. Bear Attacks - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Bear Attacks - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Bear Attacks - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: Bear Attacks

Japan's government has created emergency measures to address record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured by bears since April. The death toll is the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been sighted. Another feature is the establishment of region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up a buffer zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from human residential areas.

There are two species of bear in Japan and their numbers have surged in the past decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly tripled since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, native to the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons for the growth in bear populations. One is the shortage of beech nuts, which scientists attribute to climate change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are venturing into towns and villages.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/14/japan/japan-bear-attacks-measures/
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/14/whats-behind-a-surge-in-bear-attacks-in-japan
  • https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/64878

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. BEARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Bears. 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? Japan / government / bears / bear attacks / environment / plan / wildlife / rural areas species / the past decade / dangerous / nuts / climate change / hunters / villages Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. NO CULLS: Students A strongly believe it is wrong to cull wild animals; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. BEAR SPECIES: What do you know about these species of bear? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Grizzly bear

Black bear

Polar bear

Giant panda

Sloth bear

Tibetan blue bear

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Bears
  • Mosquitos
  • Tarantulas
  • Sharks
  • Scorpions
  • Pythons
  • Murder hornets
  • Wolves
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. measures a. People who have died in an accident, wars, disasters, pandemics, etc. 2. address b. An area that separates two places. 3. toll c. Actions people take to solve a problem. 4. devised d. Deal with or try to fix a problem. 5. fatalities e. Planned or thought of. 6. capture f. Take control of or catch. 7. buffer zone g. The number of people hurt or killed.

Paragraph 2

8. species h. The killing of some animals to control numbers. 9. surged i. Say that something is caused by something. 10. tripled j. Coming from a place originally. 11. native k. A group of animals or plants that are the same type. 12. attribute to l. Going somewhere new or dangerous. 13. culls m. Went up quickly. 14. venturing n. Became three times bigger or more. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. Japan's government said bears have killed 13 people this year. T / F
  2. The number of fatalities is the highest for over 100 years. T / F
  3. Wildlife experts have revised a plan to keep a check on bear injuries. T / F
  4. Authorities will create an area to keep bears away from housing areas. T / F
  5. The number of black bears in Japan has risen three-fold since 2012. T / F
  6. There are about 44,000 brown bears living on the island of Hokkaido. T / F
  7. The number of bear hunters in Japan is going down. T / F
  8. Bears are entering villages because of people leaving them. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. increased three-fold
  2. came up with
  3. escalated
  4. scarcity
  5. actions
  6. indigenous
  7. deaths
  8. straying
  9. tally
  10. cushion
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. Japan's government has created emergency
  2. address record
  3. death
  4. reduce the increasing numbers of
  5. separate bear habitats from human
  6. their numbers have surged in the
  7. the Asian black bear population has roughly
  8. native to the northern
  9. responsible for bear
  10. bears are venturing
  1. past decade
  2. fatalities
  3. numbers
  4. island of Hokkaido
  5. culls
  6. residential areas
  7. measures
  8. tripled since 2012
  9. into towns
  10. toll
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. devised capture measures habitats encounters toll sighted buffer

Japan's government has created emergency (1) _________________________________ to address record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured by bears since April. The death (2) _________________________________ is the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management experts have (3) _________________________________ a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and (4) _________________________________ with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been (5) _________________________________. Another feature is the establishment of region-specific (6) _________________________________ targets. Authorities will also set up a (7) _________________________________ zone in many areas to try to separate bear (8) _________________________________ from human residential areas.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

attribute species shortage native venturing largely tripled several

There are two (9) _________________________________ of bear in Japan and their numbers have surged in the past decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly (10) _________________________________ since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, (11) _________________________________ to the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are (12) _________________________________ reasons for the growth in bear populations. One is the (13) _________________________________ of beech nuts, which scientists (14) _________________________________ to climate change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were (15) _________________________________ responsible for bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are (16) _________________________________ into towns and villages.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Japan's government has created emergency measures to ______ a. redress record numbers b. undress record numbers c. a dress record numbers d. address record numbers 2) reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and ______ a. encounter with bears b. encounters wither bears c. encounters with bears d. encounters within bears 3) Another feature is the establishment of region-______ a. specify capture targets b. special capture targets c. specific capture targets d. specifics capture targets 4) Authorities will also set up ______ a. a buffer zone b. a suffer zone c. a puffer zone d. a huffer zone 5) in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from ______ a. human residential areas b. humane residential areas c. human residence area d. humane ready-dental areas

