Breaking News English Lesson: World Population

Home | Help This Site

World population has passed 8 billion (13th November 2023)

The Reading / Listening - World Population - Level 6

The world has reached a somewhat worrying demographic milestone. The U.S. Census Bureau said on Thursday that the population of our planet has surpassed 8 billion. A spokesperson said the bureau estimated that the global population exceeded 8 billion on the 26th of September. However, he said this was a very rough guess and the precise day could be a month or two either side of this date. The Bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow at a steady rate. It has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two decades. The number of Earth's inhabitants had doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is slowing as birth rates are falling in many nations.

The Census Bureau attributed the slowdown in population growth to trends of longer lifespans and lower fertility rates. However, it forecast that the population would reach 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "The world population is projected to keep growing despite declining fertility rates. In fact, we estimate the number of infants already peaked in 2017. Instead, population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, mortality, migration and the share of the population at certain ages.…Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the earth's population reside in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

World Population - Level 4 or World Population - Level 5

Sources

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/11/world-population-estimated-eight-billion.html
https://apnews.com/article/world-population-8-billion-census-159f6eeac66bbc9800ad3ec4d9653b52
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/world-population-has-surpassed-8-billion-says-u-s-census-bureau-d1d2d53f

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. WORLD POPULATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about world population. 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?
the world / demographic / milestone / population / guess / precise / Earth / growth /
trends / lifespans / fertility rate / infants / adult / mortality / migration / countries
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. POPULATION CAP: Students A strongly believe each country should have a cap on its population to stop overpopulation; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. POPULATION GROWTH: How do or will these things affect population growth? Should we do anything to limit these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How This Affects Population	Limits
Fertility rates
Climate change
Contraception
Pandemics
Wars
AI

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. BILLION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "billion". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. OVERPOPULATION: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest dangers of overpopulation at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Lack of drinking water
Riots
Pandemics
Deforestation
Migration
Biodiversity loss
War
Climate change

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	somewhat	a.	A person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.
2.	demographic	b.	To a moderate extent or by a moderate amount; rather.
3.	milestone	c.	Not exact or precise; approximate.
4.	census	d.	Relating to the structure of populations.
5.	rough	e.	An official count or survey, especially of a population.
6.	precise	f.	A significant stage or event in the development of something.
7.	inhabitant	g.	Exact and accurate.

Paragraph 2

8.	attributed	h.	Regard something as being caused by.
9.	fertility	i.	Have one's permanent home in a particular place.
10.	projected	j.	The ability to produce children or young.
11.	infant	k.	The state of being subject to death.
12.	peaked	l.	Estimated or forecast on the basis of current trends or data.
13.	mortality	m.	A very young child or baby.
14.	reside	n.	Reached a highest point, either of a specified value or at a specified time.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says the world has reached a demagogic milestone. T / F
A census bureau said the 8 billion was reached on September 26. T / F
The bureau said population growth would reverse within two decades. T / F
Earth's population doubled between 1960 and 2000. T / F
The world population could be 10.2 billion in 2060. T / F
There will be population growth despite falling fertility rates. T / F
The number of babies in the world peaked in 2017. T / F
Fertility rates are falling in nearly 74% of countries. T / F

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

somewhat
surpassed
rough
steady
inhabitants
forecast
reach
infants
mortality
reside

predicted
approximate
population
babies
death
slightly
constant
live
exceeded
rise to

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

reached a somewhat worrying
the global population exceeded
this was a very rough
continue to grow at
The rate of growth
longer lifespans and lower
The world population is projected
the number of infants already
population growth in the future will come
Population growth is the result

a steady rate
is slowing
peaked
of fertility
guess
demographic milestone
from larger groups
fertility rates
8 billion
to keep growing

