Forge Valley School in Sheffield has recently decided to ban the use of smart devices like phones, watches, and headphones on its premises. If students are caught using these gadgets, they have to hand them over and can get them back after 24 hours. The head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, is worried that students are too attached to their phones, which is making them act like zombies.

Some students at the school have different opinions about the ban. Some think it’s good because now they talk more with their friends instead of always looking at their phones. One student said the ban has made them have more face-to-face conversations, which they think is a positive change.

The school’s goal with this ban is to make the learning environment more focused and interactive by reducing distractions from smart devices. By limiting phone and watch use, students are encouraged to pay more attention and participate during classes and school events. This decision supports the school’s aim to improve communication and social interaction among students.

A video report by Amy Garcia and Jacob Tomlinson highlights the effects of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School. Students talk about how the new rule has affected them, showing the benefits of less screen time and more personal interactions. The school’s actions to tackle excessive phone use among students have started conversations about finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections.

Original news source: School calls time on pupils’ smart devices (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to come up with a catchy headline for an article about Forge Valley School’s ban on smart devices. Encourage them to be creative and use vocabulary from the article. After a few minutes, have each group share their headline with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Have students take turns choosing a word and drawing it on the board while their classmates try to guess the word. This activity will help reinforce the vocabulary from the article in a fun and engaging way.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide the class into groups of three: a news anchor, a reporter, and a witness. The news anchor and reporter will conduct a mock interview about the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School, while the witness will provide opinions and insights. Encourage students to use the language and information from the article in their role-play.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a line on the board labeled from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” Read out statements related to the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School, and have students physically place themselves on the spectrum based on their opinions. Encourage them to discuss their reasons for choosing a specific position.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, have students discuss and write down their predictions for the long-term effects of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School. They should consider how students’ behavior and interactions may change over time. After a few minutes, ask a few pairs to share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did Forge Valley School decide to ban the use of smart devices like phones, watches, and headphones?
2. How do some students feel about the ban on smart devices at the school?
3. What is the head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, concerned about when it comes to students and their phones?
4. What positive change has one student noticed since the ban on smart devices was implemented?
5. What is the main goal of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School?
6. How are students encouraged to participate more during classes and school events with the ban on smart devices?
7. Who made a video report about the effects of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School?
8. What conversations have started among students due to the school’s actions to reduce excessive phone use?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Forge Valley School in (1)______ has recently decided to ban the use of smart devices like (2)______, (3)______, and headphones on its premises. If students are caught using these (4)______, they have to hand them over and can get them back after 24 hours. The head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, is worried that students are too attached to their phones, which is making them act like (5)______.

Some (6)______ at the school have different (7)______ about the ban. Some think it’s good because now they talk more with their friends instead of always looking at their phones. One student said the ban has made them have more face-to-face conversations, which they think is a (8)______ change.

The school’s goal with this ban is to make the learning environment more focused and interactive by reducing distractions from smart devices. By limiting phone and watch use, students are encouraged to pay more attention and participate during classes and (9)______ events. This decision supports the school’s aim to improve communication and social (10)______ among students.

A video report by Amy (11)______ and (12)______ Tomlinson highlights the effects of the ban on (13)______ devices at Forge (14)______ School. Students talk about how the new rule has affected them, (15)______ the (16)______ of less screen time and more personal interactions. The school’s actions to tackle excessive phone use among students have started conversations about finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. How do you feel about the idea of banning smart devices in school?
2. Do you think students at your school are too attached to their phones? Why or why not?
3. What do you think are the benefits of talking more with friends instead of looking at your phone?
4. How important do you think face-to-face conversations are in today’s world?
5. Do you find it easier to focus in class when you’re not using your phone? Why or why not?
6. How do you think reducing distractions from smart devices can improve the learning environment?
7. Do you think it’s possible to find a balance between using technology and having real-life connections? Why or why not?
8. How would you feel if your school implemented a similar ban on smart devices?
9. What are some other ways schools can encourage better communication and social interaction among students?
10. Do you think schools should have rules about phone use outside of class time? Why or why not?
11. How do you think excessive phone use can affect personal relationships?
12. What are some activities you enjoy that don’t involve using a phone or other smart devices?
13. How do you think the use of headphones affects communication among students?
14. Do you think the ban on smart devices will have a long-term positive impact on students? Why or why not?
15. What are some challenges students might face when trying to reduce their phone use?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. premises
2. gadgets
3. attached
4. zombies
5. opinions
6. conversations
7. interactive
8. distractions
9. participate
10. communication
11. highlights
12. excessive
13. tackle
14. balance
15. connections

