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Japan town beats world snowman record (21st February, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Residents of a Japanese town have broken the world speed record for building snowmen. Citizens at the Iiyama Snow Festival in Nagano made 1,585 of the snowy fellows in one hour to set the new mark. Around 630 people took part in the record attempt. The previous record was 1,279 snowmen, set in Utah, USA in 2011. The event in Iiyama Town coincided with the opening of a new train station for Japan's famous bullet train. Justin Patterson, the adjudicator from the official Guinness World Records organisation, said the event had been a wonderful occasion. He said: "Despite Iiyama being buried in snow, it is wonderful that the residents came out to tackle the challenge together in a positive light."

There were strict rules to be met for the record to be broken. One was that each snowman had to be at least 80 cm tall. In addition the snowmen had to be made of three separate snowballs, with eyes, a nose and arms. People used only their hands in the record-breaking endeavour. Committee member Jiro Kobayashi told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the event was fitting for the opening of the bullet train station. He said: "We were able to achieve the record thanks to the cooperation of many people. We believe the feat will boost [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the Shinkansen's Iiyama Station." Ichika Oguchi, 8, said: "It was tough because the snow didn’t stick together, but I had fun."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2015/02/16/1585-snowmen-break-Guinness-record-in-Japan/9931424121049/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/15/national/record-set-nagano-prefecture-1585-snowmen-built-hour/#.VORIQSzsQxI
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/476500/do-you-wanna-build-a-snowman-japanese-city-makes-1585

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. SNOWMEN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about snowmen. 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?

residents / world record / snowmen / previous / bullet train / train station / wonderful / strict rules / snowballs / endeavor / achieve / cooperation / atmosphere / tough

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

3. WORLD RECORD: What do you think of these world records? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Should there be a record?	Why?
Biggest No Smoking sign
Tallest Lego tower
Largest suitcase
Longest kiss
Oldest gymnast
Largest Hello Kitty collection

4. SNOWMAN BUILDING: Students A strongly believe a snowman-building record is pointless; Students B strongly believe otherwise. 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. SNOW: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to do in / with snow at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• make a snowman

• watch it fall

• have a snowball fight

• make an igloo

• ski

• go sledding

• go for a walk

• make a snow maze

6. SPEED: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "speed". 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.	Residents in a Japanese town have built the world's tallest snowman.	T / F
b.	It took about 630 people to break the snowman record.	T / F
c.	The record attempt was to celebrate the opening of a train station.	T / F
d.	The residents came together and did everything in a positive light.	T / F
e.	The snowmen had to be made from three separate snowballs.	T / F
f.	People used special equipment to help break the record.	T / F
g.	The event put a damper on the celebratory atmosphere.	T / F
h.	An 8-year-old said the event was fun and easy.	T / F

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

1.	residents	a.	men
2.	fellows	b.	what's more
3.	previous	c.	confront
4.	coincided	d.	collaboration
5.	tackle	e.	attempt
6.	strict	f.	citizens
7.	in addition	g.	happened together
8.	endeavour	h.	difficult
9.	cooperation	i.	old
10.	tough	j.	rigid

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

1.	Citizens at the	a.	train
2.	630 people took part	b.	member
3.	Japan's famous bullet	c.	light
4.	the residents came out to tackle	d.	rules
5.	in a positive	e.	snowballs
6.	strict	f.	in the record attempt
7.	made of three separate	g.	of many people
8.	committee	h.	the challenge together
9.	thanks to the cooperation	i.	atmosphere
10.	celebratory	j.	Iiyama Snow Festival

GAP FILL

Residents of a Japanese town have (1) ____________ the world speed record for building snowmen. Citizens at the Iiyama Snow Festival in Nagano made 1,585 of the snowy fellows in one hour to (2) ____________ the new mark. Around 630 people took (3) ____________ in the record attempt. The previous record was 1,279 snowmen, set in Utah, USA in 2011. The event in Iiyama Town (4) ____________ with the opening of a new train station for Japan's famous (5) ____________ train. Justin Patterson, the adjudicator from the official Guinness World Records organisation, said the event had been a wonderful (6) ____________. He said: "Despite Iiyama being (7) ____________ in snow, it is wonderful that the residents came out to tackle the challenge together in a (8) ____________ light."

