At Harvard Law School Library, a special document was found. People thought it was a copy of the Magna Carta, but it is actually an original. The library bought it in 1946 for just $27.50. It was first thought to be from 1327, but it's really from 1300.
Two researchers helped discover this. One of them, David Carpenter, noticed something special while looking at online copies. He thought Harvard's document might be an original. After checking carefully, they confirmed it was real and worth a lot of money.
The Magna Carta is important because it first gave people rights under the law in 1215. Even though it's now very valuable, Harvard Law School won't sell it. They want to keep it safe and part of their collection.
Original news source: Magna Carta 'copy' miscatalogued in 1940s found to be original (Sky News)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out key terms from the article without speaking, such as "Magna Carta," "original," or "researcher." The rest of the class will guess what they are acting out.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students if they think historical documents like the Magna Carta should be kept in libraries or sold to collectors. Students will walk around the classroom, asking their classmates for their opinions and tallying the results.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a mind map on a large piece of paper, centered around the Magna Carta. They will add branches for its historical significance, the library's role, and important facts from the article.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will draw a quick sketch of what they imagine the Magna Carta looks like, or how the Harvard Law School Library looks. Afterward, they will share their drawings with the class and explain their choices.
– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will write down two true statements and one false statement about the article. They will then share their statements with a partner, who will try to guess which one is the lie.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
It was an original Magna Carta.
They paid $27.50.
One of the researchers was David Carpenter.
People thought it was from 1327.
It gave people rights under the law in 1215.
They want to keep it safe and part of their collection.
He noticed something special while looking at online copies.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
At Harvard Law School Library, a special document was . thought it was a copy of the Magna Carta, but it is actually an . The library bought it in 1946 for just $27.50. It was first to be from 1327, but it's really from 1300. Two researchers discover this. One of them, Carpenter, noticed something special while looking at copies. He thought Harvard's document might be an original. After carefully, they it was real and worth a lot of money. The Magna Carta is important because it first gave rights under the law in 1215. Even though it's now very , Harvard Law won't sell it. They want to keep it safe and part of their collection.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a document that you think is very important?
2. How would you feel if you found something very old and special?
3. Do you like learning about history? Why or why not?
4. What do you think makes a document valuable?
5. How would you feel if someone wanted to sell something special to you?
6. Do you think it is important to keep old documents safe? Why?
7. What is a right that you think everyone should have?
8. How would you feel if you were one of the researchers who discovered the document?
9. Do you like visiting libraries? Why or why not?
10. What do you think would happen if Harvard sold the Magna Carta?
11. How would you feel if you could see the Magna Carta in person?
12. Do you think people care enough about history? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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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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