6) There are two species of bear in Japan and their ______ a. numbers have splurged b. numbers have surged c. numbers have surge d. numbers have surging 7) Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly ______ a. triplet since 2012 b. triplets since 2012 c. tripled since 2012 d. triple since 2012 8) brown bears, native to the northern island of Hokkaido, have ______ a. doubled on number b. doubled in number c. doubled at number d. doubled up number 9) Another reason is a declining number ______ a. of licensed hunter b. off licensed hunters c. of licensed hunters d. of license hunters 10) Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are ______ a. venturing it to towns b. venturing unto towns c. venturing onto towns d. venturing into towns

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Japan's government has created emergency (1) _______________________________________________ record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured by bears since April. The (2) _______________________________________________ the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing (3) _______________________________________________, injuries, and encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been sighted. Another feature is (4) _______________________________________________ region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up a (5) _______________________________________________ many areas to try to separate bear habitats from (6) _______________________________________________.

There are two species of bear in Japan and their (7) _______________________________________________ in the past decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has (8) _______________________________________________ 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, (9) _______________________________________________ northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons for the growth in bear populations. One is (10) _______________________________________________ beech nuts, which scientists (11) _______________________________________________ change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears (12) _______________________________________________ towns and villages.

Comprehension questions
  1. What has Japan's government created to address record bear attacks?
  2. How many people have bears injured since April?
  3. When did Japan start keeping records of bear attacks?
  4. Who came up with a plan to reduce increasing numbers of deaths?
  5. What will authorities set up to separate bears and humans?
  6. Roughly how many black bears are there in Japan?
  7. By how much has the brown bear population increased in recent years?
  8. What food are brown bears having problems finding?
  9. What is happening to the number of licensed hunters in Japan?
  10. What are bears doing as a result of depopulation in rural areas?
Multiple choice quiz

1) What has Japan's government created to address record bear attacks? a) a bear database b) emergency measures c) special anti-bear spray d) a CCTV network in the countryside 2) How many people have bears injured since April? a) just fewer than 100 b) 121 c) more than 100 d) several dozen 3) When did Japan start keeping records of bear attacks? a) 1906 b) 1956 c) 1996 d) 2006 4) Who came up with a plan to reduce increasing numbers of deaths? a) the Japanese prime minister b) wildlife management experts c) a zoologist d) bear hunters 5) What will authorities set up to separate bears and humans? a) a buffer zone b) a giant wall c) a moat d) a system of nets

6) Roughly how many black bears are there in Japan? a) around 44,000 b) just fewer than 44,000 c) more than 44,000 d) exactly 44,000 7) By how much has the brown bear population increased in recent years? a) It has tripled. b) It has quadrupled. c) It has increased ten-fold. d) It has doubled. 8) What food are brown bears having problems finding? a) chestnuts b) acorns c) beech nuts d) salmon 9) What is happening to the number of licensed hunters in Japan? a) It is fluctuating. b) Nothing c) It is escalating. d) It is declining. 10) What are bears doing as a result of depopulation in rural areas? a) making homes in abandoned houses b) venturing into towns and villages c) looking for fast food restaurants d) becoming very confident

Role play

Role A – Bears You think bears are the most dangerous creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): mosquitos, sharks or tarantulas.

Role B – Mosquitos You think mosquitos are the most dangerous creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): bears, sharks or tarantulas.

Role C – Sharks You think sharks are the most dangerous creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): mosquitos, bears or tarantulas.

Role D – Tarantulas You think tarantulas are the most dangerous creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): mosquitos, sharks or bears.

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 - Bear Attacks

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 'bear'?
  3. What do you know about bears?
  4. What should you do if you encounter a bear?
  5. What dangerous animals are there in your country?
  6. How can Japan reduce the numbers of fatalities from bear attacks?
  7. What would you do if you sighted a bear?
  8. Why are bears seen as cute in books and movies?
  9. How important are bears?
  10. What advice do you have for people living in areas with bears?

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 'attack'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. What do you think of bears?
  5. What bear species do you think is best?
  6. Is the rising number of bears good or bad?
  7. How is climate change affecting animal numbers?
  8. What do you think of culling bears?
  9. What should you do if a bear attacks?
  10. What questions would you like to ask a bear hunter?
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)

Japan's government has created emergency measures to (1) ____ record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured by bears since April. The death (2) ____ is the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management (3) ____ have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and encounters (4) ____ bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been (5) ____. Another feature is the establishment of region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up a (6) ____ zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from human residential areas.

