The Reading / Listening - Amazon Survival - Level 6

An uplifting story has popped up in our news feeds. Four children who were missing and feared dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and well. The siblings, aged 13, nine, four and a one-year-old baby, were on a plane that crashed in the Amazon jungle in Colombia on May the first. The children's mother, the pilot and co-pilot perished in the crash. Before the plane disappeared, the pilot issued a mayday alert, citing engine failure. Moments later, it disappeared from radar screens. The children had been missing for 40 days when members of Colombia's military found them. A news agency said people from the Huitoto indigenous group in the jungle aided the soldiers' search.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said news of the children's discovery was "a joy for the whole country" and a "magical day". He added: "They were alone. They themselves accomplished an example of total survival which will remain in history. These children are today the children of peace and the children of Colombia." Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement regarding how the children survived. It believes the siblings escaped the wreckage and trudged through the jungle in search of help. The children belong to the Huitoto group. Their knowledge of what is edible in the jungle and their experience of the terrain probably gave them a better chance of survival.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Amazon Survival - Level 4  or  Amazon Survival - Level 5

Sources
    SSSSSSSSSS


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. JUNGLE SURVIVAL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about jungle survival. 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?
       uplifting stories / news feeds / plane crash / siblings / pilot / radar / military / jungle /
       discovery / joy / magical / survival / history / wreckage / peace / edible / terrain
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SKILLS: Students A strongly believe we should all learn survival skills; Students B strongly believe that's unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SURVIVAL: What do we need to survive in these places? How would you survive? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Survival Skills

How I'd Survive

The jungle

 

 

The desert

 

 

The Arctic

 

 

An earthquake

 

 

Floods

 

 

A pandemic

 

 
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. JUNGLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "jungle". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SURVIVAL ITEMS: Rank these with your partner. Put the survival items we need most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • A map
  • A whistle
  • A blanket
  • A plastic sheet
  • Chocolate
  • Medicine
  • A radio
  • A torch

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. uplifting a. Brothers and sisters.
      2. popped up b. Inspiring happiness, optimism, or hope.
      3. siblings c. Died, especially in a violent or sudden way.
      4. perished d. An international radio distress signal used by ships and aircraft.
      5. mayday e. Moved, appeared, or emerged suddenly.
      6. military f. Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
      7. indigenous g. The armed forces of a country.

    Paragraph 2

      8. joy h. Achieved or completed successfully.
      9. accomplished i. Walked slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions.
      10. aviation j. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
      11. wreckage k. The flying or operating of aircraft.
      12. trudged l. Fit or suitable to be eaten.
      13. edible m. The remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed.
      14. terrain n. A stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The eldest of the children in the story is a teenager.     T / F
  2. One of the children's parents did not survive the plane crash.     T / F
  3. The pilot of the airplane alerted authorities of engine failure.     T / F
  4. The children were found by tourists who were trekking in the jungle.     T / F
  5. Colombia's said magic was used to find the children.     T / F
  6. Colombia's president said the children would remain in geography.     T / F
  7. The children knew what to eat and what not to eat in the jungle.     T / F
  8. The children's knowledge of the jungle helped them survive.     T / F

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

  1. popped up
  2. perished
  3. alert
  4. indigenous
  5. aided
  6. joy
  7. accomplished
  8. issued
  9. trudged
  10. terrain
  1. native
  2. achieved
  3. assisted
  4. delight
  5. warning
  6. land
  7. appeared
  8. trekked
  9. died
  10. put out

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

  1. An uplifting story has popped
  2. found alive
  3. the pilot issued a
  4. engine
  5. it disappeared from
  6. news of the children's discovery
  7. the siblings escaped
  8. trudged through the jungle
  9. knowledge of what is
  10. gave them a better
  1. chance of survival
  2. failure
  3. radar screens
  4. the wreckage
  5. up in our news feeds
  6. edible in the jungle
  7. mayday alert
  8. was a joy
  9. and well
  10. in search of help

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
radar
siblings
popped
members
alert
feared
aided
perished

An uplifting story has (1) _____________________ up in our news feeds. Four children who were missing and (2) _____________________ dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and well. The (3) _____________________, aged 13, nine, four and a one-year-old baby, were on a plane that crashed in the Amazon jungle in Colombia on May the first. The children's mother, the pilot and co-pilot (4) _____________________ in the crash. Before the plane disappeared, the pilot issued a mayday (5) _____________________, citing engine failure. Moments later, it disappeared from (6) _____________________ screens. The children had been missing for 40 days when (7) _____________________ of Colombia's military found them. A news agency said people from the Huitoto indigenous group in the jungle (8) _____________________ the soldiers' search.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
edible
remain
chance
regarding
terrain
joy
wreckage
peace

