Breaking News English Lesson: Africa

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African continent splitting into two parts (14th May 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Africa - Level 3

There are signs that a huge part of East Africa is starting to break away from the African continent. Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and rocks) studied a deep crack that runs along a large part of Zambia. The crack is called a rift. It is a major fault in the rock that covers Earth's surface. Geologist Mike Daly of the University of Oxford is studying Zambia's Kafue Rift. He believes there is activity in the rift that suggests a giant piece of land is breaking away. He wrote: "There is evidence that the fault boundary of the Kafue Rift is active and therefore the Southwest African Rift Zone is too." He warned that this "may be an early indication of the break-up of sub-Saharan Africa".

The land on Earth is constantly moving. Three hundred million years ago, there was just one huge supercontinent. It was called Pangea. Over millions of years, Pangea broke up. Giant areas of land slowly moved across the oceans to form the continents we know today. This movement is called continental drift. Rifts are one reason why land masses split apart. The Kafue Rift in Zambia is part of a 2,500-kilometre-long rift zone stretching from Tanzania to Namibia. The rift is moving at a rate of about 4.7 mm per year. At this rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to split in two. Scientists believe that in 200 million years from now, there could be just one supercontinent again.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Africa - Level 0, Africa - Level 1 or Africa - Level 2

Sources

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2526136-a-new-tectonic-plate-boundary-could-be-forming-in-southern-africa/
https://www.sciencealert.com/first-signatures-of-a-future-tectonic-split-are-bubbling-up-in-zambia
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/science/earth-science/a-new-ocean-could-be-forming-as-africa-splits-apart

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. AFRICA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Africa. 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?
signs / East Africa / continent / geologists / rift / Earth / fault / sub-Saharan Africa /
land / three hundred million years ago / supercontinent / oceans / split / scientists
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BEST CONTINENT: Students A strongly believe Africa is the greatest continent; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CONTINENTS: What do you know about these continents? What do you like about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Like
Africa
Asia
North America
South America
Europe
Australasia (Oceania)

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

Geologist
Artist
Zoologist
Receptionist
Guitarist
Pharmacist
Psychologist
Dentist

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	huge	a.	A sign that something may happen or be true.
2.	continent	b.	Very big.
3.	crack	c.	The top or outside part of something.
4.	fault	d.	One of the seven large areas of land on Earth.
5.	surface	e.	A break in rock inside the Earth.
6.	evidence	f.	A narrow space or line where something is broken.
7.	indication	g.	Facts or signs that show something is true.

Paragraph 2

8.	constantly	h.	All the time.
9.	broke up	i.	The speed of something over time.
10.	form	j.	Separated into smaller parts.
11.	drift	k.	To break into parts or move apart.
12.	land mass	l.	To make or create something.
13.	split	m.	Slow movement from one place to another.
14.	rate	n.	A large area, like a big island, country or continent.

Before reading / listening

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

FromWordDoc

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

huge
runs
fault
boundary
indication
constantly
movement
rate
split
believe

defect
break
sign
shift
think
very big
border
goes
always
speed

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

a huge part of East Africa is starting
a deep crack that runs along
a major fault in the rock that
a giant piece of land is
the break-up of sub-
The land on Earth is constantly
form the continents we
This movement is called
The rift is moving at a rate of
in 200 million years

breaking away
moving
to break away
about 4.7 mm per year
from now
Saharan Africa
a large part of Zambia
know today
covers Earth's surface
continental drift

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

rift
warned
piece
huge
early
studying
rocks
fault

There are signs that a (1) ______________________________________________ part of East Africa is starting to break away from the African continent. Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and (2) ______________________________________________) studied a deep crack that runs along a large part of Zambia. The crack is called a (3) ______________________________________________. It is a major fault in the rock that covers Earth's surface. Geologist Mike Daly of the University of Oxford is (4) ______________________________________________ Zambia's Kafue Rift. He believes there is activity in the rift that suggests a giant (5) ______________________________________________ of land is breaking away. He wrote: "There is evidence that the (6) ______________________________________________ boundary of the Kafue Rift is active and therefore the Southwest African Rift Zone is too." He (7) ______________________________________________ that this "may be an (8) ______________________________________________ indication of the break-up of sub-Saharan Africa".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