coincided
set
buried
bullet
positive
broken
occasion
part

There were (9) ____________ rules to be met for the record to be broken. One was that each snowman had to be at (10) ____________ 80 cm tall. In addition the snowmen had to be made of three (11) ____________ snowballs, with eyes, a nose and arms. People used only their hands in the record-breaking (12) ____________. Committee member Jiro Kobayashi told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the event was (13) ____________ for the opening of the bullet train station. He said: "We were able to (14) ____________ the record thanks to the cooperation of many people. We believe the feat will (15) ____________ [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the Shinkansen's Iiyama Station." Ichika Oguchi, 8, said: "It was (16) ____________ because the snow didn't stick together, but I had fun."

least
fitting
boost
strict
endeavour
tough
separate
achieve

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Residents of a Japanese town have broken the world ______ building snowmen
	a. speed recording for b. speeding record for c. speed record for d. speeds record for
2)	made 1,585 of the snowy fellows in one hour ______ mark
	a. to set the new b. to sit the new c. to sat the new d. to sot the new
3)	coincided with the opening of a new train station for Japan's ______
	a. famous bull it train b. famous bullied train c. famous bullet train d. famous bully it train
4)	the official Guinness World Records organisation said the event had been ______
	a. a wonder fully occasion b. a wonderfully occasion c. a wonder-filled occasion d. a wonderful occasion
5)	residents came out to tackle the challenge together ______
	a. in a positively light b. in a positive light c. in a positives light d. in a positiveness light
6)	There were strict rules to be met for the record ______
	a. to get broken b. to be broken c. to do broken d. to have broken
7)	People used only their hands in the record-______
	a. breaking endeavours b. breaking end ever c. breaking end event d. breaking endeavour
8)	We were able to achieve the record thanks to the cooperation ______
	a. of many people b. for many people c. off many people d. over many people
9)	We believe the feat will boost the celebratory atmosphere ______
	a. of the openings b. of the open in c. of the opening d. of the open inn
10)	It was tough because the snow didn't stick together, ______
	a. but I had fun b. but I had Hun c. but I had funny d. but I had fan

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Residents of a Japanese (1) ___________________ the world speed record for building snowmen. Citizens at the Iiyama Snow Festival in Nagano made 1,585 of the snowy fellows in one (2) ___________________ new mark. Around 630 people (3) ___________________ record attempt. The previous record was 1,279 snowmen, set in Utah, USA in 2011. The event in Iiyama Town (4) ___________________ opening of a new train station for Japan's famous bullet train. Justin Patterson, the adjudicator from the official Guinness World Records organisation, said (5) ___________________ been a wonderful occasion. He said: "Despite Iiyama being buried in snow, it is wonderful that the residents came (6) ___________________ challenge together in a positive light."

There were (7) ___________________ met for the record to be broken. One was that each snowman (8) ___________________ least 80 cm tall. In addition the snowmen had to be made of three separate snowballs, with eyes, a nose and arms. People (9) ___________________ hands in the record-breaking endeavour. Committee member Jiro Kobayashi told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the (10) ___________________ for the opening of the bullet train station. He said: "We were able to achieve the record thanks to the cooperation of many people. We (11) ___________________ boost [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the Shinkansen's Iiyama Station." Ichika Oguchi, 8, said: "It was tough because the (12) ___________________ together, but I had fun."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	At what kind of festival was the record broken?
2.	How many people helped make the snowmen?
3.	What did the event coincide with?
4.	Who is Justin Patterson?
5.	In what kind of light did the residents tackle this challenge?
6.	What kind of rules were there for the event?
7.	What was the minimum height each snowman had to be?
8.	Who is Jiro Kobayashi?
9.	What kind of atmosphere did the event boost?
10.	How old was the child who had fun?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	At what kind of festival was the record broken?	6.	What kind of rules were there for the event?
	a) a Guinness festival b) a snow festival c) a festival of light d) a trainspotting festival		a) lax ones b) relaxed ones c) strict ones d) made as they went along
2.	How many people helped make the snowmen?	7.	What was the minimum height each snowman had to be?
	a) almost 360 b) around 360 c) just over 630 d) around 630		a) 18cm b) 88cm c) 78cm d) 80cm
3.	What did the event coincide with?	8.	Who is Jiro Kobayashi?
	a) the opening of a train station b) a new kind of bullet c) snow d) a new Guinness		a) a committee member b) a snowman expert c) CEO of Guinness Japan d) a reporter
4.	Who is Justin Patterson?	9.	What kind of atmosphere did the event boost?
	a) the CEO of Guinness b) a snowman builder c) an adjudicator d) a snow expert		a) a celebratory one b) a weightless one c) a dark one d) a sombre one
5.	In what kind of light did the residents tackle this challenge?	10.	How old was the child who had fun?
	a) a dim one b) a positive one c) an electric one d) a bright one		a) 7 b) 8 c) 9 d) 10

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Making snowmen

You think making snowmen is the best snow-related activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): hiking, having a snowball fight or just watching it fall.