There are two species of bears in Japan and their numbers have (7) ____ in the past decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly tripled since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, native (8) ____ the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled (9) ____ number. There are several reasons for the growth in bear populations. One is the shortage of beech nuts, which scientists (10) ____ to climate change. Another reason is a declining number of (11) ____ hunters, who were largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are (12) ____ into towns and villages.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) label (b) envelope (c) mail (d) address
  2. (a) tool (b) toil (c) atoll (d) toll
  3. (a) expats (b) experts (c) expertise (d) exports
  4. (a) by (b) at (c) with (d) on
  5. (a) sated (b) slighted (c) sighted (d) sought
  6. (a) buffer (b) duffer (c) puffer (d) suffer
  7. (a) doubted (b) surged (c) realized (d) capitulated
  8. (a) to (b) of (c) at (d) up
  9. (a) at (b) in (c) of (d) to
  10. (a) attributive (b) attribution (c) attribute (d) attributing
  11. (a) licentious (b) lice (c) licensed (d) lice-ridden
  12. (a) plunging (b) enterprising (c) vacationing (d) venturing
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. emergency smaeesur
  2. death lotl
  3. the increasing numbers of tilatsfiea
  4. the establishment of region-specific auprtce targets
  5. set up a bfferu zone
  6. human niaitsedler areas
Paragraph 2
  1. two ipsesec of bear
  2. their numbers have sredgu
  3. the eahgtsro of beech nuts
  4. which scientists etritaubt to climate change
  5. a declining number of eelcndis hunters
  6. bears are netnivurg into towns
Put the text back together

( ) animals have been sighted. Another feature is the establishment of region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set ( ) culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are venturing into towns and villages. ( ) decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly tripled ( ) encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the ( ) experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and ( ) growth in bear populations. One is the shortage of beech nuts, which scientists attribute ( ) injured by bears since April. The death toll is the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management ( 1 ) Japan's government has created emergency measures to address record numbers ( ) of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been ( ) since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, native ( ) There are two species of bear in Japan and their numbers have surged in the past ( ) to climate change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were largely responsible for bear ( ) to the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons for the ( ) up a buffer zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from human residential areas.

Put the words in the right order
  1. to Measures record address of numbers attacks bear .
  2. More 100 than been have by injured bears .
  3. tolls Death the are since highest began records .
  4. Plans reduce to increasing the of numbers fatalities .
  5. up Set buffer a in zone areas many .
  6. There two are of species in bear Japan .
  7. numbers Their surged have the in decade past .
  8. Several for reasons growth the bear in populations .
  9. is One shortage the beech of nuts .
  10. reason Another a is number declining hunters of .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Japan's government has created emergency measurements / measures to address record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported / retorted that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured / injurious by bears since April. The death atoll / toll is the highest since record / records began in 2006. Wildlife management experts have devised / defiled a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and encounters with / at bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been sighted / sighting. Another feature is the establishment at / of region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up a buffer zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats of / from human residential areas.

There are two species of bear in Japan and their numbers have splurged / surged in the past decade. Estimates / Estimation suggest the Asian black bear population has roughed / roughly tripled since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, native at / to the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in / to number. There are several reasons for the growth in / on bear populations. One is the shortage / shortening of beech nuts, which scientists attribute to / of climate change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were largely responsible for / at bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are venting / venturing into towns and villages.

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)

J_p_n's g_v_rnm_nt h_s cr__t_d _m_rg_ncy m__s_r_s t_ _ddr_ss r_c_rd n_mb_rs _f b__r _tt_cks. Th_ M_n_stry _f _nv_r_nm_nt r_p_rt_d th_t 13 p__pl_ h_v_ b__n k_ll_d, _nd m_r_ th_n 100 h_v_ b__n _nj_r_d by b__rs s_nc_ _pr_l. Th_ d__th t_ll _s th_ h_gh_st s_nc_ r_c_rds b_g_n _n 2006. W_ldl_f_ m_n_g_m_nt _xp_rts h_v_ d_v_s_d _ pl_n t_ r_d_c_ th_ _ncr__s_ng n_mb_rs _f f_t_l_t__s, _nj_r__s, _nd _nc__nt_rs w_th b__rs. P_rt _f th_s pl_n _s t_ r_d_c_ b__r p_p_l_t__ns _n _r__s wh_r_ th_ _n_m_ls h_v_ b__n s_ght_d. _n_th_r f__t_r_ _s th_ _st_bl_shm_nt _f r_g__n-sp_c_f_c c_pt_r_ t_rg_ts. __th_r_t__s w_ll _ls_ s_t _p _ b_ff_r z_n_ _n m_ny _r__s t_ try t_ s_p_r_t_ b__r h_b_t_ts fr_m h_m_n r_s_d_nt__l _r__s.