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said news of the children's discovery was "a (9) _____________________ for the whole country" and a "magical day". He added: "They were alone. They themselves accomplished an example of total survival which will (10) _____________________ in history. These children are today the children of (11) _____________________ and the children of Colombia." Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement (12) _____________________ how the children survived. It believes the siblings escaped the (13) _____________________ and trudged through the jungle in search of help. The children belong to the Huitoto group. Their knowledge of what is (14) _____________________ in the jungle and their experience of the (15) _____________________ probably gave them a better (16) _____________________ of survival.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  An uplifting story has popped up in ______
     a.  our new seeds
     b.  our newts' feed
     c.  our news feeds
     d.  our new swedes
2)  Before the plane disappeared, the pilot issued a mayday alert, ______
     a.  sighting engine failure
     b.  sitting engine failure
     c.  sating engine failure
     d.  citing engine failure
3)  Moments later, it disappeared ______
     a.  from ray dark screens
     b.  from radar screens
     c.  from raid are screens
     d.  from laid are screens
4)  The children had been missing for 40 days when members of Colombia's ______
     a.  military flounder them
     b.  military founding
     c.  military found them
     d.  military found then
5)  A news agency said people from the ______
     a.  Huitoto indie genius group
     b.  Huitoto indigestion group
     c.  Huitoto indigenous group
     d.  Huitoto ingenious group

6)  They themselves accomplished an example of total survival which will ______
     a.  remaining history
     b.  remain on history
     c.  remain an history
     d.  remain in history
7)  Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a ______
     a.  statement regarding how
     b.  statement regarding chow
     c.  statement regarding hour
     d.  statement regarding who
8)  It believes the siblings ______
     a.  escaped the reck cage
     b.  escaped the wreck cage
     c.  escaped the wreck age
     d.  escaped the wreckage
9)  trudged through the jungle in ______
     a.  search off help
     b.  search of help
     c.  search oft help
     d.  search offer help
10)  Their knowledge of what is edible in the jungle and their experience ______
     a.  of the Turin
     b.  of the train
     c.  of the terrain
     d.  of the terrene

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An uplifting story (1) ____________________ in our news feeds. Four children who were missing and feared dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and well. (2) ____________________ 13, nine, four and a one-year-old baby, were on a plane that crashed in the Amazon jungle in Colombia on May the first. The children's mother, the pilot (3) ____________________ in the crash. Before the plane disappeared, the pilot issued (4) ____________________, citing engine failure. Moments later, it disappeared (5) ____________________. The children had been missing for 40 days when members of Colombia's military found them. A news agency said people from the Huitoto indigenous group in the jungle (6) ____________________ search.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said news of the children's (7) ____________________ joy for the whole country" and a "magical day". He added: "They were alone. They themselves accomplished an example of total survival which will (8) ____________________. These children are today the children of peace and the children of Colombia." Colombia's (9) ____________________ issued a statement regarding how the children survived. It believes the siblings escaped the (10) ____________________ through the jungle in search of help. The children belong to the Huitoto group. Their knowledge of what (11) ____________________ the jungle and their experience of the terrain probably gave them a better (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of story does the article say popped up in news feeds?
  2. How old was the youngest of the four children?
  3. What did the pilot issue before the plane disappeared?
  4. What problem did the pilot say the plane had?
  5. Who helped Colombia's military to find the children?
  6. What did Colombia's president call news of the children's discovery?
  7. Where did the president say the children will remain?
  8. What did the children escape from?
  9. What did the children have knowledge of that helped their survival?
  10. What did the children have experience of that helped their survival?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What kind of story does the article say popped up in news feeds?
a) a lifting story
b) an uplifting story
c) a lifted story
d) an upsetting story
2)  How old was the youngest of the four children?
a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1
3) What did the pilot issue before the plane disappeared?
a) a mayday alert
b) a warning
c) an order to land
d) a seatbelt warning
4) What problem did the pilot say the plane had?
a) a lack of fuel
b) an engine on fire
c) engine failure
d) turbulence
5) Who helped Colombia's military to find the children?
a) a group of anti-poachers
b) an indigenous group
c) the police
d) tourists

