Breaking News English Lesson: Radioactive Material

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Urgent search for lost radioactive capsule in Australia (30th January 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Radioactive Material - Level 6

A radiation alert was issued in Australia on Saturday over a missing radioactive capsule. The warning was from authorities in Western Australia. State officials there warned residents of a "radioactive substance risk" in several regions, including the state capital Perth. The search is now on for the tiny capsule, which contains the harmful and radioactive substance Caesium-137. The capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm wide. However, it contains a sufficient amount of radioactive material to "cause serious health consequences". The capsule went missing as it was being transported from the mining town of Newman to a northeast suburb of Perth. Officials believe it fell through a hole in the truck transporting it.

Caesium-137 is used by the mining industry in Australia. The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, urged caution to anyone finding the capsule. He warned: "Exposure to this substance could cause radiation burns or severe illness. If people see the capsule or something that looks similar, stay away from it and keep others away from it too." He added: "If you are very close to the material or touch it, the radiation risk increases immensely and could cause serious damage to your health, including causing radiation burns to the skin." Even being within a metre of the capsule could expose someone to radiation levels that are the equivalent of ten X-rays.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Radioactive Material - Level 4 or Radioactive Material - Level 5

Sources

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/search-underway-radioactive-capsule-missing-australia-2023-01-28/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/western-australians-warned-over-radioactive-capsule-lost-on-highway-0sq7zgphk
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-27/radioactive-capsule-lost-in-wa-emergency-public-health-warning/101901472

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. RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about radioactive material. 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?
radiation / alert / capsule / capital / harmful / health consequences / mining / truck /
industry / chief / caution / illness / material / damage / risk / burns / skin / X-rays
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BAN: Students A strongly believe we should ban all companies from using radioactive materials; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. NUCLEAR: What are the good and bad things about these uses of nuclear technology? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good	Bad
Space
Medicine
Energy
Policing
Agriculture
Mining

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. ALERT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "alert". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ENERGY: Rank these with your partner. Put the best energy at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Nuclear
Coal
Gas
Wind
Solar
Biofuels
Hydro-electricity
Wave power

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	alert	a.	Enough; adequate.
2.	authority	b.	A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis.
3.	resident	c.	A person or organization having political or administrative power and control.
4.	substance	d.	An outlying district of a city, especially a residential one.
5.	sufficient	e.	Warn someone of a danger or problem.
6.	consequence	f.	A particular kind of matter with uniform properties.
7.	suburb	g.	A result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

Paragraph 2

8.	chief	h.	A particular form or branch of economic or commercial activity.
9.	industry	i.	To a great extent; extremely.
10.	exposure	j.	Having the same or a similar effect as.
11.	severe	k.	The action of placing oneself at risk.
12.	immensely	l.	An injury caused by exposure to heat, flame, radiation, steam, etc.
13.	burn	m.	Of something bad or undesirable very great.
14.	equivalent	n.	The head of an organization.

Before reading / listening

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

A radioactive capsule went missing in South Australia. T / F
Officials warned of a radioactive substance risk in several regions. T / F
The capsule is about 8 cm in height. T / F
Officials believe the capsule was stolen from a truck. T / F
The article says the substance Caesium-137 is used for nuclear energy. T / F
A health chief said the capsule was deadly. T / F
The substance could burn the skin. T / F
Being a metre away from the capsule is the same as having 10 X-rays. T / F

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

alert
residents
harmful
sufficient
suburb
caution
severe
immensely
causing
expose

enough
conurbation
wariness
citizens
tremendously
put at risk of
warning
bringing about
injurious
acute

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

A radiation alert was
The warning was from
The search is now
it contains a sufficient
a northeast
Exposure to this substance
the radiation risk
including causing radiation
expose someone
the equivalent

increases immensely
on for the tiny capsule
of ten X-rays
suburb of Perth
to radiation levels
issued in Australia
burns to the skin
amount of radioactive material
could cause radiation burns
authorities in Western Australia

