Breaking News English Lesson: Amazon Fires

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Amazon rainforest fires are an international crisis (25th August, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - the Amazon fires - Level 3

Fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest at an alarming rate. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the record number of fires is now an "international crisis". There has been an 85 per cent increase in fires in the Amazon this year. Mr Macron said urgent action needed to be taken. He said the fires needed to be on top of the agenda at the G7 summit of world leaders in Biarritz. Macron tweeted about how serious he thought the fires were. He wrote: "Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produce 20% of our planet's oxygen - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency in two days."

Other leaders agreed that they should discuss the fires. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fires an "acute emergency". She said they were "shocking". She added that the fires didn't only threaten Brazil and its neighboring countries, but also affected the whole world. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the fires "not only heartbreaking," but "an international crisis". He added: "We stand ready to provide whatever help we can to bring them under control and help protect one of Earth's greatest wonders." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

the Amazon fires - Level 0, the Amazon fires - Level 1 or the Amazon fires - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49443389
https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/458399-fires-in-the-amazon-the-planet-at-risk
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49450495

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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE AMAZON FIRES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Amazon fires. 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?
fires / rainforest / number / crisis / agenda / world leaders / serious / lungs / oxygen /
leaders / emergency / prime minister / heartbreaking / under control / biodiversity
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE WHOLE WORLD: Students A strongly believe the whole world should put out fires in the Amazon; Students B strongly believe Brazil is responsible. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CLIMATE CHANGE: How serious are these problems? How can we deal with this? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Serious?	What We Can Do
Wildfires
Droughts
Hurricanes
Heatwaves
Rising sea levels
Melting glaciers

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. OXYGEN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "oxygen". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. GLOBAL WARMING: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest causes of global warming at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

factory farming
use of aerosols
overfishing
inability to change
wildfires
cars
deforestation
use of coal

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	burning	a.	Requiring immediate action or attention.
2.	alarming	b.	Being on fire.
3.	crisis	c.	A time of great difficulty, trouble, or danger.
4.	urgent	d.	The two things in your body that let you breathe air.
5.	agenda	e.	Make or create something.
6.	lungs	f.	Worrying or disturbing.
7.	produce	g.	A list of things to be discussed at a formal meeting.

Paragraph 2

8.	discuss	h.	Causing great distress; very upsetting.
9.	shocking	i.	All of the different kinds of animals, plants and other life in the world or in an area.
10.	threaten	j.	Have enough money to pay for something.
11.	heartbreaking	k.	Cause someone or something to be in danger.
12.	protect	l.	Keep safe from harm or injury.
13.	afford	m.	Talk about something with another person or group of people.
14.	biodiversity	n.	Causing a feeling of great surprise.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

The article said fires in the Amazon have set alarm bells ringing. T / F
Fires in the Amazon have increased by 85% this year. T / F
The Amazon provides 30% of the world's oxygen. T / F
France's president wants to talk about the fires at a summit for 3 days. T / F
Germany's leader said the fires were shocking. T / F
Germany's leader said the fires only affected South America. T / F
The UK leader said the fires were heartbreaking. T / F
The UN leader said we cannot afford more damage to biodiversity. T / F

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

alarming
crisis
urgent
literally
discuss
acute
threaten
heartbreaking
wonders
major

severe
really
talk through
greatest
worrying
endanger
marvels
emergency
upsetting
serious

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

Fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest
the record number
Mr Macron said urgent action needed
the fires needed to be on top
the lungs which produce 20% of
Other leaders agreed that they should
threaten Brazil and its
We stand ready to provide whatever
protect one of Earth's greatest
In the midst of the

to be taken
global climate crisis
our planet's oxygen
neighboring countries
of fires
wonders
of the agenda
at an alarming rate
help we can
discuss the fires

