Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Elephant Poaching

Countries around the world are meeting in Doha, Qatar, this week to discuss a one-time sale of ivory. Tanzania and Zambia want to sell the stockpiles of ivory they have built up over the past few decades. They have as much as 90,000 kilograms of elephant tusks. Neighbouring Kenya is against any relaxing of the ban on the ivory trade. It says such action could increase the illegal trade, which would be a serious threat to elephant numbers. The Kenyan Wildlife Service's Patrick Omandi said: “We totally believe that any experiments to allow partial lifting of (the) international ban in ivory trade stimulates elephant poaching….Indeed there has been an increase in poaching across the entire continent, with some countries losing their entire population.”

Elephant poaching has risen seven-fold in Kenya since 2007. In 2009, 271 Kenyan elephants were killed by poachers, compared with 37 two years earlier. A pair of elephant tusks can sell for up to $2,000 in Kenya. That’s a huge sum of money for poor farmers. The temptation to poach has increased in recent years because of the lack of rain. Many crops have failed and there is widespread hunger across much of the country. Another reason poaching is increasing is because elephants are competing for land and food with humans. Mr. Omandi said: "Human-elephant conflicts are growing and the view by the communities is that elephants are a pest." African ivory is used to make rubber stamps and necklaces in Asian countries like China and Japan.

WARM-UPS

1. POACHING: Walk around the class and talk to other students about poaching. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

meeting / discuss / ivory / bans / illegal trade / serious threat / poaching / continent / elephant tusks / $2,000 / crops / hunger / conflicts / pests / rubber stamps / necklace

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ENDANGERED: What campaigns can you think of to protect these animals? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

	Campaign name	Campaign actions
African elephants
Blue whales
Giant pandas
Gorillas
Snow leopards
Tigers

4. ANIMAL LIFE: Students A strongly believe we should stop killing animals (not even for food); Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. ANIMAL PRODUCTS: How bad are these? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the worst at the top.

Ivory necklaces
Leather shoes
Snakeskin belts
Mink fur coats

Shark fin soup
Tortoiseshell ornaments
Beeswax
Wool

6. ELEPHANT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘elephant’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	The world will vote on whether to end the ban on selling ivory.	T / F
b.	There is almost 90,000 kilograms of ivory stockpiled around the world.	T / F
c.	Kenya said the ban on ivory is relaxing.	T / F
d.	Some countries have lost all their elephants to poachers.	T / F
e.	Elephant poaching has increased seven times in two years.	T / F
f.	Two elephant tusks sell for around $2,000 in Kenya.	T / F
g.	Very dry weather has lead to an increase in elephant poaching.	T / F
h.	Many African communities think elephants are a nuisance.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	stockpiles	a.	big
2	relaxing	b.	whole
3.	serious	c.	enormous
4.	totally	d.	nuisance
5.	entire	e.	absence
6.	risen	f.	opinion
7.	huge	g.	supplies
8.	lack	h.	completely
9.	view	i.	loosening
10.	pest	j.	increased

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	a one-time	a.	ban on the ivory trade
2	the stockpiles of ivory they have	b.	elephants are a pest
3.	Kenya is against any relaxing of the	c.	the entire continent
4.	a serious threat to	d.	of money
5.	an increase in poaching across	e.	fold in Kenya
6.	poaching has risen seven-	f.	sale of ivory
7.	A pair of	g.	of the country
8.	a huge sum	h.	built up
9.	widespread hunger across much	i.	elephant numbers
10.	the view by the communities is that	j.	elephant tusks

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Countries around the world are meeting in Doha, Qatar, this week to discuss a one-time ____________ of ivory. Tanzania and Zambia want to sell the stockpiles of ivory they have ____________ up over the past few decades. They have as much as 90,000 kilograms of elephant tusks. Neighbouring Kenya is ____________ any relaxing of the ban on the ivory trade. It says such ____________ could increase the illegal ____________, which would be a serious threat to elephant numbers. The Kenyan Wildlife Service's Patrick Omandi said: “We ____________ believe that any experiments to allow partial lifting of (the) international ban in ivory trade ____________ elephant poaching….Indeed there has been an increase in poaching across the ____________ continent, with some countries losing their entire population.”