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

sufficient
regions
suburb
issued
missing
substance
mining
officials

A radiation alert was (1) _____________________ in Australia on Saturday over a missing radioactive capsule. The warning was from authorities in Western Australia. State (2) _____________________ there warned residents of a "radioactive substance risk" in several (3) _____________________, including the state capital Perth. The search is now on for the tiny capsule, which contains the harmful and radioactive (4) _____________________ Caesium-137. The capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm wide. However, it contains a (5) _____________________ amount of radioactive material to "cause serious health consequences". The capsule went (6) _____________________ as it was being transported from the (7) _____________________ town of Newman to a northeast (8) _____________________ of Perth. Officials believe it fell through a hole in the truck transporting it.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

immensely
caution
similar
equivalent
industry
burns
touch
burns

Caesium-137 is used by the mining (9) _____________________ in Australia. The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, urged (10) _____________________ to anyone finding the capsule. He warned: "Exposure to this substance could cause radiation (11) _____________________ or severe illness. If people see the capsule or something that looks (12) _____________________, stay away from it and keep others away from it too." He added: "If you are very close to the material or (13) _____________________ it, the radiation risk increases (14) _____________________ and could cause serious damage to your health, including causing radiation (15) _____________________ to the skin." Even being within a metre of the capsule could expose someone to radiation levels that are the (16) _____________________ of ten X-rays.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) State officials there warned residents of a "______"
     a. radioactive substance risks
     b. radioactive substance risqué
     c. radioactive substance risk
     d. radioactive substance risky
2) The capsule is just 8 mm high ______
     a. and 6 mm width
     b. and 6 mm wide
     c. and 6 mm widen
     d. and 6 mm widely
3) a sufficient amount of radioactive material to "cause ______"
     a. serious health consequential
     b. serious health consequence
     c. serious health consequent
     d. serious health consequences
4) The capsule went missing as it was being transported from ______
     a. the mining town
     b. the mine in town
     c. the my nine town
     d. them ironing town
5) Officials believe it fell through a hole in the ______
     a. truck transport innit
     b. truck transport tin it
     c. truck transport in it
     d. truck transporting it

6) The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew ______
     a. Robertson, purged caution
     b. Robertson, surged caution
     c. Robertson, merged caution
     d. Robertson, urged caution
7) If people see the capsule or something ______
     a. that looks similarity
     b. that looks similar
   c. that looks simile
     d. that looks SIM miller
8) very close to the material or touch it, the radiation ______
     a. risk increases immense
     b. risk increase immensely
     c. risks increases immensely
     d. risk increases immensely
9) damage to your health, including causing radiation burns ______
     a. to a skin
     b. to the skint
     c. to the skin
     d. to these kin
10) expose someone to radiation levels that are the equivalent ______
     a. often X-rays
     b. oft ten X-rays
     c. of ten X-rays
     d. off ten X-rays

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A radiation (1) ____________________ in Australia on Saturday over a missing radioactive capsule. The warning was (2) ____________________ Western Australia. State officials there warned residents of a "radioactive substance risk" in several regions, including the state capital Perth. The search is now on (3) ____________________ capsule, which contains the harmful and radioactive substance Caesium-137. The capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm wide. However, it (4) ____________________ amount of radioactive material to "cause serious health consequences". The capsule went missing as it was being transported from the mining town of Newman to (5) ____________________ of Perth. Officials believe it fell through a hole in the (6) ____________________.

Caesium-137 is used by the (7) ____________________ Australia. The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, (8) ____________________ anyone finding the capsule. He warned: "Exposure to this substance could cause radiation (9) ____________________ illness. If people see the capsule or something that looks similar, stay away from it and keep others away from it too." He added: "If you are very close to the material or touch it, (10) ____________________ increases immensely and could cause serious damage to your health, including (11) ____________________ to the skin." Even being within a metre of the capsule could expose someone to radiation levels that are the (12) ____________________ X-rays.

Comprehension questions

In what Australian state has a radioactive capsule gone missing?
What risk did state officials warn residents of?
How big is the capsule?
Where was the capsule headed when it went missing?
What do officials think the capsule fell through?
What industry in Australia uses the materials in the capsule?
What is Andrew Robertson's job?
What kind of illness did an official say the substance could give you?
What could the substance in the capsule do to someone's skin?
What is standing a metre away from the capsule equivalent to?