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

record
oxygen
agenda
discuss
crisis
alarming
serious
taken

Fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest at an (1) ____________ rate. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the (2) ____________ number of fires is now an "international (3) ____________". There has been an 85 per cent increase in fires in the Amazon this year. Mr Macron said urgent action needed to be (4) ____________. He said the fires needed to be on top of the (5) ____________ at the G7 summit of world leaders in Biarritz. Macron tweeted about how (6) ____________ he thought the fires were. He wrote: "Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produce 20% of our planet's (7) ____________ - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's (8) ____________ this emergency in two days."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

heartbreaking
midst
help
agreed
shocking
source
affected
wonders

Other leaders (9) ____________ that they should discuss the fires. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fires an "acute emergency". She said they were "(10) ____________ ". She added that the fires didn't only threaten Brazil and its neighboring countries, but also (11) ____________ the whole world. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the fires "not only (12) ____________," but "an international crisis". He added: "We stand ready to provide whatever (13) ____________ we can to bring them under control and help protect one of Earth's greatest (14) ____________." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "In the (15) ____________ of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major (16) ____________ of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest at an ______
     a. alarm in rate
     b. alarming late
     c. alarm on late
     d. alarming rate
2) There has been an 85 per cent increase in fires in the Amazon ______
     a. these year
     b. this years
     c. this year
     d. these years
3) He said the fires needed to be on top of the agenda at ______
     a. the G7 summit
     b. the G7 sum mitt
     c. the G7 sum met
     d. the G7 some mitt
4) Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produce 20% of ______
     a. our plan it's oxygen
     b. our planet's oxygen
     c. our plan net's oxygen
     d. our plan nets oxygen
5) Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency ______
     a. into days
     b. in two days
     c. inter days
     d. in to days

6) Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fires an "______"
     a. acute emergency
     b. acute emergent sea
     c. acute emerge antsy
     d. acute emerge and see
7) threaten Brazil and its neighboring countries, but also affected ______
     a. the whirl world
     b. the while world
     c. the hole world
     d. the whole world
8) We stand ready to provide whatever help we can to bring them ______
     a. under controls
     b. in the controls
     c. udder control
     d. under control
9) help protect one of Earth's ______
     a. greatest wonder
     b. greatest winders
     c. greatest wonders
     d. greatest wanders
10) we cannot afford more damage to a major ______
     a. source of oxygen
     b. sauce of oxygen
     c. scarce of oxygen
     d. soars of oxygen

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest at (1) ___________________. French President Emmanuel Macron has said (2) ___________________ of fires is now an "international crisis". There has been an 85 per cent increase in fires in the Amazon this year. Mr Macron said urgent action needed to be taken. He said the fires needed to be on top (3) ___________________ at the G7 summit of world leaders in Biarritz. Macron tweeted about how serious he thought the fires were. He wrote: "Our (4) ___________________. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - (5) ___________________ produce 20% of our planet's oxygen - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss (6) ___________________ two days."

Other leaders agreed that they should discuss the fires. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fires (7) ___________________. She said they were "shocking". She added that the fires didn't only threaten Brazil and its neighboring countries, but (8) ___________________ whole world. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the fires "not only heartbreaking," but "an international crisis". He added: "We stand (9) ___________________ whatever help we can to bring them under control and (10) ___________________ of Earth's greatest wonders." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "In (11) ___________________ the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

At what kind of rate did the article say the fires were burning?
What kind of increase has there been in fires this year?
What did the article say is happening in Biarritz this week?
How much of the world's oxygen does the Amazon produce?
How many days does Emmanuel Macron want to discuss the fires for?
Who said the fires were "shocking"?
Who did Angela Merkel say the fires threatened besides South America?
Who said the fires were "heartbreaking"?
What did the UK leader call the Amazon?
Who said we are in the midst of a global climate crisis?

Multiple choice quiz

1) At what kind of rate did the article say the fires were burning?
a) a steady rate
b) an alarming rate
c) a crazy rate
d) an unstoppable rate
2) What kind of increase has there been in fires this year?
a) an 80% increase
b) an 81% increase
c) an 83% increase
d) an 85% increase
3) What did the article say is happening in Biarritz this week?
a) a meeting about Brazil
b) a climate conference
c) the G7 Summit
d) a conference on the Amazon
4) How much of the world's oxygen does the Amazon produce?
a) 22%
b) 25%
c) 28%
d) 31%
5) How many days does Emmanuel Macron want to discuss the fires for?
a) one
b) two
c) three
d) four

