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Michelangelo's 'David' in danger of collapse (5th May, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Michelangelo's masterpiece statue "David" is in great danger of collapsing due to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed that cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall iconic statue make it susceptible to crumbling under its own weight. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles heel. Tests carried out by Italy's National Research Council and Florence University confirmed the existence of a whole series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have led to this weakening. These include the poor quality of marble and the fact that the statue has been leaning at an angle for centuries, and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.

The sculptor Michelangelo spent three years creating David between 1501 and 1504. He was just 26 when he embarked on the project. The statue depicts the biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath. It was commissioned by the rulers of Florence as a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was unveiled to the public on the 8th of September, 1504 and remained on display outside in the Piazza della Signoria for 350 years. It was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the elements. Art lovers have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the safety of a purpose-built, earthquake proof museum to insulate it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://rt.com/news/156500-florence-statue-michaelangelo-collapse/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/10802304/Michelangelos-David-has-weak-ankles-and-could-collapse.html
http://www.dailytech.com/Achilles+Heel+Might+Destroy+Michelangelos+Massive+Marble+David+Statue/article34848c.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_%28Michelangelo%29

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. STATUES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about statues. 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.

masterpiece / great danger / iconic / Achilles heel / crumbling / poor quality / museum / sculptor / project / biblical / hero / symbol / on display / earthquake proof / traffic

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

3. ART: Which is the best example of these? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Best?	Why?
Painting
Movie
Music
Sculpture
Photograph
Poem

4. MODERN ART: Students A strongly believe modern art is better than centuries-old art; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 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. FAMOUS STATUES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Michelangelo's David

• Venus de Milo

• The Thinker (Rodin)

• Statue if Liberty

• Christ the Redeemer

• Easter Island Moai

• The Sphinx (Giza)

• The Mermaid (Copenhagen)

6. ANKLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "ankle". 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 statue's weak knees may cause it to collapse.	T / F
b.	The statue is just over five metres tall.	T / F
c.	Tests were carried out on the statue by the University of Rome.	T / F
d.	The statue has been leaning at an angle for hundreds of years.	T / F
e.	Michelangelo was 26 years old when he starting making David.	T / F
f.	The statue was requested and paid for by a rich merchant from Milan.	T / F
g.	David stood in the wind and rain for more than 350 years.	T / F
h.	David is now housed in an earthquake proof museum.	T / F

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

1.	collapsing	a.	cracks
2.	confirmed	b.	conducted
3.	carried out	c.	the climate
4.	fractures	d.	started
5.	quality	e.	ordered
6.	embarked	f.	crumbling
7.	depicts	g.	safeguard
8.	commissioned	h.	standard
9.	the elements	i.	verified
10.	insulate	j.	portrays

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

1.	make it susceptible	a.	an angle for centuries
2.	The cracks have become the statue's	b.	hero
3.	the poor quality	c.	embarked on the project
4.	the statue has been leaning at	d.	the elements
5.	vibrations	e.	of marble
6.	He was just 26 when he	f.	rulers of Florence
7.	the biblical	g.	from traffic
8.	It was commissioned by the	h.	proof museum
9.	protect it from	i.	to crumbling
10.	a purpose-built, earthquake	j.	Achilles heel

GAP FILL

Michelangelo's (1) ____________ statue "David" is in great danger of collapsing (2) ____________ to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed that cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall (3) ____________ statue make it susceptible to crumbling under its own weight. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles (4) ____________. Tests carried out by Italy's National Research Council and Florence University confirmed the existence of a (5) ____________ series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have (6) ____________ to this weakening. These include the poor quality of marble and the fact that the statue has been (7) ____________ at an angle for centuries, and (8) ____________ from traffic and museum visitors.

heel
leaning
iconic
masterpiece
vibrations
whole
due
led

The sculptor Michelangelo spent three years creating David between 1501 and 1504. He was just 26 when he (9) ____________ on the project. The statue depicts the (10) ____________ hero who killed the giant Goliath. It was commissioned by the (11) ____________ of Florence as a (12) ____________ of the city's commercial and military strength. It was unveiled to the public on the 8th of September, 1504 and remained on (13) ____________ outside in the Piazza della Signoria for 350 years. It was moved (14) ____________ in 1873 to protect it from the elements. Art lovers have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the (15) ____________ of a purpose-built, earthquake proof museum to (16) ____________ it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction.

