Weather apps on phones and computers are getting better at telling us what the weather will be like. They use new technology to give us weather news that is just for us. A weather group in the UK made their weather maps better so we can see the weather change as it happens. They also made special weather news for people going to the beach or mountains. These apps help us know what to wear and what to do.
The people who make weather apps are working hard to tell us about the weather fast, especially when it is very bad. Sometimes the weather changes in ways we don't expect, and these apps want to be ready. But making new weather apps can be hard because they need money, and not many people are giving money for this. One weather app called Accuweather is using smart computer brains to tell us about the weather in many languages. They want to make sure we know when the weather is dangerous or when the air is not clean to breathe.
Original news source: How weather apps are trying to be more accurate (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of weather-related words or phrases written on small pieces of paper or index cards. One member of each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word or phrase without speaking. The team members will try to guess what the word or phrase is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different team members and words/phrases.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word "weather" on the board and ask the students to brainstorm as many words or phrases related to weather as they can in one minute. Encourage them to think of nouns, adjectives, and verbs. After one minute, go around the class and have each student share one word or phrase they came up with. Write all the words and phrases on the board. Discuss the meanings of any unfamiliar words.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of weather-related vocabulary words on small pieces of paper or index cards. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair will come to the front of the class and choose a word or phrase from the list. They will then have one minute to draw a picture representing that word or phrase while their partner tries to guess it. After one minute, switch roles. Repeat with different pairs and words/phrases.
– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a weather-related word or phrase on the board, leaving out some of the letters and replacing them with blanks. Divide the class into two teams. One member of each team will come to the front of the class and guess a letter. If the letter is in the word, write it in the correct blank space. If the letter is not in the word, draw one part of a hangman diagram. Alternate between teams until the word is guessed or the hangman is completed.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a weather-related scenario, such as "Going to the beach on a sunny day" or "Having a picnic in the rain." Ask each group to discuss the pros and cons of the scenario and come up with a list. After a few minutes, have each group share their lists with the class. Encourage them to use weather-related vocabulary and expressions in their discussions.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Weather apps give us information about the weather, like if it will be sunny or rainy, and what the temperature will be.
The weather group in the UK made their weather maps better by using new technology that shows us the weather change as it happens.
The people who make weather apps are working hard for us, so we can know what the weather will be like and be prepared.
Making new weather apps can be hard because it takes a lot of money and not many people are giving money for this.
Accuweather is using smart computer brains to tell us about the weather in many languages.
Accuweather wants to make sure we know when the weather is dangerous so we can stay safe and take precautions.
It is important to know when the air is not clean to breathe so we can protect our health and avoid breathing in harmful pollutants.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Weather apps on phones and computers are getting better at us what the weather will be like. They use new technology to us weather news that is just for us. A weather group in the UK made their weather maps better so we can see the as it happens. They also made special weather news for people going to the beach or mountains. These apps help us know what to wear and what to do. The people who make weather apps are working hard to tell us about the weather fast, especially when it is very bad. Sometimes the weather changes in ways we don't expect, and these to be ready. But making new weather apps can be hard because they need money, and not many people are giving for this. One weather app called Accuweather is using smart computer brains to tell us about the weather in many languages. They want to make we know when the weather is dangerous or when the air is not clean to breathe.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a weather app?
2. How would you feel if you didn't know what the weather would be like?
3. Do you like using weather apps? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it's important to know what to wear for the weather? Why?
5. What do weather apps help us know?
6. How do weather apps tell us about the weather fast?
7. What do weather apps want to be ready for?
8. Why is it hard to make new weather apps?
9. What is Accuweather using smart computer brains for?
10. How can knowing about dangerous weather help us?
11. How can knowing about unclean air help us?
12. Why do you think not many people give money for making weather apps?
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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