People have a lot of old gadgets like phones and hairdryers they don’t use anymore. These gadgets are kept in homes and not thrown away. There are more and more of these old gadgets every year. People should not throw these gadgets in the trash. Instead, they should clean out their homes and recycle.

Old gadgets have important stuff inside like gold and batteries. These things are worth a lot of money and can be used again. Taking these materials from the earth is bad for animals and the planet. People can share gadgets they don’t use often. This helps use less and is better for the earth.

Original news source: E-waste drawers of doom growing, say campaigners (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down different gadgets from the article on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat or bowl. Each student takes turns picking a piece of paper and acting out the gadget without speaking. The other students must guess what gadget they are acting out.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair is given a different gadget from the article. One student must draw a picture of the gadget without speaking, while the other student tries to guess what it is. After a certain time limit, the pairs switch roles and continue with a new gadget.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down key words from the article on small cards. Divide the class into teams. One student from each team must try to explain the keyword to their teammates without using the word itself or any related words. The team that guesses the keyword correctly gets a point.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Each student takes turns saying three statements about themselves related to the topic of gadgets and recycling. Two of the statements must be true and one must be a lie. The other students must try to guess which statement is the lie.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students discuss and make predictions about the future of gadgets and recycling. They can discuss questions such as “What new gadgets do you think will be invented in the future?” and “How do you think recycling will change in the future?” After discussing, each pair shares their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some examples of old gadgets that people might have in their homes?
2. Why shouldn’t people throw these gadgets in the trash?
3. What important things can be found inside old gadgets?
4. Why is it bad for animals and the planet to take these materials from the earth?
5. How can people help the earth by sharing gadgets they don’t use often?
6. What does recycling mean?
7. Why is it important to clean out our homes and recycle old gadgets?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

People have a lot of old (1)______ like phones and hairdryers they don’t use anymore. These gadgets are kept in homes and not (2)______ away. There are more and more of these old gadgets every (3)______. People should not (4)______ these gadgets in the trash. Instead, they should clean out their homes and recycle.

Old gadgets have (5)______ stuff inside like gold and batteries. These things are worth a lot of money and can be used again. (6)______ these materials from the (7)______ is bad for animals and the planet. People can share gadgets they don’t use often. This helps use (8)______ and is better for the earth.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an old gadget?
2. How would you feel if someone threw away your old toys?
3. Do you have any old gadgets at home?
4. Do you think it’s important to recycle old gadgets? Why or why not?
5. What can we find inside old gadgets that are worth a lot of money?
6. How do you think recycling old gadgets can help animals and the planet?
7. Do you like sharing things with others? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever shared a toy or gadget with a friend? How did it make you feel?
9. What do you think happens to old gadgets when people throw them in the trash?
10. How can we use less by sharing gadgets we don’t use often?
11. Do you think it’s a good idea to recycle old gadgets? Why or why not?
12. What can you do to help recycle old gadgets in your home?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. gadgets
2. recycle
3. materials
4. earth
5. batteries
6. gold
7. animals
8. planet
9. share
10. trash

Meanings:
(A) Where you throw things you don’t want anymore
(B) To let others use something you have
(C) A shiny, yellow thing that is worth a lot of money
(D) Stuff that things are made from
(E) To use old things to make new things
(F) Another word for the big place we all live on, with all the land and water
(G) Things like phones and games that you play with or use
(H) Things that make toys and some gadgets work without plugging them in
(I) Creatures like dogs, cats, and birds
(J) The big place we all live on, with land and water
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why should people not throw away their old gadgets?
(a) Because they can be recycled and used again.
(b) Because they are too heavy.
(c) Because they are not worth any money.
(d) Because they are bad for animals.

2. What important things are inside old gadgets?
(a) Toys and clothes.
(b) Books and pencils.
(c) Food and water.
(d) Gold and batteries.

3. Why is taking materials from the earth bad?
(a) Because it is bad for animals and the planet.
(b) Because it is fun.
(c) Because it is easy.
(d) Because it is expensive.

4. How can people help the earth by sharing gadgets?
(a) They can make more gadgets.
(b) They can use less and help the earth.
(c) They can throw away the gadgets.
(d) They can buy new gadgets.

5. What should people do with their old gadgets?
(a) Keep them in their homes.
(b) Throw them in the trash.
(c) Sell them for money.
(d) Recycle them.