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

exceeded
date
slowing
surpassed
decades
precise
somewhat
steady

The world has reached a (1) _____________________ worrying demographic milestone. The U.S. Census Bureau said on Thursday that the population of our planet has (2) _____________________ 8 billion. A spokesperson said the bureau estimated that the global population (3) _____________________ 8 billion on the 26th of September. However, he said this was a very rough guess and the (4) _____________________ day could be a month or two either side of this (5) _____________________. The Bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow at a (6) _____________________ rate. It has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two (7) _____________________. The number of Earth's inhabitants had doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is (8) _____________________ as birth rates are falling in many nations.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

projected
mortality
infants
replacement
slowdown
reside
lower
growth

The Census Bureau attributed the (9) _____________________ in population growth to trends of longer lifespans and (10) _____________________ fertility rates. However, it forecast that the population would reach 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "The world population is (11) _____________________ to keep growing despite declining fertility rates. In fact, we estimate the number of (12) _____________________ already peaked in 2017. Instead, population (13) _____________________ in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, (14) _____________________, migration and the share of the population at certain ages.…Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the earth's population (15) _____________________ in countries where fertility is around or below the (16) _____________________ level."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The world has reached a somewhat ______
     a. worrying demographic milestone
     b. worrying demographic millstone
     c. worrying demographic miles tone
     d. worrying demographic miles stone
2) said on Thursday that the population of our planet has ______
     a. surpassed 8 billion
     b. surprised 8 billion
     c. sir passed 8 billion
     d. sir past 8 billion
3) However, he said this was a ______
     a. very rough guessed
     b. very bough guess
     c. very rough guess
     d. very cough guess
4) The Bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow at ______
     a. a steadily rate
     b. a steady irate
     c. a steady rate
   d. a steady rated
5) The number of Earth's ______
     a. inhabitants had doublet
     b. inhabitants had dabbled
     c. inhabitants had dubbed
     d. inhabitants had doubled

6) population growth to trends of longer lifespans and ______
     a. slower fertility rates
     b. flower fertility rates
     c. lower fertility rates
     d. lowly fertility rates
7) In fact, we estimate the number of infants already ______
     a. peeked in 2017
     b. peak tin 2017
     c. perk tin 2017
     d. peaked in 2017
8) Instead, population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people ______
     a. at adults ages
     b. late adult ages
     c. as adult ages
     d. at adult ages
9) mortality, migration and the share of the population ______
     a. at certain ages
     b. ascertain ages
     c. at curtain ages
     d. act certain ages
10) population reside in countries where fertility is around or below ______
     a. the replacement bevel
     b. the replacement level
     c. the replacement revel
     d. the replacement devil

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world has reached (1) ____________________ demographic milestone. The U.S. Census Bureau said on Thursday that the population of our planet has surpassed 8 billion. A spokesperson said the (2) ____________________ the global population exceeded 8 billion on the 26th of September. However, he said this was a very rough guess and the (3) ____________________ be a month or two either side of this date. The Bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow at (4) ____________________. It has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the (5) ____________________. The number of Earth's inhabitants had doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is slowing as birth rates are falling (6) ____________________.

The Census Bureau (7) ____________________ in population growth to trends of longer lifespans and lower fertility rates. However, it forecast that the population would reach 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "The world population is projected to keep growing (8) ____________________ rates. In fact, we estimate the number of (9) ____________________ in 2017. Instead, population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the (10) ____________________, mortality, migration and the share of the population (11) ____________________.…Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the earth's population reside in countries where (12) ____________________ or below the replacement level."

Comprehension questions

Who said the global population had gone over 8 billion?
On what date did the population reportedly reach 8 billion?
By how much did the global population increase in the past 20 years?
When did the world's population double?
What is falling that is slowing the rate of population growth?
When will the population reach 10.2 billion?
What peaked in 2017?
Where will population growth come from in future?
What results from fertility, mortality and migration?
What percentage of the world lives in countries with a flat fertility rate?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who said the global population had gone over 8 billion?
a) the WHO
b) the U.S. Census Bureau
c) Facebook
d) Google
2) On what date did the population reportedly reach 8 billion?
a) September 22
b) September 24
c) September 25
d) September 26
3) By how much did the global population increase in the past 20 years?
a) 2,000,000,000
b) 2,000,000,000,000
c) 20,000,000
d) 20,000,000,000
4) When did the world's population double?
a) between 1950 and 2000
b) between 1940 and 2020
c) between 1960 and 2000
d) between 1960 and 2020
5) What is falling that is slowing the rate of population growth?
a) contraception use
b) birth rates
c) the number of marriages
d) divorce rates

