Breaking News English Lesson: Hedgehogs

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Robot lawn mowers are a danger to hedgehogs (9th April 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Hedgehogs - Level 3

Animals face many dangers in their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger — robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically go up and down people's gardens to cut the grass. German mayors say the devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially at night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban on the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They curl up into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors to detect a curled-up hedgehog.

Hedgehogs are protected under German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of up to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers dropped by over 30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of life in the city through biodiversity."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Hedgehogs - Level 0, Hedgehogs - Level 1 or Hedgehogs - Level 2

Sources

https://www.dw.com/en/hedgehogs-threatened-by-robot-mowers-german-activists-warn/a-70160521
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/06/german-mayors-call-for-night-time-ban-on-robot-lawnmowers-to-protect-hedgehogs
https://nerdbot.com/2026/04/06/germanys-hedgehog-population-threatened-by-robot-lawnmowers/

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. HEDGEHOGS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about hedgehogs. 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?
animals / dangers / daily life / climate change / pollution / hedgehogs / ban / at night
get a fine / conservation / nature / the previous decade / lawn mowers / biodiversity
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BIG FINES: Students A strongly believe there should be very big fines for anyone who hurts animals; Students B strongly believe small fines are OK. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DANGERS TO ANIMALS: How serious are these dangers to animals? Why? What can we do about it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Danger	Seriousness	Why?	Solutions
Climate change
Habitat loss
Pollution
Invasive species
Cars
Hunting

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

Robot lawn mowers
Massage chairs
Vacuum cleaners
Driverless cars
Drone deliveries
Translation aids
Robotic window cleaners
AI companions

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	face (verb)	a.	The place where an animal or plant lives.
2.	habitat	b.	Machines or tools that do a job.
3.	pollution	c.	To have something happen to you.
4.	devices	d.	To say that something is not allowed.
5.	officials	e.	People with important jobs in the government.
6.	ban (verb)	f.	To find or notice something.
7.	detect	g.	Dirty or harmful things in the air, water, or ground.

Paragraph 2

8.	protected	h.	All the different plants and animals in a place.
9.	law	i.	In danger of being hurt or lost.
10.	fine (noun)	j.	Happening or existing before now.
11.	threatened	k.	Kept safe from danger or harm.
12.	previous	l.	A rule that everyone must follow.
13.	decade	m.	A time of ten years.
14.	biodiversity	n.	Money that you must pay because you did something wrong.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says animals face very few dangers every day. T / F
German mayors are worried that hedgehogs will damage lawn mowers. T / F
German mayors say robot lawn mowers harm hedgehogs at night. T / F
Hedgehogs curl up in a ball when they feel they are in danger. T / F
People in Germany can get fined $75,000 for injuring animals. T / F
The numbers of hedgehogs halved over the past decade. T / F
A mayor asked lawn mower makers to make their products safer. T / F
Lawn mowers help to increase the biodiversity in cities. T / F

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

machines
cut
nationwide
particularly
detect
protected
fine
decade
solutions
endangered

penalty
countrywide
notice
answers
kept safe
devices
put at risk
especially
10 years
trim

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

Animals face many dangers in
climate change, habitat loss,
small machines that automatically go
cut the
They curl up into
Hedgehogs are protected
their numbers dropped
We are calling on manufacturers to
ensure that small animals are no
the quality

a ball
find solutions
their daily lives
longer endangered
grass
and pollution
of life
by over 30 per cent
up and down
under German law

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

officials
loss
cut
sensors
daily
curl
especially
machines

Animals face many dangers in their (1) ______________________________________________ lives. These include climate change, habitat (2) ______________________________________________, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These are the small (3) ______________________________________________ that automatically go up and down people's gardens to (4) ______________________________________________ the grass. German mayors say the devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, (5) ______________________________________________ at night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban on the use of the lawn mowers. However, (6) ______________________________________________ want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They (7) ______________________________________________ up into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's (8) ______________________________________________ to detect a curled-up hedgehog.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