Multiple choice quiz

1) In what Australian state has a radioactive capsule gone missing?
a) New South Wales
b) Victoria
c) South Australia
d) Western Australia
2) What risk did state officials warn residents of?
a) a cancer risk
b) a radioactive substance risk
c) a catastrophic risk
d) a risk of major panic
3) How big is the capsule?
a) standard
b) large
c) medium sized
d) tiny
4) Where was the capsule headed when it went missing?
a) North
b) Newman
c) Perth
d) Pewman
5) What do officials think the capsule fell through?
a) a hole in someone's pocket
b) a fence
c) the ropes
d) a hole in a truck

6) What industry in Australia uses the materials in the capsule?
a) I.T.
b) space exploration
c) mining
d) nuclear power
7) What is Andrew Robertson's job?
a) chief health officer
b) chief medical officer
c) chief physicist
d) chief capsule designer
8) What kind of illness did an official say the substance could give you?
a) a mild one
b) a deadly one
c) a severe one
d) a worrying one
9) What could the substance in the capsule do to someone's skin?
a) blister it
b) burn it
c) bake it
d) break it
10) What is standing a metre away from the capsule equivalent to?
a) 10 X-rays
b) 160ºC heat
c) a splash of acid
d) a burn from a match

Role play

Role A – Nuclear
You think nuclear is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar, wind or wave.

Role B – Solar
You think solar is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): nuclear, wind or wave.

Role C – Wind
You think wind is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar, nuclear or wave.

Role D – Wave
You think wave is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar, wind or nuclear.

After reading / listening

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

'urgent'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'search'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

warning

several

tiny

wide

town

hole

chief

caution

similar

close

skin

ten

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 - Radioactive Material

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 'radioactive'?
What do you think of radioactive material?
How dangerous might the missing capsule be?
Should anyone be punished for the missing material?
What are radioactive materials good for?
What are the dangers of radiation?
How should radioactive materials be transported?
How worried are you about radiation?
What advice do you have for people near Perth?

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 'capsule'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think the mining industry does with Caesium-137?
What do you think of the mining industry?
What compensation should people get if they touch the capsule?
What do you think of X-rays?
What three adjectives best describe this story?
Should radioactive materials be banned?
What questions would you like to ask the mining company?

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)

A radiation alert was (1) ____ in Australia on Saturday over a missing radioactive capsule. The warning was from (2) ____ in Western Australia. State officials there warned residents of a "radioactive substance risk" in several (3) ____, including the state capital Perth. The search is now on for the tiny capsule, which contains the harmful and radioactive (4) ____ Caesium-137. The capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm wide. However, it contains a sufficient amount of radioactive material to "cause serious health (5) ____". The capsule went missing as it was being transported from the mining town of Newman to a northeast suburb (6) ____ Perth. Officials believe it fell through a hole in the truck transporting it.

Caesium-137 is used by the mining industry in Australia. The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, (7) ____ caution to anyone finding the capsule. He warned: "Exposure (8) ____ this substance could cause radiation burns or severe illness. If people see the capsule or something that looks similar, stay away from it and keep (9) ____ away from it too." He added: "If you are very close to the material or touch it, the radiation (10) ____ increases immensely and could cause serious damage to your health, including causing radiation burns (11) ____ the skin." Even being within a metre of the capsule could expose someone (12) ____ radiation levels that are the equivalent of ten X-rays.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) issuance (b) issuer (c) issued (d) issuing
(a) authorities (b) authority (c) authorize (d) authorization
(a) regions (b) legions (c) regional (d) lesions
(a) substance (b) subscription (c) subsidence (d) substitution
(a) consequence (b) consequences (c) consequential (d) consequent
(a) on (b) by (c) at (d) of
(a) purged (b) gorged (c) urged (d) barged
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) to
(a) others (b) another (c) other (d) othered
(a) risqué (b) risk (c) brisk (d) frisk
(a) of (b) to (c) by (d) at
(a) by (b) of (c) to (d) in

Spelling

Paragraph 1

ouirhaetist in Western Australia
in several origens
the harmful and radioactive nbeastcus
a ncefutisif amount of radioactive material
serious health oneenqeccuss
a northeast rbbsuu of Perth

