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Minecraft video 'more popular than Bieber' (10th March, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The online game Minecraft can be cause for concern for parents, who see their children spend endless hours immersed in a cyber-world. However, for a 23-year-old English man, the game has made him millions of fans and a good deal of money too. Joseph Garrett makes a full-time living by making YouTube videos about his exploits in Minecraft. He gets up to 30 million hits a week, which is more than the official Justin Bieber and One Direction channels. His uploads might also make him a small fortune, without having to leave his bedroom. He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft gaming community. He told the BBC: "I'm really happy, I'm not going to lie, I think I've got the best job in the world."

Minecraft has over 100 million registered users around the world. Education professionals are saying it could be a very useful tool in the classroom. The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have huge educational benefits for children; it can help teach numerous subjects both with and without adult involvement." It added that: "Learning in Minecraft can be faster than traditional methods of education, as children are often far more motivated, get more practice, and feel that what they are learning is useful." The site says children naturally pick up skills in reading, writing, maths, geometry, music and science while playing the game. They can also learn social skills and computer coding.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-26327661
http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Minecraft_in_education
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/04/285744084/can-playing-minecraft-teach-kids-to-code

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. ONLINE GAMES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about online games. Change partners often 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.

online / concern / millions / exploits / official / celebrity / gaming / community / lie / registered / educational / professionals / benefits / involvement / motivated / coding

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

3. GAMING: What could online games be useful for? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How could games help?	Would you play the game?
School
Job interviews
Relationships
Apologising
Sports
English

4. EDUCATION: Students A strongly believe online learning is best; Students B strongly believe books are best. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. GAMES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• combat games

• sports games

• fashion games

• sandpit games

• driving games

• fantasy games

• business games

• English games

6. YOUTUBE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "YouTube". 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 article says Minecraft is concerned about parents.	T / F
b.	The article says some children spend 23 hours a day playing Minecraft.	T / F
c.	A man's Minecraft videos get 30 million hits a week on YouTube.	T / F
d.	The man said he has the best job in the world.	T / F
e.	There are fewer than 10 million registered Minecraft users worldwide.	T / F
f.	Gamepedia.com says it's best for kids to play Minecraft with adults.	T / F
g.	Gamepedia said kids can learn quicker when they use Minecraft.	T / F
h.	Kids can learn to interact with others socially when playing Minecraft.	T / F

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

1.	cause	a.	conventional
2.	immersed	b.	big money
3.	a good deal of	c.	signed up
4.	a small fortune	d.	absorbed
5.	community	e.	driven
6.	registered	f.	learn
7.	benefits	g.	reason
8.	traditional	h.	circle
9.	motivated	i.	merits
10.	pick up	j.	lots of

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

1.	cause for	a.	gaming community
2.	spend endless hours immersed	b.	users
3.	a good deal	c.	exploits in Minecraft
4.	making YouTube videos about his	d.	more motivated
5.	a celebrity in the Minecraft	e.	numerous subjects
6.	100 million registered	f.	concern for parents
7.	a very useful	g.	up skills in reading
8.	it can help teach	h.	in a cyber-world
9.	children are often far	i.	tool in the classroom
10.	children naturally pick	j.	of money

GAP FILL

The online game Minecraft can be (1) ____________ for concern for parents, who see their children spend endless hours (2) ____________ in a cyber-world. However, for a 23-year-old English man, the game has made him millions of fans and a good (3) ____________ of money too. Joseph Garrett makes a full-time (4) ____________ by making YouTube videos about his exploits in Minecraft. He gets up to 30 million hits a week, which is more than the (5) ____________ Justin Bieber and One Direction channels. His uploads might also make him a small (6) ____________, without having to leave his (7) ____________. He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft gaming community. He told the BBC: "I'm really happy, I'm not going to (8) ____________, I think I've got the best job in the world."

fortune
bedroom
living
immersed
lie
cause
official
deal

Minecraft has over 100 million registered (9) ____________ around the world. Education professionals are saying it could be a very useful (10) ____________ in the classroom. The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have huge educational (11) ____________ for children; it can help teach numerous subjects both with and without adult (12) ____________." It added that: "Learning in Minecraft can be faster than traditional (13) ____________ of education, as children are often far more motivated, get more practice, and (14) ____________ that what they are learning is useful." The site says children naturally (15) ____________ up skills in reading, writing, maths, geometry, music and science while playing the game. They can also learn social skills and computer (16) ____________.