Role B – Hiking

You think hiking is the best snow-related activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): making snowmen, having a snowball fight or just watching it fall.

Role C – Having a snowball fight

You think having a snowball fight is the best snow-related activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): hiking, making snowmen or just watching it fall.

Role D – Just watching it fall

You think just watching it fall is the best snow-related activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): hiking, having a snowball fight or making snowmen.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

speed

record

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:

citizens
630
1,279
famous
wonderful
challenge

rules
80
hands
fitting
feat
stick

SNOWMEN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about snowmen 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.

SNOWMEN DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'snowman'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	What do you think of there being a record for building the most snowmen in an hour?
5)	Would you like to take part in this attempt?
6)	What do you know about Japan's bullet train?
7)	What world record would you like to break?
8)	What things are good to do in snow?
9)	Do you like snow? Why?
10)	Do you live in a community where people do things together?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How do you think the rules are decided for such a record?
13)	Why do you think each snowman had to be in three different parts?
14)	Was this a good event to mark the opening of a bullet train station?
15)	What other things do people make with snow?
16)	Do you prefer lots of snow or 40-degree heat?
17)	Where do you think the idea of snowmen came from?
18)	Why don't people say snow-women?
19)	What are the good and bad things about snow?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the snowman builders?

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

Residents of a Japanese town have (1) ____ the world speed record for building snowmen. Citizens at the Iiyama Snow Festival in Nagano made 1,585 of the snowy fellows in one hour to set the new (2) ____. Around 630 people took part in the record attempt. The (3) ____ record was 1,279 snowmen, set in Utah, USA in 2011. The event in Iiyama Town (4) ____ with the opening of a new train station for Japan's famous bullet train. Justin Patterson, the adjudicator from the official Guinness World Records organisation, said the event had been a wonderful occasion. He said: "Despite Iiyama (5) ____ buried in snow, it is wonderful that the residents came out to tackle the challenge together in a positive (6) ____."

There were strict rules to be (7) ____ for the record to be broken. One was that each snowman had to be at least 80 cm tall. In addition the snowmen had to be made of three (8) ____ snowballs, with eyes, a nose and arms. People used only their hands in the record-breaking endeavour. Committee member Jiro Kobayashi told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the event was (9) ____ for the opening of the bullet train station. He said: "We were able to achieve the record thanks (10) ____ the cooperation of many people. We believe the (11) ____ will boost [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the Shinkansen's Iiyama Station." Ichika Oguchi, 8, said: "It was tough because the snow didn't stick (12) ____, but I had fun."

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

1.	(a)	breaking	(b)	broke	(c)	broken	(d)	break
2.	(a)	mark	(b)	marking	(c)	marked	(d)	marks
3.	(a)	previous	(b)	previously	(c)	impervious	(d)	imperious
4.	(a)	coincided	(b)	coincide	(c)	coincident	(d)	coincidental
5.	(a)	be	(b)	being	(c)	been	(d)	were
6.	(a)	beam	(b)	ray	(c)	shine	(d)	light
7.	(a)	taken	(b)	answered	(c)	met	(d)	deemed
8.	(a)	separating	(b)	separates	(c)	separation	(d)	separate
9.	(a)	fitting	(b)	opting	(c)	jostling	(d)	angling
10.	(a)	to	(b)	for	(c)	by	(d)	of
11.	(a)	feet	(b)	feat	(c)	fit	(d)	foot
12.	(a)	icy	(b)	snowy	(c)	together	(d)	compact

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	serdnteis of a Japanese town
2.	630 people took part in the record epmttta
3.	dieccidno with the opening
4.	the event had been a wonderful snoicoca
5.	came out to aclkte the challenge together
6.	in a itveiops light
Paragraph 2
7.	made of three eapatsre snowballs
8.	the record-breaking reonadevu
9.	the opening of the ebltul train station
10.	thanks to the oeirtcnaopo of many people
11.	the betaylreocr atmosphere
12.	It was toghu