6) Who said the fires were "shocking"?
a) the German leader
b) the UK leader
c) the Brazilian leader
d) the UN Secretary-General
7) Who did Angela Merkel say the fires threatened besides South America?
a) the southern hemisphere
b) North America
c) the whole world
d) Australia
8) Who said the fires were "heartbreaking"?
a) the UK leader
b) the German leader
c) the UN Secretary-General
d) the Brazilian leader
9) What did the UK leader call the Amazon?
a) an important place
b) awesome
c) the lungs of the world
d) one of Earth's greatest wonders
10) Who said we are in the midst of a global climate crisis?
a) the UK leader
b) the Brazilian leader
c) the UN Secretary-General
d) the German leader

Role play

Role A – Wildfires
You think wildfires are the biggest causes of global warming. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): cars, deforestation or inability to change.

Role B – Cars
You think cars the biggest causes of global warming. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): wildfires, deforestation or inability to change.

Role C – Deforestation
You think deforestation is biggest cause of global warming. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): cars, wildfires or inability to change.

Role D – Inability to Change
You think our inability to change is biggest cause of global warming. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): cars, deforestation or wildfires.

After reading / listening

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

'rain'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'forest'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

called

threaten

whole

ready

greatest

major

rate

increase

top

serious

lungs

two

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Amazon rainforest fires are an international crisis

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'rainforest'?
What do you know about the Amazon fires?
How dangerous are the fires to the world?
What do you know about the Amazon rainforest?
What urgent action can be taken to put the fires out?
Do you agree with the French President?
How serious are the fires?
What are your feelings about the Amazon rainforests?
What advice do you have for the president of Brazil?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'fire'?
What do you think about what you read?
What did your country's leader say about the fires?
Why was there more on the news about the Notre Dame fire?
What will the climate be like in 50 years from now?
How do the Amazon fires affect the whole world?
What three adjectives best describe this story?
How much of your country's forests are left?
What questions would you like to ask Brazil's president?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Fires are (1) ____ in the Amazon rainforest at an alarming (2) ____. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the record number of fires is now an "international crisis". There has been an 85 per cent (3) ____ in fires in the Amazon this year. Mr Macron said urgent action needed to be taken. He said the fires needed to be on (4) ____ of the agenda at the G7 summit of world leaders in Biarritz. Macron tweeted about how (5) ____ he thought the fires were. He wrote: "Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produce 20% of our planet's (6) ____ - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency in two days."

Other leaders (7) ____ that they should discuss the fires. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fires an "acute emergency". She said they were "(8) ____". She added that the fires didn't only threaten Brazil and its neighboring countries, but also affected the whole world. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the fires "not only heartbreaking," but "an international crisis". He added: "We (9) ____ ready to provide whatever help we can to bring them (10) ____ control and help protect one of Earth's greatest (11) ____." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major (12) ____ of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) burns (b) burning (c) burnt (d) burn
(a) date (b) rate (c) late (d) gate
(a) risen (b) up (c) height (d) increase
(a) side (b) top (c) bottom (d) middle
(a) series (b) serious (c) services (d) sears
(a) sun (b) iron (c) oxygen (d) blood
(a) agreement (b) agrees (c) agreed (d) agreeing
(a) shock (b) shocks (c) shocking (d) shocker
(a) jump (b) kneel (c) sit (d) stand
(a) under (b) over (c) around (d) in
(a) wonders (b) wanders (c) wends (d) winds
(a) sauce (b) sass (c) source (d) scarce

Spelling

Paragraph 1

at an mirnalag rate
an international sricis
on top of the aenadg
Our house is burning, ytlrlaeil
produce 20% of our planet's nxoegy
let's discuss this mnegecrye

Paragraph 2

Other leaders earegd
nhrettea Brazil and its neighboring countries
rpdiveo whatever help we can
one of Earth's greatest ersnowd
a major source of oxygen and dyvteioirbis
The Amazon must be topetcedr

