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90-year-old starts elementary school (28th January, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A 90-year-old Kenyan grandmother has become the world's oldest elementary school student. Priscilla Sitienei, also known as Gogo, is from a small village in Kenya. She is studying at the local elementary school to learn to read and write. Ms Sitienei has spent most of her life working as a midwife, helping to deliver babies. She wants to be able to read and write so she can pass on her midwifery skills and write down the special herbal remedies she uses when she delivers babies. She also wants to be able to read the Bible. Sitienei said she never had a chance to go to school when she was younger. She said she knows she is old but hopes she will set an example to younger people. She wants all the children in her village to study.

When Ms Sitienei first tried to enroll at the school, the head teacher David Kinyanjui did not think it was a good idea. Now he is very happy that Gogo is at the school. Mr Kinyanjui said Gogo is a "blessing and a motivator". He added: "I'm very proud of her. She is loved by every pupil. They all want to learn and play with her." He also said: "She is doing well considering her age. I can say I have seen a big difference in this school since she came." Gogo had a message for children everywhere, saying: "I want to say to the children of the world, especially girls, that education will be your wealth." She added: "With education, you can be whatever you want - a doctor, lawyer or a pilot."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/kenya/11364682/Kenyan-grandmother-90-worlds-oldest-primary-school-pupil.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30935874
http://www.inquisitr.com/1786062/90-year-old-kenyan-grandmother-is-worlds-oldest-school-pupil

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. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about elementary school. 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?

grandmother / elementary school / village / midwife / babies / skills / remedies / teacher / blessing / motivator / difference / message / education / doctor / lawyer

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

3. OLD PEOPLE: What might old people be good or bad at in these situations? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good	Bad
School teacher
Website builder
Nurse
Taxi driver
Chef
Fashion designer

4. AGE LIMIT: Students A strongly believe there should be an age limit for elementary school students; Students B strongly believe there shouldn't. 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. SCHOOL: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• teachers

• lunch

• play time

• the school building

• the classroom

• the lessons

• friends

• holidays

6. VILLAGE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "village". 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's oldest elementary school student is also a grandmother.	T / F
b.	The student lives in the capital city of Kenya.	T / F
c.	The woman wants to be able to write about things in her job.	T / F
d.	The woman wants all the children in her village to study.	T / F
e.	The school head teacher always wanted the woman to join the school.	T / F
f.	Not all of the students in the school like the old lady.	T / F
g.	The head teacher said the woman made a big difference to the school.	T / F
h.	The woman had a special message just for boys.	T / F

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

1.	student	a.	gift
2.	local	b.	cures
3.	pass on	c.	register
4.	remedies	d.	neighbourhood
5.	chance	e.	taking into account
6.	enroll	f.	pupil
7.	blessing	g.	riches
8.	considering	h.	opportunity
9.	especially	i.	give
10.	wealth	j.	particularly

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

1.	studying at the local	a.	remedies she uses
2.	helping to deliver	b.	be whatever you want
3.	write down the special herbal	c.	village to study
4.	she will set an example	d.	by every pupil
5.	She wants all the children in her	e.	of her
6.	Ms Sitienei first tried to	f.	babies
7.	I'm very proud	g.	children everywhere
8.	She is loved	h.	to younger people
9.	Gogo had a message for	i.	enroll at the school
10.	With education, you can	j.	elementary school

GAP FILL

A 90-year-old Kenyan (1) ____________ has become the world's oldest elementary school student. Priscilla Sitienei, also known as Gogo, is from a small (2) ____________ in Kenya. She is studying at the local elementary school to learn to read and write. Ms Sitienei has spent most of her life (3) ____________ as a midwife, helping to deliver babies. She wants to be (4) ____________ to read and write so she can pass on her midwifery skills and write down the (5) ____________ herbal remedies she uses when she (6) ____________ babies. She also wants to be able to read the Bible. Sitienei said she never had a (7) ____________ to go to school when she was younger. She said she knows she is old but hopes she will (8) ____________ an example to younger people. She wants all the children in her village to study.

village
able
chance
grandmother
special
set
working
delivers

When Ms Sitienei first tried to (9) ____________ at the school, the head teacher David Kinyanjui did not think it was a good idea. Now he is very (10) ____________ that Gogo is at the school. Mr Kinyanjui said Gogo is a "(11) ____________ and a motivator". He added: "I'm very proud of her. She is loved by every (12) ____________. They all want to learn and play with her." He also said: "She is doing well considering her age. I can say I have seen a (13) ____________ difference in this school since she came." Gogo had a message for children everywhere, saying: "I want to say to the children of the world, (14) ____________ girls, that education will be your (15) ____________." She added: "With education, you can be whatever you want - a doctor, (16) ____________ or a pilot."

