. Holiday Waste - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Holiday Waste - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Holiday Waste - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: Holiday Waste

There are many holidays around the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the giving of gifts. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a lot of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to carefully separate what we throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little extra time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the first place.

Various experts have reported on how best to deal with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to be aware of and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like electronics, toys, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good to think ahead to reduce waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences over stuff". This means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard box. She also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://www.npr.org/2025/12/26/nx-s1-5649424/holiday-waste-recycling-tips-mistakes
  • https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/26/five-things-to-do-with-holiday-waste
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/christmas-tree-holiday-garbage-disposal-tips/

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 :-)

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News

"Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers; but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publications has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools."

The Portland Eastern Herald (June 8, 1795)

"News is history in its first and best form, its vivid and fascinating form, and. history is the pale and tranquil reflection of it."

Mark Twain, in his autobiography (1906)

"Current events provide authentic learning experiences for students at all grade levels. In studying current events, students are required to use a range of cognitive, affective, critical thinking and research skills."

Haas, M. and Laughlin, M. (2000) Teaching Current Events: It's Status in Social Studies Today.

Warm-ups

1. WASTE AND TRASH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about waste and trash. 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? holidays / end of the year / family get-togethers / celebrations / waste / recycling / experts / rules / electronics / toys / advice / experiences / concert / carboard box Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. PACKAGING: Students A strongly believe all plastic packaging should be banned; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. HOLIDAYS: What do you know about these holidays? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Christmas

Hanukkah

Kwanzaa

Eid-al-Fitr

Diwali

Lunar New Year

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Packaging
  • Food
  • Electricity
  • Time
  • Our energy
  • Skills
  • Petrol
  • Money
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. involve a. Guess a number or amount. 2. get-togethers b. Stay away from something. 3. celebrations c. Have something as a part of an activity or situation. 4. estimate (verb) d. Happy events to show joy for something special, like a birthday or wedding. 5. increases e. Times when people meet and spend (a happy) time with each other. 6. separate (verb) f. Becomes bigger or more. 7. avoid g. Put things apart or not together.

Paragraph 2

8. various h. People who know a lot (or everything) about something. 9. experts i. Do something about a problem or situation. 10. deal with j. Things or objects. 11. be aware of k. Many different kinds. 12. experiences l. Said to be good or helpful. 13. stuff (noun) m. Things that happen to you in your life. 14. recommended n. Know about something. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. The article says there are a dozen holidays around the end of the year. T / F
  2. A US agency says we produce 25% more waste over the holiday period. T / F
  3. A recycling expert says we should put cans in the green recycling bin. T / F
  4. The article says the USA should be in first place for waste reduction. T / F
  5. All towns have the same recycling policies. T / F
  6. A professor urged caution when throwing away electronics. T / F
  7. An expert said it was better to buy people experiences than stuff. T / F
  8. The expert said it was a good idea to buy digital gifts. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. to begin with
  2. regulations
  3. container
  4. reckons
  5. things
  6. include
  7. specialists
  8. wrapping
  9. encourages
  10. discard
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. There are many holidays around
  2. family get-togethers and the giving
  3. household waste increases
  4. carefully separate
  5. avoid producing waste as much as
  6. experts have reported on how best to
  7. He said different places have different
  8. be careful when they throw away things
  9. it was good to think ahead
  10. a present that comes
  1. deal with holiday waste
  2. possible in the first place
  3. what we throw away
  4. to reduce waste
  5. rules
  6. the end of the year
  7. in lots of packaging
  8. by 25 per cent
  9. like electronics
  10. of gifts
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. increases extra giving first end cans create carefully

There are many holidays around the (1) ______________________________________________ of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the (2) ______________________________________________ of gifts. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can (3) ______________________________________________ a lot of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste (4) ______________________________________________ by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to (5) ______________________________________________ separate what we throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little (6) ______________________________________________ time to put those boxes and those bottles and (7) ______________________________________________ in the blue bin." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the (8) ______________________________________________ place.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

toys cardboard stuff best instead rules aware idea

Various experts have reported on how (9) ______________________________________________ to deal with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to be (10) ______________________________________________ of and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different (11) ______________________________________________. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like electronics, (12) ______________________________________________, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good to think ahead to reduce waste. She said one (13) ______________________________________________ was to buy "experiences over (14) ______________________________________________". This means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, (15) ______________________________________________ of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a (16) ______________________________________________ box. She also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) There are many holidays around the end ______ a. off the year b. of the years c. of then year d. of the year 2) These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the ______ a. given of gifts b. give in of gifts c. giving of gifts d. giving oft gifts 3) celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a ______ a. lots of trash b. lot of trash c. lot of trashed d. lot of thrash 4) take a little extra time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in ______ a. the blue bin b. the blue ban c. the blue bun d. the blue bon 5) we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in ______ a. the fist place b. the third place c. the fast place d. the first place

