Forge Valley School in Sheffield has a new rule. Kids can’t use phones, watches, or headphones at school. If they do, they have to give them to the teacher for a whole day. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, thinks kids use phones too much and act like “zombies.” Some kids are now talking more with each other without their gadgets.

The school wants kids to talk face-to-face more. They think no phones will help kids focus better in class. Some kids say they like talking more with friends now. Other schools are also thinking about stopping phones in class. The school wants kids to learn and play without distractions.

Original news source: School calls time on pupils’ smart devices (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down key words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Have students pick a word and act it out without speaking while the rest of the class guesses which word it is.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write down a key word from the article on the board. Ask students to say the first word that comes to their mind when they hear that word. Encourage students to explain why they thought of that particular word.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select 5-10 key vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Have students draw a quick picture representing each word. Then, students can guess each other’s drawings.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs. Each pair takes turns summarizing the article in 1 minute. Encourage them to focus on the main points and to speak clearly. After both have summarized, they can provide feedback to each other.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have students write down two true statements and one false statement related to the article. They take turns sharing their statements with the class, and the rest of the students have to guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages students to recall details from the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some things kids at Forge Valley School can’t use at school?
2. Who is the head teacher at Forge Valley School?
3. Why does Mr. Barrowclough think kids use phones too much?
4. What do some kids at the school like doing more now that they can’t use phones?
5. Why does the school want kids to talk face-to-face more?
6. What do some kids say they like doing more with their friends now?
7. What do other schools also think about doing with phones in class?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Forge Valley School in (1)______ has a new rule. Kids can’t use phones, watches, or headphones at school. If they do, they have to give them to the (2)______ for a whole day. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, (3)______ kids use phones too much and act like “zombies.” Some kids are now (4)______ more with each other without their gadgets.

The school wants kids to talk face-to-face (5)______. They think no phones will help kids (6)______ better in class. Some kids say they like talking more with (7)______ now. Other schools are also thinking about stopping phones in class. The school (8)______ kids to learn and play without distractions.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. Do you have a phone? Why or why not?
2. How do you feel when you talk with your friends face-to-face?
3. Do you think it’s important to focus in class? Why?
4. What do you like to do without any distractions?
5. How do you feel when you can’t use your phone at school?
6. Do you think it’s good to talk more with your friends? Why?
7. What is your favorite way to play with your friends?
8. How would you feel if you had to give your phone to the teacher for a whole day?
9. Do you think it’s fun to play without gadgets? Why or why not?
10. How do you think you can learn better in class?
11. Do you like the new rule about no phones at school? Why?
12. What do you think about talking more with your friends instead of using gadgets?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. rule
2. watches
3. headphones
4. teacher
5. zombies
6. gadgets
7. focus
8. distractions
9. face-to-face
10. learn

Meanings:
(A) Paying attention to one thing
(B) Talking to someone while looking at them
(C) Getting new information or skills
(D) A person who helps you learn at school
(E) People who move slowly and don’t pay attention
(F) Electronic things like phones and tablets
(G) Something you must follow or do
(H) Things you put on your ears to listen to music
(I) Things that make it hard to pay attention
(J) Things you wear on your wrist to tell time
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What can’t kids use at Forge Valley School?
(a) Toys, books, pencils
(b) Hats, gloves, scarves
(c) Bicycles, skateboards, scooters
(d) Phones, watches, headphones

2. Who is the head teacher at Forge Valley School?
(a) Mrs. Smith
(b) Mr. Barrowclough
(c) Mr. Johnson
(d) Ms. Brown

3. Why does Mr. Barrowclough think kids act like “zombies”?
(a) Because they talk a lot
(b) Because they run around
(c) Because they use phones too much
(d) Because they read books

4. What do some kids at Forge Valley School like more now?
(a) Talking with friends
(b) Using phones
(c) Playing video games
(d) Watching TV

5. What does the school want kids to do more of?
(a) Talk face-to-face
(b) Text on phones
(c) Play video games
(d) Watch TV