6) What did Colombia's president call news of the children's discovery?
a) a joy
b) a miracle
c) a nice surprise
d) good news
7) Where did the president say the children will remain?
a) in people's hearts
b) in hospital
c) in history
d) in the jungle
8) What did the children escape from?
a) the plane's wreckage
b) a pack of panthers
c) serious disease
d) flames
9) What did the children have knowledge of that helped their survival?
a) What is edible in the jungle.
b) map reading
c) How to make a fire.
d) Which way was north.
10) What did the children have experience of that helped their survival?
a) flying
b) being alone
c) hiking
d) the jungle's terrain

Role play

Role  A – A Map
You think a map is the most essential item needed in a survival situation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a blanket, a radio or medicine.

Role  B – A Blanket
You think a blanket is the most essential item needed in a survival situation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a map, a radio or medicine.

Role  C – A Radio
You think a radio is the most essential item needed in a survival situation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a blanket, a map or medicine.

Role  D – Medicine
You think medicine is the most essential item needed in a survival situation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a blanket, a radio or a map.

After reading / listening

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

'jungle'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'survival'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • uplifting
    • feared
    • perished
    • alert
    • radar
    • search
    • joy
    • alone
    • today
    • statement
    • belong
    • edible

    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 Survival

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'jungle'?
    3. What uplifting stories have you heard recently?
    4. How good is it to read uplifting stories?
    5. Why is the news full of negative, depressing stories?
    6. What do you know about the Amazon jungle?
    7. How do you think the children survived for 40 days?
    8. What are your survival skills like?
    9. What do you think of flying?
    10. What advice do you have for the children?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'survival'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. When was the last time your country experienced joy?
    5. What was the most magical day you've ever had?
    6. What's the toughest thing you've had to survive?
    7. What would you eat in the jungle?
    8. How would you cope with 40 days in the wild?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the rescuers?

    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)

    An (1) ____ story has popped up in our news feeds. Four children who were missing and (2) ____ dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and well. The siblings, aged 13, nine, four and a one-year-old baby, were on a plane that crashed (3) ____ the Amazon jungle in Colombia on May the first. The children's mother, the pilot and co-pilot perished in the crash. Before the plane disappeared, the pilot issued a mayday alert, (4) ____ engine failure. Moments later, it disappeared from radar screens. The children had been missing for 40 days when members of Colombia's (5) ____ found them. A news agency said people from the Huitoto indigenous group in the jungle (6) ____ the soldiers' search.

    Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said news of the children's discovery was "a joy for the whole country" and a "(7) ____ day". He added: "They were alone. They themselves accomplished an example of total survival which will remain (8) ____ history. These children are today the children of peace and the children of Colombia." Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement (9) ____ how the children survived. It believes the siblings escaped the wreckage and trudged through the jungle (10) ____ search of help. The children belong to the Huitoto group. Their knowledge of what is (11) ____ in the jungle and their experience of the (12) ____ probably gave them a better chance of survival.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     outing     (b)     ongoing     (c)     uplifting     (d)     outgoing    
    2. (a)     feared     (b)     afraid     (c)     frightened     (d)     scared    
    3. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    4. (a)     sating     (b)     sighting     (c)     smiting     (d)     citing    
    5. (a)     arms     (b)     cadet     (c)     military     (d)     squadron    
    6. (a)     raided     (b)     aided     (c)     faded     (d)     jaded    
    7. (a)     magical     (b)     magician     (c)     magicians     (d)     magicians'    
    8. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     in    
    9. (a)     thus     (b)     however     (c)     regarding     (d)     moreover    
    10. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    11. (a)     ate     (b)     edible     (c)     eating     (d)     indelible    
    12. (a)     terrain     (b)     turret     (c)     tarot     (d)     taro

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The ingslbsi, aged 13, nine, four
    2. the pilot and co-pilot eiprdseh in the crash
    3. the pilot issued a daymya alert
    4. ntciig engine failure
    5. members of Colombia's maltiiyr found them
    6. the Huitoto nudsiinoeg group

    Paragraph 2

    1. aedmclsphoic an example
    2. civil iaotnvai authority
    3. escaped the wegcrake
    4. redgdut through the jungle
    5. what is ebedli in the jungle
    6. their experience of the rartnie