makers
fine
key
dropped
life
injure
near
solutions

Hedgehogs are protected under German law. People who (9) ______________________________________________, trap, or kill them could get a (10) ______________________________________________ of up to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "(11) ______________________________________________ threatened" list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers (12) ______________________________________________ by over 30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower (13) ______________________________________________ to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find (14) ______________________________________________ to ensure that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a (15) ______________________________________________ step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of (16) ______________________________________________ in the city through biodiversity."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Animals face many dangers in their daily lives. These include climate ______
     a. change, habitat lost
     b. change, habitat floss
     c. change, habitat loss
     d. change, habitat moss
2) Mayors in Germany have highlighted ______
     a. a new dangers
     b. a newly danger
     c. a new dangerous
     d. a new danger
3) small machines that automatically go up and down people's gardens to ______
     a. cut the grass
     b. cut the glass
     c. cut a grass
     d. cut a glass
4) However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are ______
     a. particularly at risky
     b. particularly at risk
     c. particularly at frisk
     d. particularly are risk
5) This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors to detect a ______
     a. curled-down hedgehog
     b. curled-up hedgehog
     c. curled-in hedgehog
     d. curled-on hedgehog

6) protected under German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could ______
     a. get a find
     b. get a fined
     c. get a fines
     d. get a fine
7) their numbers dropped by over 30 per cent in ______
     a. the previous decade
     b. the previously decade
     c. the previous deck aid
     d. the previously deck aid
8) She said: "We are calling on manufacturers ______
     a. to find solution
     b. to find solutions
     c. to fund solutions
     d. too find solutions
9) This is a key step ______
     a. towards protection animals
     b. towards protecting animal
     c. towards protecting animals
     d. forwards protecting animals
10) enriching the quality of life in the ______
     a. city though biodiversity
     b. city thought biodiversity
     c. city through biodiversity
     d. city thorough biodiversity

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Animals face many dangers in (1) __________________________________________________. These include climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted (2) __________________________________________________ – robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically go up and down people's gardens to cut the grass. German mayors (3) __________________________________________________ are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially at night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban on (4) __________________________________________________ the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are (5) __________________________________________________. They curl up into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors (6) __________________________________________________ curled-up hedgehog.

Hedgehogs (7) __________________________________________________ German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a (8) __________________________________________________ to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their (9) __________________________________________________ over 30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do (10) __________________________________________________ hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals (11) __________________________________________________ endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching (12) __________________________________________________ life in the city through biodiversity."

Comprehension questions

When does the article say animals face many dangers?
What danger does the article mention besides habitat loss and pollution?
What do the robot lawn mowers cut?
How many German cities have a night-time ban on robot lawn mowers?
What do hedgehogs do when they feel they are in danger?
What in Germany protects hedgehogs?
Since when have hedgehogs been on a near threatened list?
By how much have hedgehog numbers dropped in the past decade?
What did a German mayor ask manufacturers to find?
What does the German mayor hope to enrich in her city?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When does the article say animals face many dangers?
a) in their daily lives
b) when there are dogs
c) when they cross the road
d) in the mornings
2) What danger does the article mention besides habitat loss and pollution?
a) humans
b) snakes
c) climate change
d) heavy rain
3) What do the robot lawn mowers cut?
a) flowers
b) grass
c) fingers
d) trees
4) How many German cities have a night-time ban on robot lawn mowers?
a) five
b) four
c) three
d) two
5) What do hedgehogs do when they feel they are in danger?
a) curl up
b) run
c) scream
d) attack

6) What in Germany protects hedgehogs?
a) environmentalists
b) the hedgehog police
c) long grass
d) German law
7) Since when have hedgehogs been on a near threatened list?
a) since 2025
b) since 2024
c) since 2023
d) since 2022
8) By how much have hedgehog numbers dropped in the past decade?
a) by over 60%
b) by over 50%
c) by over 40%
d) by over 30%
9) What did a German mayor ask manufacturers to find?
a) a hedgehog app
b) her pet hedgehog
c) solutions
d) a hedgehog house
10) What does the German mayor hope to enrich in her city?
a) hedgehog habitats
b) the quality of life
c) people
d) hedgehog owners

Role play

Role A – Robot Lawn Mowers
You think robot lawn mowers is the best technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): massage chairs, driverless cars or drone deliveries.

Role B – Massage Chairs
You think massage chairs is the best technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): robot lawn mowers, driverless cars or drone deliveries.

Role C – Driverless Cars
You think driverless cars is the best technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): massage chairs, robot lawn mowers or drone deliveries.

Role D – Drone Deliveries
You think drone deliveries is the best technology. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): massage chairs, driverless cars or robot lawn mowers.

After reading / listening

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

'hedgehog'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'lawn mower'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

face

highlight

cut

cities

ball

detect

kill

list

near

numbers

ensure

quality

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 - Hedgehogs

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 'hedgehog'?
What do you think of hedgehogs?
What everyday dangers do animals face?
What dangers do you face every day?
How does climate change affect animals?
What do you think of lawn mowers?
Why do people like to cut the grass in their gardens?
How might very short grass in a garden affect animals?
What advice do you have for hedgehogs?