Meanings:
(A) Involving active engagement and participation
(B) A state where different elements are equal or in the correct proportions
(C) The buildings and land that a school or business uses
(D) Feeling emotionally connected or dependent on something
(E) To take part in an activity or event
(F) People who seem to move or act without thinking, like in a trance
(G) Small electronic devices or tools
(H) The exchange of information or ideas between people
(I) More than what is normal or necessary
(J) Exchanges of spoken words between people
(K) Personal beliefs or thoughts about something
(L) To deal with or try to solve a problem
(M) Things that take your attention away from what you’re doing
(N) Relationships or links between people or things
(O) To emphasize or make something stand out
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did Forge Valley School ban the use of smart devices?
(a) To reduce distractions and improve focus
(b) To increase screen time for students
(c) To encourage students to use their devices more
(d) To make students act like zombies

2. What happens if students are caught using smart devices at Forge Valley School?
(a) They get detention
(b) They get expelled
(c) They get a warning
(d) They have to hand them over for 24 hours

3. How do some students feel about the ban on smart devices?
(a) It’s bad because they can’t use their phones
(b) It’s good because they talk more with friends
(c) It’s good because they can use their devices freely
(d) It’s bad because they have to pay more attention in class

4. What is the head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, worried about?
(a) Students not using their phones enough
(b) Students not talking to each other
(c) Students not participating in school events
(d) Students being too attached to their phones

5. What is the goal of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School?
(a) To increase distractions during classes
(b) To encourage students to use their phones more
(c) To make the learning environment more focused and interactive
(d) To decrease communication among students

6. What do students at Forge Valley School have to do if they want to use their phones again after being caught?
(a) Get a new phone
(b) Pay a fine
(c) Wait for 24 hours
(d) Apologize to the head teacher

7. How has the ban on smart devices affected students at Forge Valley School?
(a) They have more face-to-face conversations
(b) They spend more time on their phones
(c) They are more distracted in class
(d) They are not allowed to talk to each other

8. What has the school’s decision to ban smart devices started conversations about?
(a) Using phones more often
(b) Finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections
(c) Ignoring real-life connections
(d) Increasing screen time for students

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The school’s actions have sparked discussions on finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections.
2. The allowance of smart devices goes against the school’s goal of improving communication and social interaction among students.
3. If caught using these gadgets, students have to hand them over and can get them back after 24 hours.
4. The school aims to create a more focused and interactive learning environment by reducing distractions from smart devices.
5. Forge Valley School in Sheffield has allowed the use of phones, watches, and headphones on its premises.
6. A video report by Amy Garcia and Jacob Tomlinson showcases how the ban has affected students positively.
7. The head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, is pleased that students are too attached to their phones.
8. Some students believe the ban is negative as it discourages face-to-face conversations.
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. Why did Forge Valley School decide to ban the use of smart devices like phones, watches, and headphones?
2. How do some students feel about the ban on smart devices at the school?
3. What is the head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, worried about regarding students and their phones?
4. How does the ban on smart devices aim to improve the learning environment at Forge Valley School?
5. What benefits have some students noticed since the ban on smart devices was implemented at the school?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did Forge Valley School decide to ban the use of smart devices like phones, watches, and headphones?
Forge Valley School decided to ban smart devices to reduce distractions and make the learning environment more focused and interactive.