    Put the text back together

    (...)  for the whole country" and a "magical day". He added: "They were alone. They themselves accomplished an example
    (...)  agency said people from the Huitoto indigenous group in the jungle aided the soldiers' search.
    (...)  screens. The children had been missing for 40 days when members of Colombia's military found them. A news
    (  1  ) An uplifting story has popped up in our news feeds. Four children who were missing and feared
    (...)  and a one-year-old baby, were on a plane that crashed in the Amazon jungle
    (...)  in Colombia on May the first. The children's mother, the pilot and co-pilot perished in the crash. Before the plane
    (...)  of total survival which will remain in history. These children are today the children of peace
    (...)  wreckage and trudged through the jungle in search of help. The children belong to the Huitoto group. Their knowledge
    (...)  disappeared, the pilot issued a mayday alert, citing engine failure. Moments later, it disappeared from radar
    (...)  regarding how the children survived. It believes the siblings escaped the
    (...)  Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said news of the children's discovery was "a joy
    (...)  and the children of Colombia." Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement
    (...)  dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and well. The siblings, aged 13, nine, four
    (...)  of what is edible in the jungle and their experience of the terrain probably gave them a better chance of survival.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. story   our   in   news   .   uplifting   up   An   popped
    2. dead   Feared   month   .   last   after   a   crash   plane
    3. alert   pilot   issued   The   an   failure   .   engine   citing
    4. for   days   .   been   40   children   had   missing   The
    5. aided   group   indigenous   An   soldiers'   the   search   .
    6. a   News   of   joy   .   discovery   the   was   children's
    7. themselves   They   of   an   survival   .   accomplished   total   example
    8. children   Issued   survived   .   the   how   statement   a   regarding
    9. siblings   wreckage   .   It   believes   the   the   escaped
    10. is   in   what   edible   jungle   .   Knowledge   of   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An uplifting story has propped / popped up in our news feeds. Four children who were missing and afraid / feared dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and good / well. The siblings, aged 13, nine, four and a one-year-old baby, were on a plane that crashed in / on the Amazon jungle in Colombia on May the first. The children's mother, the pilot and co-pilot perished / impoverished in the crash. Before the plane disappeared, the pilot issued a / the mayday alert, citing engine failure. Moments late / later, it disappeared from radar screens / screen. The children had been missing for 40 days when members of Colombia's military fund / found them. A news agency said people from the Huitoto indigenous group in the jungle aided / abetted the soldiers' search.

    Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said news of the children's discover / discovery was "a joy / joyous for the whole country" and a "magical day". He added: "They were alone. They themselves accomplishment / accomplished an example of total survival which / what will remain in history. These children are today the children of peace and the children of Colombia." Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a state / statement regarding how the children survived. It beliefs / believes the siblings escaped the wreckage and trudged / fudged through the jungle in search on / of help. The children belong to the Huitoto group. Their knowledge of what / that is edible in the jungle and their experience of the terrain / terrene probably gave them a better chance of survival.

    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)

    _n  _pl_ft_ng  st_ry  h_s  p_pp_d  _p  _n  __r  n_ws  f__ds.  F__r  ch_ldr_n  wh_  w_r_  m_ss_ng  _nd  f__r_d  d__d  _ft_r  _  pl_n_  cr_sh  _  m_nth  _g_  h_v_  b__n  f__nd  _l_v_  _nd  w_ll.  Th_  s_bl_ngs,  _g_d  13,  n_n_,  f__r  _nd  _  _n_-y__r-_ld  b_by,  w_r_  _n  _  pl_n_  th_t  cr_sh_d  _n  th_  _m_z_n  j_ngl_  _n  C_l_mb__  _n  M_y  th_  f_rst.  Th_  ch_ldr_n's  m_th_r,  th_  p_l_t  _nd  c_-p_l_t  p_r_sh_d  _n  th_  cr_sh.  B_f_r_  th_  pl_n_  d_s_pp__r_d,  th_  p_l_t  _ss__d  _  m_yd_y  _l_rt,  c_t_ng  _ng_n_  f__l_r_.  M_m_nts  l_t_r,  _t  d_s_pp__r_d  fr_m  r_d_r  scr__ns.  Th_  ch_ldr_n  h_d  b__n  m_ss_ng  f_r  40  d_ys  wh_n  m_mb_rs  _f  C_l_mb__'s  m_l_t_ry  f__nd  th_m.  _  n_ws  _g_ncy  s__d  p__pl_  fr_m  th_  H__t_t_  _nd_g_n__s  gr__p  _n  th_  j_ngl_  __d_d  th_  s_ld__rs'  s__rch.