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 'lawn mower'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about hedgehogs?
Should robot lawn mowers be banned at night?
What do you think of the $75,000 fine for harming animals?
Do you prefer a garden with short or long grass?
What animals do you see every day?
How sad are you at the loss of biodiversity?
What questions would you like to ask an expert on hedgehogs?

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)

Animals face many (1) ____ in their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat (2) ____, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically (3) ____ up and down people's gardens to cut the grass. German mayors say the devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially (4) ____ night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban on the (5) ____ of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They curl up into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors to (6) ____ a curled-up hedgehog.

Hedgehogs are protected (7) ____ German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of up to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" (8) ____ of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers dropped (9) ____ over 30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do (10) ____ to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals are no (11) ____ endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality (12) ____ life in the city through biodiversity."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) dangerous (b) danger (c) dangers (d) endangers
(a) loss (b) lost (c) lose (d) loses
(a) cut (b) go (c) weed (d) mow
(a) to (b) in (c) on (d) at
(a) useful (b) usually (c) use (d) used
(a) infect (b) detect (c) inject (d) detest
(a) under (b) below (c) beneath (d) down
(a) writing (b) paragraph (c) sentence (d) list
(a) at (b) in (c) by (d) on
(a) any (b) some (c) many (d) more
(a) longing (b) longer (c) longs (d) long
(a) of (b) at (c) on (d) in

Spelling

Paragraph 1

teilcam change
habitat loss, and ltoilpuon
These are the small amhnscie
the secdvie are killing hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are allyciupartr at risk
edttce a curled-up hedgehog

Paragraph 2

Hedgehogs are ertodctpe under German law
on the near ehadttrene list
in the vipeurso decade
calling on manufacturers to find usootslni
enriching the ialtquy of life
in the city through sriditoebiyv

Put the text back together

(    )   30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect
(    )   and pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These are the small
( 1 )   Animals face many dangers in their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat loss,
(    )   are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially at night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-
(    )   for a robot mower's sensors to detect a curled-up hedgehog.
(    )   for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers dropped by over
(    )   Hedgehogs are protected under German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of up
(    )   hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure
(    )   machines that automatically go up and down people's gardens to cut the grass. German mayors say the devices
(    )   risk. They curl up into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult
(    )   step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of life in the city through biodiversity."
(    )   that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key
(    )   time ban on the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at
(    )   to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" list of the International Union

Put the words in the right order

Animals daily dangers face in lives many their .
a danger Germany have highlighted in Mayors new .
and automatically down go machines Small that up .
are devices German hedgehogs killing mayors say the .
a ball Curl danger into there's up when .
$75,000 a could fine get of They .
do hedgehogs Makers more must protect to .
are calling find manufacturers on solutions to We .
a animals is key protecting step This towards .
city Enriching in life of quality the the .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Animals face many dangerous / dangers in their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat loss, and pollutes / pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger – robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically go / grow up and down people's gardens to cut the / a grass. German mayors say the device / devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially at / in night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban in / on the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide bin / ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They curl up into / onto a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors for / to detect a curled-up hedgehog.

Hedgehogs are protected under / over German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of up / down to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" lost / list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers drops / dropped by over 30 per cent in the previous / previously decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has answered / asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling / call on manufacturers to find solutions to sure / ensure that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key stair / step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of life / live in the city through biodiversity."

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_m_ls f_c_ m_ny d_ng_rs _n th__r d__ly l_v_s. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ cl_m_t_ ch_ng_, h_b_t_t l_ss, _nd p_ll_t__n. M_y_rs _n G_rm_ny h_v_ h_ghl_ght_d _ n_w d_ng_r – r_b_t l_wn m_w_rs. Th_s_ _r_ th_ sm_ll m_ch_n_s th_t __t_m_t_c_lly g_ _p _nd d_wn p__pl_'s g_rd_ns t_ c_t th_ gr_ss. G_rm_n m_y_rs s_y th_ d_v_c_s _r_ k_ll_ng h_dg_h_gs _nd _th_r sm_ll _n_m_ls, _sp_c__lly _t n_ght. Th_ c_t__s _f M_n_ch _nd C_l_gn_ h_v_ st_rt_d _ n_ght-t_m_ b_n _n th_ _s_ _f th_ l_wn m_w_rs. H_w_v_r, _ff_c__ls w_nt _ n_t__nw_d_ b_n. H_dg_h_gs _r_ p_rt_c_l_rly _t r_sk. Th_y c_rl _p _nt_ _ b_ll wh_n th_y s_ns_ d_ng_r. Th_s m_k_s _t m_r_ d_ff_c_lt f_r _ r_b_t m_w_r's s_ns_rs t_ d_t_ct _ c_rl_d-_p h_dg_h_g.