Paragraph 2

used by the mining rytunids in Australia
Andrew Robertson urged ouactni
radiation burns or eersve illness
If you are very close to the aralimet
the radiation risk increases enysemmil
the ueavetilqn of ten X-rays

Put the text back together

(...) consequences". The capsule went missing as it was being transported from the mining town of Newman to a
(...) substance risk" in several regions, including the state capital Perth. The search is now on for the tiny capsule, which contains
(...) Caesium-137 is used by the mining industry in Australia. The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, urged
(...) away from it and keep others away from it too." He added: "If you are very close to the material
(...) caution to anyone finding the capsule. He warned: "Exposure to this substance could cause
(...) northeast suburb of Perth. Officials believe it fell through a hole in the truck transporting it.
(...) of the capsule could expose someone to radiation levels that are the equivalent of ten X-rays.
(...) the harmful and radioactive substance Caesium-137. The capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm wide. However,
(...) your health, including causing radiation burns to the skin." Even being within a metre
(...) radiation burns or severe illness. If people see the capsule or something that looks similar, stay
(...) it contains a sufficient amount of radioactive material to "cause serious health
( 1 ) A radiation alert was issued in Australia on Saturday over a missing radioactive capsule. The warning
(...) was from authorities in Western Australia. State officials there warned residents of a "radioactive
(...) or touch it, the radiation risk increases immensely and could cause serious damage to

Put the words in the right order

radioactive warned there of substance . Officials a residents
now search The is the on for capsule .
of material . sufficient a amount contains It radioactive
the was from transported It mining town . being
fell hole a truck . in It the through
anyone finding urged capsule . to the caution He
could this Exposure cause to burns . substance radiation
health . damage serious to cause could It your
metre capsule . of Even the within being a
ten equivalent of that the X-rays . Levels are

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A radiation alert was issued in Australia on Saturday under / over a missing radioactive capsule. The waning / warning was from authorities in Western Australia. State officials there warned residence / residents of a "radioactive substance risk" in several regions, including the state / stated capital Perth. The search is now on for the / a tiny capsule, which contains the harmed / harmful and radioactive substance Caesium-137. The capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm width / wide. However, it contains a sufficient amount of radioactive material to / for "cause serious health consequences". The capsule went missing as it was being transported from the mining town of Newman to a northeast suburb / suburban of Perth. Officials believe it fell through a hole in the truck transporting them / it.

Caesium-137 is used by the mining industrial / industry in Australia. The chief health officer for Western Australia, Andrew Robertson, urged cautious / caution to anyone finding the capsule. He warned: "Exposure on / to this substance could cause radiation burns / barns or severe illness. If people see the capsule or something that looks similar / similarity, stay away from it and keep another / others away from it too." He added: "If you are very close to the material or touch them / it, the radiation risk increases immensely and could cause serious / seriousness damage to your health, including causing radiation burns to a / the skin." Even being within a metre of the capsule could expose someone to / in radiation levels that are the equivalent of ten X-rays.

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)

_ r_d__t__n _l_rt w_s _ss__d _n __str_l__ _n S_t_rd_y _v_r _ m_ss_ng r_d___ct_v_ c_ps_l_. Th_ w_rn_ng w_s fr_m __th_r_t__s _n W_st_rn __str_l__. St_t_ _ff_c__ls th_r_ w_rn_d r_s_d_nts _f _ "r_d___ct_v_ s_bst_nc_ r_sk" _n s_v_r_l r_g__ns, _ncl_d_ng th_ st_t_ c_p_t_l P_rth. Th_ s__rch _s n_w _n f_r th_ t_ny c_ps_l_, wh_ch c_nt__ns th_ h_rmf_l _nd r_d___ct_v_ s_bst_nc_ C__s__m-137. Th_ c_ps_l_ _s j_st 8 mm h_gh _nd 6 mm w_d_. H_w_v_r, _t c_nt__ns _ s_ff_c__nt _m__nt _f r_d___ct_v_ m_t_r__l t_ "c__s_ s_r___s h__lth c_ns_q__nc_s". Th_ c_ps_l_ w_nt m_ss_ng _s _t w_s b__ng tr_nsp_rt_d fr_m th_ m_n_ng t_wn _f N_wm_n t_ _ n_rth__st s_b_rb _f P_rth. _ff_c__ls b_l__v_ _t f_ll thr__gh _ h_l_ _n th_ tr_ck tr_nsp_rt_ng _t.

