The UK leaders want to make a new big park in England. They are looking at places like the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and Dorset for the park. They will give £15 million to help the parks and nature places we already have. But some people who love the environment say that this money is not enough because the parks have not had enough money for many years.

A man named Julian Glover wrote a report about the parks and he thinks this plan is good. But Dr. Rose O’Neill, who works to protect the parks, says they need more money to keep going. The new money will help for a little while, but the parks need more to stay open and nice for a long time. People want the new park to get its own money, not take from the money for the old parks.

Making the new park is a good idea for nature and for people’s jobs. This plan comes from a big report in 2019 that said we need to take better care of our parks. It might take up to five years to make the new park. Wales and Scotland are also thinking about making their own new parks.

Original news source: England to get new national park as part of nature plan (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades

Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. park, nature, money, environment, report). One student from each group will act out a word without speaking, while the other group members try to guess the word. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with a different student from each group acting out a word.

– News Summary

Instructions: In pairs, have students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries concise. After each summary, have the partner give feedback and ask questions to ensure understanding.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Have students form small groups and give each group a set of statements related to the article (e.g. “The new park will benefit the environment,” “The parks need more money to stay open,” “Making new parks is a waste of money”). In their groups, students discuss and share their opinions on each statement. Afterward, conduct a class poll to see which opinions are most common and encourage students to explain their reasoning.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Provide each team with a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and have one minute to draw and get their team to guess as many words as possible without speaking. The team with the most correctly guessed words wins.

– Future Predictions

Instructions: In pairs, have students take turns making predictions about what might happen with the new park and the existing parks in the future. Encourage them to use vocabulary and ideas from the article to support their predictions. After discussing their predictions, have students share their partner’s predictions with the class and explain why they agree or disagree.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What do the UK leaders want to make in England?
2. Which places are they looking at for the new park?
3. How much money will they give to help the parks and nature places we already have?
4. Why do some people say that this money is not enough?
5. Who wrote a report about the parks and thinks this plan is good?
6. Who says the parks need more money to keep going?
7. Why do people want the new park to get its own money?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The UK (1)______ want to make a new big park in England. They are looking at places like the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and (2)______ for the park. They will give £15 million to help the parks and nature places we already have. But some people who (3)______ the environment say that this (4)______ is not enough because the parks have not had enough money for many years.

A man named (5)______ Glover wrote a report about the parks and he thinks this plan is good. But Dr. Rose O’Neill, who works to protect the parks, (6)______ they need more money to keep going. The new money will help for a little while, but the (7)______s need more to stay (8)______ and nice for a long time. People want the new park to get its own money, not (9)______ from the money for the old parks.

Making the new park is a good idea for nature and for people’s (10)______. This plan comes from a big (11)______ in 2019 that (12)______ we need to take better care of our parks. It might take up to five years to make the new park. Wales and Scotland are also thinking about making their own new parks.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a park?
2. How would you feel if there was a big park near where you live?
3. Do you like spending time in nature? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of making a new park in England?
5. How do you think the new park will help the environment?
6. Do you think £15 million is enough money to help the parks? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think some people say the parks need more money?
8. How do you think the new park will create jobs for people?
9. Do you think it’s important to take care of parks? Why or why not?
10. How long do you think it will take to make the new park?
11. Would you like to visit the new park when it’s finished? Why or why not?
12. Do you think it’s a good idea for Wales and Scotland to make their own new parks? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. park
2. money
3. report
4. environment
5. nature
6. jobs
7. Wales
8. Scotland

Meanings:
(a) The world around us, like the air and water
(b) Animals, plants, and the Earth
(c) A country next to England
(d) A place with trees, grass, and playgrounds
(e) A country north of England
(f) Things people do to make money
(g) Something you use to buy things
(h) A paper that tells you about something
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are some places in England that are being considered for the new park?
(a) Chilterns, Cotswolds, Dorset
(b) Paris, London, Berlin
(c) Russia, Spain, Germany
(d) Mongolia, Tokyo, Wales

2. How much money will the UK leaders give to help the existing parks and nature places?
(a) £10 million
(b) £15 million
(c) £20 million
(d) £5 million

3. Who wrote a report about the parks and thinks the plan is good?
(a) Julian Glover
(b) Dr. Rose O’Neill
(c) The UK leaders
(d) People who love the environment