    C_l_mb__'s  Pr_s_d_nt  G_st_v_  P_tr_  s__d  n_ws  _f  th_  ch_ldr_n's  d_sc_v_ry  w_s  "_  j_y  f_r  th_  wh_l_  c__ntry"  _nd  _  "m_g_c_l  d_y".  H_  _dd_d:  "Th_y  w_r_  _l_n_.  Th_y  th_ms_lv_s  _cc_mpl_sh_d  _n  _x_mpl_  _f  t_t_l  s_rv_v_l  wh_ch  w_ll  r_m__n  _n  h_st_ry.  Th_s_  ch_ldr_n  _r_  t_d_y  th_  ch_ldr_n  _f  p__c_  _nd  th_  ch_ldr_n  _f  C_l_mb__."  C_l_mb__'s  C_v_l  _v__t__n  __th_r_ty  _ss__d  _  st_t_m_nt  r_g_rd_ng  h_w  th_  ch_ldr_n  s_rv_v_d.  _t  b_l__v_s  th_  s_bl_ngs  _sc_p_d  th_  wr_ck_g_  _nd  tr_dg_d  thr__gh  th_  j_ngl_  _n  s__rch  _f  h_lp.  Th_  ch_ldr_n  b_l_ng  t_  th_  H__t_t_  gr__p.  Th__r  kn_wl_dg_  _f  wh_t  _s  _d_bl_  _n  th_  j_ngl_  _nd  th__r  _xp_r__nc_  _f  th_  t_rr__n  pr_b_bly  g_v_  th_m  _  b_tt_r  ch_nc_  _f  s_rv_v_l.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an uplifting story has popped up in our news feeds four children who were missing and feared dead after a plane crash a month ago have been found alive and well the siblings aged 13 nine four and a oneyearold baby were on a plane that crashed in the amazon jungle in colombia on may the first the childrens mother the pilot and copilot perished in the crash before the plane disappeared the pilot issued a mayday alert citing engine failure moments later it disappeared from radar screens the children had been missing for 40 days when members of colombias military found them a news agency said people from the huitoto indigenous group in the jungle aided the soldiers search

    colombias president gustavo petro said news of the childrens discovery was a joy for the whole country and a magical day he added they were alone they themselves accomplished an example of total survival which will remain in history these children are today the children of peace and the children of colombia colombias civil aviation authority issued a statement regarding how the children survived it believes the siblings escaped the wreckage and trudged through the jungle in search of help the children belong to the huitoto group their knowledge of what is edible in the jungle and their experience of the terrain probably gave them a better chance of survival

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anupliftingstoryhaspoppedupinournewsfeeds.Fourchildrenwhower
    emissingandfeareddeadafteraplanecrashamonthagohavebeenfoun
    daliveandwell.Thesiblings,aged13,nine,fourandaone-year-oldbab
    y,wereonaplanethatcrashedintheAmazonjungleinColombiaonMayth
    efirst.Thechildren'smother,thepilotandco-pilotperishedinthecras
    h.Beforetheplanedisappeared,thepilotissuedamaydayalert,citingen
    ginefailure.Momentslater,itdisappearedfromradarscreens.Thechild
    renhadbeenmissingfor40dayswhenmembersofColombia'smilitaryfo
    undthem.AnewsagencysaidpeoplefromtheHuitotoindigenousgroupi
    nthejungleaidedthesoldiers'search.Colombia'sPresidentGustavoPet
    rosaidnewsofthechildren'sdiscoverywas"ajoyforthewholecountry"a
    nda"magicalday".Headded:"Theywerealone.Theythemselvesacco
    mplishedanexampleoftotalsurvivalwhichwillremaininhistory.Thesec
    hildrenaretodaythechildrenofpeaceandthechildrenofColombia."Col
    ombia'sCivilAviationAuthorityissuedastatementregardinghowthech
    ildrensurvived.Itbelievesthesiblingsescapedthewreckageandtrudge
    dthroughthejungleinsearchofhelp.ThechildrenbelongtotheHuitotog
    roup.Theirknowledgeofwhatisedibleinthejungleandtheirexperience
    oftheterrainprobablygavethemabetterchanceofsurvival.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We should all learn survival skills instead of being on our smartphones. Discuss.

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    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. COLOMBIA: Make a poster about Colombia. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SURVIVAL: Write a magazine article about all of us learning survival skills. 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 jungle survival. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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