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	at the Iiyama Snow Festival in Nagano made 1,585 of the snowy fellows in one hour to set
( )	the new mark. Around 630 people took part in the record attempt. The previous record
( )	of a new train station for Japan's famous bullet train. Justin Patterson, the adjudicator from the official
( )	was 1,279 snowmen, set in Utah, USA in 2011. The event in Iiyama Town coincided with the opening
( )	Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the event was fitting for the opening of the bullet
( )	Guinness World Records organisation, said the event had been a wonderful occasion. He said: "Despite Iiyama being
( )	people. We believe the feat will boost [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the Shinkansen's Iiyama
( )	train station. He said: "We were able to achieve the record thanks to the cooperation of many
( )	Station." Ichika Oguchi, 8, said: "It was tough because the snow didn't stick together, but I had fun."
( 1 )	Residents of a Japanese town have broken the world speed record for building snowmen. Citizens
( )	buried in snow, it is wonderful that the residents came out to tackle the challenge together in a positive light."
( )	arms. People used only their hands in the record-breaking endeavour. Committee member Jiro Kobayashi told
( )	least 80 cm tall. In addition the snowmen had to be made of three separate snowballs, with eyes, a nose and
( )	There were strict rules to be met for the record to be broken. One was that each snowman had to be at

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	speed record Broken for the building world snowmen .
2.	Around took the people in attempt 630 part record .
3.	a station with of train Coincided opening new the .
4.	residents is came wonderful out that the It .
5.	in Tackle a the positive challenge light together .
6.	rules to be met for the record There were strict .
7.	be at least 80 cm tall Each snowman had to .
8.	of three separate snowballs The snowmen had to be made .
9.	bullet of the train the Fitting station opening for .
10.	the stick It because didn't tough snow together was .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Residents / Residence of a Japanese town have broken the world speed record for building / built snowmen. Citizens at the Iiyama Snow Festival in Nagano made 1,585 of the snowy follows / fellows in one hour to set the new marking / mark. Around 630 people took party / part in the record attempt. The previous record was 1,279 snowmen, set in Utah, USA in 2011. The event in Iiyama Town coincided / coincident with the opening of a new train station for Japan's famous / famously bullet train. Justin Patterson, the injunction / adjudicator from the official Guinness World Records organisation, said the event had been a wonderful occasion / occasional. He said: "Despite Iiyama being buried in snow, it is wonderful that the residents came out to tackle the challenge together in a positive / positively light."

There were strict / stripped rules to be met for the record to be / been broken. One was that each snowman had to be at last / least 80 cm tall. In addition the snowmen had to be made of three separation / separate snowballs, with eyes, a nose and arms. People used only them / their hands in the record-breaking endeavour. Committee member Jiro Kobayashi told Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper that the event was fitting / fitted for the opening of the bullet train station. He said: "We were ability / able to achieve the record thanks to the cooperative / cooperation of many people. We believe the feat will boost / boast [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the Shinkansen's Iiyama Station." Ichika Oguchi, 8, said: "It was tough because the snow didn't stick / stickiness together, but I had fun."

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)

R_s_d_nts _f _ J_p_n_s_ t_wn h_v_ br_k_n th_ w_rld sp__d r_c_rd f_r b__ld_ng sn_wm_n. C_t_z_ns _t th_ __y_m_ Sn_w F_st_v_l _n N_g_n_ m_d_ 1,585 _f th_ sn_wy f_ll_ws _n _n_ h__r t_ s_t th_ n_w m_rk. _r__nd 630 p__pl_ t__k p_rt _n th_ r_c_rd _tt_mpt. Th_ pr_v___s r_c_rd w_s 1,279 sn_wm_n, s_t _n _t_h, _S_ _n 2011. Th_ _v_nt _n __y_m_ T_wn c__nc_d_d w_th th_ _p_n_ng _f _ n_w tr__n st_t__n f_r J_p_n's f_m__s b_ll_t tr__n. J_st_n P_tt_rs_n, th_ _dj_d_c_t_r fr_m th_ _ff_c__l G__nn_ss W_rld R_c_rds _rg_n_s_t__n, s__d th_ _v_nt h_d b__n _ w_nd_rf_l _cc_s__n. H_ s__d: "D_sp_t_ __y_m_ b__ng b_r__d _n sn_w, _t _s w_nd_rf_l th_t th_ r_s_d_nts c_m_ __t t_ t_ckl_ th_ ch_ll_ng_ t_g_th_r _n _ p_s_t_v_ l_ght."