called
huge
this
apart
again
constantly
slowly
stretching

The land on Earth is (9) ______________________________________________ moving. Three hundred million years ago, there was just one (10) ______________________________________________ supercontinent. It was called Pangea. Over millions of years, Pangea broke up. Giant areas of land (11) ______________________________________________ moved across the oceans to form the continents we know today. This movement is (12) ______________________________________________ continental drift. Rifts are one reason why land masses split (13) ______________________________________________. The Kafue Rift in Zambia is part of a 2,500-kilometre-long rift zone (14) ______________________________________________ from Tanzania to Namibia. The rift is moving at a rate of about 4.7 mm per year. At (15) ______________________________________________ rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to split in two. Scientists believe that in 200 million years from now, there could be just one supercontinent (16) ______________________________________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) There are signs that a huge part of East Africa is starting ______
     a. to breaks away
     b. to break a way
     c. to break away
     d. too break away
2) Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and rocks) studied ______
     a. a deepen crack
     b. a deeps crack
     c. a deep cracks
     d. a deep crack
3) It is a major fault in the rock that ______
     a. cover Earth's surface
     b. covers Earth's surface
     c. cover Earth's surfaced
     d. covers Earth's surfaced
4) There is evidence that the fault boundary of the Kafue ______
     a. Rift is active
     b. Rift is activity
     c. Rift is actively
     d. Rift is act tiff
5) this "may be an early indication of the break-up ______"
     a. of sob-Saharan Africa
     b. of sub-Saharan Africa
     c. of sup-Saharan Africa
     d. of suds-Saharan Africa

6) Three hundred million years ago, there was just ______
     a. one hugely supercontinent
     b. one huge supercontinent
     c. one whole supercontinent
     d. one hole supercontinent
7) Giant areas of land slowly moved across the oceans to ______
     a. frame the continents
     b. firm the continents
     c. farm the continents
     d. form the continents
8) Rifts are one reason why land ______
     a. mass is split apart
     b. masses split tap art
     c. masses split tar part
     d. masses split apart
9) The rift is moving at a rate of about 4.7 ______
     a. mm pour year
     b. mm pear year
     c. mm par year
     d. mm per year
10) At this rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to ______
     a. splitting two
     b. split in two
     c. split tin two
     d. split into

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There are signs that a (1) __________________________________________________ East Africa is starting to break away from the African continent. Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and rocks) studied (2) __________________________________________________ that runs along a large part of Zambia. The crack is called a rift. It is a (3) __________________________________________________ the rock that covers Earth's surface. Geologist Mike Daly of the University of Oxford is studying Zambia's Kafue Rift. He believes (4) __________________________________________________ in the rift that suggests a giant piece of land is breaking away. He wrote: "There (5) __________________________________________________ the fault boundary of the Kafue Rift is active and therefore the Southwest African Rift Zone is too." He warned that this "may be (6) __________________________________________________ of the break-up of sub-Saharan Africa".

The land on Earth is constantly moving. Three hundred million years ago, there was (7) __________________________________________________ supercontinent. It was called Pangea. Over millions of years, Pangea broke up. Giant areas of land slowly moved (8) __________________________________________________ to form the continents we know today. This movement is called continental drift. Rifts are one reason why land (9) __________________________________________________. The Kafue Rift in Zambia is part of a 2,500-kilometre-long rift (10) __________________________________________________ Tanzania to Namibia. The rift is moving at (11) __________________________________________________ about 4.7 mm per year. At this rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to (12) __________________________________________________. Scientists believe that in 200 million years from now, there could be just one supercontinent again.

Comprehension questions

What are geologists?
Where does Mike Daly work?
What is a rift?
What rift was mentioned besides the Kafue Rift?
What part of Africa might break up?
What does the article say is constantly moving?
What was the supercontinent of 300 million years ago called?
What is the movement of land masses called?
At what speed is a part of Africa breaking away?
What might there be in 200 million years from now?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What are geologists?
a) people who write travel guides
b) people who study Africa
c) people who study the Earth
d) people who make maps
2) Where does Mike Daly work?
a) the University of Oxford
b) Africa
c) the World Geology Agency
d) in a restaurant
3) What is a rift?
a) a short tune on a guitar
b) a crack in the Earth
c) a new island
d) an expensive present
4) What rift was mentioned besides the Kafue Rift?
a) the Southeast African Rift
b) the Kenyan Rift
c) the Northwest African Rift
d) the Southwest African Rift
5) What part of Africa might break up?
a) South Africa
b) Madagascar
c) sub-Saharan Africa
d) the west coast

