Breaking News English Lesson: Tortoises

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World's oldest land animal celebrates 190th birthday (15th December, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - Tortoises - Level 3

Everybody likes a birthday. Some people live long enough to have 120 of them. The world's oldest land animal has just celebrated his 190th birthday. The animal is a Seychelles giant turtle called Jonathan. Zoologists believe he was born in 1832, but there are no official records of his birth. Some scientists think Jonathan might actually be ten years older. He could be as old as 200. Jonathan was born in the Seychelles. He was taken to the British overseas territory of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in 1882 as a gift for the St Helena governor. Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen Victoria became queen, and before the invention of the postage stamp, Morse code, refrigeration, and the gun*.

Jonathan's vets say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day party for him. Chefs made him a special tortoise birthday cake that was full of his favourite vegetables. St Helena also launched a set of special postage stamps to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations because he is blind. He also has no sense of smell. However, he has an excellent sense of hearing, so he could hear "Happy Birthday" being sung. Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has plenty of energy. He also likes to relax in the sun. Mr Hollins said: "On mild days, he will sunbathe – his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it to his core."

* revolver

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Tortoises - Level 0, Tortoises - Level 1 or Tortoises - Level 2

Sources

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/03/world/seychelles-tortoise-st-helena-jonathan-190-birthday-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/02/worlds-oldest-recorded-tortoise-prepares-for-190th-birthday-party
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/54483/20221206/jonathan-the-tortoise-worlds-oldest-land-animal-turns-190.htm

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TORTOISES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tortoises. 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?
everybody / birthday / animal / turtle / zoologists / scientists / overseas / invention /
vets / party / vegetables / stamps / blind / hearing / energy / relax / sunbathe / heat
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LONG LIFE: Students A strongly believe everyone should live to be over 100; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BEST AGE: What are the good and bad things about being at these ages? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good Things	Bad Things
10
20
40
70
100
190

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. PARTY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "party". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. HISTORY: Rank these with your partner. Put the period of history you would to go back to at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

1990s
1960s
1920s
1830s
1500s
900s
0
10,000 years ago

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	celebrated	a.	The arrival of a baby from the body of its mother.
2.	giant	b.	An expert in or student of the behaviour of animals.
3.	zoologist	c.	Very, very, very big.
4.	records	d.	Something that is totally new and never made before.
5.	birth	e.	Did something fun because of a happy day, event or time.
6.	territory	f.	Pieces of information about the past that make sure we know about the past.
7.	invention	g.	An area of land under a ruler or state.

Paragraph 2

8.	chef	h.	An animal doctor.
9.	launched	i.	Sit or lie in the sun, especially make the skin darker.
10.	blind	j.	Quite warm; less cold than expected.
11.	vet	k.	Introduced a new product to the public for the first time.
12.	mild	l.	Take in energy or a liquid by chemical or physical action.
13.	sunbathe	m.	A professional cook.
14.	absorb	n.	Unable to see.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says many people live to be 120 years old. T / F
Official records say the tortoise was born in 1832. T / F
Jonathan was born in the Seychelles. T / F
The giant turtle was born before refrigeration was invented. T / F
Jonathan had a strawberry cake for his birthday. T / F
Jonathan is deaf, but he can see. T / F
Jonathan likes to sunbathe and relax in the sun. T / F
Jonathan likes to collect shells. T / F

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

celebrate
official
gift
invention
refrigeration
favourite
launched
excellent
plenty
absorb

most-liked
cooling
a lot of
present
superb
honour
creation
soak up
recognized
created

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

Some people live long
there are no official
Jonathan might actually
taken to the British overseas
before the invention of
There was a three-
He also has no sense
He also likes to relax
his long neck and legs stretched fully
absorb

heat
the postage stamp
out of his shell
in the sun
records of his birth
of smell
enough to have 120
be ten years older
day party for him
territory of St Helena