C__s__m-137 _s _s_d by th_ m_n_ng _nd_stry _n __str_l__. Th_ ch__f h__lth _ff_c_r f_r W_st_rn __str_l__, _ndr_w R_b_rts_n, _rg_d c__t__n t_ _ny_n_ f_nd_ng th_ c_ps_l_. H_ w_rn_d: "_xp_s_r_ t_ th_s s_bst_nc_ c__ld c__s_ r_d__t__n b_rns _r s_v_r_ _lln_ss. _f p__pl_ s__ th_ c_ps_l_ _r s_m_th_ng th_t l__ks s_m_l_r, st_y _w_y fr_m _t _nd k__p _th_rs _w_y fr_m _t t__." H_ _dd_d: "_f y__ _r_ v_ry cl_s_ t_ th_ m_t_r__l _r t__ch _t, th_ r_d__t__n r_sk _ncr__s_s _mm_ns_ly _nd c__ld c__s_ s_r___s d_m_g_ t_ y__r h__lth, _ncl_d_ng c__s_ng r_d__t__n b_rns t_ th_ sk_n." _v_n b__ng w_th_n _ m_tr_ _f th_ c_ps_l_ c__ld _xp_s_ s_m__n_ t_ r_d__t__n l_v_ls th_t _r_ th_ _q__v_l_nt _f t_n X-r_ys.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a radiation alert was issued in australia on saturday over a missing radioactive capsule the warning was from authorities in western australia state officials there warned residents of a radioactive substance risk in several regions including the state capital perth the search is now on for the tiny capsule which contains the harmful and radioactive substance caesium137 the capsule is just 8 mm high and 6 mm wide however it contains a sufficient amount of radioactive material to cause serious health consequences the capsule went missing as it was being transported from the mining town of newman to a northeast suburb of perth officials believe it fell through a hole in the truck transporting it

caesium137 is used by the mining industry in australia the chief health officer for western australia andrew robertson urged caution to anyone finding the capsule he warned exposure to this substance could cause radiation burns or severe illness if people see the capsule or something that looks similar stay away from it and keep others away from it too he added if you are very close to the material or touch it the radiation risk increases immensely and could cause serious damage to your health including causing radiation burns to the skin even being within a metre of the capsule could expose someone to radiation levels that are the equivalent of ten xrays

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AradiationalertwasissuedinAustraliaonSaturdayoveramissingradioa
ctivecapsule.ThewarningwasfromauthoritiesinWesternAustralia.St
ateofficialstherewarnedresidentsofa"radioactivesubstancerisk"inse
veralregions,includingthestatecapitalPerth.Thesearchisnowonforth
etinycapsule,whichcontainstheharmfulandradioactivesubstanceCa
esium-137.Thecapsuleisjust8mmhighand6mmwide.However,itcon
tainsasufficientamountofradioactivematerialto"causeserioushealth
consequences".Thecapsulewentmissingasitwasbeingtransportedfro
mtheminingtownofNewmantoanortheastsuburbofPerth.Officialsbeli
eveitfellthroughaholeinthetrucktransportingit.Caesium-137isusedb
ytheminingindustryinAustralia.ThechiefhealthofficerforWesternAus
tralia,AndrewRobertson,urgedcautiontoanyonefindingthecapsule.H
ewarned:"Exposuretothissubstancecouldcauseradiationburnsorsev
ereillness.Ifpeopleseethecapsuleorsomethingthatlookssimilar,stay
awayfromitandkeepothersawayfromittoo."Headded:"Ifyouareveryc
losetothematerialortouchit,theradiationriskincreasesimmenselyan
dcouldcauseseriousdamagetoyourhealth,includingcausingradiation
burnstotheskin."Evenbeingwithinametreofthecapsulecouldexposes
omeonetoradiationlevelsthataretheequivalentoftenX-rays.

Free writing

Write about radioactive capsule for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

All industries should stop using radioactive materials. 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. RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL: Make a poster about radioactive material. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. BAN: Write a magazine article about banning the use of all radioactive material. 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 radioactive material. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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

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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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