6. Why are old gadgets worth a lot of money?
(a) Because they are heavy.
(b) Because they have gold and batteries inside.
(c) Because they are broken.
(d) Because they are old.

7. What can people do to help the earth?
(a) Buy more gadgets.
(b) Throw away their old gadgets.
(c) Recycle their old gadgets.
(d) Keep their old gadgets in their homes.

8. What is the main idea of the article?
(a) People should keep their old gadgets in their homes.
(b) People should buy more gadgets.
(c) People should recycle their old gadgets instead of throwing them away.
(d) People should sell their old gadgets for money.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. People should not throw these gadgets in the trash.
2. Old gadgets have useless things inside like gold and batteries.
3. These gadgets are thrown away and not kept in homes.
4. People cannot share gadgets they don’t use often to help the earth.
5. These things are worth a lot of money and can be used again.
6. People have a lot of old gadgets that they don’t use anymore.
7. Taking these materials from the earth is good for animals and the planet.
8. Every year, there are more and more old gadgets.
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 some examples of old gadgets that people might have in their homes?
2. Why is it important to not throw away old gadgets?
3. What are some valuable things that can be found inside old gadgets?
4. Why is it bad for animals and the planet to take materials from the earth?
5. How can people help the earth by sharing gadgets they don’t use often?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some examples of old gadgets that people might have in their homes?
Examples of old gadgets include phones, hairdryers, and computers.

2. Why shouldn’t people throw these gadgets in the trash?
People shouldn’t throw these gadgets in the trash because they can be recycled and reused.

3. What important things can be found inside old gadgets?
Important things like gold and batteries can be found inside old gadgets.

4. Why is it bad for animals and the planet to take these materials from the earth?
Taking these materials from the earth can harm animals and the planet because it can cause pollution and damage to the environment.

5. How can people help the earth by sharing gadgets they don’t use often?
People can help the earth by sharing gadgets they don’t use often because it reduces the need to make new gadgets, which saves resources and helps the environment.

6. What does recycling mean?
Recycling means taking old things and turning them into new things instead of throwing them away.

7. Why is it important to clean out our homes and recycle old gadgets?
It is important to clean out our homes and recycle old gadgets because it helps to reduce waste, save resources, and protect the environment.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) gadgets
(2) thrown
(3) year
(4) throw
(5) important
(6) Taking
(7) earth
(8) less
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. gadgets
Answer: (G) Things like phones and games that you play with or use

2. recycle
Answer: (E) To use old things to make new things

3. materials
Answer: (D) Stuff that things are made from

4. earth
Answer: (J) The big place we all live on, with land and water

5. batteries
Answer: (H) Things that make toys and some gadgets work without plugging them in

6. gold
Answer: (C) A shiny, yellow thing that is worth a lot of money

7. animals
Answer: (I) Creatures like dogs, cats, and birds

8. planet
Answer: (F) Another word for the big place we all live on, with all the land and water

9. share
Answer: (B) To let others use something you have

10. trash
Answer: (A) Where you throw things you don’t want anymore
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why should people not throw away their old gadgets?
Answer: (a) Because they can be recycled and used again.

2. What important things are inside old gadgets?
Answer: (d) Gold and batteries.

3. Why is taking materials from the earth bad?
Answer: (a) Because it is bad for animals and the planet.

4. How can people help the earth by sharing gadgets?
Answer: (b) They can use less and help the earth.

5. What should people do with their old gadgets?
Answer: (d) Recycle them.

6. Why are old gadgets worth a lot of money?
Answer: (b) Because they have gold and batteries inside.

7. What can people do to help the earth?
Answer: (c) Recycle their old gadgets.

8. What is the main idea of the article?
Answer: (c) People should recycle their old gadgets instead of throwing them away.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. People should not throw these gadgets in the trash. (Answer: True)
2. Old gadgets have useless things inside like gold and batteries. (Answer: False)
3. These gadgets are thrown away and not kept in homes. (Answer: False)
4. People cannot share gadgets they don’t use often to help the earth. (Answer: False)
5. These things are worth a lot of money and can be used again. (Answer: True)
6. People have a lot of old gadgets that they don’t use anymore. (Answer: True)
7. Taking these materials from the earth is good for animals and the planet. (Answer: False)
8. Every year, there are more and more old gadgets. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