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

born
just
code
official
gift
enough
giant
territory

Everybody likes a birthday. Some people live long (1) __________________ to have 120 of them. The world's oldest land animal has (2) _____________________ celebrated his 190th birthday. The animal is a Seychelles (3) _____________________ turtle called Jonathan. Zoologists believe he was born in 1832, but there are no (4) _____________________ records of his birth. Some scientists think Jonathan might actually be ten years older. He could be as old as 200. Jonathan was (5) _____________________ in the Seychelles. He was taken to the British overseas (6) _____________________ of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in 1882 as a (7) _____________________ for the St Helena governor. Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen Victoria became queen, and before the invention of the postage stamp, Morse (8) _____________________, refrigeration, and the gun*.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

sung
vets
blind
heat
full
mild
launched
hearing

Jonathan's (9) _____________________ say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day party for him. Chefs made him a special tortoise birthday cake that was (10) _____________________ of his favourite vegetables. St Helena also (11) _____________________ a set of special postage stamps to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations because he is (12) _____________________. He also has no sense of smell. However, he has an excellent sense of (13) _____________________, so he could hear "Happy Birthday" being (14) _____________________. Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has plenty of energy. He also likes to relax in the sun. Mr Hollins said: "On (15) _____________________ days, he will sunbathe - his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb (16) _____________________ and transfer it to his core."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Some people live long enough to have ______
   a. 120 of them
     b. 120 off them
     c. 120 of then
     d. 120 off then
2) he was born in 1832, but there are no official ______
     a. records of his birth
     b. records of his births
     c. records of his birthed
     d. records of his berth
3) He was taken to the ______
     a. British overs ease territory
     b. British over sees territory
     c. British oversees territory
     d. British overseas territory
4) Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen ______
     a. Victoria became queens
     b. Victoria became queen
     c. Victoria became quince
     d. Victoria became clean
5) the invention of the postage stamp, Morse code, refrigeration, ______
     a. and the gum
     b. end the gun
     c. end a gun
     d. and the gun

6) Jonathan's vets say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day ______
     a. party from him
     b. par tee for him
     c. part tea for him
     d. party for him
7) St Helena also launched a set of ______
     a. specially postage stamps
     b. special post age stamps
     c. special postage stamp
     d. special postage stamps
8) Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations because ______
     a. he is blinds
     b. he is blind
     c. he is blinder
   d. he is blindly
9) Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has ______
     a. plenty oft energy
     b. plenty of energy
     c. plenty off energy
     d. plenty have energy
10) stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it ______
     a. to his corps
     b. to his cor!
     c. to his core
     d. to his caw

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everybody (1) ____________________. Some people live long enough to have 120 of them. The world's oldest land animal (2) _________________ his 190th birthday. The animal is a Seychelles giant turtle called Jonathan. Zoologists believe he was born in 1832, but there are no official records (3) ____________________. Some scientists think Jonathan might actually be ten years older. He (4) ____________________ old as 200. Jonathan was born in the Seychelles. He was taken to the British (5) ____________________ St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in 1882 as a gift for the St Helena governor. Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen Victoria became queen, and before the invention of (6) ____________________, Morse code, refrigeration, and the gun*.

Jonathan's vets say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day (7) ____________________. Chefs made him a special tortoise birthday cake that was full of his favourite vegetables. St Helena also (8) ____________________ of special postage stamps to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations because (9) ____________________. He also has no sense of smell. However, he has an excellent (10) ____________________, so he could hear "Happy Birthday" being sung. Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has (11) ____________________. He also likes to relax in the sun. Mr Hollins said: "On mild days, he will sunbathe - his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell (12) ____________________ and transfer it to his core."

Comprehension questions

Who likes a birthday?
Where was Jonathan born?
What do we need so we are sure that Jonathan is 190?
Where was Jonathan taken to in 1882?
Who was born after Jonathan?
How long was Jonathan's birthday party?
What kind of birthday cake did Jonathan have?
Which of Jonathan's senses is in good working order?
Who is Joe Hollins?
What does Jonathan absorb with his legs?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who likes a birthday?
a) Jonathan
b) children
c) everyone
d) people who are over 100
2) Where was Jonathan born?
a) the Seychelles
b) on a beach
c) in a zoo
d) in the sea
3) What do we need so we are sure that Jonathan is 190?
a) someone who was there
b) official records
c) a DNA test
d) a blood test
4) Where was Jonathan taken to in 1882?
a) a beach
b) a jungle
c) a zoo
d) St Helena
5) Who was born after Jonathan?
a) Joe Hollins
b) everyone
c) Queen Victoria
d) Jonathan's mate