pupil
happy
wealth
blessing
lawyer
big
enroll
especially

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	She is studying at the local elementary school to learn ______
	a. too read and write b. two read and write c. to read and write d. through read and write
2)	write down the special herbal remedies she uses when ______
	a. she deliveries babies b. she delivers babies c. she delivered babies d. she deliver babies
3)	Sitienei said she never had a chance to go to school when ______
	a. she is younger b. she has younger c. she wants younger d. she was younger
4)	She said she knows she is old but hopes she will ______
	a. set an example b. sit an example c. sat an example d. shut an example
5)	She wants all the children in her ______
	a. villages to study b. villager to study c. villagers to study d. village to study
6)	When Ms Sitienei first tried to ______ school
	a. enroll by the b. enroll that the c. enroll as the d. enroll at the
7)	Now he is very happy that Gogo is ______
	a. at a school b. at the school c. at that school d. at this school
8)	He added: "I'm very proud of her. She is loved ______."
	a. by every iris b. by every lens c. by every lash d. by every pupil
9)	I have seen a big difference in this school ______
	a. sent she came b. spins she came c. since she came d. shins she came
10)	With education, you can be whatever you want - a doctor, ______
	a. lawyer nor a pilot b. lawyer or the pilot c. lawyer nor the pilot d. lawyer or a pilot

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A 90-year-old Kenyan grandmother (1) ___________________ world's oldest elementary school student. Priscilla Sitienei, also known as Gogo, is from a small village in Kenya. She (2) ___________________ local elementary school to learn to read and write. Ms Sitienei has spent most of her life working as a midwife, (3) ___________________ babies. She wants to be able to read and write so she can pass on her midwifery skills and write (4) ___________________ herbal remedies she uses when she delivers babies. She also wants (5) ___________________ read the Bible. Sitienei said she never had a chance to go to school when she was younger. She said she knows she is old but hopes she (6) ___________________ to younger people. She wants all the children in her village to study.

When Ms Sitienei (7) ___________________ at the school, the head teacher David Kinyanjui did not think it was a good idea. Now he is very happy that Gogo (8) ___________________. Mr Kinyanjui said Gogo is a "blessing and a motivator". He added: "I'm very proud of her. She is loved by every pupil. They all want (9) ___________________ with her." He also said: "She is doing well considering her age. I can (10) ___________________ a big difference in this school since she came." Gogo had a message for children everywhere, saying: "I (11) ___________________ children of the world, especially girls, that education will be your wealth." She added: "With education, you (12) ___________________ you want - a doctor, lawyer or a pilot."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How old is the world's oldest elementary school student?
2.	What does the woman want to learn to do?
3.	What does the woman help deliver?
4.	What did the woman not have a chance to do when she was younger?
5.	What does she want the children in her village to do?
6.	Who thought it wasn't a good idea when the women joined the school?
7.	Who loves the woman?
8.	What do the school students want to do with the old lady?
9.	Who did the old woman have a message for?
10.	What jobs did the woman say you could do with an education?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How old is the world's oldest elementary school student?	6.	Who thought it wasn't a good idea when the women joined the school?
	a) 93 b) 92 c) 91 d) 90		a) the students b) Kenya's education minister c) the head teacher d) Gogo
2.	What does the woman want to learn to do?	7.	Who loves the woman?
	a) teach b) read and write c) computer coding d) ride a bike		a) the students b) the newspapers c) the cleaners d) a janitor
3.	What does the woman help deliver?	8.	What do the school students want to do with the old lady?
	a) groceries b) letters c) eggs d) babies		a) have a picnic b) take her to Nairobi c) learn and play with her d) play football
4.	What did the woman not have a chance to do when she was younger?	9.	Who did the old woman have a message for?
	a) be a teacher b) travel overseas c) go to school d) have children		a) the teachers of the world b) the children of the world c) the teacher d) the villagers
5.	What does she want the children in her village to do?	10.	What jobs did the woman say you could do with an education?
	a) work in Nairobi b) talk c) her homework d) study		a) doctor, lawyer or a pilot b) doctor, leader or a pilot c) doctor, lawyer or a baker d) doctor, teacher or a pilot

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Teachers

You think teachers are the best things about school. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lunch, the classroom or the lessons.

