. Snakes - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Snakes - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Snakes - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: Snakes

The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://gizmodo.com/scientists-have-cracked-the-mystery-of-snake-pee-2000675053
  • https://www.popsci.com/science/reptile-pee-kidney-stones/
  • https://www.iflscience.com/reptiles-pee-crystals-but-what-are-they-made-of-scientists-wanted-to-find-out-81278

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. SNAKES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about snakes. 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 natural world / bounty / remedies / reptiles / by-product / nitrogen / acid / water / study / chemists / amphibians / microcrystals / kidney / desire / disease prevention Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. NATURAL REMEDIES: Students A strongly believe natural remedies are better than those from drug companies; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. THE NATURAL WORLD: How can these animals help our health? Check on the Internet and write your answers. Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

How These Animals Help Us

Internet Check

Cows

Leeches

Bees

Frogs

Sharks

Spiders

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Komodo dragon
  • Iguana
  • Chameleon
  • Python
  • Cobra
  • Crocodile
  • Tortoise
  • Sea turtle
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. untapped a. Things that make you better when you are sick. 2. bounty b. Clean or wash away with a lot of water. 3. remedies c. Of a resource not used yet. 4. excrete d. A large amount of something good. 5. by-product e. Get rid of waste from your body. 6. flush f. Something that is made while making something else. 7. pass water g. Urinate; pee (informal)

Paragraph 2

8. reptiles h. More than is needed; too much/many. 9. amphibians i. Animals with dry skin and scales, like snakes and lizards. 10. species j. The act of getting rid of something. 11. elimination k. A sickness that makes your joints (especially in the feet) very painful. 12. excess l. Animals that live in water and on land, like frogs. 13. gout m. Make someone feel excited or want to do something. 14. inspire n. A group of animals or plants that are the same type. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. The article says most natural medicinal remedies have been discovered. T / F
  2. Reptiles largely excrete crystals rather than liquid urine. T / F
  3. The "pee crystals" largely consist of amino and citric acids. T / F
  4. Doctors use nitrogen injections to treat problems like kidney stones. T / F
  5. A herpetologist is someone who studies excreta. T / F
  6. Scientists looked at the excretion processes of over 20 reptile species. T / F
  7. A researcher said her research could treat a problem called gout. T / F
  8. The researcher said she wants humans to excrete waste safely. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. investigated
  2. illnesses
  3. motivated
  4. removal
  5. treatments
  6. belief
  7. wash out
  8. untouched
  9. surplus
  10. pass
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped
  2. help treat human
  3. The crystals are a solid
  4. a potentially harmful by-
  5. when we pass
  6. A team of organic chemists
  7. scientists who study reptiles and
  8. examined the excreta and waste elimination
  9. They focused their attention
  10. new approaches to disease prevention
  1. product
  2. water
  3. processes
  4. and treatment
  5. amphibians
  6. bounty of remedies
  7. form of uric acid
  8. on the excess nitrogen
  9. ailments
  10. and herpetologists
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. ailments product yet down latest form pass place

The natural world contains a (1) _________________________________-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The (2) _________________________________ discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human (3) _________________________________. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in (4) _________________________________ of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid (5) _________________________________ of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-(6) _________________________________ created when the body breaks (7) _________________________________ nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we (8) _________________________________ water.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

attention approaches amphibians findings inspired chemists excreta treat

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic (9) _________________________________ and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and (10) _________________________________) examined the (11) _________________________________ and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their (12) _________________________________ on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's (13) _________________________________ could help us better understand and (14) _________________________________ uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really (15) _________________________________ by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope it might inspire new (16) _________________________________ to disease prevention and treatment."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The natural world contains a yet-to-be-______ a. discovered, untapped bountiful b. discovered, untrapped bounty c. discovery, untapped bounty d. discovered, untapped bounty 2) comes from researchers from Georgetown University and ______ a. other researched institutions b. other research institutions c. other research institution d. another research institutions 3) their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help ______ a. treat human ailments b. treat human nail mints c. threat human ailments d. treat humane ailments 4) The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially ______ a. harmful buy-a-product b. harmed full by-product c. harmful by-production d. harmful by-product 5) Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away ______ a. when we paste water b. when we parse water c. when we pass water d. when we past water

6) chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study ______) a. reptiles and amphibians b. reptiles and amphibious c. reptile and amphibians d. reptiles and amphibian 7) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than ______ a. 20 reptile specials b. 20 reptile species c. 20 reptile specimen d. 20 reptile specs 8) the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric ______ a. acid-relate problems b. acid-related problems c. acid-relation problems d. acid-relative problems 9) This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are ______ a. able to expect b. able to excrete c. able to extol d. able to except 10) in the hope it might inspire new approaches ______ a. to disease prevent shun b. to disease preventing c. too disease prevention d. to disease prevention

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The natural world contains a (1) _______________________________________________, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other (2) _______________________________________________ the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help (3) _______________________________________________. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine (4) _______________________________________________. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product created when the body (5) _______________________________________________ in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric (6) _______________________________________________ when we pass water.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team (7) _______________________________________________ and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than (8) _______________________________________________. They focused their attention on (9) _______________________________________________ that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was (10) _______________________________________________ a desire to understand the ways reptiles are (11) _______________________________________________ this material safely, in the hope it might (12) _______________________________________________ to disease prevention and treatment."

Comprehension questions
  1. What contains a bounty of untapped remedies?
  2. Which research institution was mentioned in the article?
  3. What do the "pee crystals" replace in snakes' waste elimination process?
  4. What does the article say about uric acid?
  5. What health problem can too much uric acid lead to besides gout?
  6. What do herpetologists study?
  7. How many different reptile species did the researchers look at?
  8. What does excess nitrogen turn into?
  9. What did a researcher say the findings could help us treat?
  10. What might the study inspire new approaches to?
Multiple choice quiz

1) What contains a bounty of untapped remedies? a) pharmacists b) the natural world c) the bodies of snakes d) amphibians 2) Which research institution was mentioned in the article? a) Harvard b) MIT c) Georgia University d) Georgetown University 3) What do the "pee crystals" replace in snakes' waste elimination process? a) sweat b) faeces c) urine d) scales 4) What does the article say about uric acid? a) It's a potentially harmful by-product. b) It's caustic. c) It helps regenerate muscle. d) It helps to reduce kidney stones. 5) What health problem can too much uric acid lead to besides gout? a) high blood pressure b) kidney stones c) varicose veins d) migraines

6) What do herpetologists study? a) reptiles and amphibians b) reptiles and crustacea c) invertebrates and crustacea d) amphibians and invertebrates 7) How many different reptile species did the researchers look at? a) twenty b) around 20 c) more than 20 d) just fewer than 20 8) What does excess nitrogen turn into? a) tiny microcrystals b) has c) scales d) snake fat 9) What did a researcher say the findings could help us treat? a) migraines b) snake bites c) skin problems d) uric acid-related problems 10) What might the study inspire new approaches to? a) microcrystals b) understanding snake venom c) disease prevention and treatment d) toiletry habits

Role play

Role A – Komodo Dragons You think Komodo dragons are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cobras, crocodiles or turtles.

Role B – Cobras You think cobras are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Komodo dragons, crocodiles or turtles.

Role C – Crocodiles You think crocodiles are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cobras, Komodo dragons or turtles.

Role D – Turtles You think turtles are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cobras, crocodiles or Komodo dragons.

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 - Snakes

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 'snake'?
  3. What do you know about snakes?
  4. Are natural remedies better than those from drug companies?
  5. What can we learn from snakes?
  6. What animals provide us with treatments and medicines?
  7. How interesting would it be to study snake 'pee crystals'?
  8. How many of our health problems are because of poor diet?
  9. What do you know about gout?
  10. What are your favourite reptiles and amphibians?