6) How long was Jonathan's birthday party?
a) three hours
b) three days
c) three weeks
d) three minutes
7) What kind of birthday cake did Jonathan have?
a) grass
b) coconut
c) strawberry
d) vegetable
8) Which of Jonathan's senses is in good working order?
a) sight
b) hearing
c) taste
d) smell
9) Who is Joe Hollins?
a) the Seychelles president
b) Jonathan's vet
c) the St Helena president
d) the head of the WWF
10) What does Jonathan absorb with his legs?
a) heat
b) ideas
c) DNA
d) CO2

Role play

Role A – The 1990s
You think the 1990s is the best time to go back to visit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the 1960s, the 1500s or 10,000 years ago.

Role B – The 1960s
You think the 1960s is the best time to go back to visit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the 1990s, the 1500s or 10,000 years ago.

Role C – The 1500s
You think the 1500s is the best time to go back to visit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the 1960s, the 1990s or 10,000 years ago.

Role D – 10,000 Years Ago
You think 10,000 years ago is the best time to go back to visit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their times. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the 1960s, the 1500s or the 1990s.

After reading / listening

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

'land'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'animal'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

everybody

giant

records

200

born

gun

good

full

set

smell

still

fully

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 - Tortoises

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 'animal'?
What do you think of birthdays?
What was your best birthday?
How long would you like to live?
What is the best present to buy a tortoise?
What would you like as a birthday present?
What would it be like to live to 190?
What important things were invented after you were born?
What advice do you have for Jonathan?

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 'tortoise'?
What do you think about what you read?
Have you ever had a birthday party?
What do you think of vegetable birthday cakes?
What do you think of the song 'Happy Birthday'?
Do you always have plenty of energy?
Do you like to relax in the sun?
What do you know about tortoises?
What questions would you like to ask Jonathan?

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)

Everybody (1) ____ a birthday. Some people live long enough to have 120 of them. The world's oldest land animal has just (2) ____ his 190th birthday. The animal is a Seychelles giant turtle called Jonathan. Zoologists believe he was born in 1832, but there are no official records (3) ____ his birth. Some scientists think Jonathan might actually be ten years older. He could be as old as 200. Jonathan was (4) ____ in the Seychelles. He was taken to the British overseas territory of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in 1882 as a gift (5) ____ the St Helena governor. Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen Victoria became queen, and before the (6) ____ of the postage stamp, Morse code, refrigeration, and the gun*.

Jonathan's (7) ____ say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day party for him. Chefs made him a special tortoise birthday cake that was full of his favourite vegetables. St Helena also (8) ____ a set of special postage stamps to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations because he is (9) ____. He also has no sense of smell. However, he has an excellent sense of hearing, so he could hear "Happy Birthday" being (10) ____. Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has plenty of energy. He also likes to relax in the sun. Mr Hollins said: "On (11) ____ days, he will sunbathe - his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it to his (12) ____."

* revolver

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) likely (b) like (c) likes (d) liking
(a) celebrated (b) celebrates (c) celebration (d) celebrate
(a) of (b) on (c) at (d) by
(a) born (b) birth (c) birthed (d) births
(a) on (b) of (c) at (d) in
(a) invent (b) invents (c) inventive (d) invention
(a) bets (b) lets (c) vets (d) pets
(a) latched (b) lurched (c) lunched (d) launched
(a) blind (b) blinds (c) blindly (d) blinder
(a) sing (b) sung (c) sang (d) song
(a) mid (b) mild (c) mood (d) mold
(a) case (b) rind (c) core (d) peel

Spelling

Paragraph 1

there are no fafciloi records of his birth
ntsestscii think Jonathan might
He was taken to the British overseas yirrroett
a gift for the St Helena envororg
before the ietnivnno of the postage stamp
Morse code, ieoiegrfrnatr, and the gun

Paragraph 2

vtes say he had a good birthday
leuhcand a set of special postage stamps
he has an xleeneclt sense of hearing
the giant tortoise still has entlyp of energy
On mild days, he will uanesthb
rsobba heat and transfer it to his core