Put the text back together

(...) leaders in Biarritz. Macron tweeted about how serious he thought the fires were. He wrote: "Our house is
(...) Brazil and its neighboring countries, but also affected the whole world. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
(...) be taken. He said the fires needed to be on top of the agenda at the G7 summit of world
(...) Other leaders agreed that they should discuss the fires. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fires an
(...) burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produce 20% of our planet's
( 1 ) Fires are burning in the Amazon rainforest at an alarming rate. French President Emmanuel Macron
(...) has said the record number of fires is now an "international crisis". There has been an
(...) more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected."
(...) 85 per cent increase in fires in the Amazon this year. Mr Macron said urgent action needed to
(...) wonders." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford
(...) called the fires "not only heartbreaking," but "an international crisis". He added: "We stand ready
(...) oxygen - is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discuss this emergency in two days."
(...) to provide whatever help we can to bring them under control and help protect one of Earth's greatest
(...) "acute emergency". She said they were "shocking". She added that the fires didn't only threaten

Put the words in the right order

are Amazon the burning Fires rainforest . in
increase There fires . an has been in 85%
needed said action taken . to urgent be Macron
our planet's oxygen . Lungs of 20% produce which
days . two emergency in discuss this Let's
the they that fires . discuss agreed Leaders should
emergency . Merkel the an has called fires acute
help to we provide can . ready Stand whatever
protect wonders . greatest of one Help Earth's
biodiversity . A of and oxygen source major

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Fires are burning / burnt in the Amazon rainforest at an alarming rate. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the record / recording number of fires is now an "international crises / crisis". There has been an 85 per cent increase in fire / fires in the Amazon this year. Mr Macron said urgency / urgent action needed to be taken. He said the fires necessary / needed to be on top of the agenda at the G7 summit / apex of world leaders in Biarritz. Macron tweeted about how serious he thought the fires were. He wrote: "Our house is burning. Literally / Literary. The Amazon rain forest - the lungs which produce 20% of our planet's oxygen - is in / on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let's discussion / discuss this emergency in two days."

Other leaders agreed / agreement that they should discuss the fires. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called / calls the fires an "acute emergency". She said they were "shocking". She added that the fires didn't only threat / threaten Brazil and its neighboring countries, but also effected / affected the whole world. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the fires "not only heartbreaking / heartbroken," but "an international crisis". He added: "We stand ready to provide / provides whatever help we can to bring them over / under control and help protect one of Earth's greatest wonderful / wonders." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more / most damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protection / protected."

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)

F_r_s _r_ b_r n_n g _n t h_ A m_z_n r__ n f_r_s t _t _n _l_r m_n g r_t_. F r_n c h P r_s_d_n t E m m_n__ l M_c r_n h_s s__ d t h_ r_c_r d n_m b_r _f f_r_s _s n_w _n "_n t_r n_t__ n_l c r_s_s " . T h_r_ h_s b__ n _n 8 5 p_r c_n t _n c r__ s_ _n f_r_s _n t h_ A m_z_n t h_s y__ r . M r M_c r_n s__ d _r g_n t _c t__ n n__ d_d t_ b_ t_k_n . H_ s__ d t h_ f_r_s n__ d_d t_ b_ _n t_p _f t h_ _g_n d_ _t t h_ G 7 s_m m_t _f w_r l d l__ d_r s _n B__ r r_t z . M_c r_n t w__ t_d _b__ t h_w s_r___s h_ t h__ g h t t h_ f_r_s w_r_. H_ w r_t_: " O_r h__ s_ _s b_r n_n g . L_t_r_l l y . T h_ A m_z_n r__ n f_r_s t - t h_ l_n g s w h_c h p r_d_c_ 2 0 % _f __ r p l_n_t ' s _x y g_n - _s _n f_r_. I t _s _n _n t_r n_t__ n_l c r_s_s . M_m b_r s _f t h_ G 7 S_m m_t , l_t ' s d_s c_s s t h_s _m_r g_n c y _n t w_ d_y s . "

