Loud snow with thunder is called "thundersnow." It's a rare and strong kind of storm. When you can't see because of the snow, it's called a "whiteout." These make it very hard and dangerous to drive. People who tell us about the weather say to be careful.
Because of the snow, people can't travel like they want to. Planes can't fly, and cars can't drive on some roads. Everyone is told to stay home and not go out unless they really have to. The cold and snow tell people they need to be ready for winter and stay safe.
Original news source: Thundersnow and whiteouts as winter weather hits US (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a slip of paper with a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. snowstorm, thundersnow, whiteout). One person from each group will act out the word/phrase without speaking, while the others in the group try to guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words/phrases.
– 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 keep the summary concise. After each person has had a turn, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences or similarities.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article (e.g. "Thundersnow sounds exciting" or "I prefer warm weather over cold weather"). Have students rate their agreement with each statement on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree). After everyone has rated the statements, students can discuss their responses in small groups or as a class, sharing their reasons and trying to find commonalities or differences in opinions.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on slips of paper and put them in a hat or container. Divide the class into two teams. One person from each team comes up to the front and draws a vocabulary word without speaking, while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words and continue until all the words have been guessed.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 3 minutes and challenge the students to read the article together and summarize the main points in that time. After the timer goes off, pairs can take turns sharing their summaries with the rest of the class. Encourage them to be concise and focus on the most important information.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
A lot of snow has fallen in the north of the United States.
The first big snowstorm of the year is called a thundersnow.
When it snows and you can't see anything, it's called a whiteout.
When snow covers everything and you can't see, it's also called a whiteout.
It is dangerous to drive in a thundersnow or whiteout because you can't see where you're going and it's hard to control the car.
Planes and cars can't travel in the snow because the snow covers the roads and runways, making it difficult to drive or take off.
When there is a lot of snow and cold weather, people need to stay home and not go out unless they really have to. They also need to be prepared for winter and stay safe.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A lot of snow has fallen in some places in the north of the United States. This is the big of the year. It has brought snow with thunder and times when you can't see anything because of the snow. Videos show everything in a thick layer of snow. Loud snow with is called "thundersnow." It's a rare and kind of storm. When you can't see because of the snow, it's called a "whiteout." These make it very and dangerous to drive. who tell us about the weather say to be careful. Because of the , people can't travel like they want to. Planes can't fly, and cars can't drive on some . Everyone is to stay home and not go out unless they really have to. The cold and snow tell people they need to be ready for and stay safe.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is thundersnow?
2. How do you think thundersnow is different from a regular snowstorm?
3. Have you ever experienced a whiteout? How would you feel if you couldn't see anything because of the snow?
4. Do you think it's dangerous to drive during a whiteout? Why or why not?
5. How do you think the snowstorm affects people's travel plans?
6. What do you think happens when planes can't fly and cars can't drive on some roads?
7. Do you like playing in the snow? Why or why not?
8. How do you think the snowstorm affects people's daily routines?
9. Have you ever been told to stay home because of bad weather? How did it make you feel?
10. How do you think people can stay safe during a snowstorm?
11. What are some things you can do to be ready for winter?
12. Do you think snowstorms are exciting or scary? Why or why not?
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.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!