6) When will the population reach 10.2 billion?
a) 2040
b) 2050
c) 2060
d) 2070
7) What peaked in 2017?
a) the population of Africa
b) the global population
c) the number of teenagers
d) the number of infants
8) Where will population growth come from in future?
a) adults
b) Asia
c) poor people
d) children
9) What results from fertility, mortality and migration?
a) population growth
b) overpopulation
c) underpopulation
d) a population explosion
10) What percentage of the world lives in countries with a flat fertility rate?
a) 73%
b) 74%
c) 75%
d) 76%

Role play

Role A – Lack of Water
You think a lack of water is the biggest danger of overpopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their danger isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): food riots, biodiversity loss or war.

Role B –Food Riots
You think food riots is is the biggest danger of overpopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their danger isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): lack of water, biodiversity loss or war.

Role C – Biodiversity Loss
You think biodiversity loss is is the biggest danger of overpopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their danger isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): food riots, lack of water or war.

Role D – War
You think war is is the biggest danger of overpopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their danger isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these (and why): food riots, biodiversity loss or lack of water.

After reading / listening

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

'world'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'population'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

somewhat

exceeded

rough

declared

past

nations

lower

2060

2017

adult

result

below

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 - World Population

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 'world'?
What do you think of this demographic milestone?
What are the problems of having 8 billion people in the world?
Is your country overpopulated or underpopulated?
Should countries set limits on populations?
Is it good the world population doubled in 40 years?
Why are birth rates falling in many countries?
What do you think of the phrase 'population explosion'?
In what way are the demographics of your country changing?

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 'population'?
What do you think about what you read?
Why are people living longer?
What is causing fertility rates to fall?
What would a world of 10 billion people be like?
How is migration changing the world?
What will drive migration in the future?
What's the best number of children to have?
What questions would you like to ask the U.S. Census Bureau?

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)

The world has reached a (1) ____ worrying demographic milestone. The U.S. Census Bureau said on Thursday that the population of our planet has (2) ____ 8 billion. A spokesperson said the bureau estimated that the global population (3) ____ 8 billion on the 26th of September. However, he said this was a very (4) ____ guess and the precise day could be a month or two either side of this date. The Bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow at a (5) ____ rate. It has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two decades. The number of Earth's inhabitants had doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is slowing (6) ____ birth rates are falling in many nations.

The Census Bureau attributed the slowdown (7) ____ population growth to trends of longer lifespans and lower fertility (8) ____. However, it forecast that the population would reach 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "The world population is (9) ____ to keep growing despite declining fertility rates. In fact, we estimate the number of infants already (10) ____ in 2017. Instead, population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, (11) ____, migration and the share of the population at certain ages.…Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the earth's population (12) ____ in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) somewhere (b) somewhat (c) someday (d) someone
(a) surprised (b) surpassed (c) supplanted (d) surmised
(a) exulted (b) exuded (c) exploded (d) exceeded
(a) smooth (b) rough (c) silky (d) bumpy
(a) studded (b) steady (c) steed (d) steadily
(a) was (b) that's (c) as (d) has
(a) at (b) by (c) in (d) as
(a) raters (b) rituals (c) rates (d) rations
(a) projectile (b) projection (c) projecting (d) projected
(a) peaked (b) poked (c) parked (d) peeked
(a) mortality (b) mortals (c) mortal (d) immortalize
(a) aside (b) inside (c) reside (d) upside

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a somewhat worrying emgdparhoic milestone
the population of our planet has upssarsed 8 billion
the global population xeecdeed 8 billion
the recipse day
grow at a tsaedy rate
Earth's iabhiantnts had doubled

Paragraph 2

tbritutaed the slowdown in population growth
lower irtfliety rates
the number of finants
the result of fertility, ratolmtiy, migration…
esirde in countries
below the elaecrmpnet level

