A big church leader likes a new computer idea. A man made a free computer class for kids. Kids 11 to 15 years old can learn how to make computer programs. They want kids in many places to learn. They hope this will help because many computer jobs need people.

The man who made the class will talk to the church leader. They want many kids to join the class. They will learn with a computer language called Python. The class will be for kids in places like South America and Africa. The church leader has helped with computer things for kids before.

Original news source: Pope Francis encourages more children to code, especially in Catholic countries (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down several key words from the article (e.g., church leader, computer, class, programs, jobs) on small pieces of paper. Divide the class into two teams. One student from a team draws a word from the pile and has to draw it on the board without speaking or writing any words or numbers. Their team must guess the word within a time limit. If they guess correctly, they get a point. Then it’s the other team’s turn. This will help students associate words with images and improve their vocabulary.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students pair up and take turns being a news reporter and a witness. The reporter will ask questions about the article, and the witness will answer based on the information provided. Questions can be simple, such as “What did the man make?” or “Who likes the new computer idea?” This encourages students to recall specific details from the article and practice question and answer structures in English.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask students simple yes or no questions related to the article, such as “Do you think learning to program is important?” or “Should more leaders support education projects?” Students can raise their hands to vote for ‘yes’ or ‘no’. After the poll, invite volunteers to explain their opinion using simple sentences. This activity encourages students to express their thoughts and provides speaking practice.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Play a game of hangman using keywords from the article (e.g., computer, programs, Python, Africa). Draw blanks on the board representing the letters of the word. Students guess letters one at a time, and for each correct letter, fill in the blanks where that letter appears in the word. For each incorrect guess, add a body part to the hangman drawing. This helps students to focus on spelling and recall vocabulary from the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Discuss the article briefly, making sure students understand the key points. Then ask them to imagine the future of the kids who will take the computer class. Students can work in small groups or pairs to think of three predictions about what the kids might be able to do after they learn to program. For example, “In the future, the kids can make their own computer games.” This encourages students to practice future tense constructions and use their imaginations in a language-learning context.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does the big church leader like?
2. What did the man make for kids?
3. How old are the kids who can learn in the computer class?
4. What can kids learn to make in the computer class?
5. Where do they want kids to learn computer programs?
6. What is the name of the computer language the kids will learn?
7. Has the church leader helped with computer things for kids before?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A big (1)______ leader likes a new computer (2)______. A man made a free computer class for kids. Kids 11 to 15 years old can learn how to make computer programs. They (3)______ kids in many places to learn. They hope this will help because many computer jobs need (4)______.

The man who made the class will (5)______ to the church leader. They want many kids to (6)______ the class. They will learn with a computer language called Python. The class will be for kids in (7)______ like (8)______ America and Africa. The church leader has helped with computer things for kids before.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a computer class?
2. Do you like to learn new things on a computer? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you could make your own computer program?
4. Would you like to join a computer class? Why?
5. What do you think you can do with computer programming?
6. Have you ever been to a church? What was it like?
7. Do you think learning with computers is fun? Why?
8. What is a leader? Can you tell me about a leader you know?
9. Do you think it’s good for kids to learn about computers? Why or why not?
10. Have you heard of the computer language called Python? What do you think it is?
11. Do you know where South America and Africa are? What do you think about these places?
12. Have you ever helped someone learn something? What did you help them learn?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. leader
2. computer
3. class
4. kids
5. learn
6. talk
7. join
8. language

Meanings:
(a) A machine that can do math and play games
(b) Young people, not adults
(c) To become a part of a group
(d) Someone who tells others what to do
(e) To get new knowledge or skills
(f) A group where you can learn new things
(g) To have a conversation with someone
(h) A way of speaking and writing that people use
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What kind of class did a man make for kids?
(a) Cooking
(b) Art
(c) Music
(d) Computer

2. What age group can join the computer class?
(a) 5 to 8 years old
(b) 11 to 15 years old
(c) 16 to 18 years old
(d) 20 to 25 years old

3. What computer language will the kids learn in the class?
(a) Python
(b) Spanish
(c) French
(d) Chinese

4. Where do they want kids to join the class?
(a) Europe and Asia
(b) South America and Africa
(c) North America and Australia
(d) Antarctica and Greenland

5. Who will the man talk to about the computer class?
(a) Church leader
(b) Teacher
(c) Doctor
(d) Police officer

6. What kind of jobs need people who know about computers?
(a) Cooking jobs
(b) Gardening jobs
(c) Music jobs
(d) Computer jobs

7. Who has helped with computer things for kids before?
(a) Firefighter
(b) Chef
(c) Church leader
(d) Pilot

8. What is the main idea of the article?
(a) A man made a free cooking class for kids
(b) A man made a free art class for kids
(c) A man made a free computer class for kids
(d) A man made a free music class for kids

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The woman who made the class will talk to the church leader.
2. They don’t want many kids to join the class.
3. They want kids in many places to learn.
4. A woman made a free computer class for kids.
5. The class will be for kids in places like South America and Africa.
6. The church leader has helped with computer things for kids before.
7. A small church leader likes a new computer idea.
8. Kids 11 to 15 years old can learn how to make computer programs.
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. Who likes the new computer idea?
2. What can kids learn in the free computer class?
3. How old are the kids who can go to the computer class?
4. What is the name of the computer language the kids will learn?
5. Where do they want kids to join the computer class?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does the big church leader like?
The big church leader likes a new computer idea.

2. What did the man make for kids?
The man made a free computer class for kids.

3. How old are the kids who can learn in the computer class?
Kids 11 to 15 years old can learn in the computer class.

4. What can kids learn to make in the computer class?
Kids can learn how to make computer programs in the class.

5. Where do they want kids to learn computer programs?
They want kids in many places like South America and Africa to learn computer programs.

6. What is the name of the computer language the kids will learn?
The computer language the kids will learn is called Python.

7. Has the church leader helped with computer things for kids before?
Yes, the church leader has helped with computer things for kids before.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) church
(2) idea
(3) want
(4) people
(5) talk
(6) join
(7) places
(8) South
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. leader
Answer: (d) Someone who tells others what to do

2. computer
Answer: (a) A machine that can do math and play games

3. class
Answer: (f) A group where you can learn new things

4. kids
Answer: (b) Young people, not adults

5. learn
Answer: (e) To get new knowledge or skills

6. talk
Answer: (g) To have a conversation with someone

7. join
Answer: (c) To become a part of a group

8. language
Answer: (h) A way of speaking and writing that people use
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What kind of class did a man make for kids?
Answer: (d) Computer

2. What age group can join the computer class?
Answer: (b) 11 to 15 years old

3. What computer language will the kids learn in the class?
Answer: (a) Python

4. Where do they want kids to join the class?
Answer: (b) South America and Africa

5. Who will the man talk to about the computer class?
Answer: (a) Church leader

6. What kind of jobs need people who know about computers?
Answer: (d) Computer jobs

7. Who has helped with computer things for kids before?
Answer: (c) Church leader

8. What is the main idea of the article?
Answer: (c) A man made a free computer class for kids
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The woman who made the class will talk to the church leader. (Answer: False)
2. They don’t want many kids to join the class. (Answer: False)
3. They want kids in many places to learn. (Answer: True)
4. A woman made a free computer class for kids. (Answer: False)
5. The class will be for kids in places like South America and Africa. (Answer: True)
6. The church leader has helped with computer things for kids before. (Answer: True)
7. A small church leader likes a new computer idea. (Answer: False)
8. Kids 11 to 15 years old can learn how to make computer programs. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