Th_r_ w_r_ str_ct r_l_s t_ b_ m_t f_r th_ r_c_rd t_ b_ br_k_n. _n_ w_s th_t __ch sn_wm_n h_d t_ b_ _t l__st 80 cm t_ll. _n _dd_t__n th_ sn_wm_n h_d t_ b_ m_d_ _f thr__ s_p_r_t_ sn_wb_lls, w_th _y_s, _ n_s_ _nd _rms. P__pl_ _s_d _nly th__r h_nds _n th_ r_c_rd-br__k_ng _nd__v__r. C_mm_tt__ m_mb_r J_r_ K_b_y_sh_ t_ld J_p_n's _s_h_ Sh_mb_n n_wsp_p_r th_t th_ _v_nt w_s f_tt_ng f_r th_ _p_n_ng _f th_ b_ll_t tr__n st_t__n. H_ s__d: "W_ w_r_ _bl_ t_ _ch__v_ th_ r_c_rd th_nks t_ th_ c__p_r_t__n _f m_ny p__pl_. W_ b_l__v_ th_ f__t w_ll b__st [th_ c_l_br_t_ry _tm_sph_r_ _f] th_ _p_n_ng _f th_ Sh_nk_ns_n's __y_m_ St_t__n." _ch_k_ _g_ch_, 8, s__d: "_t w_s t__gh b_c__s_ th_ sn_w d_dn't st_ck t_g_th_r, b_t _ h_d f_n."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

residents of a japanese town have broken the world speed record for building snowmen citizens at the iiyama snow festival in nagano made 1585 of the snowy fellows in one hour to set the new mark around 630 people took part in the record attempt the previous record was 1279 snowmen set in utah usa in 2011 the event in iiyama town coincided with the opening of a new train station for japan's famous bullet train justin patterson the adjudicator from the official guinness world records organisation said the event had been a wonderful occasion he said "despite iiyama being buried in snow it is wonderful that the residents came out to tackle the challenge together in a positive light"

there were strict rules to be met for the record to be broken one was that each snowman had to be at least 80 cm tall in addition the snowmen had to be made of three separate snowballs with eyes a nose and arms people used only their hands in the record-breaking endeavour committee member jiro kobayashi told japan's asahi shimbun newspaper that the event was fitting for the opening of the bullet train station he said "we were able to achieve the record thanks to the cooperation of many people we believe the feat will boost [the celebratory atmosphere of] the opening of the shinkansen's iiyama station" ichika oguchi 8 said "it was tough because the snow didn't stick together but i had fun"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ResidentsofaJapanesetownhavebrokentheworldspeedrecordforbuil
dingsnowmen.CitizensattheIiyamaSnowFestivalinNaganomade1,5
85ofthesnowyfellowsinonehourtosetthenewmark.Around630peopl
etookpartintherecordattempt.Thepreviousrecordwas1,279snowme
n,setinUtah,USAin2011.TheeventinIiyamaTowncoincidedwiththeop
eningofanewtrainstationforJapan'sfamousbullettrain.JustinPatterso
n,theadjudicatorfromtheofficialGuinnessWorldRecordsorganisation
,saidtheeventhadbeenawonderfuloccasion.Hesaid:"DespiteIiyama
beingburiedinsnow,itiswonderfulthattheresidentscameouttotacklet
hechallengetogetherinapositivelight."Therewerestrictrulestobemet
fortherecordtobebroken.Onewasthateachsnowmanhadtobeatleast
80cmtall.Inadditionthesnowmenhadtobemadeofthreeseparatesno
wballs,witheyes,anoseandarms.Peopleusedonlytheirhandsintherec
ord-breakingendeavour.CommitteememberJiroKobayashitoldJap
an'sAsahiShimbunnewspaperthattheeventwasfittingfortheopening
ofthebullettrainstation.Hesaid:"Wewereabletoachievetherecordtha
nkstothecooperationofmanypeople.Webelievethefeatwillboost[thec
elebratoryatmosphereof]theopeningoftheShinkansen'sIiyamaStati
on."IchikaOguchi,8,said:"Itwastoughbecausethesnowdidn'tstickto
gether,butIhadfun."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The word 'snowman' is sexist and should be replaced by 'snowperson'. 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 snowmen. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. SEXIST: Write a magazine article about whether the word 'snowman' is sexist and should be replaced by 'snowperson'. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a snowman. Ask him/her three questions about snowmen. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	residents	a.	citizens
2	fellows	b.	men
3.	previous	c.	old
4.	coincided	d.	happened together
5.	tackle	e.	confront
6.	strict	f.	rigid
7.	in addition	g.	what's more
8.	endeavour	h.	attempt
9.	cooperation	i.	collaboration
10.	tough	j.	difficult

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	A snow festival
2.	About 630
3.	The opening of a bullet train station
4.	An adjudicator from Guinness
5.	A positive one
6.	Strict rules
7.	80cm
8.	A committee member
9.	A celebratory one
10.	8

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

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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Japan town beats world snowman record (21st February, 2015)

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