4. Who believes that the parks need more money to stay open and nice for a long time?
(a) Julian Glover
(b) The UK leaders
(c) People who love the environment
(d) Dr. Rose O’Neill

5. What do some people want for the new park?
(a) Money for the old parks
(b) No money
(c) Its own money
(d) Money for Wales and Scotland

6. Why is making the new park a good idea?
(a) It is good for the environment
(b) It is good for the old parks
(c) It is good for nature and people’s jobs
(d) It is good for Wales and Scotland

7. How long might it take to make the new park?
(a) Up to ten years
(b) Up to two years
(c) Up to one year
(d) Up to five years

8. Which countries are also thinking about making their own new parks?
(a) France and Germany
(b) Wales and Scotland
(c) Russia and Spain
(d) Mongolia and Tokyo

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. UK leaders want to demolish a new big park in England.
2. The creation of the new park is beneficial for nature and job opportunities.
3. They are dismissing places like the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and Dorset for the park.
4. Dr. Rose O’Neill, who works to exploit the parks, believes they need less money to continue operating.
5. The new money will help the parks for a short time, but they need additional funding to remain open and well-maintained in the long term.
6. The government will provide £15 million to support existing parks and nature areas.
7. Julian Glover, who wrote a report about the parks, thinks this plan is bad.
8. Some people who care about the environment believe that this money is not enough because the parks have been underfunded for many years.
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 are the UK leaders planning to make in England?
2. Where are they looking at to make the new park?
3. How much money will the UK leaders give to help the parks and nature places?
4. Why do some people say that the money is not enough for the parks?
5. Who wrote a report about the parks and thinks the plan is good?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do the UK leaders want to make in England?
The UK leaders want to make a new big park in England.

2. Which places are they looking at for the new park?
They are looking at places like the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and Dorset for the park.

3. How much money will they give to help the parks and nature places we already have?
They will give £15 million to help the parks and nature places we already have.

4. Why do some people say that this money is not enough?
Some people say that this money is not enough because the parks have not had enough money for many years.

5. Who wrote a report about the parks and thinks this plan is good?
Julian Glover wrote a report about the parks and he thinks this plan is good.

6. Who says the parks need more money to keep going?
Dr. Rose O’Neill, who works to protect the parks, says they need more money to keep going.

7. Why do people want the new park to get its own money?
People want the new park to get its own money, not take from the money for the old parks.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) leaders
(2) Dorset
(3) love
(4) money
(5) Julian
(6) says
(7) park
(8) open
(9) take
(10) jobs
(11) report
(12) said
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. park
Answer: (d) A place with trees, grass, and playgrounds

2. money
Answer: (g) Something you use to buy things

3. report
Answer: (h) A paper that tells you about something

4. environment
Answer: (a) The world around us, like the air and water

5. nature
Answer: (b) Animals, plants, and the Earth

6. jobs
Answer: (f) Things people do to make money

7. Wales
Answer: (c) A country next to England

8. Scotland
Answer: (e) A country north of England
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are some places in England that are being considered for the new park?
Answer: (a) Chilterns, Cotswolds, Dorset

2. How much money will the UK leaders give to help the existing parks and nature places?
Answer: (b) £15 million

3. Who wrote a report about the parks and thinks the plan is good?
Answer: (a) Julian Glover

4. Who believes that the parks need more money to stay open and nice for a long time?
Answer: (d) Dr. Rose O’Neill

5. What do some people want for the new park?
Answer: (c) Its own money

6. Why is making the new park a good idea?
Answer: (c) It is good for nature and people’s jobs

7. How long might it take to make the new park?
Answer: (d) Up to five years

8. Which countries are also thinking about making their own new parks?
Answer: (b) Wales and Scotland
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. UK leaders want to demolish a new big park in England. (Answer: False)
2. The creation of the new park is beneficial for nature and job opportunities. (Answer: True)
3. They are dismissing places like the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and Dorset for the park. (Answer: False)
4. Dr. Rose O’Neill, who works to exploit the parks, believes they need less money to continue operating. (Answer: False)
5. The new money will help the parks for a short time, but they need additional funding to remain open and well-maintained in the long term. (Answer: True)
6. The government will provide £15 million to support existing parks and nature areas. (Answer: True)
7. Julian Glover, who wrote a report about the parks, thinks this plan is bad. (Answer: False)
8. Some people who care about the environment believe that this money is not enough because the parks have been underfunded for many years. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