display
rulers
safety
embarked
insulate
indoors
biblical
symbol

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall iconic statue make it ______
	a. susceptible to crumbling b. suspicious to crumbling c. sustainable to crumbling d. spectacular to crumbling
2)	The cracks have become the statue's ______
	a. Achilles heel b. Achilles feel c. Achilles peel d. Achilles seal
3)	Italy's National Research Council and Florence University ______
	a. conformed the existence b. reconfirmed the existence c. confirmed the existence d. condoned the existence
4)	These include the poor ______
	a. qualify of marble b. quality of marble c. qualities of marble d. quirky of marble
5)	the statue has been leaning at an ______
	a. angular for centuries b. angled for centuries c. angel for centuries d. angle for centuries
6)	The sculptor Michelangelo spent three ______
	a. years curating David b. years creating David c. years creation David d. years crating David
7)	The statue depicts the ______
	a. biblical hero b. Bible hero c. bible call hero d. bib lyrical hero
8)	a symbol of the city's commercial and ______
	a. militarily strength b. military's strength c. militia strength d. military strength
9)	It was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it ______
	a. from the element b. from the elements c. from the elementals d. from the elemental
10)	relocated to the safety of a purpose-built, earthquake ______
	a. prove museum b. proofer museum c. proof museum d. proofs museum

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Michelangelo's masterpiece statue "David" (1) ___________________ of collapsing due to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed that cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall iconic statue make (2) ___________________ crumbling under its own weight. The cracks have become the statue's (3) ___________________. Tests carried out by Italy's National Research Council and Florence University confirmed (4) ___________________ a whole series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have led to this weakening. These include the poor (5) ___________________ and the fact that the statue has been leaning at an angle for centuries, and (6) ___________________ and museum visitors.

The sculptor Michelangelo spent three years creating David between 1501 and 1504. He was just 26 when (7) ___________________ the project. The statue depicts the biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath. It was (8) ___________________ rulers of Florence as a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was (9) ___________________ on the 8th of September, 1504 and (10) ___________________ outside in the Piazza della Signoria for 350 years. It was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it (11) ___________________. Art lovers have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the safety of a purpose-built, (12) ___________________ to insulate it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What part of David's body is the weak point?
2.	How tall is the statue?
3.	Which university helped carry out tests on the statue?
4.	What was of poor quality?
5.	For how long has the statue been leaning at an angle?
6.	In what year did Michelangelo finish David?
7.	Who did the biblical hero David kill?
8.	Who ordered the statue to be made?
9.	For how long was the statue at the mercy of the elements?
10.	Who wants the statue to be put in a special museum?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What part of David's body is the weak point?	6.	In what year did Michelangelo finish David?
	a) his heel b) the ankles c) his knees d) his hips		a) 1504 b) 1503 c) 1502 d) 1501
2.	How tall is the statue?	7.	Who did the biblical hero David kill?
	a) 1.57 metres b) 1.75 metres c) 7.15 metres d) 5.17 metres		a) Bill b) The Good Samaritan c) Goliath d) Samson
3.	Which university helped carry out tests on the statue?	8.	Who ordered the statue to be made?
	a) New York b) Tokyo c) Florence d) London		a) the rulers of Florence b) a merchant from Venice c) the Romans d) the early Mafia
4.	What was of poor quality?	9.	For how long was the statue at the mercy of the elements?
	a) the marble b) the air c) the security d) the workmanship		a) (more than) 350 years b) exactly 350 years c) slightly less than 350 years d) no one knows
5.	For how long has the statue been leaning at an angle?	10.	Who wants the statue to be put in a special museum?
	a) millennia b) centuries c) decades d) years		a) the living family of David b) Italy's prime minister c) art lovers d) the Louvre

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Sculpture

You think sculpture is the greatest art form. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so great about their art forms. Also, tell the others which is the least inspiring of these (and why): painting, poetry or opera.

Role B – Painting

You think painting is the greatest art form. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so great about their art forms. Also, tell the others which is the least inspiring of these (and why): sculpture, poetry or opera.

