Some fishermen are using new tools to help fish better. They use lights, cameras, and special machines to catch only the fish they want and not other animals. A man named Ian in Scotland is trying these tools. A big group that loves animals, called WWF, is helping fishermen use lights to keep safe the animals in the sea. These new tools help fishermen do their job without hurting other sea life.

The new tools are working well. They help fishermen catch less of the wrong animals and make their work faster. Because of this, fishermen can earn more money and save on things like boat fuel. But some people worry that not all fishermen can use these tools because they might cost a lot. Ian uses a camera called CatchCam and a tool called Enki to learn about the water and fish better. These tools make his work much better.

Original news source: Sustainable fishing: The tech making it cheaper and greener (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Split the class into groups of two. One student is the news reporter, and the other is a fisherman using the new tools like Ian from the article. The reporter interviews the fisherman about how the new tools work and the benefits they provide. Encourage the use of simple present tense and new vocabulary from the article.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key words from the article (such as fishermen, tools, lights, cameras, machines, WWF, animals, sea life, CatchCam, Enki) on individual pieces of paper. Students take turns drawing the words on the board without speaking or writing letters, while the rest of the class guesses the vocabulary.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question to the class: “Do you think using new tools to fish is a good idea? Why or why not?” Give students a moment to think about their answer, then pair them up to discuss their thoughts. After discussing in pairs, share some of the opinions with the whole class.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Hand out a piece of paper to each student and ask them to draw one of the new fishing tools mentioned in the article. Once they have finished, they should write a sentence under their drawing explaining what it is and how it helps fishermen.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to imagine how fishing might change in the future with the use of technology. Have them write down one or two sentences making predictions based on what they learned from the article. Then, they can share their predictions with a partner or with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What do fishermen use to help them fish better?
2. What is the name of the man in Scotland who is using new tools?
3. Who is helping fishermen to keep sea animals safe?
4. Why are the new tools good for fishermen?
5. How do the new tools help the fishermen save money?
6. What are some people worried about with the new tools?
7. What are the names of the two special tools that Ian uses?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some (1)______ermen are (2)______ new tools to help fish better. They use lights, cameras, and special machines to catch only the fish they want and not other animals. A man named Ian in Scotland is trying these tools. A big group that (3)______ animals, called WWF, is (4)______ fishermen use lights to keep safe the animals in the sea. These new tools help fishermen do their job without hurting other sea life.

The new tools are working well. They help fishermen catch less of the wrong animals and make their work faster. Because of this, fishermen can earn more money and (5)______ on things like (6)______ fuel. But some people worry that not all fishermen can use these tools because they might cost a lot. Ian uses a camera (7)______ CatchCam and a tool called Enki to (8)______ about the water and fish better. These tools make his work much better.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a fisherman?
2. Do you like to watch fish? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you saw a fisherman catching fish?
4. What is a camera?
5. Do you think using cameras to see fish is a good idea? Why?
6. Have you ever seen a light in the water? What do you think it is for?
7. Do you think it’s important to keep sea animals safe? Why or why not?
8. What is a tool? Can you name a tool you have used?
9. How would you feel if you had a special machine to help you with a hard job?
10. Do you think all fishermen should use these new tools? Why or why not?
11. What do you think a CatchCam is?
12. Would you like to use a camera to look at things in the water? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fishermen
2. tools
3. lights
4. cameras
5. animals
6. sea
7. group
8. money

Meanings:
(a) Living things that are not people
(b) Things that take pictures
(c) Things you use to buy stuff
(d) A bunch of people who like the same thing
(e) Things that make things bright
(f) Things you use to help you do a job
(g) Big water where fish live
(h) People who catch fish
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What new tools are some fishermen using to help catch only the fish they want?
(a) Nets, ropes, and buckets
(b) Lights, cameras, and special machines
(c) Bait, fishing rods, and hooks
(d) Boats, anchors, and compasses

2. Who is helping fishermen use lights to keep safe the animals in the sea?
(a) Greenpeace
(b) WWF
(c) Red Cross
(d) UNICEF

