A cold wind from the Arctic has made the UK very chilly, with snow falling in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland. The weekend is expected to be very cold, with lots of snow and strong winds. Because of this, a health alert has been given for all of England, warning that people might get sick, especially those who are older or already unwell. The NHS is telling people to stay indoors during early mornings when it's icy, as snow and ice warnings are in place for most of the UK.
This cold weather is very different from the warm Christmas when it was 11C to 13C. Now, it's much colder, about 5C below normal for January, and the wind makes it feel even colder. The UK Health Security Agency is watching out for people who might be at risk, like older adults. Age UK is worried about the government not giving enough help for heating costs, and they want older people to keep warm, even if it means spending more on heating.
Snow is expected in many parts of the UK, including southern England and Wales, with up to 30cm in some high places. By Sunday, Scotland will likely see more snow. Before this cold, there was a lot of rain and flooding, especially in Greater Manchester, where many people had to leave their homes. This cold snap shows how the weather is changing, as December was one of the warmest on record, showing how extreme weather is a big challenge in the UK.
Original news source: Temperatures drop across UK as arctic blast brings more snow (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group takes turns acting out words or phrases related to winter weather (e.g., snow, cold wind, health alert) without speaking, while the other groups guess what they are.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to cold weather (e.g., βI like snow,β βI dislike cold temperaturesβ). Students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates to agree or disagree, tallying the results for each statement.
– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article (e.g., βHow do you feel about extreme weather changes?β). Students think about their answers individually, discuss with a partner, and then share their thoughts with the class.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, ask students to read the article and come up with a catchy headline that summarizes the main points. They can then share their headlines with the class.
– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., chilly, health alert, heating costs). Students take turns drawing these words on the board while their classmates guess what they are.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The cold wind is coming from the Arctic.
The weekend is expected to be very cold, with lots of snow and strong winds.
The health alert is warning that older people and those who are already unwell might get sick.
The NHS suggests that people stay indoors during early mornings when it's icy.
It is about 5C colder than normal for January.
Age UK is worried that the government is not giving enough help for heating costs for older people.
Before this cold weather, there was a lot of rain and flooding in Greater Manchester.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A cold from the Arctic has made the UK very chilly, with snow falling in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland. The weekend is expected to be very cold, with lots of snow and strong winds. Because of this, a alert has been given for all of England, that people might get sick, especially those who are older or already unwell. The NHS is telling people to stay indoors during early mornings when it's icy, as snow and ice warnings are in place for most of the UK. This cold weather is very different from the warm Christmas when it was 11C to Now, it's much , about 5C below normal for January, and the wind it feel even colder. The UK Health Security Agency is watching out for people who might be at risk, like adults. Age UK is worried about the government not giving help for costs, and they want older people to keep warm, even if it means spending more on heating. Snow is expected in many parts of the UK, including southern England and Wales, with up to 30cm in some high places. By Sunday, Scotland will likely see more snow. Before this , there was a lot of rain and flooding, especially in Greater , where many had to leave their homes. This cold snap shows how the weather is changing, as December was one of the warmest on record, showing how extreme weather is a big challenge in the UK.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is your favorite season of the year? Why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if it snowed every day for a week?
3. Do you like playing in the snow? Why or why not?
4. What is a fun activity you enjoy when it is cold outside?
5. How do you stay warm when it is very cold?
6. Do you think people should stay indoors when it is icy? Why?
7. What do you think is the best thing about winter?
8. Have you ever seen a lot of snow? What was it like?
9. How would you feel if you had to leave your home because of bad weather?
10. Do you think the government should help people with heating costs? Why or why not?
11. What is your favorite thing to do during winter?
12. How do you feel about extreme weather, like really hot or really cold?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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