H_dg_h_gs _r_ pr_t_ct_d _nd_r G_rm_n l_w. P__pl_ wh_ _nj_r_, tr_p, _r k_ll th_m c__ld g_t _ f_n_ _f _p t_ €65,000 ($75,000). Th_ _n_m_ls h_v_ b__n _n th_ "n__r thr__t_n_d" l_st _f th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l _n__n f_r C_ns_rv_t__n _f N_t_r_ s_nc_ 2024. Th_s _s b_c__s_ th__r n_mb_rs dr_pp_d by _v_r 30 p_r c_nt _n th_ pr_v___s d_c_d_. M_y_r Cl__d__ K_l_sch h_s _sk_d l_wn m_w_r m_k_rs t_ d_ m_r_ t_ pr_t_ct h_dg_h_gs. Sh_ s__d: "W_ _r_ c_ll_ng _n m_n_f_ct_r_rs t_ f_nd s_l_t__ns t_ _ns_r_ th_t sm_ll _n_m_ls _r_ n_ l_ng_r _nd_ng_r_d by r_b_t l_wn m_w_rs." Sh_ _dd_d: "Th_s _s _ k_y st_p t_w_rds pr_t_ct_ng _n_m_ls _nd _nr_ch_ng th_ q__l_ty _f l_f_ _n th_ c_ty thr__gh b__d_v_rs_ty."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

animals face many dangers in their daily lives these include climate change habitat loss and pollution mayors in germany have highlighted a new danger robot lawn mowers these are the small machines that automatically go up and down peoples gardens to cut the grass german mayors say the devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals especially at night the cities of munich and cologne have started a nighttime ban on the use of the lawn mowers however officials want a nationwide ban hedgehogs are particularly at risk they curl up into a ball when they sense danger this makes it more difficult for a robot mowers sensors to detect a curledup hedgehog

hedgehogs are protected under german law people who injure trap or kill them could get a fine of up to 65000 75000 the animals have been on the near threatened list of the international union for conservation of nature since 2024 this is because their numbers dropped by over 30 per cent in the previous decade mayor claudia kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs she said we are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers she added this is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of life in the city through biodiversity

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Animalsfacemanydangersintheirdailylives.Theseincludeclimatecha
nge,habitatloss,andpollution.MayorsinGermanyhavehighlightedan
ewdanger–robotlawnmowers.Thesearethesmallmachinesthatauto
maticallygoupanddownpeople'sgardenstocutthegrass.Germanmay
orssaythedevicesarekillinghedgehogsandothersmallanimals,especi
allyatnight.ThecitiesofMunichandColognehavestartedanight-timeb
anontheuseofthelawnmowers.However,officialswantanationwideba
n.Hedgehogsareparticularlyatrisk.Theycurlupintoaballwhentheyse
nsedanger.Thismakesitmoredifficultforarobotmower'ssensorstodet
ectacurled-uphedgehog.HedgehogsareprotectedunderGermanlaw
.Peoplewhoinjure,trap,orkillthemcouldgetafineofupto€65,000($75,
000).Theanimalshavebeenonthe"nearthreatened"listoftheInternati
onalUnionforConservationofNaturesince2024.Thisisbecausetheirnu
mbersdroppedbyover30percentinthepreviousdecade.MayorClaudia
Kalischhasaskedlawnmowermakerstodomoretoprotecthedgehogs.
Shesaid:"Wearecallingonmanufacturerstofindsolutionstoensuretha
tsmallanimalsarenolongerendangeredbyrobotlawnmowers."Shead
ded:"Thisisakeysteptowardsprotectinganimalsandenrichingthequal
ityoflifeinthecitythroughbiodiversity."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

There should be huge fines for people who harm any animal. 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. HEDGEHOGS: Make a poster about hedgehogs. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FINES AND PRISON: Write a magazine article about introducing huge fines and prison sentences for anyone who harms animals. 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 hedgehogs. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also...

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

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

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

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

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Breaking News English Lesson: Hedgehogs

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