Breaking News English Lesson: Reindeer
Reindeer in Finland help Santa Claus to deliver presents to children all over the world. However, the animals are in danger. More and more reindeer are being killed by wolves. A group of reindeer owners said wolves killed 1,950 reindeer this year. That is a 70 per cent increase from last year. A reindeer owner is worried about his animals. He said the increase in the number of wolves has upset the natural balance between reindeer and wolves.
The reindeer owner joked about his animals, even though he is worried. He said: "These are Santa's reindeer. We are really lucky because Santa needs them for only one day, so we can fly them for 364 days." Many people believe the Ukraine War is why there are more wolves. Many hunters in Russia have gone to fight in Ukraine. More wolves are moving from Russia to Finland. This means there are fewer wolf hunters.
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- help Santa Claus to deliver
- the animals are in
- A group of
- wolves killed 1,950 reindeer
- That is a 70 per cent increase
- A reindeer owner is worried
- the increase in the
- upset the natural balance between
- from last year
- presents to children
- number of wolves
- danger
- reindeer owners
- reindeer and wolves
- about his animals
- this year
- The reindeer owner joked
- even though he
- We are really
- Santa needs them for
- why there
- Many hunters in Russia have
- More wolves are moving
- there are fewer wolf
- gone to fight
- are more wolves
- hunters
- lucky
- about his animals
- from Russia
- only one day
- is worried
Reindeer in Finland help Santa Claus (1) _____________________________________________ to children all over the world. However, the animals (2) _________________________________________________. More and more reindeer are being killed by wolves. A group of reindeer (3) _________________________________________________ killed 1,950 reindeer this year. That is a 70 per cent (4) _________________________________________________ year. A reindeer (5) _________________________________________________ about his animals. He said the increase in the number of wolves has upset (6) _________________________________________________ between reindeer and wolves.
The reindeer (7) _________________________________________________ his animals, even though (8) _________________________________________________. He said: "These are Santa's reindeer. We are really lucky because Santa needs them for (9) _________________________________________________, so we can fly them for 364 days." Many people believe the Ukraine (10) _________________________________________________ there are more wolves. Many hunters in Russia have (11) _________________________________________________ in Ukraine. More wolves are moving from Russia to Finland. This means (12) _________________________________________________ wolf hunters.
Put a slash (/) where the spaces areReindeerinFinlandhelpSantaClaustodeliverpresentstochildrenallove rtheworld.However,theanimalsareindanger.Moreandmorereindeer arebeingkilledbywolves.Agroupofreindeerownerssaidwolveskilled1, 950reindeerthisyear.Thatisa70percentincreasefromlastyear.Areind eerownerisworriedabouthisanimals.Hesaidtheincreaseinthenumber ofwolveshasupsetthenaturalbalancebetweenreindeerandwolves.Th ereindeerownerjokedabouthisanimals,eventhoughheisworried.Hes aid:"TheseareSanta'sreindeer.WearereallyluckybecauseSantaneed sthemforonlyoneday,sowecanflythemfor364days."Manypeoplebeli evetheUkraineWariswhytherearemorewolves.ManyhuntersinRussia havegonetofightinUkraine.MorewolvesaremovingfromRussiatoFinl and.Thismeanstherearefewerwolfhunters.
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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