Put the text back together

(...)   on Thursday that the population of our planet has surpassed 8 billion. A spokesperson said the bureau
(...)   estimated that the global population exceeded 8 billion on the 26th of September. However, he said this was a very rough
(...)   population reside in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level."
(...)   decades. The number of Earth's inhabitants had doubled between 1960 and 2000. The rate
(...)   of people at adult ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, mortality,
(...)   fertility rates. However, it forecast that the population would reach 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "The world
(...)   of growth is slowing as birth rates are falling in many nations.
(...)   The Census Bureau attributed the slowdown in population growth to trends of longer lifespans and lower
(...)   population is projected to keep growing despite declining fertility rates. In fact, we estimate the number of
(...)   population would continue to grow at a steady rate. It has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two
( 1 ) The world has reached a somewhat worrying demographic milestone. The U.S. Census Bureau said
(...)   migration and the share of the population at certain ages.…Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the earth's
(...)   guess and the precise day could be a month or two either side of this date. The Bureau declared that the world
(...)   infants already peaked in 2017. Instead, population growth in the future will come from larger groups

Put the words in the right order

world has The demographic a reached milestone . worrying
this said He a was rough guess . very
population to The continue would grow . world
inhabitants number of Earth's The had doubled .
falling in Birth many are rates nations .
It would forecast billion . reach 10 .2 the that population
growing . to keep population projected The world is
number infants peaked . We the of already estimate
of at ages . share certain The the population
around is the below Fertility or replacement level .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The world has reached a somewhere / somewhat worrying demographic milestone. The U.S. Census Bureau said on Thursday that the population of our planet has surprised / surpassed 8 billion. A spokesperson said the bureau estimated that a / the global population exceeded 8 billion on the 26th of September. However, he said this was a very roughly / rough guess and the precise / incise day could be a month or two either / neither side of this date. The Bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow of / at a steady rate. It has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the passed / past two decades. The number of Earth's inhabitants had doubled / doubles between 1960 and 2000. The rate of growth is slowing as / has birth rates are falling in many nations.

The Census Bureau contributed / attributed the slowdown in population growth for / to trends of longer / lengthen lifespans and lower fertility rates. However, it forecast that the population would reach / breach 10.2 billion in 2060. It said: "The world population is projected to keep / hold growing despite declining fertility rates. In fact, we estimate the number of infants already parked / peaked in 2017. Instead, population growth on / in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult years / ages." It added: "Population growth is the result of fertility, mortality, migration and the share of the population at certain ages / age.…Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of the earth's population reside / inside in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level."

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)

Th_ w_rld h_s r__ch_d _ s_m_wh_t w_rry_ng d_m_gr_ph_c m_l_st_n_. Th_ _.S. C_ns_s B_r___ s__d _n Th_rsd_y th_t th_ p_p_l_t__n _f __r pl_n_t h_s s_rp_ss_d 8 b_ll__n. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d th_ b_r___ _st_m_t_d th_t th_ gl_b_l p_p_l_t__n _xc__d_d 8 b_ll__n _n th_ 26th _f S_pt_mb_r. H_w_v_r, h_ s__d th_s w_s _ v_ry r__gh g__ss _nd th_ pr_c_s_ d_y c__ld b_ _ m_nth _r tw_ __th_r s_d_ _f th_s d_t_. Th_ B_r___ d_cl_r_d th_t th_ w_rld p_p_l_t__n w__ld c_nt_n__ t_ gr_w _t _ st__dy r_t_. _t h_s gr_wn fr_m 6 b_ll__n t_ 8 b_ll__n _n th_ p_st tw_ d_c_d_s. Th_ n_mb_r _f __rth's _nh_b_t_nts h_d d__bl_d b_tw__n 1960 _nd 2000. Th_ r_t_ _f gr_wth _s sl_w_ng _s b_rth r_t_s _r_ f_ll_ng _n m_ny n_t__ns.