feel
coding
tool
methods
users
involvement
benefits
pick

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The online game Minecraft can be cause for ______
	a. concerns for parents b. concern for parenting c. concern for parentage d. concern for parents
2)	their children spend endless hours immersed ______
	a. in a cyber-worlds b. in the cyborg-world c. in a cyber-world d. in a side-world
3)	the game has made him millions of fans and a good ______ too
	a. deal of money b. dealt of money c. dole of money d. dull of money
4)	His uploads might also make him ______
	a. a small fortunate b. a small fortunes c. a small fortune d. a small fortunately
5)	He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft ______
	a. game in community b. game on community c. gaming community d. gay mine community
6)	Minecraft has over 100 million ______
	a. registered users b. registered usages c. registered usage d. registered user
7)	Education professionals are saying it could be a very useful ______
	a. tool in the classroom b. fool in the classroom c. pool in the classroom d. stool in the classroom
8)	The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have ______
	a. huge educationally benefits b. huge educational benefits c. huge education all benefits d. huge educate shall all benefits
9)	help teach numerous subjects both with and without ______
	a. adult involve meant b. adult involvements c. adult evolve meant d. adult involvement
10)	They can also learn social skills ______
	a. and computer coding b. and computer coping c. and computer coming d. and computer coring

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The online game Minecraft (1) ___________________ concern for parents, who see their children spend endless (2) ___________________ a cyber-world. However, for a 23-year-old English man, the game has made him millions of fans (3) ___________________ money too. Joseph Garrett makes a full-time living by making YouTube videos (4) ___________________ Minecraft. He gets up to 30 million hits a week, which is more than the official Justin Bieber and One Direction channels. His uploads might also make (5) ___________________, without having to leave his bedroom. He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft gaming community. He told the BBC: "I'm really happy, (6) ___________________, I think I've got the best job in the world."

Minecraft has over 100 million (7) ___________________ the world. Education professionals are saying it could be a very useful tool in the classroom. The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have huge (8) ___________________ children; it can help teach numerous subjects both with and without adult involvement." It added that: "Learning in Minecraft can be (9) ___________________ methods of education, as children are often (10) ___________________, get more practice, and feel that what they are learning is useful." The site says children (11) ___________________ in reading, writing, maths, geometry, music and science while playing the game. They can also learn social (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who does Minecraft cause concern for?
2.	In what kind environment do children immerse themselves in for endless hours?
3.	How many views per week do Mr Garrett's YouTube videos get?
4.	Where does Mr Garrett work?
5.	What does Mr Garrett think about his job?
6.	How many people around the world have registered with Minecraft?
7.	What kind of benefits did Gamepedia.com say Minecraft had for children?
8.	What might Minecraft be faster than?
9.	What might students feel about learning via Minecraft?
10.	What computer skill did the article mention at the end?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who does Minecraft cause concern for?	6.	How many people around the world have registered with Minecraft?
	a) website owners b) children c) robots d) parents		a) 100 b) 100,000,000 c) 100,000 d) 100,000,000,000
2.	In what kind environment do children immerse themselves in for endless hours?	7.	What kind of benefits did Gamepedia.com say Minecraft had for children?
	a) a polluted one b) a cyber-world c) a natural one d) a learning environment		a) environmental ones b) financial ones c) economic ones d) educational ones
3.	How many views per week do Mr Garrett's YouTube videos get?	8.	What might Minecraft be faster than?
	a) 3.3 million b) 300 million c) 30,000,000 d) 300,000		a) traditional education b) download speeds c) X-Box d) Grand Theft Auto 5
4.	Where does Mr Garrett work?	9.	What might students feel about learning via Minecraft?
	a) in his bedroom b) at Minecraft, London c) in a recording studio d) YouTube HQ		a) textbooks are better b) it's not so serious c) it's more useful d) it's super-cool
5.	What does Mr Garrett think about his job?	10.	What computer skill did the article mention at the end?
	a) so-so b) he wants to change it c) it's the best d) it's to noisy		a) motherboard design b) coding c) downloading d) browsing

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Combat games

You think combat games are the most exciting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): sports games, driving games or fantasy games.

Role B – Sports games

You think sports games are the most exciting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): combat games, driving games or fantasy games.

