series .
  2. a documentary four-episode is mini-series Netflix The .
  3. behind figures from has Hollywood It it powerful .
  4. Earth like life looked on recreated They what .
  5. developed dinosaurs document episodes four how The the .
  6. CGI create landscapes producers The the to used .
  7. ancient CGI designers of Pangea recreated supercontinent the .
  8. A apart broke land mass single slowly that .
  9. all dinosaurs iconic most of the They're time .
  10. asteroid dinosaurs impact killed off that The the .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A new series has scored / scores 100 per cent on the review site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number one on Netflix. The mini-series is a four-episode Netflix document / documentary. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has powerful / powerfully figures from Hollywood behind / ahead it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it / them. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is the executive produce / producer. He also directed the blockbuster movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 expats / experts on prehistory to help make the show. They recreated what life on Earth looked such / like between 235 million and 66 million years ago / age. The four episodes document how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, and became exact / extinct.

The producers used CGI to create the landscapers / landscapes and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the ancient / accent supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land moss / mass that slowly broke apart / part over tens of millions of years to form the continents of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, sand storms, bloods / floods, million-year-old forests, and (of course) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the birth / born of tiny dinosaurs. It sends / ends with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most iconic dinosaurs of whole / all time". It also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed off / up the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper reviewed the series. It said, "the geological / geology and meteorology are powerfully rendered".

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 s_r__s h_s sc_r_d 100 p_r c_nt _n th_ r_v__w s_t_ R_tt_n T_m_t__s _nd _s _t n_mb_r _n_ _n N_tfl_x. Th_ m_n_-s_r__s _s _ f__r-_p_s_d_ N_tfl_x d_c_m_nt_ry. _t _s c_ll_d Th_ D_n_s__rs. _t h_s p_w_rf_l f_g_r_s fr_m H_llyw__d b_h_nd _t. S_p_rst_r _ct_r M_rg_n Fr__m_n n_rr_t_d _t. L_g_nd_ry d_r_ct_r St_v_n Sp__lb_rg _s th_ _x_c_t_v_ pr_d_c_r. H_ _ls_ d_r_ct_d th_ bl_ckb_st_r m_v__ J_r_ss_c P_rk. Mr Sp__lb_rg _s_d 50 _xp_rts _n pr_h_st_ry t_ h_lp m_k_ th_ sh_w. Th_y r_cr__t_d wh_t l_f_ _n __rth l__k_d l_k_ b_tw__n 235 m_ll__n _nd 66 m_ll__n y__rs _g_. Th_ f__r _p_s_d_s d_c_m_nt h_w th_ __rl__st d_n_s__rs d_v_l_p_d, s_rv_v_d f_r m_ll__ns _f y__rs, _nd b_c_m_ _xt_nct.

Th_ pr_d_c_rs _s_d CG_ t_ cr__t_ th_ l_ndsc_p_s _nd d_n_s__rs. CG_ d_s_gn_rs r_cr__t_d th_ _nc__nt s_p_rc_nt_n_nt _f P_ng__. Th_s w_s _ s_ngl_ l_nd m_ss th_t sl_wly br_k_ _p_rt _v_r t_ns _f m_ll__ns _f y__rs t_ f_rm th_ c_nt_n_nts _f t_d_y. Th_ d_s_gn_rs _ls_ m_d_ v_lc_n_c _r_pt__ns, s_nd st_rms, fl__ds, m_ll__n-y__r-_ld f_r_sts, _nd (_f c__rs_) th_ d_n_s__rs. Th_ s_r__s st_rts w_th th_ b_rth _f t_ny d_n_s__rs. _t _nds w_th th_ _n_rm__s T. r_x _nd tr_c_r_t_ps, wh_ch Fr__m_n s_ys _r_ "th_ m_st _c_n_c d_n_s__rs _f _ll t_m_". _t _ls_ sh_ws _s th_ _st_r__d _mp_ct _v_nt th_t k_ll_d _ff th_ d_n_s__rs. Th_ G__rd__n n_wsp_p_r r_v__w_d th_ s_r__s. _t s__d, "th_ g__l_gy _nd m_t__r_l_gy _r_ p_w_rf_lly r_nd_r_d".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a new series has scored 100 per cent on the review site rotten tomatoes and is at number one on netflix the miniseries is a fourepisode netflix documentary it is called the dinosaurs it has powerful figures from hollywood behind it superstar actor morgan freeman narrated it legendary director steven spielberg is the executive producer he also directed the blockbuster movie jurassic park mr spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to help make the show they recreated what life on earth looked like between 235 million and 66 million years ago the four episodes document how the earliest dinosaurs developed survived for millions of years and became extinct

the producers used cgi to create the landscapes and dinosaurs cgi designers recreated the ancient supercontinent of pangea this was a single land mass that slowly broke apart over tens of millions of years to form the continents of today the designers also made volcanic eruptions sand storms floods millionyearold forests and of course the dinosaurs the series starts with the birth of tiny dinosaurs it ends with the enormous t rex and triceratops which freeman says are the most iconic dinosaurs of all time it also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed off the dinosaurs the guardian newspaper reviewed the series it said the geology and meteorology are powerfully rendered

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Anewserieshasscored100percentonthereviewsiteRottenTomatoesa ndisatnumberoneonNetflix.Themini-seriesisafour-episodeNetflixdo cumentary.ItiscalledTheDinosaurs.IthaspowerfulfiguresfromHollyw oodbehindit.SuperstaractorMorganFreemannarratedit.Legendarydi rectorStevenSpielbergistheexecutiveproducer.Healsodirectedthebl ockbustermovieJurassicPark.MrSpielbergused50expertsonprehisto rytohelpmaketheshow.TheyrecreatedwhatlifeonEarthlookedlikebet ween235millionand66millionyearsago.Thefourepisodesdocumenth owtheearliestdinosaursdeveloped,survivedformillionsofyears,andb ecameextinct.TheproducersusedCGItocreatethelandscapesanddino saurs.CGIdesignersrecreatedtheancientsupercontinentofPangea.T hiswasasinglelandmassthatslowlybrokeapartovertensofmillionsofy earstoformthecontinentsoftoday.Thedesignersalsomadevolcanicer uptions,sandstorms,floods,million-year-oldforests,and(ofcourse)th edinosaurs.Theseriesstartswiththebirthoftinydinosaurs.Itendswitht heenormousT.rexandtriceratops,whichFreemansaysare"themostic onicdinosaursofalltime".Italsoshowsustheasteroidimpacteventthat killedoffthedinosaurs.TheGuardiannewspaperreviewedtheseries.Its aid,"thegeologyandmeteorologyarepowerfullyrendered".

Free writing

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

Academic writing

Scientists should recreate the dinosaurs. 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. DINOSAURS: Make a poster about dinosaurs. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. BRINGING BACK THE DINOSAURS: Write a magazine article about bringing back the dinosaurs. 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 dinosaurs. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions of dinosaurs. 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

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Answers

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

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