O t h_r l__ d_r s _g r__ d t h_t t h_y s h__ l d d_s c_s s t h_ f_r_s . G_r m_n C h_n c_l l_r A n g_l_ M_r k_l h_s c_l l_d t h_ f_r_s _n "_c_t_ _m_r g_n c y " . S h_ s__ d t h_y w_r_ " s h_c k_n g " . S h_ _d d_d t h_t t h_ f_r_s d_d n ' t _n l y t h r__ t_n B r_z_l _n d _t s n__ g h b_r_n g c__ n t r__ s , b_t _l s_ _f f_c t_d t h_ w h_l_ w_r l d . T h_ U K P r_m_ M_n_s t_r B_r_s J_h n s_n c_l l_d t h_ f_r_s " n_t _n l y h__ r t b r__ k_n g , " b_t "_n _n t_r n_t__ n_l c r_s_s " . H_ _d d_d : " W_ s t_n d r__ d y t_ p r_v_d_ w h_t_v_r h_l p w_ c_n t_ b r_n g t h_m _n d_r c_n t r_l _n d h_l p p r_t_c t _n_ _f E_r t h ' s g r__ t_s t w_n d_r s . " U N S_c r_t_r y - G_n_r_l A n t_n__ G_t_r r_s s__ d : " I n t h_ m_d s t _f t h_ g l_b_l c l_m_t_ c r_s_s , w_ c_n n_t _f f_r d m_r_ d_m_g_ t_ _ m_j_r s__ r c_ _f _x y g_n _n d b__ d_v_r s_t y . T h_ A m_z_n m_s t b_ p r_t_c t_d . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

fires are burning in the amazon rainforest at an alarming rate french president emmanuel macron has said the record number of fires is now an international crisis there has been an 85 per cent increase in fires in the amazon this year mr macron said urgent action needed to be taken he said the fires needed to be on top of the agenda at the g7 summit of world leaders in biarritz macron tweeted about how serious he thought the fires were he wrote our house is burning literally the amazon rain forest the lungs which produce 20 of our planets oxygen is on fire it is an international crisis members of the g7 summit lets discuss this emergency in two days

other leaders agreed that they should discuss the fires german chancellor angela merkel has called the fires an acute emergency she said they were shocking she added that the fires didnt only threaten brazil and its neighboring countries but also affected the whole world the uk prime minister boris johnson called the fires not only heartbreaking but an international crisis he added we stand ready to provide whatever help we can to bring them under control and help protect one of earths greatest wonders un secretarygeneral antonio guterres said in the midst of the global climate crisis we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity the amazon must be protected

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

FiresareburningintheAmazonrainforestatanalarmingrate.FrenchPre
sidentEmmanuelMacronhassaidtherecordnumberoffiresisnowan"in
ternationalcrisis".Therehasbeenan85percentincreaseinfiresintheA
mazonthisyear.MrMacronsaidurgentactionneededtobetaken.Hesaid
thefiresneededtobeontopoftheagendaattheG7summitofworldleader
sinBiarritz.Macrontweetedabouthowserioushethoughtthefireswere.
Hewrote:"Ourhouseisburning.Literally.TheAmazonrainforest-thelu
ngswhichproduce20%ofourplanet'soxygen-isonfire.Itisaninterna
tionalcrisis.MembersoftheG7Summit,let'sdiscussthisemergencyint
wodays."Otherleadersagreedthattheyshoulddiscussthefires.Germa
nChancellorAngelaMerkelhascalledthefiresan"acuteemergency".Sh
esaidtheywere"shocking".Sheaddedthatthefiresdidn'tonlythreaten
Brazilanditsneighboringcountries,butalsoaffectedthewholeworld.Th
eUKPrimeMinisterBorisJohnsoncalledthefires"notonlyheartbreaking
,"but"aninternationalcrisis".Headded:"Westandreadytoprovidewha
teverhelpwecantobringthemundercontrolandhelpprotectoneofEart
h'sgreatestwonders."UNSecretary-GeneralAntonioGuterressaid:"I
nthemidstoftheglobalclimatecrisis,wecannotaffordmoredamagetoa
majorsourceofoxygenandbiodiversity.TheAmazonmustbeprotected
."

Free writing

Write about Amazon fires for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Countries should be heavily fined for not putting out forest fires. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. THE AMAZON FIRES: Make a poster about the Amazon fires. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. INTERNATIONAL HELP: Write a magazine article about all countries helping to fight the Amazon fires. 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 an expert on the Amazon fires. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on the Amazon. 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

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: Amazon Fires

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