2. How do some students feel about the ban on smart devices at the school?
Some students feel that the ban is good because it encourages more face-to-face conversations with friends.

3. What is the head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, concerned about when it comes to students and their phones?
The head teacher is concerned that students are too attached to their phones, which is making them act like zombies.

4. What positive change has one student noticed since the ban on smart devices was implemented?
One student noticed that they have more face-to-face conversations with friends, which they see as a positive change.

5. What is the main goal of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School?
The main goal of the ban is to improve communication and social interaction among students by reducing distractions from smart devices.

6. How are students encouraged to participate more during classes and school events with the ban on smart devices?
Students are encouraged to pay more attention and participate by limiting phone and watch use, which reduces distractions and increases engagement.

7. Who made a video report about the effects of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School?
Amy Garcia and Jacob Tomlinson made a video report about the effects of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School.

8. What conversations have started among students due to the school’s actions to reduce excessive phone use?
Conversations about finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections have started among students due to the school’s actions to reduce excessive phone use.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Sheffield
(2) phones
(3) watches
(4) gadgets
(5) zombies
(6) students
(7) opinions
(8) positive
(9) school
(10) interaction
(11) Garcia
(12) Jacob
(13) smart
(14) Valley
(15) showing
(16) benefits
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. premises
Answer: (C) The buildings and land that a school or business uses

2. gadgets
Answer: (G) Small electronic devices or tools

3. attached
Answer: (D) Feeling emotionally connected or dependent on something

4. zombies
Answer: (F) People who seem to move or act without thinking, like in a trance

5. opinions
Answer: (K) Personal beliefs or thoughts about something

6. conversations
Answer: (J) Exchanges of spoken words between people

7. interactive
Answer: (A) Involving active engagement and participation

8. distractions
Answer: (M) Things that take your attention away from what you’re doing

9. participate
Answer: (E) To take part in an activity or event

10. communication
Answer: (H) The exchange of information or ideas between people

11. highlights
Answer: (O) To emphasize or make something stand out

12. excessive
Answer: (I) More than what is normal or necessary

13. tackle
Answer: (L) To deal with or try to solve a problem

14. balance
Answer: (B) A state where different elements are equal or in the correct proportions

15. connections
Answer: (N) Relationships or links between people or things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did Forge Valley School ban the use of smart devices?
Answer: (a) To reduce distractions and improve focus

2. What happens if students are caught using smart devices at Forge Valley School?
Answer: (d) They have to hand them over for 24 hours

3. How do some students feel about the ban on smart devices?
Answer: (b) It’s good because they talk more with friends

4. What is the head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, worried about?
Answer: (d) Students being too attached to their phones

5. What is the goal of the ban on smart devices at Forge Valley School?
Answer: (c) To make the learning environment more focused and interactive

6. What do students at Forge Valley School have to do if they want to use their phones again after being caught?
Answer: (c) Wait for 24 hours

7. How has the ban on smart devices affected students at Forge Valley School?
Answer: (a) They have more face-to-face conversations

8. What has the school’s decision to ban smart devices started conversations about?
Answer: (b) Finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The school’s actions have sparked discussions on finding a balance between technology use and real-life connections. (Answer: True)
2. The allowance of smart devices goes against the school’s goal of improving communication and social interaction among students. (Answer: False)
3. If caught using these gadgets, students have to hand them over and can get them back after 24 hours. (Answer: True)
4. The school aims to create a more focused and interactive learning environment by reducing distractions from smart devices. (Answer: True)
5. Forge Valley School in Sheffield has allowed the use of phones, watches, and headphones on its premises. (Answer: False)
6. A video report by Amy Garcia and Jacob Tomlinson showcases how the ban has affected students positively. (Answer: True)
7. The head teacher, Dale Barrowclough, is pleased that students are too attached to their phones. (Answer: False)
8. Some students believe the ban is negative as it discourages face-to-face conversations. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