Role B – Lunch

You think lunch is best thing about school. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): teachers, the classroom or the lessons.

Role C – The classroom

You think the classroom is the best thing about school. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lunch, teachers or the lessons.

Role D – Lessons

You think the lessons are the best things about school. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lunch, the classroom or teachers.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

elementary

school

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:

oldest
village
helping
pass
chance
younger

head
happy
proud
age
message
whatever

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about elementary school 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.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 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 'grandmother'?
c)	What do you think about what you read?
d)	What did you think of your elementary school?
e)	What do you think of Gogo?
f)	Would you like to keep learning all your life?
g)	How important is it to be able to read and write?
h)	How would life be different if you could not read or write?
i)	In what ways are you an example to younger people?
j)	What can the children at the school learn from Gogo?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Should more older people go back to school?
c)	Why might the head teacher think it was a bad idea for Gogo to study?
d)	Why do you think the other pupils love Gogo?
e)	Who was your favourite elementary school teacher? Why?
f)	Do you think there are things Gogo can't do at school?
g)	What do you miss about elementary school?
h)	Do you agree that education is wealth? Why?
i)	What job did you want to do when you were at elementary school?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Gogo?

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

A 90-year-old Kenyan grandmother has (1) ____ the world's oldest elementary school student. Priscilla Sitienei, also known as Gogo, is from a small village in Kenya. She is (2) ____ at the local elementary school to learn to read and write. Ms Sitienei has spent most of her life working as a (3) ____, helping to deliver babies. She wants to be able to read and write so she can pass (4) ____ her midwifery skills and write down the special herbal remedies she uses when she (5) ____ babies. She also wants to be able to read the Bible. Sitienei said she never had a chance to go to school when she was younger. She said she knows she is old but hopes she will (6) ____ an example to younger people. She wants all the children in her village to study.

When Ms Sitienei first tried to enroll at the school, the head teacher David Kinyanjui did not think it was a good (7) ____. Now he is very happy that Gogo is at the school. Mr Kinyanjui said Gogo is a "(8) ____ and a motivator". He added: "I'm very proud of her. She is loved by every pupil. They all want to learn and play with her." He also said: "She is doing (9) ____ considering her age. I can say I have seen a big (10) ____ in this school since she came." Gogo had a message for children everywhere, saying: "I want to say to the children of the world, (11) ____ girls, that education will be your wealth." She added: "With education, you can be (12) ____ you want - a doctor, lawyer or a pilot."

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

1.	(a)	became	(b)	becomes	(c)	become	(d)	becoming
2.	(a)	studying	(b)	studied	(c)	study	(d)	studiously
3.	(a)	wife	(b)	midwife	(c)	midwifery	(d)	mid-life
4.	(a)	by	(b)	to	(c)	up	(d)	on
5.	(a)	deliveries	(b)	deliverables	(c)	delivers	(d)	deliver
6.	(a)	let	(b)	set	(c)	get	(d)	met
7.	(a)	idea	(b)	opinion	(c)	view	(d)	brainstorm
8.	(a)	bless	(b)	blesses	(c)	blessed	(d)	blessing
9.	(a)	good	(b)	goodly	(c)	well	(d)	best
10.	(a)	differences	(b)	differential	(c)	different	(d)	difference
11.	(a)	specialty	(b)	especially	(c)	specials	(d)	special
12.	(a)	whatever	(b)	whenever	(c)	wherever	(d)	whatsoever

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	helping to ielervd babies
2.	cepaisl herbal remedies
3.	working as a ifmweid
4.	the local eyrlmanete school
5.	set an pmaeexl to younger people
6.	all the children in her gialvle
Paragraph 2
7.	Gogo is a blessing and a tmoarvito
8.	She is loved by every ppilu
9.	She is doing well sdonicinger her age
10.	eyleilscpa girls
11.	education will be your htwael
12.	a doctor, lreayw or a pilot