Put the text back together

(...) born in 1832, but there are no official records of his birth. Some scientists think Jonathan might
(...) hearing, so he could hear "Happy Birthday" being sung. Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has plenty
(...) because he is blind. He also has no sense of smell. However, he has an excellent sense of
(...) to the British overseas territory of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in 1882 as a
(...) cake that was full of his favourite vegetables. St Helena also launched a set of special postage
(...) just celebrated his 190th birthday. The animal is a Seychelles giant turtle called Jonathan. Zoologists believe he was
(...) the invention of the postage stamp, Morse code, refrigeration, and the gun.
(...) neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it to his core."
(...) stamps to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations
( 1 ) Everybody likes a birthday. Some people live long enough to have 120 of them. The world's oldest land animal has
(...) actually be ten years older. He could be as old as 200. Jonathan was born in the Seychelles. He was taken
(...) Jonathan's vets say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day party for him. Chefs made him a special tortoise birthday
(...) of energy. He also likes to relax in the sun. Mr Hollins said: "On mild days, he will sunbathe - his long
(...) gift for the St Helena governor. Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen Victoria became queen, and before

Put the words in the right order

enough long to have people live Some 120 .
are his There birth . official records no of
might Jonathan actually years be ten older .
taken British the overseas He was territory . to
of postage Before the the stamp . invention
good Jonathan's birthday . had say he vets a
birthday Chefs made cake . tortoise a special him
to get not Jonathan did see any celebrations .
has still giant tortoise of The plenty energy .
it to heat core . his Absorb and transfer

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Everybody likes a / the birthday. Some people live long enough / plenty to have 120 of them. The world's oldest land animal has just celebration / celebrated his 190th birthday. The animal is a Seychelles giant turtle called Jonathan. Zoologists / Zoology believe he was born / birth in 1832, but there are no officially / official records of his birth. Some scientists think Jonathan might actual / actually be ten years older. He could be as old as 200. Jonathan was born in the Seychelles. He was taken to / at the British overseas territory of St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean in 1882 as a gift for the St Helena governor. Jonathan was born before Britain's Queen Victoria got / became queen, and before the invention at / of the postage stamp, Morse code, refrigeration, and the gun.

Jonathan's vest / vets say he had a good birthday. There was a three-day party for his / him. Chefs made him a special tortoise birthday cake that was full of / at his favourite vegetables. St Helena also launched / lunched a set of special postage stamps to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately, Jonathan did not get / look to see any of the celebrations because he is blind. He also has no cents / sense of smell. However, he has an excellent sense of hearing / hear, so he could hear "Happy Birthday" being sung. Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, said the giant tortoise still has plenty on / of energy. He also likes to relax in the sun. Mr Hollins said: "On mild / mid days, he will sunbathe - his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat / cold and transfer it to his core."

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

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

_v_ryb_dy l_k_s _ b_rthd_y. S_m_ p__pl_ l_v_ l_ng _n__gh t_ h_v_ 120 _f th_m. Th_ w_rld's _ld_st l_nd _n_m_l h_s j_st c_l_br_t_d h_s 190th b_rthd_y. Th_ _n_m_l _s _ S_ych_ll_s g__nt t_rtl_ c_ll_d J_n_th_n. Z__l_g_sts b_l__v_ h_ w_s b_rn _n 1832, b_t th_r_ _r_ n_ _ff_c__l r_c_rds _f h_s b_rth. S_m_ sc__nt_sts th_nk J_n_th_n m_ght _ct__lly b_ t_n y__rs _ld_r. H_ c__ld b_ _s _ld _s 200. J_n_th_n w_s b_rn _n th_ S_ych_ll_s. H_ w_s t_k_n t_ th_ Br_t_sh _v_rs__s t_rr_t_ry _f St H_l_n_ _n th_ S__th _tl_nt_c _c__n _n 1882 _s _ g_ft f_r th_ St H_l_n_ g_v_rn_r. J_n_th_n w_s b_rn b_f_r_ Br_t__n's Q___n V_ct_r__ b_c_m_ q___n, _nd b_f_r_ th_ _nv_nt__n _f th_ p_st_g_ st_mp, M_rs_ c_d_, r_fr_g_r_t__n, _nd th_ g_n.