Role C – Driving games

You think driving games are the most exciting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): sports games, combat games or fantasy games.

Role D – Fantasy games

You think fantasy games are the most exciting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): sports games, driving games or combat games.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'online' and 'game'.

online

game

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:

concern
endless
gets
small
leave
lie

users
tool
huge
methods
pick
also

ONLINE GAMES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about online games 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.

ONLINE GAMES 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 'online game'?
c)	What do you know about Minecraft?
d)	What's your favourite online game?
e)	Are online games good or bad for you? Why?
f)	Is it OK to spend endless hours playing online games?
g)	How can parents get kids to study more and play online games less?
h)	What's your favourite YouTube channel and why?
i)	What do you think it's like to be a gaming celebrity?
j)	What is the best job in the world?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Would you like to learn using Minecraft (or other online games)?
c)	How useful do you think games are in the classroom?
d)	How can online games be better than textbooks?
e)	Should schools use online games more in the classroom?
f)	How could online games make children learn more?
g)	Will computers put an end to many traditional methods of learning?
h)	Is it better for students to pick up skills or to learn them in class?
i)	How important is it for children to learn computer coding?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the creator of Minecraft?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The online game Minecraft can be (1) ____ for concern for parents, who see their children spend endless hours (2) ____ in a cyber-world. However, for a 23-year-old English man, the game has made him millions of fans and a good deal of money too. Joseph Garrett makes a full-time (3) ____ by making YouTube videos about his exploits in Minecraft. He gets up to 30 million (4) ____ a week, which is more than the official Justin Bieber and One Direction channels. His uploads might also make him a small fortune, without (5) ____ to leave his bedroom. He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft gaming (6) ____. He told the BBC: "I'm really happy, I'm not going to lie, I think I've got the best job in the world."

Minecraft has over 100 million registered (7) ____ around the world. Education professionals are saying it could be a very useful tool in the classroom. The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have huge educational (8) ____ for children; it can help teach numerous subjects both with and without adult (9) ____." It added that: "Learning in Minecraft can be faster than traditional methods of education, (10) ____ children are often far more motivated, get more practice, and feel that what they are learning is useful." The site says children naturally (11) ____ up skills in reading, writing, maths, geometry, music and science while playing the game. They can also learn social skills and computer (12) ____.

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

1.	(a)	cause	(b)	causal	(c)	caustic	(d)	because
2.	(a)	immersion	(b)	immersing	(c)	immersed	(d)	immerses
3.	(a)	working	(b)	breathing	(c)	living	(d)	operating
4.	(a)	punches	(b)	slaps	(c)	smacks	(d)	hits
5.	(a)	having	(b)	being	(c)	doing	(d)	taking
6.	(a)	residents	(b)	community	(c)	clique	(d)	populace
7.	(a)	losers	(b)	abusers	(c)	muses	(d)	users
8.	(a)	homework	(b)	benefits	(c)	studying	(d)	assessments
9.	(a)	compartment	(b)	internment	(c)	involvement	(d)	detriment
10.	(a)	was	(b)	as	(c)	has	(d)	ease
11.	(a)	nick	(b)	rock	(c)	suck	(d)	pick
12.	(a)	digital	(b)	coding	(c)	circuit	(d)	CPU

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	cause for cncoren
2.	endless hours mmsderei in a cyber-world
3.	making YouTube videos about his elixtpos
4.	make him a small ornufet
5.	He has become a rciltybee
6.	the Minecraft gaming umnoymtci
Paragraph 2
7.	100 million eegreidtrs users
8.	Education ifsapnrsoeols
9.	huge educational bneetfsi
10.	it can help teach emusonur subjects
11.	children are often far more tmtiaovde
12.	maths, gtmeryoe, music and science

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	educational benefits for children; it can help teach numerous subjects both with and
( )	geometry, music and science while playing the game. They can also learn social skills and computer coding.
( )	happy, I'm not going to lie, I think I've got the best job in the world."
( )	Minecraft has over 100 million registered users around the world. Education
( )	hours immersed in a cyber-world. However, for a 23-year-old English man, the game has made him millions
( )	is useful." The site says children naturally pick up skills in reading, writing, maths,
( )	of fans and a good deal of money too. Joseph Garrett makes a full-time living by making YouTube videos about his
( )	methods of education, as children are often far more motivated, get more practice, and feel that what they are learning
( )	professionals are saying it could be a very useful tool in the classroom. The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have huge
( 1 )	The online game Minecraft can be cause for concern for parents, who see their children spend endless
( )	exploits in Minecraft. He gets up to 30 million hits a week, which is more than the official Justin Bieber and One Direction
( )	channels. His uploads might also make him a small fortune, without having to leave
( )	his bedroom. He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft gaming community. He told the BBC: "I'm really
( )	without adult involvement." It added that: "Learning in Minecraft can be faster than traditional

