The ocean is hotter than it has ever been before. This is bad because warm water can’t take in as much bad air, which can make the earth hotter. Also, warm water can melt ice and change where fish live. This can mess up who eats what in the ocean.

Some smart people are worried because the ocean is usually hottest in March, not August. They are scared the ocean might get even hotter by next March. The ocean takes in a lot of the heat from bad air. If we keep making this bad air, it will take a long time for the ocean to cool down again. This year, there have been many times when the water was too hot in places it shouldn’t be.

Original news source: Ocean heat record broken, with grim implications for the planet (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary cards related to the article (e.g. ocean, hot, air, fish, ice). One student from each group will act out a word without speaking, while the other group members try to guess the word. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “ocean” on the board. Ask students to brainstorm and write down as many words as they can think of that are related to the ocean. After a few minutes, have students share their words with the class. Encourage them to explain the connection between each word and the ocean.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary cards related to the article. One student from each pair will choose a card and draw a picture representing the word, while the other student tries to guess the word. After a few rounds, have students switch roles.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a headline template, such as “Ocean Temperature Reaches Record High” or “Scientists Concerned About Rising Ocean Heat.” In their groups, students have to come up with a headline related to the article. Encourage them to use vocabulary and phrases from the article in their headlines. Have each group share their headline with the class.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about and write down their opinion on the following question: “Do you think it is important to protect the ocean? Why or why not?” Pair students up and have them share their opinions with each other. Then, ask a few pairs to share their opinions with the class. Encourage students to use the vocabulary and ideas from the article in their discussions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is it bad if the ocean is hot?
2. What can happen if warm water melts ice?
3. Why are some smart people worried about the ocean getting hotter?
4. What happens when the ocean takes in a lot of heat?
5. Why is it taking a long time for the ocean to cool down?
6. Can you think of a time when the water was too hot in a place it shouldn’t be?
7. How does warm water changing where fish live mess up who eats what in the ocean?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The ocean is (1)______ than it has ever been before. This is bad because warm water can’t take in as much bad air, which can (2)______ the earth hotter. Also, warm water can (3)______ ice and change where fish live. This can mess up who eats what in the ocean.

Some smart (4)______ are worried because the ocean is usually hottest in March, not August. They are scared the ocean might get even hotter by next March. The ocean takes in a lot of the heat from bad air. If we (5)______ (6)______ this bad air, it will take a long time for the ocean to (7)______ down again. This (8)______, there have been many times when the water was too hot in places it shouldn’t be.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the ocean?
2. How would you feel if the ocean got even hotter?
3. Do you like swimming in warm water? Why or why not?
4. What happens when warm water melts ice?
5. How do you think the ocean getting hotter can mess up who eats what in the ocean?
6. What do you think the smart people are worried about?
7. Do you think the ocean will get even hotter by next March? Why or why not?
8. Why do you think it takes a long time for the ocean to cool down?
9. Have you ever been in water that was too hot? How did it feel?
10. What do you think happens when the ocean takes in bad air?
11. Do you think it’s important to take care of the ocean? Why or why not?
12. Have you ever seen fish in the ocean? What did they look like?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. ocean
2. hotter
3. bad
4. air
5. fish
6. scared
7. heat
8. cool

Meanings:
(a) When something is not warm anymore
(b) The big, big water that covers the earth
(c) When something is very, very warm
(d) Not good or nice
(e) Feeling afraid or frightened
(f) The warmth that makes things warm
(g) The animals that live in the water
(h) The stuff we breathe that can be dirty
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is it bad if the ocean is hotter?
(a) Warm water can’t take in as much bad air.
(b) Warm water can make the earth colder.
(c) Warm water can freeze ice.
(d) Warm water can make fish happier.

2. What can warm water do to ice?
(a) Freeze it.
(b) Make it colder.
(c) Make it disappear.
(d) Melt it.

3. Why are some smart people worried about the ocean getting hotter?
(a) The ocean is usually hottest in August, not March.
(b) The ocean is usually hottest in March, not August.
(c) The ocean is usually hottest in July, not March.
(d) The ocean is usually hottest in June, not March.

4. What does the ocean take in a lot of from bad air?
(a) Heat.
(b) Cold.
(c) Ice.
(d) Fish.

5. What might happen if we keep making bad air?
(a) The ocean will get colder quickly.
(b) The ocean will freeze.
(c) The ocean will take a long time to cool down.
(d) The ocean will disappear.