J_n_th_n's v_ts s_y h_ h_d _ g__d b_rthd_y. Th_r_ w_s _ thr__-d_y p_rty f_r h_m. Ch_fs m_d_ h_m _ sp_c__l t_rt__s_ b_rthd_y c_k_ th_t w_s f_ll _f h_s f_v__r_t_ v_g_t_bl_s. St H_l_n_ _ls_ l__nch_d _ s_t _f sp_c__l p_st_g_ st_mps t_ c_l_br_t_ h_s b_rthd_y. _nf_rt_n_t_ly, J_n_th_n d_d n_t g_t t_ s__ _ny _f th_ c_l_br_t__ns b_c__s_ h_ _s bl_nd. H_ _ls_ h_s n_ s_ns_ _f sm_ll. H_w_v_r, h_ h_s _n _xc_ll_nt s_ns_ _f h__r_ng, s_ h_ c__ld h__r "H_ppy B_rthd_y" b__ng s_ng. J_n_th_n's v_t, J__ H_ll_ns, s__d th_ g__nt t_rt__s_ st_ll h_s pl_nty _f _n_rgy. H_ _ls_ l_k_s t_ r_l_x _n th_ s_n. Mr H_ll_ns s__d: "_n m_ld d_ys, h_ w_ll s_nb_th_ - h_s l_ng n_ck _nd l_gs str_tch_d f_lly __t _f h_s sh_ll t_ _bs_rb h__t _nd tr_nsf_r _t t_ h_s c_r_."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

everybody likes a birthday some people live long enough to have 120 of them the worlds oldest land animal has just celebrated his 190th birthday the animal is a seychelles giant turtle called jonathan zoologists believe he was born in 1832 but there are no official records of his birth some scientists think jonathan might actually be ten years older he could be as old as 200 jonathan was born in the seychelles he was taken to the british overseas territory of st helena in the south atlantic ocean in 1882 as a gift for the st helena governor jonathan was born before britains queen victoria became queen and before the invention of the postage stamp morse code refrigeration and the gun

jonathans vets say he had a good birthday there was a threeday party for him chefs made him a special tortoise birthday cake that was full of his favourite vegetables st helena also launched a set of special postage stamps to celebrate his birthday unfortunately jonathan did not get to see any of the celebrations because he is blind he also has no sense of smell however he has an excellent sense of hearing so he could hear happy birthday being sung jonathans vet joe hollins said the giant tortoise still has plenty of energy he also likes to relax in the sun mr hollins said on mild days he will sunbathe his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it to his core

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Everybodylikesabirthday.Somepeoplelivelongenoughtohave120oft
hem.Theworld'soldestlandanimalhasjustcelebratedhis190thbirthda
y.TheanimalisaSeychellesgiantturtlecalledJonathan.Zoologistsbelie
vehewasbornin1832,buttherearenoofficialrecordsofhisbirth.Somes
cientiststhinkJonathanmightactuallybetenyearsolder.Hecouldbeaso
ldas200.JonathanwasbornintheSeychelles.HewastakentotheBritish
overseasterritoryofStHelenaintheSouthAtlanticOceanin1882asagift
fortheStHelenagovernor.JonathanwasbornbeforeBritain'sQueenVic
toriabecamequeen,andbeforetheinventionofthepostagestamp,Mors
ecode,refrigeration,andthegun.Jonathan'svetssayhehadagoodbirth
day.Therewasathree-daypartyforhim.Chefsmadehimaspecialtortoi
sebirthdaycakethatwasfullofhisfavouritevegetables.StHelenaalsola
unchedasetofspecialpostagestampstocelebratehisbirthday.Unfortu
nately,Jonathandidnotgettoseeanyofthecelebrationsbecauseheisbli
nd.Healsohasnosenseofsmell.However,hehasanexcellentsenseofhe
aring,sohecouldhear"HappyBirthday"beingsung.Jonathan'svet,Joe
Hollins,saidthegianttortoisestillhasplentyofenergy.Healsolikestorel
axinthesun.MrHollinssaid:"Onmilddays,hewillsunbathe-hislongne
ckandlegsstretchedfullyoutofhisshelltoabsorbheatandtransferittohi
score."

Free writing

Write about world's oldest animal for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It would be great to live to be 190. 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. TORTOISES: Make a poster about tortoises. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LONG LIFE: Write a magazine article about science making us all live to be over 100. 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 tortoises. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what it would be like to be 190. 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

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

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Breaking News English Lesson: Tortoises

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