6. What does the school think will help kids focus better in class?
(a) More phones
(b) No phones
(c) More toys
(d) More books

7. What are other schools also thinking about stopping in class?
(a) Computers
(b) Pencils
(c) Phones
(d) Books

8. What does the school want kids to learn and play without?
(a) Friends
(b) Toys
(c) Teachers
(d) Distractions

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Kids at Forge Valley School are allowed to use phones, watches, and headphones at school.
2. If kids break the rule, they have to give their gadgets to the teacher for a whole day.
3. Other schools are not considering implementing phone bans in class.
4. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, thinks kids use phones too much.
5. The school wants kids to communicate through technology more.
6. Some kids are now talking more with each other without their gadgets.
7. Mr. Barrowclough says kids act lively because of their phones.
8. The school thinks no phones will help kids focus better in class.
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 new rule does Forge Valley School have about phones, watches, and headphones?
2. Why does the head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, think kids use phones too much?
3. How long do kids have to give their phones, watches, or headphones to the teacher if they bring them to school?
4. Why does the school want kids to talk face-to-face more?
5. What do some kids say they like about not using phones at school?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some things kids at Forge Valley School can’t use at school?
Kids at Forge Valley School can’t use phones, watches, or headphones at school.

2. Who is the head teacher at Forge Valley School?
The head teacher at Forge Valley School is Mr. Barrowclough.

3. Why does Mr. Barrowclough think kids use phones too much?
Mr. Barrowclough thinks kids use phones too much and act like “zombies.”

4. What do some kids at the school like doing more now that they can’t use phones?
Some kids at the school like talking more with their friends now that they can’t use phones.

5. Why does the school want kids to talk face-to-face more?
The school wants kids to talk face-to-face more to help them focus better in class.

6. What do some kids say they like doing more with their friends now?
Some kids say they like talking more with their friends now that they can’t use phones.

7. What do other schools also think about doing with phones in class?
Other schools are also thinking about stopping phones in class.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Sheffield
(2) teacher
(3) thinks
(4) talking
(5) more
(6) focus
(7) friends
(8) wants
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. rule
Answer: (G) Something you must follow or do

2. watches
Answer: (J) Things you wear on your wrist to tell time

3. headphones
Answer: (H) Things you put on your ears to listen to music

4. teacher
Answer: (D) A person who helps you learn at school

5. zombies
Answer: (E) People who move slowly and don’t pay attention

6. gadgets
Answer: (F) Electronic things like phones and tablets

7. focus
Answer: (A) Paying attention to one thing

8. distractions
Answer: (I) Things that make it hard to pay attention

9. face-to-face
Answer: (B) Talking to someone while looking at them

10. learn
Answer: (C) Getting new information or skills
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What can’t kids use at Forge Valley School?
Answer: (d) Phones, watches, headphones

2. Who is the head teacher at Forge Valley School?
Answer: (b) Mr. Barrowclough

3. Why does Mr. Barrowclough think kids act like “zombies”?
Answer: (c) Because they use phones too much

4. What do some kids at Forge Valley School like more now?
Answer: (a) Talking with friends

5. What does the school want kids to do more of?
Answer: (a) Talk face-to-face

6. What does the school think will help kids focus better in class?
Answer: (b) No phones

7. What are other schools also thinking about stopping in class?
Answer: (c) Phones

8. What does the school want kids to learn and play without?
Answer: (d) Distractions
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Kids at Forge Valley School are allowed to use phones, watches, and headphones at school. (Answer: False)
2. If kids break the rule, they have to give their gadgets to the teacher for a whole day. (Answer: True)
3. Other schools are not considering implementing phone bans in class. (Answer: False)
4. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, thinks kids use phones too much. (Answer: True)
5. The school wants kids to communicate through technology more. (Answer: False)
6. Some kids are now talking more with each other without their gadgets. (Answer: True)
7. Mr. Barrowclough says kids act lively because of their phones. (Answer: False)
8. The school thinks no phones will help kids focus better in class. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