action
built
stimulates
sale
totally
against
entire
trade

Elephant poaching has ____________ seven-fold in Kenya since 2007. In 2009, 271 Kenyan elephants were killed by poachers, ____________ with 37 two years earlier. A ____________ of elephant tusks can sell for up to $2,000 in Kenya. That’s a ____________ sum of money for poor farmers. The temptation to poach has increased in recent years because of the ____________ of rain. Many crops have failed and there is widespread hunger across much of the country. Another reason poaching is increasing is because elephants are ____________ for land and food with humans. Mr. Omandi said: "Human-elephant conflicts are growing and the ____________ by the communities is that elephants are a ____________." African ivory is used to make rubber stamps and necklaces in Asian countries like China and Japan.

lack
view
risen
pair
competing
pest
compared
huge

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Countries ____________________ meeting in Doha, Qatar, this week to discuss a one-time sale of ivory. Tanzania and Zambia want to sell the stockpiles of ivory ____________________ over the past few decades. They have as much as 90,000 kilograms of elephant tusks. Neighbouring Kenya is ____________________ of the ban on the ivory trade. It says such action could increase the illegal trade, which would ____________________ to elephant numbers. The Kenyan Wildlife Service's Patrick Omandi said: “We totally believe that any experiments to allow partial lifting of (the) international ____________________ stimulates elephant poaching….Indeed there has been an increase in poaching across the entire continent, with some countries ____________________ population.”

Elephant poaching has ____________________ in Kenya since 2007. In 2009, 271 Kenyan elephants were killed by poachers, compared with 37 two years earlier. A pair of elephant tusks ____________________ $2,000 in Kenya. That’s a huge sum of money for poor farmers. The temptation to poach has increased in recent years because ____________________. Many crops have failed and there ____________________ across much of the country. Another reason poaching is increasing is because elephants are ____________________ and food with humans. Mr. Omandi said: "Human-elephant conflicts are growing ____________________ the communities is that elephants are a pest." African ivory is used to make rubber stamps and necklaces in Asian countries like China and Japan.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘ivory’ and ‘trade’.

ivory

trade

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:

sale
few
relaxing
serious
totally
entire

risen
pair
recent
hunger
growing
pests

STUDENT POACHING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about poaching 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

POACHING DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘elephant’?
c)	What three adjectives best describe this article?
d)	What do you think of poaching?
e)	Do you think the one-off sale of ivory should go ahead?
f)	Why do you think people want ivory when they know it endangers animals?
g)	Why do you think Tanzania and Zambia want a relaxing of the ban?
h)	What animals are in danger in your country? Is your government helping them?
i)	What punishment should poachers get?
j)	Would the world be any different without elephants? How big a loss would they be?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	What can Kenya do to reverse the recent increase in poaching?
c)	Do you think zoos should breed more elephants?
d)	What part has the weather played in the increase in poaching?
e)	Do you think it’s understandable that poor people kill elephants so their family can eat?
f)	What can Kenya do about its human-elephant conflicts?
g)	What’s the best way to deal with pests?
h)	What endangered animals do you worry about?
i)	Why do you think people want ivory so much?
j)	What questions would you like to ask people who buy ivory products?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Countries (1) ____ the world are meeting in Doha, Qatar, this week to discuss a one-time sale of ivory. Tanzania and Zambia want to sell the stockpiles of ivory they have built (2) ____ over the past few decades. They have as (3) ____ as 90,000 kilograms of elephant tusks. Neighbouring Kenya is against any relaxing of the ban on the ivory trade. It says such action could increase the illegal trade, which would be a serious (4) ____ to elephant numbers. The Kenyan Wildlife Service's Patrick Omandi said: “We (5) ____ believe that any experiments to allow partial lifting of (the) international ban in ivory trade stimulates elephant poaching….Indeed there has been an increase in poaching across the entire continent, with some countries losing their (6) ____ population.”