Role C – Poetry

You think poetry is the greatest art form. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so great about their art forms. Also, tell the others which is the least inspiring of these (and why): painting, sculpture or opera.

Role D – Opera

You think opera is the greatest art form. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so great about their art forms. Also, tell the others which is the least inspiring of these (and why): painting, poetry or sculpture.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

master

piece

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:

due
under
out
whole
led
leaning

three
hero
rulers
350
1873
lovers

STATUES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about statues 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.

STATUES 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 'statue'?
c)	What do you think of statues?
d)	What do you think of Michelangelo's 'David'?
e)	What do you think of the statues in your town?
f)	What is the best statue in the world?
g)	Are modern statues better than ones that are centuries old?
h)	How would you feel if "David" collapsed and crumbled?
i)	What kind of statue would you like in your garden?
j)	How would you like a statue of you to look?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you think it is like to be a sculptor?
c)	What do you know about David (and his fight with Goliath)?
d)	Do you prefer paintings or statues?
e)	What do you think about when you look at a statue?
f)	What makes a statue great or rubbish?
g)	What do you know about Michelangelo?
h)	Which of the world's statues would you like to own (and why)?
i)	What are the arguments for and against moving "David"?
j)	What questions would you like to ask a Michelangelo expert?

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

Michelangelo's masterpiece statue "David" is in great danger of collapsing (1) ____ to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed that cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall (2) ____ statue make it susceptible to crumbling under its own weight. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles (3) ____. Tests carried out by Italy's National Research Council and Florence University confirmed the existence of a (4) ____ series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have led to this (5) ____. These include the poor quality of marble and the fact that the statue has been leaning (6) ____ an angle for centuries, and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.

The sculptor Michelangelo spent three years creating David between 1501 and 1504. He was just 26 when he (7) ____ on the project. The statue depicts the biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath. It was commissioned by the (8) ____ of Florence as a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was (9) ____ to the public on the 8th of September, 1504 and remained (10) ____ display outside in the Piazza della Signoria for 350 years. It was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the elements. Art (11) ____ have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the safety of a purpose-built, earthquake (12) ____ museum to insulate it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction.

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

1.	(a)	due	(b)	because	(c)	rather	(d)	as
2.	(a)	ironic	(b)	laconic	(c)	iconic	(d)	isotonic
3.	(a)	ankle	(b)	knee	(c)	heel	(d)	toe
4.	(a)	completed	(b)	totally	(c)	every	(d)	whole
5.	(a)	weakening	(b)	weakened	(c)	weaken	(d)	weakling
6.	(a)	by	(b)	at	(c)	for	(d)	inside
7.	(a)	barked	(b)	remarked	(c)	earmarked	(d)	embarked
8.	(a)	protractors	(b)	rulers	(c)	compasses	(d)	abacus
9.	(a)	unraveled	(b)	enveloped	(c)	unveiled	(d)	inviolate
10.	(a)	to	(b)	on	(c)	at	(d)	by
11.	(a)	romantics	(b)	darlings	(c)	nuts	(d)	lovers
12.	(a)	prof	(b)	proof	(c)	prove	(d)	roof

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Michelangelo's emsrteeicpa statue
2.	the csturetru's 5.5-ton weight
3.	makes it sbupeicelst to crumbling
4.	a whole series of "micro-urasfertc"
5.	A number of tsfarco have led to this
6.	toibrinsav from traffic
Paragraph 2
7.	he statue depicts the ablcbili hero
8.	ionedmsmscoi by the rulers of Florence
9.	It was eiduvlne to the public
10.	protect it from the lemetsen
11.	a purpose-built, kateurqhea proof museum
12.	road oocnscnitrtu