Th_r_ _r_ tw_ sp_c__s _f b__r _n J_p_n _nd th__r n_mb_rs h_v_ s_rg_d _n th_ p_st d_c_d_. _st_m_t_s s_gg_st th_ _s__n bl_ck b__r p_p_l_t__n h_s r__ghly tr_pl_d s_nc_ 2012 — r_s_ng fr_m _b__t 15,000 t_ _r__nd 44,000. Th_ l_rg_r _nd m_r_ d_ng_r__s _ss_r_ br_wn b__rs, n_t_v_ t_ th_ n_rth_rn _sl_nd _f H_kk__d_, h_v_ d__bl_d _n n_mb_r. Th_r_ _r_ s_v_r_l r__s_ns f_r th_ gr_wth _n b__r p_p_l_t__ns. _n_ _s th_ sh_rt_g_ _f b__ch n_ts, wh_ch sc__nt_sts _ttr_b_t_ t_ cl_m_t_ ch_ng_. _n_th_r r__s_n _s _ d_cl_n_ng n_mb_r _f l_c_ns_d h_nt_rs, wh_ w_r_ l_rg_ly r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r b__r c_lls. F_n_lly, _ d_p_p_l_t__n _f r_r_l _r__s m__ns b__rs _r_ v_nt_r_ng _nt_ t_wns _nd v_ll_g_s.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

japans government has created emergency measures to address record numbers of bear attacks the ministry of environment reported that 13 people have been killed and more than 100 have been injured by bears since april the death toll is the highest since records began in 2006 wildlife management experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities injuries and encounters with bears part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been sighted another feature is the establishment of regionspecific capture targets authorities will also set up a buffer zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from human residential areas

there are two species of bear in japan and their numbers have surged in the past decade estimates suggest the asian black bear population has roughly tripled since 2012 rising from about 15000 to around 44000 the larger and more dangerous ussuri brown bears native to the northern island of hokkaido have doubled in number there are several reasons for the growth in bear populations one is the shortage of beech nuts which scientists attribute to climate change another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters who were largely responsible for bear culls finally a depopulation of rural areas means bears are venturing into towns and villages

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Japan'sgovernmenthascreatedemergencymeasurestoaddressrecor dnumbersofbearattacks.TheMinistryofEnvironmentreportedthat13 peoplehavebeenkilled,andmorethan100havebeeninjuredbybearssi nceApril.Thedeathtollisthehighestsincerecordsbeganin2006.Wildlif emanagementexpertshavedevisedaplantoreducetheincreasingnum bersoffatalities,injuries,andencounterswithbears.Partofthisplanisto reducebearpopulationsinareaswheretheanimalshavebeensighted.A notherfeatureistheestablishmentofregion-specificcapturetargets.A uthoritieswillalsosetupabufferzoneinmanyareastotrytoseparatebea rhabitatsfromhumanresidentialareas.TherearetwospeciesofbearinJ apanandtheirnumbershavesurgedinthepastdecade.Estimatessugge sttheAsianblackbearpopulationhasroughlytripledsince2012—risin gfromabout15,000toaround44,000.ThelargerandmoredangerousU ssuribrownbears,nativetothenorthernislandofHokkaido,havedouble dinnumber.Thereareseveralreasonsforthegrowthinbearpopulations .Oneistheshortageofbeechnuts,whichscientistsattributetoclimatech ange.Anotherreasonisadecliningnumberoflicensedhunters,whower elargelyresponsibleforbearculls.Finally,adepopulationofruralareas meansbearsareventuringintotownsandvillages.

Free writing

Write about Japanese bear attacks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

Academic writing

We should never kill wild animals even if they kill people. 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. BEARS: Make a poster about bears. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. CULLING OF ANIMALS: Write a magazine article about the culling of animals. 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 bears. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can deter bears from entering towns. 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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