6) What does the article say is constantly moving?
a) the oceans
b) the land on Earth
c) rifts
d) rocks
7) What was the supercontinent of 300 million years ago called?
a) Jurassic
b) Bob
c) Earthiopia
d) Pangea
8) What is the movement of land masses called?
a) ocean drift
b) continental drift
c) country making
d) nature
9) At what speed is a part of Africa breaking away?
a) 4.7 mm per day
b) 4.7 mm per year
c) 4.7 mm per month
d) 4.7 mm per week
10) What might there be in 200 million years from now?
a) there could be one supercontinent
b) dinosaurs
c) no people
d) nothing but fire

Role play

Role A – Geologist
You think being a geologist is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): artist, guitarist or dentist.

Role B – Artist
You think being an artist is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): geologist, guitarist or dentist.

Role C – Guitarist
You think being a guitarist is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): artist, geologist or dentist.

Role D – Dentist
You think being a dentist is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): artist, guitarist or geologist.

After reading / listening

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

'Africa'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'continent'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

signs

deep

major

activity

evidence

early

moving

huge

slowly

reason

take

now

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 - Africa

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 'Africa'?
How great is Africa?
What do you know about East Africa?
What do you think a geologists' job is like?
What is the best continent?
How interested are you in geology?
What do you know about the geology of your country?
What would change if the African continent broke up?
What is the best country in Africa

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 'continent'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about Pangea?
What do you think Earth was like hundreds of millions of years ago?
Are you worried that our continents are constantly moving?
How would Earth change if there was just one supercontinent?
What are the most interesting things about Africa?
What will Earth be like in 200 million years from now?
What questions would you like to ask the geologists?

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)

There are (1) ____ that a huge part of East Africa is starting to break (2) ____ from the African continent. Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and rocks) studied a (3) ____ crack that runs along a large part of Zambia. The crack is called a rift. It is a major fault (4) ____ the rock that covers Earth's surface. Geologist Mike Daly of the University of Oxford is studying Zambia's Kafue Rift. He believes there is activity in the rift that (5) ____ a giant piece of land is breaking away. He wrote: "There is evidence that the fault boundary of the Kafue Rift is active and therefore the Southwest African Rift Zone is too." He warned that this "may be an (6) ____ indication of the break-up of sub-Saharan Africa".

The land on Earth is (7) ____ moving. Three hundred million years ago, there was just one huge supercontinent. It was called Pangea. Over millions of years, Pangea broke up. Giant areas of land slowly moved across the oceans (8) ____ form the continents we know today. This movement is called continental drift. Rifts are one reason why land masses split (9) ____. The Kafue Rift in Zambia is part of a 2,500-kilometre-long rift zone (10) ____ from Tanzania to Namibia. The rift is moving at a rate of about 4.7 mm (11) ____ year. At this rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to split (12) ____ two. Scientists believe that in 200 million years from now, there could be just one supercontinent again.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) sign (b) signs (c) signal (d) singes
(a) over (b) away (c) down (d) for
(a) deepen (b) depth (c) deeply (d) deep
(a) at (b) in (c) top (d) by
(a) gests (b) ingests (c) digests (d) suggests
(a) on time (b) late (c) early (d) present
(a) constantly (b) content (c) constructing (d) can't
(a) by (b) for (c) to (d) at
(a) partner (b) parts (c) part (d) apart
(a) stretching (b) stretch (c) stretches (d) stretcher
(a) per (b) for (c) far (d) more
(a) in (b) up (c) out (d) down

Spelling

Paragraph 1

It is a major lftau
etooisglg Mike Daly
suggests a gntai piece of land is breaking
there is iedenvec
bouadryn of the Kafue Rift
this may be an early diicnnoita

Paragraph 2

The land on Earth is ntonstacyl moving
Over omiisnll of years
land slowly moved across the neosac
This enemtmov is called continental drift
why land masses tspil apart
nrttegcish from Tanzania to Namibia

