A big windmill in Iowa caught on fire. Firefighters could not put out the fire because their ladders were not tall enough. A video shows smoke coming from the windmill and a big piece falling down on fire. People are trying to find out why the fire started.
This shows that it can be hard to put out fires in very tall things like windmills. The firefighters did not have the right tools to stop the fire, so the windmill was ruined. It is very important for firefighters to have the right tools to stop fires and keep people safe. This also makes us think about how safe windmills are. As we use more windmills for power, we need to make sure they are safe from fires. We need to check them often and be ready in case a fire happens.
Original news source: Fire destroys Iowa wind turbine after emergency workers fail to reach top (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down key words from the article on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Each team takes turns choosing a word from the hat and acting it out without speaking. The other team has to guess what word they are acting out.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and avoid looking at the article while summarizing.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each pair chooses a word and draws a picture to represent it, while the other student must guess the word based on the drawing.
– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down key words from the article on small cards. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team takes turns picking a card and describing the word without using the actual word or any of the related keywords. The team has to guess what word they are describing.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In pairs, students discuss the pros and cons of using windmills for power, based on the information in the article. They should take turns sharing their opinions and providing reasons to support their views.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What happened to the windmill in Iowa?
2. Why couldn’t the firefighters put out the fire?
3. What did the video show?
4. Why is it important for firefighters to have the right tools?
5. What should we do to make sure windmills are safe from fires?
6. Why do we need to check windmills often?
7. What should we be ready for in case a fire happens in a windmill?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A big windmill in Iowa caught on fire. Firefighters could not put out the fire because their (1)______ were not tall enough. A video shows smoke (2)______ from the windmill and a big piece falling down on fire. People are trying to find out why the fire started.
This shows that it can be hard to put out (3)______ in very tall (4)______ like windmills. The firefighters did not have the right tools to stop the fire, so the (5)______ was (6)______. It is very important for firefighters to have the right tools to stop fires and keep people safe. This also makes us think about how safe windmills are. As we use more windmills for (7)______, we need to make sure they are safe from fires. We need to (8)______ them often and be ready in case a fire happens.
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Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is a windmill?
2. How would you feel if you saw a windmill on fire?
3. Do you like windmills? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for firefighters to have the right tools? Why?
5. What do you think caused the fire in the windmill?
6. Have you ever seen a fire before? How did it make you feel?
7. Why do you think it’s important to check windmills often?
8. What do you think firefighters should do if their ladders are not tall enough to reach a fire?
9. How do windmills help us?
10. Do you think windmills are safe? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever seen a windmill before? Where was it?
12. What can we do to prevent fires in windmills?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. windmill
2. firefighters
3. tools
4. fire
5. tall
6. ruined
7. safe
8. power
Meanings:
(a) People who put out fires and keep others safe
(b) A hot, bright thing that can destroy things
(c) Energy that can make things work
(d) A machine that uses wind to make electricity
(e) Things that help you do a job
(f) Not in danger
(g) Broken and not able to be fixed
(h) Very high
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Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What caught on fire in Iowa?
(a) A house
(b) A car
(c) A tree
(d) A windmill
2. Why couldn’t the firefighters put out the fire?
(a) Their ladders were not tall enough
(b) They didn’t have enough water
(c) They were too scared
(d) They didn’t know how to put out fires
3. What fell down from the windmill?
(a) A small piece on fire
(b) A big piece without fire
(c) A big piece on fire
(d) A small piece without fire
4. Why is it important for firefighters to have the right tools?
(a) To make their job easier
(b) To stop fires and keep people safe
(c) To look cool
(d) To have something to play with
5. What do we need to do to make sure windmills are safe from fires?
(a) Paint them a different color
(b) Take them down
(c) Check them often and be ready in case a fire happens
(d) Put more windmills in different places
6. What is the main purpose of windmills?
(a) To generate power
(b) To make noise
(c) To look pretty
(d) To catch on fire
7. What did the firefighters not have enough of?
(a) Water
(b) Fire trucks
(c) Fire extinguishers
(d) Tall ladders
8. What do we need to do if we use more windmills for power?
(a) Make them taller
(b) Make sure they are safe from fires
(c) Paint them different colors
(d) Take them down
True or False Questions:
1. We don’t need to make sure windmills are safe from fires as we use more of them for power.
2. The firefighters did not have the right tools to stop the fire, so the windmill was ruined.
3. A small windmill in Iowa caught on fire.
4. People are trying to find out why the fire started.
5. Firefighters need the right tools to stop fires and keep people safe.
6. It can be hard to put out fires in very tall things like windmills.
7. Firefighters could put out the fire because their ladders were long enough.
8. A video shows steam coming from the windmill and a small piece falling down on fire.
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 happened to the windmill in Iowa?
2. Why couldn’t the firefighters put out the fire?
3. What did the video show?
4. Why is it important for firefighters to have the right tools?
5. What do we need to do to make sure windmills are safe from fires?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What happened to the windmill in Iowa?
The windmill in Iowa caught on fire.
2. Why couldn’t the firefighters put out the fire?
The firefighters couldn’t put out the fire because their ladders were not tall enough.
3. What did the video show?
The video showed smoke coming from the windmill and a big piece falling down on fire.
4. Why is it important for firefighters to have the right tools?
It is important for firefighters to have the right tools so they can stop fires and keep people safe.
5. What should we do to make sure windmills are safe from fires?
We should check windmills often and be ready in case a fire happens to make sure they are safe from fires.
6. Why do we need to check windmills often?
We need to check windmills often to make sure they are working well and to make sure they are safe from fires.
7. What should we be ready for in case a fire happens in a windmill?
We should be ready to put out the fire and keep people safe if a fire happens in a windmill.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) ladders
(2) coming
(3) fires
(4) things
(5) windmill
(6) ruined
(7) power
(8) check
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. windmill
Answer: (d) A machine that uses wind to make electricity
2. firefighters
Answer: (a) People who put out fires and keep others safe
3. tools
Answer: (e) Things that help you do a job
4. fire
Answer: (b) A hot, bright thing that can destroy things
5. tall
Answer: (h) Very high
6. ruined
Answer: (g) Broken and not able to be fixed
7. safe
Answer: (f) Not in danger
8. power
Answer: (c) Energy that can make things work
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What caught on fire in Iowa?
Answer: (d) A windmill
2. Why couldn’t the firefighters put out the fire?
Answer: (a) Their ladders were not tall enough
3. What fell down from the windmill?
Answer: (c) A big piece on fire
4. Why is it important for firefighters to have the right tools?
Answer: (b) To stop fires and keep people safe
5. What do we need to do to make sure windmills are safe from fires?
Answer: (c) Check them often and be ready in case a fire happens
6. What is the main purpose of windmills?
Answer: (a) To generate power
7. What did the firefighters not have enough of?
Answer: (d) Tall ladders
8. What do we need to do if we use more windmills for power?
Answer: (b) Make sure they are safe from fires
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. We don’t need to make sure windmills are safe from fires as we use more of them for power. (Answer: False)
2. The firefighters did not have the right tools to stop the fire, so the windmill was ruined. (Answer: True)
3. A small windmill in Iowa caught on fire. (Answer: False)
4. People are trying to find out why the fire started. (Answer: True)
5. Firefighters need the right tools to stop fires and keep people safe. (Answer: True)
6. It can be hard to put out fires in very tall things like windmills. (Answer: True)
7. Firefighters could put out the fire because their ladders were long enough. (Answer: False)
8. A video shows steam coming from the windmill and a small piece falling down on fire. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