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed that cracks in the
( )	just 26 when he embarked on the project. The statue depicts the biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath. It was commissioned
( )	weight. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles heel. Tests carried out by Italy's National Research
( )	built, earthquake proof museum to insulate it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction.
( )	for 350 years. It was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the elements. Art
( 1 )	Michelangelo's masterpiece statue "David" is in great danger of collapsing due
( )	heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall iconic statue make it susceptible to crumbling under its own
( )	unveiled to the public on the 8th of September, 1504 and remained on display outside in the Piazza della Signoria
( )	weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have led to this weakening. These include the poor quality
( )	of marble and the fact that the statue has been leaning at an angle for centuries, and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.
( )	Council and Florence University confirmed the existence of a whole series of "micro-fractures" that have
( )	The sculptor Michelangelo spent three years creating David between 1501 and 1504. He was
( )	lovers have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the safety of a purpose-
( )	by the rulers of Florence as a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	ankles In great danger of collapsing due to its weak.
2.	have heel become the The statue's cracks Achilles.
3.	fractures" "micro- of series whole a of existence The
4.	These marble of quality poor the include.
5.	centuries The statue has been leaning at an angle for.
6.	when he embarked on the project He was just 26.
7.	biblical hero who killed the giant The statue depicts the.
8.	of commissioned Florence by the It rulers was.
9.	the elements Moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from.
10.	The museum proof earthquake , built purpose- a of safety.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Michelangelo's masterpiece statue "David" is in greatly / great danger of collapsing due / because to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed / conformed that cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall ironic / iconic statue make it susceptible by / to crumbling under its own weight / weighs. The cracks have become the statue's Achilles heel. Tests carried out / in by Italy's National Research Council and Florence University confirmed the existence / exists of a whole series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have led to this weakening / weaken. These include the poor quality of marble and the fact that the statue has been leaning at / by an angle for centuries, and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.

The sculptor / sculpture Michelangelo spent three years creating David between 1501 and 1504. He was just 26 when he embarked / earmarked on the project. The statue aspects / depicts the biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath. It was commissioned by the rulers / ruling of Florence as a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength. It was unraveled / unveiled to the public on the 8th of September, 1504 and remained / remains on display outside in the Piazza della Signoria for 350 years. It was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the elements / element. Art lovers / romantics have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the safety of a porpoise-built / purpose-built, earthquake proof museum to insulate / incubate it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction.

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)

M_ch_l_ng_l_'s m_st_rp__c_ st_t__ "D_v_d" _s _n gr__t d_ng_r _f c_ll_ps_ng d__ t_ _ts w__k _nkl_s _nd th_ str_ct_r_'s 5.5-t_n w__ght. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ c_nf_rm_d th_t cr_cks _n th_ h__ls _f th_ g__nt 5.17-m_tr_-t_ll _c_n_c st_t__ m_k_ _t s_sc_pt_bl_ t_ cr_mbl_ng _nd_r _ts _wn w__ght. Th_ cr_cks h_v_ b_c_m_ th_ st_t__'s _ch_ll_s h__l. T_sts c_rr__d __t by _t_ly's N_t__n_l R_s__rch C__nc_l _nd Fl_r_nc_ _n_v_rs_ty c_nf_rm_d th_ _x_st_nc_ _f _ wh_l_ s_r__s _f "m_cr_-fr_ct_r_s" th_t h_v_ w__k_n_d D_v_d's _nkl_s. _ n_mb_r _f f_ct_rs h_v_ l_d t_ th_s w__k_n_ng. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ th_ p__r q__l_ty _f m_rbl_ _nd th_ f_ct th_t th_ st_t__ h_s b__n l__n_ng _t _n _ngl_ f_r c_nt_r__s, _nd v_br_t__ns fr_m tr_ff_c _nd m_s__m v_s_t_rs.

Th_ sc_lpt_r M_ch_l_ng_l_ sp_nt thr__ y__rs cr__t_ng D_v_d b_tw__n 1501 _nd 1504. H_ w_s j_st 26 wh_n h_ _mb_rk_d _n th_ pr_j_ct. Th_ st_t__ d_p_cts th_ b_bl_c_l h_r_ wh_ k_ll_d th_ g__nt G_l__th. _t w_s c_mm_ss__n_d by th_ r_l_rs _f Fl_r_nc_ _s _ symb_l _f th_ c_ty's c_mm_rc__l _nd m_l_t_ry str_ngth. _t w_s _nv__l_d t_ th_ p_bl_c _n th_ 8th _f S_pt_mb_r, 1504 _nd r_m__n_d _n d_spl_y __ts_d_ _n th_ P__zz_ d_ll_ S_gn_r__ f_r 350 y__rs. _t w_s m_v_d _nd__rs _n 1873 t_ pr_t_ct _t fr_m th_ _l_m_nts. _rt l_v_rs h_v_ b__n c_ll_ng f_r y__rs f_r th_ st_t__ t_ b_ r_l_c_t_d t_ th_ s_f_ty _f _ p_rp_s_-b__lt, __rthq__k_ pr__f m_s__m t_ _ns_l_t_ _t fr_m th_ v_br_t__ns fr_m tr_ff_c _nd r__d c_nstr_ct__n.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

michelangelo's masterpiece statue "david" is in great danger of collapsing due to its weak ankles and the structure's 55-ton weight scientists have confirmed that cracks in the heels of the giant 517-metre-tall iconic statue make it susceptible to crumbling under its own weight the cracks have become the statue's achilles heel tests carried out by italy's national research council and florence university confirmed the existence of a whole series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened david's ankles a number of factors have led to this weakening these include the poor quality of marble and the fact that the statue has been leaning at an angle for centuries and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors

the sculptor michelangelo spent three years creating david between 1501 and 1504 he was just 26 when he embarked on the project the statue depicts the biblical hero who killed the giant goliath it was commissioned by the rulers of florence as a symbol of the city's commercial and military strength it was unveiled to the public on the 8th of september 1504 and remained on display outside in the piazza della signoria for 350 years it was moved indoors in 1873 to protect it from the elements art lovers have been calling for years for the statue to be relocated to the safety of a purpose-built earthquake proof museum to insulate it from the vibrations from traffic and road construction

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Michelangelo'smasterpiecestatue"David"isingreatdangerofcolla
psingduetoitsweakanklesandthestructure's5.5-tonweight.Sci
entistshaveconfirmedthatcracksintheheelsofthegiant5.17-me
tre-talliconicstatuemakeitsusceptibletocrumblingunderitsownw
eight.Thecrackshavebecomethestatue'sAchillesheel.Testscarrie
doutbyItaly'sNationalResearchCouncilandFlorenceUniversitycon
firmedtheexistenceofawholeseriesof"micro-fractures"thathave
weakenedDavid'sankles.Anumberoffactorshaveledtothisweaken
ing.Theseincludethepoorqualityofmarbleandthefactthatthestatu
ehasbeenleaningatanangleforcenturies,andvibrationsfromtraffic
andmuseumvisitors.ThesculptorMichelangelospentthreeyearscr
eatingDavidbetween1501and1504.Hewasjust26whenheembark
edontheproject.Thestatuedepictsthebiblicalherowhokilledthegia
ntGoliath.ItwascommissionedbytherulersofFlorenceasasymbolo
fthecity'scommercialandmilitarystrength.Itwasunveiledtothepu
bliconthe8thofSeptember,1504andremainedondisplayoutsideint
hePiazzadellaSignoriafor350years.Itwasmovedindoorsin1873to
protectitfromtheelements.Artlovershavebeencallingforyearsfort
hestatuetoberelocatedtothesafetyofapurpose-built,earthquake
eproofmuseumtoinsulateitfromthevibrationsfromtrafficandroad
construction.

FREE WRITING

Write about statues for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast paintings and statues. Which do you like better and why?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 Michelangelo's David. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. STATUES: Make a poster about statues. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. DAVID: Write a magazine article about David. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it the statue being relocated.

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 art expert. Ask him/her three questions about David. Give him/her three of your opinions on the statue. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	collapsing	a.	crumbling
2.	confirmed	b.	verified
3.	carried out	c.	conducted
4.	fractures	d.	cracks
5.	quality	e.	standard
6.	embarked	f.	started
7.	depicts	g.	portrays
8.	commissioned	h.	ordered
9.	the elements	i.	the climate
10.	insulate	j.	safeguard

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The ankles
2.	5.17 metres
3.	The University of Florence
4.	The marble
5.	Centuries
6.	1504
7.	Goliath
8.	The rulers of Florence
9.	(More than) 350 years
10.	Art lovers

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

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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Michelangelo's 'David' in danger of collapse (5th May, 2014)

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