Put the text back together

(    )   "There is evidence that the fault boundary of the Kafue Rift is active and therefore the Southwest African Rift Zone
(    )   4.7 mm per year. At this rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to split
(    )   across the oceans to form the continents we know today. This movement is called
(    )   activity in the rift that suggests a giant piece of land is breaking away. He wrote:
(    )   continent. Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and rocks) studied a deep
(    )   continental drift. Rifts are one reason why land masses split apart. The Kafue Rift in Zambia is part
(    )   crack that runs along a large part of Zambia. The crack is called a rift. It is a major fault in the rock that covers
(    )   Earth's surface. Geologist Mike Daly of the University of Oxford is studying Zambia's Kafue Rift. He believes there is
(    )   in two. Scientists believe that in 200 million years from now, there could be just one supercontinent again.
(    )   is too." He warned that this "may be an early indication of the break-up of sub-Saharan Africa".
(    )   of a 2,500-kilometre-long rift zone stretching from Tanzania to Namibia. The rift is moving at a rate of about
(    )   supercontinent. It was called Pangea. Over millions of years, Pangea broke up. Giant areas of land slowly moved
(    )   The land on Earth is constantly moving. Three hundred million years ago, there was just one huge
( 1 )   There are signs that a huge part of East Africa is starting to break away from the African

Put the words in the right order

Africa East Part break is of starting to .
Earth Geologists are people study the who .
It a fault in is major rock the .
A away breaking giant is land of piece .
He an be early indication may said this .
Earth The constantly is land moving on .
Areas across land moved oceans of slowly the .
Rifts are land masses one reason split why .
4.7 mm a at Moving of per rate year .
There again be could just one supercontinent .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

There are signs that a huge / hugely part of East Africa is starting to break away from the African continental / continent. Geologists (people who study the Earth and its land and rocks) studied a deep crack that walks / runs along a large part of Zambia. The crack is called / calling a rift. It is a major fault in the rock that covers / covering Earth's surface. Geologist Mike Daly of the University of Oxford is studied / studying Zambia's Kafue Rift. He believes there is active / activity in the rift that suggests a giant piece of / by land is breaking away. He wrote: "There is evidence that / what the fault boundary of the Kafue Rift is active and therefore the Southwest African Rift Zone is too." He warned that this "may be an early indication of the break-up of dub-Saharan / sub-Saharan Africa".

The land on Earth is constant / constantly moving. Three hundred million years ago, there was just one / once huge supercontinent. It was called Pangea. Under / Over millions of years, Pangea broke up / down. Giant areas of land slowly moved across the oceans to / for form the continents we know today. This movement is called continental drift. Rifts are one reason why land masses split part / apart. The Kafue Rift in Zambia is part of a 2,500-kilometre-long rift zone stretching / stretch from Tanzania to Namibia. The rift is moving for / at a rate of about 4.7 mm per year. At this rate, it will take millions of years for Africa to split in / splitting two. Scientists believe that in 200 million years from now, there could have / be just one supercontinent again.

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_r_ _r_ s_gns th_t _ h_g_ p_rt _f __st _fr_c_ _s st_rt_ng t_ br__k _w_y fr_m th_ _fr_c_n c_nt_n_nt. G__l_g_sts (p__pl_ wh_ st_dy th_ __rth _nd _ts l_nd _nd r_cks) st_d__d _ d__p cr_ck th_t r_ns _l_ng _ l_rg_ p_rt _f Z_mb__. Th_ cr_ck _s c_ll_d _ r_ft. _t _s _ m_j_r f__lt _n th_ r_ck th_t c_v_rs __rth's s_rf_c_. G__l_g_st M_k_ D_ly _f th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f _xf_rd _s st_dy_ng Z_mb__'s K_f__ R_ft. H_ b_l__v_s th_r_ _s _ct_v_ty _n th_ r_ft th_t s_gg_sts _ g__nt p__c_ _f l_nd _s br__k_ng _w_y. H_ wr_t_: "Th_r_ _s _v_d_nc_ th_t th_ f__lt b__nd_ry _f th_ K_f__ R_ft _s _ct_v_ _nd th_r_f_r_ th_ S__thw_st _fr_c_n R_ft Z_n_ _s t__." H_ w_rn_d th_t th_s "m_y b_ _n __rly _nd_c_t__n _f th_ br__k-_p _f s_b-S_h_r_n _fr_c_".