6) Various experts have reported on how best to deal ______ a. wither holiday waste b. with a holiday waste c. with holiday waste d. within holiday waste 7) Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away ______ a. things like electricity b. things like electrics c. things like electricians d. things like electronics 8) She said one idea was to buy ______ a. experiences under stuff b. experiences over stuff c. experiences over staff d. experiences above stiff 9) instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and ______ a. a card bored box b. a car board box c. a card bald box d. a cardboard box 10) She also recommended giving people digital cards ______ a. and gift card b. and gift cards c. end gilt cards d. end gift card

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There are many holidays around (1) __________________________________________________ the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the (2) __________________________________________________. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can (3) __________________________________________________ of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to carefully (4) __________________________________________________ throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little extra time to put those boxes and those (5) __________________________________________________ in the blue bin." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said (6) __________________________________________________ producing waste as much as possible in the first place.

Various experts have reported on how (7) __________________________________________________ with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to (8) __________________________________________________ and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw (9) __________________________________________________ electronics, toys, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good to think (10) __________________________________________________ waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences over stuff". This means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, (11) __________________________________________________ a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard box. She also recommended giving people digital (12) __________________________________________________ cards.

Comprehension questions
  1. When does the article say there are many holidays?
  2. What does the article say celebrations can create a lot of?
  3. How much more waste do we produce at the end of the year?
  4. Where did an expert say we should place bottles and cans?
  5. What did an engineering professor say we should avoid?
  6. What did the professor say we needed to be aware of?
  7. What did the professor say different places have?
  8. What did an expert say it was important to do to reduce waste?
  9. What did the expert recommend buying as gifts instead of "stuff"?
  10. What did an expert say were good gifts?
Multiple choice quiz

1) When does the article say there are many holidays? a) all year round b) at the end of the year c) at the beginning of the year d) in summer 2) What does the article say celebrations can create a lot of? a) fun b) anger c) noise d) trash 3) How much more waste do we produce at the end of the year? a) 25% more b) 35% more c) 15% more d) 45% more 4) Where did an expert say we should place bottles and cans? a) in a green bin b) on the red bin c) in the blue bin d) in a big bin 5) What did an engineering professor say we should avoid? a) cardboard boxes b) producing waste c) microplastics d) holiday celebrations

6) What did the professor say we needed to be aware of? a) recycling policies b) microplastics c) pollution d) dangers to animals 7) What did the professor say different places have? a) holidays b) plastics c) rules d) celebrations 8) What did an expert say it was important to do to reduce waste? a) think ahead b) not buy anything c) use reusable shopping bags d) buy many recycling bins 9) What did the expert recommend buying as gifts instead of "stuff"? a) experiences b) stocks and shares c) property d) food 10) What did an expert say were good gifts? a) jogging shoes b) rings and necklaces c) recycling bins d) digital cards and gift cards

Role play

Role A – Food You think food is the worst thing to waste. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad for their things to be wasted. Also, tell the others which is most acceptable of these (and why): time, money or water.

Role B – Time You think time is the worst thing to waste. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad for their things to be wasted. Also, tell the others which is most acceptable of these (and why): food, money or water.

Role C – Money You think money is the worst thing to waste. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad for their things to be wasted. Also, tell the others which is most acceptable of these (and why): time, food or water.

Role D – Water You think water is the worst thing to waste. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad for their things to be wasted. Also, tell the others which is most acceptable of these (and why): time, money or food.

After reading / listening

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

• 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:

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 - Holiday Waste

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

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'holiday'?
  3. What do you think of the end-of-the-year holidays?
  4. What do you do at the end of the year?
  5. How has this year been for you?
  6. How much trash do you produce?
  7. What difference does separating trash make?
  8. What extra waste do you create over the holiday period?
  9. How can we avoid producing waste?
  10. What is your advice regarding recycling?