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	for Minecraft concern can for be parents cause.
2.	immersed in a cyber - world Children spend endless hours.
3.	up million week gets 30 a He to hits.
4.	might him fortune uploads make small His also a.
5.	the Become Minecraft a gaming celebrity community in.
6.	users registered million 100 over has Minecraft.
7.	in the classroom It could be a very useful tool.
8.	It subjects numerous teach help can
9.	naturally pick up skills in reading The site says children.
10.	can social computer They learn and also skills coding.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The online game Minecraft can be cause for concerning / concern for parents, who see their children spend ending / endless hours immersed in a cyber-world. However, for a 23-year-old English man, the game has made him millions of fans / enthusiasts and a good dealing / deal of money too. Joseph Garrett makes a full-time living / life by making YouTube videos about his exploits / exploitation in Minecraft. He gets up to 30 million hits a week, which is more than the officially / official Justin Bieber and One Direction channels. His uploads might also make him a small fortune / fortunate, without having to leave his bedroom. He has become a celebrity in the Minecraft gaming commune / community. He told the BBC: "I'm really happy, I'm not going to lie / liar, I think I've got the best job in the world."

Minecraft has over 100 million registered usages / users around the world. Education professionals are saying it could be a very useless / useful tool in the classroom. The website gamepedia.com says: "Minecraft can have huge educational beneficial / benefits for children; it can help teach numerals / numerous subjects both with and without adult involvement / involving." It added that: "Learning in Minecraft can be fastest / faster than traditional methods of education, as children are often far more motivated / motivating, get more practice, and feel that what they are learnt / learning is useful." The site says children naturally pick up / on skills in reading, writing, maths, geometry, music and science while playing the game. They can also learn social / socially skills and computer coding.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _nl_n_ g_m_ M_n_cr_ft c_n b_ c__s_ f_r c_nc_rn f_r p_r_nts, wh_ s__ th__r ch_ldr_n sp_nd _ndl_ss h__rs _mm_rs_d _n _ cyb_r-w_rld. H_w_v_r, f_r _ 23-y__r-_ld _ngl_sh m_n, th_ g_m_ h_s m_d_ h_m m_ll__ns _f f_ns _nd _ g__d d__l _f m_n_y t__. J_s_ph G_rr_tt m_k_s _ f_ll-t_m_ l_v_ng by m_k_ng Y__T_b_ v_d__s _b__t h_s _xpl__ts _n M_n_cr_ft. H_ g_ts _p t_ 30 m_ll__n h_ts _ w__k, wh_ch _s m_r_ th_n th_ _ff_c__l J_st_n B__b_r _nd _n_ D_r_ct__n ch_nn_ls. H_s _pl__ds m_ght _ls_ m_k_ h_m _ sm_ll f_rt_n_, w_th__t h_v_ng t_ l__v_ h_s b_dr__m. H_ h_s b_c_m_ _ c_l_br_ty _n th_ M_n_cr_ft g_m_ng c_mm_n_ty. H_ t_ld th_ BBC: "_'m r__lly h_ppy, _'m n_t g__ng t_ l__, _ th_nk _'v_ g_t th_ b_st j_b _n th_ w_rld."