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	idea. Now he is very happy that Gogo is at the school. Mr Kinyanjui said Gogo is a "blessing and a
( )	say to the children of the world, especially girls, that education will be your
( )	play with her." He also said: "She is doing well considering her age. I can say I have seen a big
( )	at the local elementary school to learn to read and write. Ms Sitienei has spent most
( )	wealth." She added: "With education, you can be whatever you want - a doctor, lawyer or a pilot."
( )	When Ms Sitienei first tried to enroll at the school, the head teacher David Kinyanjui did not think it was a good
( )	motivator". He added: "I'm very proud of her. She is loved by every pupil. They all want to learn and
( )	of her life working as a midwife, helping to deliver babies. She wants to be able to read and write so she can pass
( )	on her midwifery skills and write down the special herbal remedies she uses when she delivers babies. She also wants
( 1 )	A 90-year-old Kenyan grandmother has become the world's oldest elementary
( )	school student. Priscilla Sitienei, also known as Gogo, is from a small village in Kenya. She is studying
( )	she is old but hopes she will set an example to younger people. She wants all the children in her village to study.
( )	difference in this school since she came." Gogo had a message for children everywhere, saying: "I want to
( )	to be able to read the Bible. Sitienei said she never had a chance to go to school when she was younger. She said she knows

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	elementary studying school at the She local is .
2.	as of working midwife most life a Spent her .
3.	down she the uses special herbal Write remedies .
4.	school to go to chance a had never she said Sitienei .
5.	example She to will younger set people an .
6.	the Ms tried at When first enroll school Sitienei to .
7.	not was idea did it good Kinyanjui think a .
8.	her all learn with They to play want and .
9.	considering well doing is She age her .
10.	you With you whatever , be want education can .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A 90-year-old Kenyan grandmother has became / become the world's oldest elementary school student. Priscilla Sitienei, also known / knowing as Gogo, is from a small village in Kenya. She is studying / studied at the local elementary school to learn to read and write. Ms Sitienei has spending / spent most of her life working as a midwife, helping to delivery / deliver babies. She wants to be able / ability to read and write so she can pass on her midwifery skills and write down the special herbal / herb remedies she uses when she delivers babies. She also wants to be able to read the Bible. Sitienei said she never had a chances / chance to go to school when she was younger. She said she knows she is old but hopes she will set / let an example to younger / youngish people. She wants all the children in her village to study.

When Ms Sitienei first / firstly tried to enroll at the school, the head teacher David Kinyanjui did not think it was a good / well idea. Now he is very happy that Gogo is at / on the school. Mr Kinyanjui said Gogo is a "blessing and a motivator". He added: "I'm very pride / proud of her. She is loved by every pupil. They all want to learn / lean and play with her." He also said: "She is doing well considered / considering her age. I can say I have seen a big difference in this school since she came." Gogo had a massage / message for children everywhere, saying: "I want to say to the children of the world / worlds, especially girls, that education will be your wealthy / wealth." She added: "With education, you can be whatever / whenever you want - a doctor, lawyer or a pilot."

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)

_ 90-y__r-_ld K_ny_n gr_ndm_th_r h_s b_c_m_ th_ w_rld's _ld_st _l_m_nt_ry sch__l st_d_nt. Pr_sc_ll_ S_t__n__, _ls_ kn_wn _s G_g_, _s fr_m _ sm_ll v_ll_g_ _n K_ny_. Sh_ _s st_dy_ng _t th_ l_c_l _l_m_nt_ry sch__l t_ l__rn t_ r__d _nd wr_t_. Ms S_t__n__ h_s sp_nt m_st _f h_r l_f_ w_rk_ng _s _ m_dw_f_, h_lp_ng t_ d_l_v_r b_b__s. Sh_ w_nts t_ b_ _bl_ t_ r__d _nd wr_t_ s_ sh_ c_n p_ss _n h_r m_dw_f_ry sk_lls _nd wr_t_ d_wn th_ sp_c__l h_rb_l r_m_d__s sh_ _s_s wh_n sh_ d_l_v_rs b_b__s. Sh_ _ls_ w_nts t_ b_ _bl_ t_ r__d th_ B_bl_. S_t__n__ s__d sh_ n_v_r h_d _ ch_nc_ t_ g_ t_ sch__l wh_n sh_ w_s y__ng_r. Sh_ s__d sh_ kn_ws sh_ _s _ld b_t h_p_s sh_ w_ll s_t _n _x_mpl_ t_ y__ng_r p__pl_. Sh_ w_nts _ll th_ ch_ldr_n _n h_r v_ll_g_ t_ st_dy.