Th_ C_ns_s B_r___ _ttr_b_t_d th_ sl_wd_wn _n p_p_l_t__n gr_wth t_ tr_nds _f l_ng_r l_f_sp_ns _nd l_w_r f_rt_l_ty r_t_s. H_w_v_r, _t f_r_c_st th_t th_ p_p_l_t__n w__ld r__ch 10.2 b_ll__n _n 2060. _t s__d: "Th_ w_rld p_p_l_t__n _s pr_j_ct_d t_ k__p gr_w_ng d_sp_t_ d_cl_n_ng f_rt_l_ty r_t_s. _n f_ct, w_ _st_m_t_ th_ n_mb_r _f _nf_nts _lr__dy p__k_d _n 2017. _nst__d, p_p_l_t__n gr_wth _n th_ f_t_r_ w_ll c_m_ fr_m l_rg_r gr__ps _f p__pl_ _t _d_lt _g_s." _t _dd_d: "P_p_l_t__n gr_wth _s th_ r_s_lt _f f_rt_l_ty, m_rt_l_ty, m_gr_t__n _nd th_ sh_r_ _f th_ p_p_l_t__n _t c_rt__n _g_s.…N__rly thr__ q__rt_rs (74 p_r c_nt) _f th_ __rth's p_p_l_t__n r_s_d_ _n c__ntr__s wh_r_ f_rt_l_ty _s _r__nd _r b_l_w th_ r_pl_c_m_nt l_v_l."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the world has reached a somewhat worrying demographic milestone the us census bureau said on thursday that the population of our planet has surpassed 8 billion a spokesperson said the bureau estimated that the global population exceeded 8 billion on the 26th of september however he said this was a very rough guess and the precise day could be a month or two either side of this date the bureau declared that the world population would continue to grow at a steady rate it has grown from 6 billion to 8 billion in the past two decades the number of earths inhabitants had doubled between 1960 and 2000 the rate of growth is slowing as birth rates are falling in many nations

the census bureau attributed the slowdown in population growth to trends of longer lifespans and lower fertility rates however it forecast that the population would reach 102 billion in 2060 it said the world population is projected to keep growing despite declining fertility rates in fact we estimate the number of infants already peaked in 2017 instead population growth in the future will come from larger groups of people at adult ages it added population growth is the result of fertility mortality migration and the share of the population at certain agesnearly three quarters 74 per cent of the earths population reside in countries where fertility is around or below the replacement level

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Theworldhasreachedasomewhatworryingdemographicmilestone.T
heU.S.CensusBureausaidonThursdaythatthepopulationofourplanet
hassurpassed8billion.Aspokespersonsaidthebureauestimatedthatt
heglobalpopulationexceeded8billiononthe26thofSeptember.Howev
er,hesaidthiswasaveryroughguessandtheprecisedaycouldbeamont
hortwoeithersideofthisdate.TheBureaudeclaredthattheworldpopula
tionwouldcontinuetogrowatasteadyrate.Ithasgrownfrom6billionto8
billioninthepasttwodecades.ThenumberofEarth'sinhabitantshaddou
bledbetween1960and2000.Therateofgrowthisslowingasbirthratesa
refallinginmanynations.TheCensusBureauattributedtheslowdownin
populationgrowthtotrendsoflongerlifespansandlowerfertilityrates.H
owever,itforecastthatthepopulationwouldreach10.2billionin2060.It
said:"Theworldpopulationisprojectedtokeepgrowingdespitedeclinin
gfertilityrates.Infact,weestimatethenumberofinfantsalreadypeaked
in2017.Instead,populationgrowthinthefuturewillcomefromlargergr
oupsofpeopleatadultages."Itadded:"Populationgrowthistheresultof
fertility,mortality,migrationandtheshareofthepopulationatcertainag
es.…Nearlythreequarters(74percent)oftheearth'spopulationresidei
ncountrieswherefertilityisaroundorbelowthereplacementlevel."

Free writing

Write about world population for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

There are too many people on our planet. 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. WORLD POPULATION: Make a poster about world population. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FEWER BABIES: Write a magazine article about people having fewer babies. 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 world population. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to control 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

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

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

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson: World Population

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS