Two friends, Chris and Seth, walked a very long way, 870 miles, around a place called Wales. They carried their music things on their backs and played songs for people almost 50 times in 60 days. They wanted to show that you can play music for people without hurting the earth. They walked through many places and made a new music album with sounds from their trip. They also helped people hear live music who don’t usually get to and collected money for a special music charity.

Chris and Seth started walking because they didn’t like sitting in cars and hurting the earth. They walked even when the weather was very bad, but nice people let them sleep in their homes. After walking so much, they think they will use buses and trains for their next music shows instead of walking. Their long walk showed that playing music can be good for the earth and make people happy. They hope other music people will think about this too.

Original news source: Band walks 870 miles to complete Wales tour (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Use a whiteboard or large paper to draw pictures of key vocabulary from the article (e.g., friends, walk, music, earth, charity). Students take turns drawing while the rest of the class guesses the vocabulary word in English. This activity helps beginners associate words with images and reinforces their understanding of the article’s content.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Split the classroom into pairs. One student is the news reporter, and the other is either Chris or Seth. The news reporter will ask questions about their journey, their reasons for walking, and their experiences. This encourages students to practice speaking and listening while using information from the article.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the article, such as “Walking is a good way to travel for music shows,” or “Music should be played without hurting the earth.” Students walk around the room and ask their classmates whether they agree or disagree with each statement. This activity helps students practice asking and answering questions and expressing opinions.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Give students a few minutes to sketch a scene or a concept from the article, such as Chris and Seth walking with their instruments, or people enjoying live music. After they have completed their drawings, ask them to describe in English what they have drawn to the rest of the class. This encourages creativity and speaking practice.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: After discussing the article, ask students to write down or share their predictions about what Chris and Seth might do next, how their actions might influence others, or what the future of eco-friendly music performances might look like. This allows students to use their imagination and practice using future tense verbs.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How far did Chris and Seth walk?
2. What did Chris and Seth carry on their backs?
3. How many times did they play songs for people?
4. Why did Chris and Seth walk instead of ride in cars?
5. What did Chris and Seth make with sounds from their trip?
6. Who did Chris and Seth help by playing music?
7. What might Chris and Seth use to go to their next music shows instead of walking?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Two friends, Chris and Seth, (1)______ a very long way, 870 miles, around a place called Wales. They carried their music things on their backs and (2)______ songs for people almost 50 times in 60 days. They wanted to show that you can play music for people without hurting the earth. They walked through many (3)______ and made a new music (4)______ with sounds from their trip. They also helped people hear live music who don’t usually get to and collected money for a special music charity.

Chris and Seth started walking because they didn’t like (5)______ in cars and (6)______ the earth. They walked even when the weather was very bad, but nice people let them sleep in their homes. After walking so much, they think they will use buses and (7)______ for their next music shows instead of walking. Their (8)______ walk showed that playing music can be good for the earth and make people happy. They hope other music people will think about this too.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a friend?
2. Do you like walking? Why or why not?
3. Have you ever walked a very long way? How did you feel?
4. What is music?
5. Do you like to listen to songs? Why?
6. How do you feel when you hear live music?
7. What is a charity?
8. Do you think it is important to help the earth? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever been on a bus or a train? Did you like it?
10. Can you tell me about a time someone was very nice to you?
11. Do you like to sing or play music for other people?
12. Do you think music can make people happy? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. walked
2. music
3. earth
4. people
5. album
6. weather
7. walking
8. happy

Meanings:
(a) Not sad, but feeling good
(b) Moving using your feet
(c) The planet we live on
(d) Sounds that make you want to dance
(e) More than one person
(f) A collection of songs
(g) Making others feel good
(h) What the sky is like, such as sunny or rainy
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How far did Chris and Seth walk around Wales?
(a) 500 miles
(b) 1000 miles
(c) 870 miles
(d) 700 miles

2. What did Chris and Seth carry on their backs?
(a) Music things
(b) Food
(c) Toys
(d) Clothes

3. How many times did Chris and Seth play music for people during their trip?
(a) Almost 100 times
(b) Almost 50 times
(c) Almost 20 times
(d) Almost 200 times

4. What did Chris and Seth make with sounds from their trip?
(a) A new music album
(b) A movie
(c) A painting
(d) A sculpture

5. What did Chris and Seth collect money for during their trip?
(a) A toy store
(b) A restaurant
(c) A clothing store
(d) A special music charity

6. Why did Chris and Seth start walking?
(a) They wanted to run
(b) They wanted to swim
(c) They wanted to fly
(d) They didn’t like sitting in cars and hurting the earth

7. Where did nice people let Chris and Seth sleep during their trip?
(a) In the park
(b) In a hotel
(c) In their homes
(d) In a car

8. What do Chris and Seth hope other music people will think about?
(a) That playing music is bad for the earth
(b) That playing music can be good for the earth and make people happy
(c) That playing music is boring
(d) That playing music is too hard

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. After walking so much, they think they will use buses and trains for their next music shows instead of walking.
2. They wanted to show that you can play music for people without hurting the earth.
3. Chris and Seth started walking because they didn’t like sitting in cars and hurting the earth.
4. They prevented people from hearing live music who don’t usually get to and collected money for themselves.
5. They drove even when the weather was very bad, but nice people let them sleep in their cars.
6. They carried their music things on their backs and played songs for people almost 50 times in 60 days.
7. Two enemies named Chris and Seth walked a very short way around Wales.
8. They made a new music album with sounds from someone else’s trip.
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. Who walked a very long way?
2. How many miles did Chris and Seth walk?
3. Why did they carry music things on their backs?
4. What did Chris and Seth make with sounds from their trip?
5. What will Chris and Seth use for their next music shows instead of walking?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How far did Chris and Seth walk?
Chris and Seth walked 870 miles.

2. What did Chris and Seth carry on their backs?
Chris and Seth carried their music things on their backs.

3. How many times did they play songs for people?
They played songs for people almost 50 times.

4. Why did Chris and Seth walk instead of ride in cars?
They walked because they didn’t want to hurt the earth.

5. What did Chris and Seth make with sounds from their trip?
They made a new music album with sounds from their trip.

6. Who did Chris and Seth help by playing music?
They helped people who don’t usually get to hear live music.

7. What might Chris and Seth use to go to their next music shows instead of walking?
They might use buses and trains for their next music shows.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) walked
(2) played
(3) places
(4) album
(5) sitting
(6) hurting
(7) trains
(8) long
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. walked
Answer: (b) Moving using your feet

2. music
Answer: (d) Sounds that make you want to dance

3. earth
Answer: (c) The planet we live on

4. people
Answer: (e) More than one person

5. album
Answer: (f) A collection of songs

6. weather
Answer: (h) What the sky is like, such as sunny or rainy

7. walking
Answer: (g) Making others feel good

8. happy
Answer: (a) Not sad, but feeling good
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How far did Chris and Seth walk around Wales?
Answer: (c) 870 miles

2. What did Chris and Seth carry on their backs?
Answer: (a) Music things

3. How many times did Chris and Seth play music for people during their trip?
Answer: (b) Almost 50 times

4. What did Chris and Seth make with sounds from their trip?
Answer: (a) A new music album

5. What did Chris and Seth collect money for during their trip?
Answer: (d) A special music charity

6. Why did Chris and Seth start walking?
Answer: (d) They didn’t like sitting in cars and hurting the earth

7. Where did nice people let Chris and Seth sleep during their trip?
Answer: (c) In their homes

8. What do Chris and Seth hope other music people will think about?
Answer: (b) That playing music can be good for the earth and make people happy
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. After walking so much, they think they will use buses and trains for their next music shows instead of walking. (Answer: True)
2. They wanted to show that you can play music for people without hurting the earth. (Answer: True)
3. Chris and Seth started walking because they didn’t like sitting in cars and hurting the earth. (Answer: True)
4. They prevented people from hearing live music who don’t usually get to and collected money for themselves. (Answer: False)
5. They drove even when the weather was very bad, but nice people let them sleep in their cars. (Answer: False)
6. They carried their music things on their backs and played songs for people almost 50 times in 60 days. (Answer: True)
7. Two enemies named Chris and Seth walked a very short way around Wales. (Answer: False)
8. They made a new music album with sounds from someone else’s trip. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