Wh_n Ms S_t__n__ f_rst tr__d t_ _nr_ll _t th_ sch__l, th_ h__d t__ch_r D_v_d K_ny_nj__ d_d n_t th_nk _t w_s _ g__d _d__. N_w h_ _s v_ry h_ppy th_t G_g_ _s _t th_ sch__l. Mr K_ny_nj__ s__d G_g_ _s _ "bl_ss_ng _nd _ m_t_v_t_r". H_ _dd_d: "_'m v_ry pr__d _f h_r. Sh_ _s l_v_d by _v_ry p_p_l. Th_y _ll w_nt t_ l__rn _nd pl_y w_th h_r." H_ _ls_ s__d: "Sh_ _s d__ng w_ll c_ns_d_r_ng h_r _g_. _ c_n s_y _ h_v_ s__n _ b_g d_ff_r_nc_ _n th_s sch__l s_nc_ sh_ c_m_." G_g_ h_d _ m_ss_g_ f_r ch_ldr_n _v_rywh_r_, s_y_ng: "_ w_nt t_ s_y t_ th_ ch_ldr_n _f th_ w_rld, _sp_c__lly g_rls, th_t _d_c_t__n w_ll b_ y__r w__lth." Sh_ _dd_d: "W_th _d_c_t__n, y__ c_n b_ wh_t_v_r y__ w_nt - _ d_ct_r, l_wy_r _r _ p_l_t."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a 90-year-old kenyan grandmother has become the world's oldest elementary school student priscilla sitienei also known as gogo is from a small village in kenya she is studying at the local elementary school to learn to read and write ms sitienei has spent most of her life working as a midwife helping to deliver babies she wants to be able to read and write so she can pass on her midwifery skills and write down the special herbal remedies she uses when she delivers babies she also wants to be able to read the bible sitienei said she never had a chance to go to school when she was younger she said she knows she is old but hopes she will set an example to younger people she wants all the children in her village to study

when ms sitienei first tried to enroll at the school the head teacher david kinyanjui did not think it was a good idea now he is very happy that gogo is at the school mr kinyanjui said gogo is a "blessing and a motivator" he added "i'm very proud of her she is loved by every pupil they all want to learn and play with her" he also said "she is doing well considering her age i can say i have seen a big difference in this school since she came" gogo had a message for children everywhere saying "i want to say to the children of the world especially girls that education will be your wealth" she added "with education you can be whatever you want - a doctor lawyer or a pilot"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

A90-year-oldKenyangrandmotherhasbecometheworld'soldestele
mentaryschoolstudent.PriscillaSitienei,alsoknownasGogo,isfromas
mallvillageinKenya.Sheisstudyingatthelocalelementaryschooltolear
ntoreadandwrite.MsSitieneihasspentmostofherlifeworkingasamidw
ife,helpingtodeliverbabies.Shewantstobeabletoreadandwritesoshe
canpassonhermidwiferyskillsandwritedownthespecialherbalremedi
essheuseswhenshedeliversbabies.Shealsowantstobeabletoreadthe
Bible.Sitieneisaidsheneverhadachancetogotoschoolwhenshewasyo
unger.Shesaidsheknowssheisoldbuthopesshewillsetanexampletoyo
ungerpeople.Shewantsallthechildreninhervillagetostudy.WhenMsSi
tieneifirsttriedtoenrollattheschool,theheadteacherDavidKinyanjuidi
dnotthinkitwasagoodidea.NowheisveryhappythatGogoisattheschoo
l.MrKinyanjuisaidGogoisa"blessingandamotivator".Headded:"I'mv
eryproudofher.Sheislovedbyeverypupil.Theyallwanttolearnandplay
withher."Healsosaid:"Sheisdoingwellconsideringherage.IcansayIha
veseenabigdifferenceinthisschoolsinceshecame."Gogohadamessag
eforchildreneverywhere,saying:"Iwanttosaytothechildrenoftheworl
d,especiallygirls,thateducationwillbeyourwealth."Sheadded:"Withe
ducation,youcanbewhateveryouwant-adoctor,lawyerorapilot."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

We should all study something for all our life. 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 elementary school. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. LIFELONG LEARNING: Make a poster about lifelong learning. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. GOGO: Write a magazine article about Gogo going to elementary school. Include imaginary interviews with Gogo, another student and her teacher.

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 elementary school. Ask him/her three questions about elementary school. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

T

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	student	a.	pupil
2	local	b.	neighbourhood
3.	pass on	c.	give
4.	remedies	d.	cures
5.	chance	e.	opportunity
6.	enroll	f.	register
7.	blessing	g.	gift
8.	considering	h.	taking into account
9.	especially	i.	particularly
10.	wealth	j.	riches

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	90
2.	Read and write
3.	Babies
4.	Go to school
5.	Study
6.	The head teacher
7.	The pupils
8.	Learn and play
9.	Children of the world
10.	Doctor, lawyer or a pilot

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

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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90-year-old starts elementary school (28th January, 2015)

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