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

  1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
  2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'trash'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. What are the recycling policies in your town?
  5. What are your New Year resolutions?
  6. How good are you at recycling?
  7. Would you rather be given an experience or stuff?
  8. What do you think of cardboard boxes?
  9. What do you think of digital gifts and gift cards?
  10. What questions would you like to ask a waste expert?
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 many holidays (1) ____ the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the (2) ____ of gifts. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a (3) ____ of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to carefully (4) ____ what we throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little extra time to put (5) ____ boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible (6) ____ the first place.

Various experts have reported on (7) ____ best to deal with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to be aware (8) ____ and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like (9) ____, toys, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good (10) ____ think ahead to reduce waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences over stuff". This (11) ____ buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a (12) ____ box. She also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) around (b) abound (c) about (d) a rout
  2. (a) given (b) gives (c) giving (d) give
  3. (a) allot (b) lots (c) lot (d) loads
  4. (a) separates (b) separation (c) separating (d) separate
  5. (a) those (b) them (c) they (d) there
  6. (a) of (b) in (c) at (d) to
  7. (a) that (b) which (c) what (d) how
  8. (a) at (b) of (c) on (d) as
  9. (a) electricity (b) electricians (c) electronics (d) electrics
  10. (a) for (b) to (c) at (d) up
  11. (a) mean (b) meaning (c) meanie (d) means
  12. (a) boarded (b) cardboard (c) board (d) carded
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. These nvlivoe parties
  2. family get-gerhotets
  3. ilaoesrebcnt for Christmas
  4. carefully eartsepa what we throw away
  5. eirenegignn professor
  6. we should odvai producing waste
Paragraph 2
  1. various texreps
  2. follow the celiynrgc policies
  3. different places have different eslur
  4. licoterescn, toys, and Christmas lights
  5. She said one idea was to buy execsreiepn
  6. lots of packaging and a bcadrdrao box
Put the text back together

( ) a play or concert, instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard ( ) aware of and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different ( ) box. She also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards. ( ) by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to carefully ( ) lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good to think ahead to reduce ( ) of gifts. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a lot ( ) of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases ( ) professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the first place. ( ) rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like electronics, toys, and Christmas ( ) separate what we throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little extra ( 1 ) There are many holidays around the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the giving ( ) time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin." Engineering ( ) Various experts have reported on how best to deal with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to be ( ) waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences over stuff". This means buying someone a ticket to see

Put the words in the right order
  1. around Holidays end the the of year .
  2. increases Waste 25 by% the over period holiday .
  3. We separate carefully we what away throw .
  4. It does really a make difference big .
  5. Avoid waste producing much as possible as .
  6. He different said have places rules different .
  7. Be when careful throw they things away .
  8. One was idea buy to over experiences stuff .
  9. someone Buying ticket a see to play a .
  10. She recommended also people giving cards digital .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

There are many holidays about / around the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the give / giving of gifts. However, celebrations for / to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a lot / lots of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases for / by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us / as to carefully separate what we / they throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little bit / extra time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin / ban." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the second / first place.

Various experts have repeated / reported on how best to deal to / with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised / advice people to be aware of and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different rule / rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be carefully / careful when they throw away things like electronics / electricity, toys, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice / advise. One said it was good to think ahead to reduce waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences under / over stuff". This means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, instead to / of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard box. She also recommended giving people digital / digitally cards and gift cards.

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_ m_ny h_l_d_ys _r__nd th_ _nd _f th_ y__r. Th_s_ _nv_lv_ p_rt__s, f_m_ly g_t-t_g_th_rs, _nd th_ g_v_ng _f g_fts. H_w_v_r, c_l_br_t__ns f_r Chr_stm_s, H_n_kk_h, Kw_nz__, _nd th_ N_w Y__r c_n cr__t_ _ l_t _f tr_sh. Th_ _S_'s _nv_r_nm_nt_l Pr_t_ct__n _g_ncy _st_m_t_s th_t h__s_h_ld w_st_ _ncr__s_s by 25 p_r c_nt _v_r th_ h_l_d_y p_r__d. M_r__m H_ls_ng_r, c_-pr_s_d_nt _f __r_k_ R_cycl_ng, _rg_s _s t_ c_r_f_lly s_p_r_t_ wh_t w_ thr_w _w_y. Sh_ s__d: "_t r__lly d__s m_k_ _ d_ff_r_nc_ _f y__ j_st t_k_ _ l_ttl_ _xtr_ t_m_ t_ p_t th_s_ b_x_s _nd th_s_ b_ttl_s _nd c_ns _n th_ bl__ b_n." _ng_n__r_ng pr_f_ss_r D_n H__rnw_g s__d w_ sh__ld _v__d pr_d_c_ng w_st_ _s m_ch _s p_ss_bl_ _n th_ f_rst pl_c_.