M_n_cr_ft h_s _v_r 100 m_ll__n r_g_st_r_d _s_rs _r__nd th_ w_rld. _d_c_t__n pr_f_ss__n_ls _r_ s_y_ng _t c__ld b_ _ v_ry _s_f_l t__l _n th_ cl_ssr__m. Th_ w_bs_t_ g_m_p_d__.c_m s_ys: "M_n_cr_ft c_n h_v_ h_g_ _d_c_t__n_l b_n_f_ts f_r ch_ldr_n; _t c_n h_lp t__ch n_m_r__s s_bj_cts b_th w_th _nd w_th__t _d_lt _nv_lv_m_nt." _t _dd_d th_t: "L__rn_ng _n M_n_cr_ft c_n b_ f_st_r th_n tr_d_t__n_l m_th_ds _f _d_c_t__n, _s ch_ldr_n _r_ _ft_n f_r m_r_ m_t_v_t_d, g_t m_r_ pr_ct_c_, _nd f__l th_t wh_t th_y _r_ l__rn_ng _s _s_f_l." Th_ s_t_ s_ys ch_ldr_n n_t_r_lly p_ck _p sk_lls _n r__d_ng, wr_t_ng, m_ths, g__m_try, m_s_c _nd sc__nc_ wh_l_ pl_y_ng th_ g_m_. Th_y c_n _ls_ l__rn s_c__l sk_lls _nd c_mp_t_r c_d_ng.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the online game minecraft can be cause for concern for parents who see their children spend endless hours immersed in a cyber-world however for a 23-year-old english man the game has made him millions of fans and a good deal of money too joseph garrett makes a full-time living by making youtube videos about his exploits in minecraft he gets up to 30 million hits a week which is more than the official justin bieber and one direction channels his uploads might also make him a small fortune without having to leave his bedroom he has become a celebrity in the minecraft gaming community he told the bbc "i'm really happy i'm not going to lie i think i've got the best job in the world"

minecraft has over 100 million registered users around the world education professionals are saying it could be a very useful tool in the classroom the website gamepediacom says "minecraft can have huge educational benefits for children it can help teach numerous subjects both with and without adult involvement" it added that "learning in minecraft can be faster than traditional methods of education as children are often far more motivated get more practice and feel that what they are learning is useful" the site says children naturally pick up skills in reading writing maths geometry music and science while playing the game they can also learn social skills and computer coding

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheonlinegameMinecraftcanbecauseforconcernforparents,whose
etheirchildrenspendendlesshoursimmersedinacyber-world.Ho
wever,fora23-year-oldEnglishman,thegamehasmadehimmilli
onsoffansandagooddealofmoneytoo.JosephGarrettmakesafull-
timelivingbymakingYouTubevideosabouthisexploitsinMinecraft.H
egetsupto30millionhitsaweek,whichismorethantheofficialJustinBi
eberandOneDirectionchannels.Hisuploadsmightalsomakehimas
mallfortune,withouthavingtoleavehisbedroom.Hehasbecomeacel
ebrityintheMinecraftgamingcommunity.HetoldtheBBC:"I'mreally
happy,I'mnotgoingtolie,IthinkI'vegotthebestjobintheworld."Mine
crafthasover100millionregisteredusersaroundtheworld.Educatio
nprofessionalsaresayingitcouldbeaveryusefultoolintheclassroom.
Thewebsitegamepedia.comsays:"Minecraftcanhavehugeeducatio
nalbenefitsforchildren;itcanhelpteachnumeroussubjectsbothwith
andwithoutadultinvolvement."Itaddedthat:"LearninginMinecraftc
anbefasterthantraditionalmethodsofeducation,aschildrenareofte
nfarmoremotivated,getmorepractice,andfeelthatwhattheyarelea
rningisuseful."Thesitesayschildrennaturallypickupskillsinreading,
writing,maths,geometry,musicandsciencewhileplayingthegame.
Theycanalsolearnsocialskillsandcomputercoding.

FREE WRITING

Write about online games for 10 minutes. (Minecraft for Hugo).

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Online games like Minecraft can be very useful for teachers to use in class. 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 Minecraft. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ONLINE GAMES: Make a poster about online games. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. MINECCRAFT: Write a magazine article about using Minecraft in schools. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 education expert. Ask him/her three questions about online games. Give him/her three ideas to make them useful in the classroom. 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

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	cause	a.	reason
2.	immersed	b.	absorbed
3.	a good deal of	c.	lots of
4.	a small fortune	d.	big money
5.	community	e.	circle
6.	registered	f.	signed up
7.	benefits	g.	merits
8.	traditional	h.	conventional
9.	motivated	i.	driven
10.	pick up	j.	learn

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Parents
2.	Cyber-world
3.	Up to 30 million
4.	In his bedroom
5.	It's the best in the world
6.	100 million
7.	Educational benefits
8.	Traditional education methods
9.	What they learn is more useful
10.	Coding

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Minecraft video 'more popular than Bieber' (10th March, 2014)

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