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 'pee'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. What do you think of snakes?
  5. Would you like to read the research in the journal?
  6. What do you know about amphibians?
  7. What would you like to do research on?
  8. What do you know about kidney stones?
  9. Why are people afraid of snakes?
  10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
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 natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of (1) ____ to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research (2) ____ in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use (3) ____ place of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a (4) ____ harmful by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies (5) ____ most of the uric acid waste away when we (6) ____ water.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of (7) ____ chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the (8) ____ and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention (9) ____ the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and (10) ____ uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired (11) ____ a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, (12) ____ the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) remediation (b) remedial (c) remedy (d) remedies
  2. (a) absolutions (b) restitutions (c) constitutions (d) institutions
  3. (a) at (b) in (c) of (d) to
  4. (a) potentate (b) potentials (c) potentially (d) potential
  5. (a) blush (b) flush (c) brush (d) trash
  6. (a) pass (b) pour (c) push (d) pain
  7. (a) ogre (b) organist (c) organism (d) organic
  8. (a) excreta (b) exacting (c) exert (d) except
  9. (a) of (b) on (c) at (d) by
  10. (a) threat (b) threaten (c) treat (d) treatise
  11. (a) at (b) of (c) by (d) as
  12. (a) to (b) in (c) at (d) up
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. untapped ynoutb
  2. sreedime to help doctors
  3. how reptiles reeexct waste
  4. help treat human aeislntm
  5. when the body breaks down nntogeri
  6. problems like gout and knydie stones
Paragraph 2
  1. A team of organic smctihse
  2. scientists who study reptiles and saihpamibn
  3. waste animientiol
  4. more than 20 reptile iecpsse
  5. This research was really snerdpii
  6. disease tprveinnoe and treatment
Put the text back together

( ) ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete ( ) and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes ( ) and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired ( ) by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope ( ) institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ( ) it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment." ( ) like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water. ( ) microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand ( ) of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny ( ) product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems ( 1 ) The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies ( ) The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic chemists ( ) to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research ( ) waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-

Put the words in the right order
  1. untapped An of bounty to remedies doctors help .
  2. Their of exploration reptiles how waste excrete .
  3. When body the down breaks in nitrogen food .
  4. in Nitrogen bodies our lead can problems to .
  5. Flush of most uric the waste acid away .
  6. elimination Waste of processes 20 over species reptile .
  7. They their focused on attention excess the nitrogen .
  8. and Understand uric treat problems acid-related gout like .
  9. Inspired a by to desire the understand ways .
  10. might It new inspire to approaches prevention disease .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedial / remedies to help doctors. The latest / latter discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe / belief their exploration of how reptiles exert / excrete waste could help treat human ointments / ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine / saline to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form at / of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product / in-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney rocks / stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we push / pass water.

The study is published up / in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic / organist chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles / reptilian and amphibians) examined the / an excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attentive / attention on the excess / access nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and threaten / treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired by / to a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in / at the hope it might inspire / insipid new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."

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_ n_t_r_l w_rld c_nt__ns _ y_t-t_-b_-d_sc_v_r_d, _nt_pp_d b__nty _f r_m_d__s t_ h_lp d_ct_rs. Th_ l_t_st d_sc_v_ry c_m_s fr_m r_s__rch_rs fr_m G__rg_t_wn _n_v_rs_ty _nd _th_r r_s__rch _nst_t_t__ns _n th_ _S_. Th_y b_l__v_ th__r _xpl_r_t__n _f h_w r_pt_l_s _xcr_t_ w_st_ c__ld h_lp tr__t h_m_n __lm_nts. Th_ sc__nt_sts _n_lys_d th_ t_ny "p__ cryst_ls" th_t r_pt_l_s _s_ _n pl_c_ _f _r_n_ t_ _xcr_t_ w_st_. Th_ cryst_ls _r_ _ s_l_d f_rm _f _r_c _c_d, wh_ch _s _ p_t_nt__lly h_rmf_l by-pr_d_ct cr__t_d wh_n th_ b_dy br__ks d_wn n_tr_g_n _n f__d. T__ m_ch n_tr_g_n _n __r b_d__s c_n l__d t_ h__lth pr_bl_ms l_k_ g__t _nd k_dn_y st_n_s. __r b_d__s fl_sh m_st _f th_ _r_c _c_d w_st_ _w_y wh_n w_ p_ss w_t_r.

