The Royal Mint is a place in the UK where they make coins. Now, they are doing something new and exciting. They are taking old electronic stuff, like phones and computers, and getting gold out of them. They have a special factory in Wales to do this. They want to use the gold to make jewelry and special coins.

The process is like a big science project. They heat up the old electronics to get the gold parts out. Then, they use a special liquid to get the gold. This way is better for the Earth because it uses less energy. The Royal Mint wants to do this a lot and help keep the planet clean.

Original news source: Royal Mint starts turning e-waste into gold (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out the process of making coins and extracting gold from electronics without using any words. The rest of the class will guess what they are acting out.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will draw a picture of the Royal Mint or the process of extracting gold from old electronics. After drawing, they will share their sketches with a partner and explain what they drew.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will create a catchy headline about the Royal Mint’s new project of recycling electronics for gold. They will then share their headlines with the class.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates if they think recycling old electronics for gold is a good idea. They will gather opinions and report back to the class on the results.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a mind map about the Royal Mint and its new project. They can include words and simple drawings to show what they learned from the article. Each group will present their mind map to the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What does the Royal Mint make?
2. Where is the special factory that gets gold from old electronics?
3. What old things do they use to get gold?
4. What do they want to make with the gold?
5. How do they get the gold from the old electronics?
6. Why is this way of getting gold good for the Earth?
7. What does the Royal Mint want to help keep clean?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The Royal Mint is a place in the UK where they make (1)______. Now, they are doing something new and (2)______. They are taking old electronic stuff, like phones and computers, and getting gold out of them. They have a (3)______ factory in Wales to do this. They want to use the gold to make (4)______ and special coins.

The process is like a big (5)______ project. They heat up the old (6)______ to get the gold parts out. Then, they use a special liquid to get the gold. This way is better for the Earth because it uses less (7)______. The Royal (8)______ wants to do this a lot and help keep the planet clean.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a coin?
2. Do you like coins? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you found a lot of gold?
4. What is a phone?
5. Do you have an old phone? What do you do with it?
6. Do you think it’s good to recycle old things? Why?
7. How would you feel if you made jewelry from old stuff?
8. What is your favorite kind of jewelry?
9. Do you think it is important to keep the Earth clean? Why?
10. How would you feel if you saw a big factory?
11. What do you think happens to old computers?
12. Do you like science projects? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. coins
2. electronic
3. factory
4. jewelry
5. process
6. project
7. energy
8. planet
9. special
10. clean

Meanings:
(A) A big building where things are made
(B) Small, round pieces of metal used as money
(C) Steps you follow to do something
(D) Not dirty, nice and tidy
(E) Power that makes things work
(F) Another word for Earth
(G) Pretty things like rings and necklaces
(H) Not like the others, unique
(I) Things like phones and computers that use electricity
(J) A big task or job you work on
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🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does The Royal Mint make?
(a) Toys
(b) Food
(c) Coins
(d) Clothes

2. Where is The Royal Mint located?
(a) USA
(b) Canada
(c) Australia
(d) UK

3. What old things does The Royal Mint use to get gold?
(a) Phones
(b) Books
(c) Cars
(d) Shoes

4. Where is the special factory for getting gold?
(a) England
(b) Scotland
(c) Ireland
(d) Wales

5. What do they want to make with the gold?
(a) Jewelry
(b) Furniture
(c) Games
(d) Houses

6. What do they do to get the gold from old electronics?
(a) Freeze them
(b) Heat them up
(c) Wash them
(d) Paint them

7. Why is this way of getting gold good for the Earth?
(a) It makes more trash
(b) It uses less energy
(c) It costs a lot
(d) It takes a long time

8. What does The Royal Mint want to help?
(a) Make more money
(b) Build more factories
(c) Keep the planet clean
(d) Sell more toys

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They have stopped taking gold from old phones and computers.
2. The gold will be used to make jewelry and special coins.
3. The Royal Mint wants to help keep the planet clean.
4. There is a special factory in Wales for this work.
5. They cool down old electronics to get the gold.
6. This way of getting gold is better for the Earth.
7. A regular liquid helps to get the gold out.
8. The Royal Mint makes notes in the UK.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What does the Royal Mint make?
2. Where is the special factory that gets gold from old electronics?
3. What old things do they use to get gold?
4. Why is this way of getting gold good for the Earth?
5. What do they want to make with the gold they get?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does the Royal Mint make?
The Royal Mint makes coins.

2. Where is the special factory that gets gold from old electronics?
The special factory is in Wales.

3. What old things do they use to get gold?
They use old phones and computers.

4. What do they want to make with the gold?
They want to make jewelry and special coins.

5. How do they get the gold from the old electronics?
They heat up the old electronics and use a special liquid.

6. Why is this way of getting gold good for the Earth?
It uses less energy and helps keep the Earth clean.

7. What does the Royal Mint want to help keep clean?
The Royal Mint wants to help keep the planet clean.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) coins
(2) exciting
(3) special
(4) jewelry
(5) science
(6) electronics
(7) energy
(8) Mint
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. coins
Answer: (B) Small, round pieces of metal used as money

2. electronic
Answer: (I) Things like phones and computers that use electricity

3. factory
Answer: (A) A big building where things are made

4. jewelry
Answer: (G) Pretty things like rings and necklaces

5. process
Answer: (C) Steps you follow to do something

6. project
Answer: (J) A big task or job you work on

7. energy
Answer: (E) Power that makes things work

8. planet
Answer: (F) Another word for Earth

9. special
Answer: (H) Not like the others, unique

10. clean
Answer: (D) Not dirty, nice and tidy
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does The Royal Mint make?
Answer: (c) Coins

2. Where is The Royal Mint located?
Answer: (d) UK

3. What old things does The Royal Mint use to get gold?
Answer: (a) Phones

4. Where is the special factory for getting gold?
Answer: (d) Wales

5. What do they want to make with the gold?
Answer: (a) Jewelry

6. What do they do to get the gold from old electronics?
Answer: (b) Heat them up

7. Why is this way of getting gold good for the Earth?
Answer: (b) It uses less energy

8. What does The Royal Mint want to help?
Answer: (c) Keep the planet clean
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They have stopped taking gold from old phones and computers. (Answer: False)
2. The gold will be used to make jewelry and special coins. (Answer: True)
3. The Royal Mint wants to help keep the planet clean. (Answer: True)
4. There is a special factory in Wales for this work. (Answer: True)
5. They cool down old electronics to get the gold. (Answer: False)
6. This way of getting gold is better for the Earth. (Answer: True)
7. A regular liquid helps to get the gold out. (Answer: False)
8. The Royal Mint makes notes in the UK. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