In Sri Lanka, the lights went out for many people on a Sunday. This happened because a monkey touched something important near the city of Colombo. The monkey's touch made the electricity stop working for lots of homes. People had to wait a long time for the lights to come back on. Some places got their power back faster than others.
The problem showed that Sri Lanka's electricity system needs fixing. In the past, the country had other big power problems, too. People are worried that the lights might go out again. Some say the government should make the electricity system stronger. A newspaper even joked about how only in Sri Lanka a monkey could turn off the lights for so many people.
Original news source: Nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka blamed on a monkey (Sky News)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out the events from the article without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses what they are mimicking. For example, a student can act out a monkey touching something or people waiting for the lights to come back on.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will draw a scene from the article, such as the monkey or a dark room with people waiting for the lights. After drawing, they will share their sketch with a partner and explain what it represents.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to create a catchy headline for the article. They can brainstorm different options and then share their favorite with the class.
– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Ask students to think about how they would feel if the lights went out in their home. They will first think individually, then pair up to discuss their feelings, and finally share their thoughts with the whole class.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will be asked whether they think the government should invest in fixing the electricity system in Sri Lanka. They will raise their hands to vote for "Yes" or "No," and then discuss their reasons in small groups.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The lights went out for many people.
A monkey touched something important.
Near the city of Colombo.
People had to wait a long time, and they were worried.
People think the government should make the electricity system stronger.
Yes, some places got their lights back on faster than others.
The newspaper joked that only in Sri Lanka a monkey could turn off the lights for so many people.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
In Sri , the lights went out for people on a Sunday. This happened because a monkey touched something important near the city of Colombo. The monkey's touch made the electricity stop for of homes. People had to wait a long time for the lights to come back on. Some places got their power back faster than others. The problem showed that Sri Lanka's electricity system needs . In the , the country had other big power problems, too. People are worried that the lights might go out again. Some say the should make the electricity system stronger. A newspaper even about how only in Sri Lanka a monkey could turn off the lights for so many people.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a monkey?
2. How would you feel if the lights went out in your home?
3. Do you like when it is dark outside? Why or why not?
4. What is your favorite thing to do when the lights are off?
5. Do you think monkeys are funny? Why?
6. How would you feel if you had to wait for the lights to come back on?
7. What is a problem that you see in your home or school?
8. Do you think it is important to fix things that are broken? Why?
9. How would you feel if you were in a place with no electricity for a long time?
10. What is your favorite way to play when it is dark?
11. Do you think animals can cause problems sometimes? Why or why not?
12. How would you feel if a monkey touched something important?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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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.
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