Th_ l_nd _n __rth _s c_nst_ntly m_v_ng. Thr__ h_ndr_d m_ll__n y__rs _g_, th_r_ w_s j_st _n_ h_g_ s_p_rc_nt_n_nt. _t w_s c_ll_d P_ng__. _v_r m_ll__ns _f y__rs, P_ng__ br_k_ _p. G__nt _r__s _f l_nd sl_wly m_v_d _cr_ss th_ _c__ns t_ f_rm th_ c_nt_n_nts w_ kn_w t_d_y. Th_s m_v_m_nt _s c_ll_d c_nt_n_nt_l dr_ft. R_fts _r_ _n_ r__s_n why l_nd m_ss_s spl_t _p_rt. Th_ K_f__ R_ft _n Z_mb__ _s p_rt _f _ 2,500-k_l_m_tr_-l_ng r_ft z_n_ str_tch_ng fr_m T_nz_n__ t_ N_m_b__. Th_ r_ft _s m_v_ng _t _ r_t_ _f _b__t 4.7 mm p_r y__r. _t th_s r_t_, _t w_ll t_k_ m_ll__ns _f y__rs f_r _fr_c_ t_ spl_t _n tw_. Sc__nt_sts b_l__v_ th_t _n 200 m_ll__n y__rs fr_m n_w, th_r_ c__ld b_ j_st _n_ s_p_rc_nt_n_nt _g__n.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

there are signs that a huge part of east africa is starting to break away from the african continent geologists people who study the earth and its land and rocks studied a deep crack that runs along a large part of zambia the crack is called a rift it is a major fault in the rock that covers earths surface geologist mike daly of the university of oxford is studying zambias kafue rift he believes there is activity in the rift that suggests a giant piece of land is breaking away he wrote there is evidence that the fault boundary of the kafue rift is active and therefore the southwest african rift zone is too he warned that this may be an early indication of the breakup of subsaharan africa

the land on earth is constantly moving three hundred million years ago there was just one huge supercontinent it was called pangea over millions of years pangea broke up giant areas of land slowly moved across the oceans to form the continents we know today this movement is called continental drift rifts are one reason why land masses split apart the kafue rift in zambia is part of a 2500kilometrelong rift zone stretching from tanzania to namibia the rift is moving at a rate of about 47 mm per year at this rate it will take millions of years for africa to split in two scientists believe that in 200 million years from now there could be just one supercontinent again

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TherearesignsthatahugepartofEastAfricaisstartingtobreakawayfro
mtheAfricancontinent.Geologists(peoplewhostudytheEarthanditsla
ndandrocks)studiedadeepcrackthatrunsalongalargepartofZambia.
Thecrackiscalledarift.ItisamajorfaultintherockthatcoversEarth'ssurf
ace.GeologistMikeDalyoftheUniversityofOxfordisstudyingZambia's
KafueRift.Hebelievesthereisactivityintheriftthatsuggestsagiantpiec
eoflandisbreakingaway.Hewrote:"Thereisevidencethatthefaultboun
daryoftheKafueRiftisactiveandthereforetheSouthwestAfricanRiftZo
neistoo."Hewarnedthatthis"maybeanearlyindicationofthebreak-up
ofsub-SaharanAfrica".ThelandonEarthisconstantlymoving.Threehu
ndredmillionyearsago,therewasjustonehugesupercontinent.Itwasc
alledPangea.Overmillionsofyears,Pangeabrokeup.Giantareasofland
slowlymovedacrosstheoceanstoformthecontinentsweknowtoday.T
hismovementiscalledcontinentaldrift.Riftsareonereasonwhylandma
ssessplitapart.TheKafueRiftinZambiaispartofa2,500-kilometre-lon
griftzonestretchingfromTanzaniatoNamibia.Theriftismovingatarate
ofabout4.7mmperyear.Atthisrate,itwilltakemillionsofyearsforAfrica
tosplitintwo.Scientistsbelievethatin200millionyearsfromnow,therec
ouldbejustonesupercontinentagain.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Africa is the greatest of the continents. 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. AFRICA: Make a poster about Africa. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. NAMING COMPETITION: Write a magazine article about having a competition to name a breakaway part of Africa. 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 Africa. Ask him/her three questions about the continent. Tell him/her about three of your favourite African countries. 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: Africa

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