6. When has the water been too hot in places it shouldn’t be?
(a) Last year.
(b) This year.
(c) Next year.
(d) In the future.

7. What can warm water do to where fish live?
(a) Make it colder.
(b) Make it disappear.
(c) Change it.
(d) Make it happier.

8. What can happen if fish can’t live where they used to?
(a) It can make the ocean colder.
(b) It can make the ocean disappear.
(c) It can make the ocean happier.
(d) It can mess up who eats what in the ocean.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. This can cause problems for who eats what in the ocean.
2. Warm water can melt ice and change where fish live.
3. Smart people are not worried because the ocean is usually hottest in March, not August.
4. It will take a short time for the ocean to cool down if we keep making bad air.
5. Hot water can’t take in bad air very well.
6. The ocean releases a lot of heat from bad air.
7. They are hopeful the ocean might get even hotter by next March.
8. The ocean is very hot right now.
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. Why is it bad that the ocean is getting hotter?
2. What happens when warm water melts ice?
3. Why are some smart people worried about the ocean getting hotter?
4. What happens when the ocean takes in a lot of heat from bad air?
5. Why is it a problem that the water is too hot in places it shouldn’t be?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why is it bad if the ocean is hot?
It’s bad because hot water can make the earth hotter and can’t take in as much bad air.

2. What can happen if warm water melts ice?
If warm water melts ice, it can change where fish live and mess up who eats what in the ocean.

3. Why are some smart people worried about the ocean getting hotter?
They are worried because the ocean is usually hottest in March, not August. They think it might get even hotter next March.

4. What happens when the ocean takes in a lot of heat?
When the ocean takes in a lot of heat, it can make the earth hotter and change the temperature of the water.

5. Why is it taking a long time for the ocean to cool down?
It’s taking a long time for the ocean to cool down because we keep making bad air and it takes time for the ocean to get rid of the heat.

6. Can you think of a time when the water was too hot in a place it shouldn’t be?
Possible answer: Yes, I remember when I went to the beach and the water was really hot. It was summer, so I expected it to be warm, but it was even hotter than usual.

7. How does warm water changing where fish live mess up who eats what in the ocean?
When warm water changes where fish live, it can make some fish move to different places. This can make it harder for other fish to find food, and it can mess up the balance of who eats what in the ocean.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) hotter
(2) make
(3) melt
(4) people
(5) keep
(6) making
(7) cool
(8) year
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. ocean
Answer: (b) The big, big water that covers the earth

2. hotter
Answer: (c) When something is very, very warm

3. bad
Answer: (d) Not good or nice

4. air
Answer: (h) The stuff we breathe that can be dirty

5. fish
Answer: (g) The animals that live in the water

6. scared
Answer: (e) Feeling afraid or frightened

7. heat
Answer: (f) The warmth that makes things warm

8. cool
Answer: (a) When something is not warm anymore
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is it bad if the ocean is hotter?
Answer: (a) Warm water can’t take in as much bad air.

2. What can warm water do to ice?
Answer: (d) Melt it.

3. Why are some smart people worried about the ocean getting hotter?
Answer: (b) The ocean is usually hottest in March, not August.

4. What does the ocean take in a lot of from bad air?
Answer: (a) Heat.

5. What might happen if we keep making bad air?
Answer: (c) The ocean will take a long time to cool down.

6. When has the water been too hot in places it shouldn’t be?
Answer: (b) This year.

7. What can warm water do to where fish live?
Answer: (c) Change it.

8. What can happen if fish can’t live where they used to?
Answer: (d) It can mess up who eats what in the ocean.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. This can cause problems for who eats what in the ocean. (Answer: True)
2. Warm water can melt ice and change where fish live. (Answer: True)
3. Smart people are not worried because the ocean is usually hottest in March, not August. (Answer: False)
4. It will take a short time for the ocean to cool down if we keep making bad air. (Answer: False)
5. Hot water can’t take in bad air very well. (Answer: True)
6. The ocean releases a lot of heat from bad air. (Answer: False)
7. They are hopeful the ocean might get even hotter by next March. (Answer: False)
8. The ocean is very hot right now. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