Th_ st_dy _s p_bl_sh_d _n th_ J__rn_l _f th_ _m_r_c_n Ch_m_c_l S_c__ty. _ t__m _f _rg_n_c ch_m_sts _nd h_rp_t_l_g_sts (sc__nt_sts wh_ st_dy r_pt_l_s _nd _mph_b__ns) _x_m_n_d th_ _xcr_t_ _nd w_st_ _l_m_n_t__n pr_c_ss_s _f m_r_ th_n 20 r_pt_l_ sp_c__s. Th_y f_c_s_d th__r _tt_nt__n _n th_ _xc_ss n_tr_g_n th_t cryst_ll_s_d _nt_ t_ny m_cr_cryst_ls. R_s__rch_r Dr J_nn_f_r Sw_ft b_l__v_s th_ t__m's f_nd_ngs c__ld h_lp _s b_tt_r _nd_rst_nd _nd tr__t _r_c _c_d-r_l_t_d pr_bl_ms l_k_ g__t _nd k_dn_y st_n_s. Sh_ s__d: "Th_s r_s__rch w_s r__lly _nsp_r_d by _ d_s_r_ t_ _nd_rst_nd th_ w_ys r_pt_l_s _r_ _bl_ t_ _xcr_t_ th_s m_t_r__l s_f_ly, _n th_ h_p_ _t m_ght _nsp_r_ n_w _ppr__ch_s t_ d_s__s_ pr_v_nt__n _nd tr__tm_nt."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the natural world contains a yet to be discovered untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors the latest discovery comes from researchers from georgetown university and other research institutions in the usa they believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments the scientists analysed the tiny pee crystals that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete waste the crystals are a solid form of uric acid which is a potentially harmful by product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water

the study is published in the journal of the american chemical society a team of organic chemists and herpetologists scientists who study reptiles and amphibians examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species they focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals researcher dr jennifer swift believes the teams findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid related problems like gout and kidney stones she said this research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely in the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Thenaturalworldcontainsayet-to-be-discovered,untappedbountyo fremediestohelpdoctors.Thelatestdiscoverycomesfromresearchersf romGeorgetownUniversityandotherresearchinstitutionsintheUSA.T heybelievetheirexplorationofhowreptilesexcretewastecouldhelptre athumanailments.Thescientistsanalysedthetiny"peecrystals"thatre ptilesuseinplaceofurinetoexcretewaste.Thecrystalsareasolidformof uricacid,whichisapotentiallyharmfulby-productcreatedwhenthebo dybreaksdownnitrogeninfood.Toomuchnitrogeninourbodiescanlead tohealthproblemslikegoutandkidneystones.Ourbodiesflushmostoft heuricacidwasteawaywhenwepasswater.ThestudyispublishedintheJ ournaloftheAmericanChemicalSociety.Ateamoforganicchemistsand herpetologists(scientistswhostudyreptilesandamphibians)examine dtheexcretaandwasteeliminationprocessesofmorethan20reptilespe cies.Theyfocusedtheirattentionontheexcessnitrogenthatcrystallise dintotinymicrocrystals.ResearcherDrJenniferSwiftbelievestheteam' sfindingscouldhelpusbetterunderstandandtreaturicacid-relatedpro blemslikegoutandkidneystones.Shesaid:"Thisresearchwasreallyins piredbyadesiretounderstandthewaysreptilesareabletoexcretethism aterialsafely,inthehopeitmightinspirenewapproachestodiseaseprev entionandtreatment."

Free writing

Write about snake 'pee crystals' for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

Academic writing

Governments need to spend money of disease prevention and not weapons. 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. SNAKES: Make a poster about snakes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. NATURAL REMEDIES: Write a magazine article about all drugs being from natural sources and not lab-made. 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 snakes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. 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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