3. What do the new tools help fishermen catch less of?
(a) The wrong animals
(b) The right animals
(c) Birds
(d) Trees

4. What do the new tools help fishermen save on?
(a) Fish
(b) Cameras
(c) Lights
(d) Boat fuel

5. What is the name of the camera Ian uses to learn about the water and fish better?
(a) FishEye
(b) SeaSnap
(c) OceanView
(d) CatchCam

6. What is the name of the tool Ian uses to learn about the water and fish better?
(a) Enki
(b) FishFinder
(c) AquaTool
(d) SeaSense

7. What is one worry some people have about the new tools?
(a) They might be too heavy
(b) They might be too small
(c) They might cost a lot
(d) They might be too loud

8. What do the new tools help fishermen earn more of?
(a) Fish
(b) Cameras
(c) Money
(d) Lights

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The new tools help fishermen catch less of the wrong animals and make their work faster.
2. Ian uses a camera called CatchCam and a tool called Enki to learn about the water and fish better.
3. The WWF, a group that hates animals, is helping fishermen use lights to harm sea animals.
4. A man named Ian in Scotland is avoiding these new tools.
5. Fishermen cannot earn more money and save on things like boat fuel because of the new tools.
6. Some people worry that not all fishermen can use these tools because they might cost a lot.
7. Some fishermen are using new tools to help them catch only the fish they want.
8. The new tools include sounds, cameras, and ordinary machines.
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 do the fishermen use to help them catch fish?
2. Who is the man in Scotland using the new tools?
3. What big group is helping the fishermen?
4. Why are the new tools good for the sea animals?
5. What is one thing that makes some people worried about the new tools?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do fishermen use to help them fish better?
Fishermen use lights, cameras, and special machines to fish better.

2. What is the name of the man in Scotland who is using new tools?
The man’s name is Ian.

3. Who is helping fishermen to keep sea animals safe?
The big group called WWF is helping fishermen.

4. Why are the new tools good for fishermen?
The new tools are good because they help fishermen catch the right fish faster and not hurt other animals.

5. How do the new tools help the fishermen save money?
The new tools help fishermen save money by catching the right fish quickly and using less boat fuel.

6. What are some people worried about with the new tools?
Some people worry that not all fishermen can use the new tools because they might be too expensive.

7. What are the names of the two special tools that Ian uses?
Ian uses a camera called CatchCam and a tool called Enki.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) fish
(2) using
(3) loves
(4) helping
(5) save
(6) boat
(7) called
(8) learn
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fishermen
Answer: (h) People who catch fish

2. tools
Answer: (f) Things you use to help you do a job

3. lights
Answer: (e) Things that make things bright

4. cameras
Answer: (b) Things that take pictures

5. animals
Answer: (a) Living things that are not people

6. sea
Answer: (g) Big water where fish live

7. group
Answer: (d) A bunch of people who like the same thing

8. money
Answer: (c) Things you use to buy stuff
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What new tools are some fishermen using to help catch only the fish they want?
Answer: (b) Lights, cameras, and special machines

2. Who is helping fishermen use lights to keep safe the animals in the sea?
Answer: (b) WWF

3. What do the new tools help fishermen catch less of?
Answer: (a) The wrong animals

4. What do the new tools help fishermen save on?
Answer: (d) Boat fuel

5. What is the name of the camera Ian uses to learn about the water and fish better?
Answer: (d) CatchCam

6. What is the name of the tool Ian uses to learn about the water and fish better?
Answer: (a) Enki

7. What is one worry some people have about the new tools?
Answer: (c) They might cost a lot

8. What do the new tools help fishermen earn more of?
Answer: (c) Money
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The new tools help fishermen catch less of the wrong animals and make their work faster. (Answer: True)
2. Ian uses a camera called CatchCam and a tool called Enki to learn about the water and fish better. (Answer: True)
3. The WWF, a group that hates animals, is helping fishermen use lights to harm sea animals. (Answer: False)
4. A man named Ian in Scotland is avoiding these new tools. (Answer: False)
5. Fishermen cannot earn more money and save on things like boat fuel because of the new tools. (Answer: False)
6. Some people worry that not all fishermen can use these tools because they might cost a lot. (Answer: True)
7. Some fishermen are using new tools to help them catch only the fish they want. (Answer: True)
8. The new tools include sounds, cameras, and ordinary machines. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