Elephant poaching has risen seven-(7) ____ in Kenya since 2007. In 2009, 271 Kenyan elephants were killed by poachers, compared with 37 two years (8) ____. A pair of elephant tusks can sell for (9) ____ to $2,000 in Kenya. That’s a huge sum of money for poor farmers. The temptation to poach has increased in recent years because of the lack of rain. Many crops have failed and there is (10) ____ hunger across much of the country. Another reason poaching is increasing is because elephants are (11) ____ for land and food with humans. Mr. Omandi said: "Human-elephant conflicts are growing and the view by the communities is that elephants are a (12) ____." African ivory is used to make rubber stamps and necklaces in Asian countries like China and Japan.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	over	(b)	from	(c)	in	(d)	around
2.	(a)	up	(b)	in	(c)	on	(d)	down
3.	(a)	more	(b)	much	(c)	most	(d)	maximum
4.	(a)	treat	(b)	treaty	(c)	threat	(d)	threaten
5.	(a)	total	(b)	totals	(c)	totally	(d)	totalled
6.	(a)	all	(b)	entire	(c)	everything	(d)	lot
7.	(a)	folds	(b)	folded	(c)	folding	(d)	fold
8.	(a)	earlier	(b)	earliest	(c)	early	(d)	earl
9.	(a)	across	(b)	up	(c)	in	(d)	down
10.	(a)	width	(b)	widen	(c)	widest	(d)	widespread
11.	(a)	competition	(b)	contest	(c)	competing	(d)	completing
12.	(a)	pest	(b)	best	(c)	vest	(d)	fest

WRITING

Write about poaching for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 poaching. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ENDANGERED SPECIES: Make a poster about endangered species. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. CONFLICT: Write a magazine article about the elephant-human conflict in Kenya. Include imaginary interviews with a Kenyan villager and an elephant.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to a poacher. Ask him/her three questions about poaching. Give him/her three of your opinions on hoe he/she can stop poaching. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	stockpiles	a.	supplies
2	relaxing	b.	loosening
3.	serious	c.	grave
4.	totally	d.	completely
5.	entire	e.	whole
6.	risen	f.	increased
7.	huge	g.	enormous
8.	lack	h.	absence
9.	view	i.	opinion
10.	pest	j.	nuisance

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	a one-time	a.	sale of ivory
2	the stockpiles of ivory they have	b.	built up
3.	Kenya is against any relaxing of the	c.	ban on the ivory trade
4.	a serious threat to	d.	elephant numbers
5.	an increase in poaching across	e.	the entire continent
6.	poaching has risen seven-	f.	fold in Kenya
7.	A pair of	g.	elephant tusks
8.	a huge sum	h.	of money
9.	widespread hunger across much	i.	of the country
10.	the view by the communities is that	j.	elephants are a pest

GAP FILL:

Countries vote on sale of ivory

Countries around the world are meeting in Doha, Qatar, this week to discuss a one-time sale of ivory. Tanzania and Zambia want to sell the stockpiles of ivory they have built up over the past few decades. They have as much as 90,000 kilograms of elephant tusks. Neighbouring Kenya is against any relaxing of the ban on the ivory trade. It says such action could increase the illegal trade, which would be a serious threat to elephant numbers. The Kenyan Wildlife Service's Patrick Omandi said: “We totally believe that any experiments to allow partial lifting of (the) international ban in ivory trade stimulates elephant poaching….Indeed there has been an increase in poaching across the entire continent, with some countries losing their entire population.”

Elephant poaching has risen seven-fold in Kenya since 2007. In 2009, 271 Kenyan elephants were killed by poachers, compared with 37 two years earlier. A pair of elephant tusks can sell for up to $2,000 in Kenya. That’s a huge sum of money for poor farmers. The temptation to poach has increased in recent years because of the lack of rain. Many crops have failed and there is widespread hunger across much of the country. Another reason poaching is increasing is because elephants are competing for land and food with humans. Mr. Omandi said: "Human-elephant conflicts are growing and the view by the communities is that elephants are a pest." African ivory is used to make rubber stamps and necklaces in Asian countries like China and Japan.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - a

3 - b

4 - c

5 - c

6 - b

7 - d

8 - a

9 - b

10 - d

11 - c

12 - a

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Breaking News English

March 15, 2010

Countries Vote on Sale of Ivory