V_r___s _xp_rts h_v_ r_p_rt_d _n h_w b_st t_ d__l w_th h_l_d_y w_st_. Pr_f_ss_r H__rnw_g _dv_s_d p__pl_ t_ b_ _w_r_ _f _nd f_ll_w th_ r_cycl_ng p_l_c__s _n th__r t_wn. H_ s__d d_ff_r_nt pl_c_s h_v_ d_ff_r_nt r_l_s. Ms H_ls_ng_r _sk_d p__pl_ t_ b_ c_r_f_l wh_n th_y thr_w _w_y th_ngs l_k_ _l_ctr_n_cs, t_ys, _nd Chr_stm_s l_ghts. _th_r _xp_rts _ls_ _ff_r_d gr__t _dv_c_. _n_ s__d _t w_s g__d t_ th_nk _h__d t_ r_d_c_ w_st_. Sh_ s__d _n_ _d__ w_s t_ b_y "_xp_r__nc_s _v_r st_ff". Th_s m__ns b_y_ng s_m__n_ _ t_ck_t t_ s__ _ pl_y _r c_nc_rt, _nst__d _f b_y_ng _ pr_s_nt th_t c_m_s _n l_ts _f p_ck_g_ng _nd _ c_rdb__rd b_x. Sh_ _ls_ r_c_mm_nd_d g_v_ng p__pl_ d_g_t_l c_rds _nd g_ft c_rds.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

there are many holidays around the end of the year these involve parties family gettogethers and the giving of gifts however celebrations for christmas hanukkah kwanzaa and the new year can create a lot of trash the usas environmental protection agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period miriam holsinger copresident of eureka recycling urges us to carefully separate what we throw away she said it really does make a difference if you just take a little extra time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin engineering professor dan hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the first place

various experts have reported on how best to deal with holiday waste professor hoornweg advised people to be aware of and follow the recycling policies in their town he said different places have different rules ms holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like electronics toys and christmas lights other experts also offered great advice one said it was good to think ahead to reduce waste she said one idea was to buy experiences over stuff this means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard box she also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Therearemanyholidaysaroundtheendoftheyear.Theseinvolvepartie s,familyget-togethers,andthegivingofgifts.However,celebrationsf orChristmas,Hanukkah,Kwanzaa,andtheNewYearcancreatealotoftr ash.TheUSA'sEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyestimatesthathouseh oldwasteincreasesby25percentovertheholidayperiod.MiriamHolsin ger,co-presidentofEurekaRecycling,urgesustocarefullyseparatewh atwethrowaway.Shesaid:"Itreallydoesmakeadifferenceifyoujusttak ealittleextratimetoputthoseboxesandthosebottlesandcansintheblue bin."EngineeringprofessorDanHoornwegsaidweshouldavoidproduci ngwasteasmuchaspossibleinthefirstplace.Variousexpertshaverepor tedonhowbesttodealwithholidaywaste.ProfessorHoornwegadvisedp eopletobeawareofandfollowtherecyclingpoliciesintheirtown.Hesaid differentplaceshavedifferentrules.MsHolsingeraskedpeopletobecar efulwhentheythrowawaythingslikeelectronics,toys,andChristmaslig hts.Otherexpertsalsoofferedgreatadvice.Onesaiditwasgoodtothink aheadtoreducewaste.Shesaidoneideawastobuy"experiencesoverst uff".Thismeansbuyingsomeoneatickettoseeaplayorconcert,instead ofbuyingapresentthatcomesinlotsofpackagingandacardboardbox.S healsorecommendedgivingpeopledigitalcardsandgiftcards.

Free writing

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

Academic writing

We should all buy fewer things. 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. WASTE AND TRASH: Make a poster about waste and trash. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. BUYING LESS: Write a magazine article about all of us buying less so that we can reduce waste and trash. 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 waste and trash. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can reduce it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also.

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

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

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Answers

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

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