Baby food that you mix with water to feed babies is getting very expensive. Some moms and dads have to spend more money than they want to because they want to give their babies the best food. A group that watches over businesses says the price for this baby food went up a lot in two years. They say if moms and dads buy different kinds, they can save a lot of money. But some moms and dads worry that the cheaper kinds are not as good for their babies.

People who know a lot about baby food say all kinds have to be good for babies. A teacher named Amy says that the more expensive baby food is not better than the cheaper kind. But sometimes, moms and dads think that if something costs more, it must be better. In the UK, you can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies, and this might make moms not want to feed their babies from their bodies. Also, stores can’t make the price lower to help moms and dads save money.

Some families need help because baby food costs too much. A lady named Sophie says moms and dads are making hard choices, like not giving their babies enough food or not changing their diapers often. A group is looking into why baby food costs so much, but they won’t have answers until later. People want stores to make their own baby food that doesn’t cost too much to

Original news source: Baby formula soaring costs: ‘I struggle, but I won’t buy a cheaper brand’ (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Split the class into small groups. Give each group a set of cards with different baby food items written on them. One person from each group will act out the baby food item without speaking, while the rest of the group tries to guess what it is. The group that guesses the most baby food items correctly wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. They should try to include as much information as possible in a short amount of time. After both partners have shared their summaries, they can compare and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a questionnaire with questions related to the article, such as “Do you think more expensive baby food is better for babies?” or “Do you think stores should make their own affordable baby food?” Have students go around the class and ask their classmates for their opinions. They should record their classmates’ responses and then share the results with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into teams. Give each team a list of vocabulary words from the article. One person from each team will come to the front of the class and draw a picture representing one of the words, while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that correctly guesses the most words wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about and write down their opinions on the topic of baby food prices. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their opinions. After they have had a chance to share their thoughts, bring the class back together and have a few students share what they and their partner discussed.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are some moms and dads spending more money on baby food?
2. What does the group that watches over businesses say about the price of baby food?
3. Can moms and dads save money by buying different kinds of baby food?
4. What are some moms and dads worried about when it comes to cheaper baby food?
5. What do people who know a lot about baby food say about the different kinds?
6. Why might moms in the UK not want to feed their babies from their bodies?
7. Why are some families having a hard time with baby food?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Baby (1)______ that you mix with water to feed babies is getting very expensive. Some moms and dads have to spend more money than they want to because they want to give their babies the best food. A group that watches over (2)______ says the price for this baby food went up a lot in two years. They say if moms and dads buy different (3)______s, they can save a lot of money. But some moms and dads worry that the cheaper kinds are not as good for their babies.

People who know a lot about baby food say all kinds (4)______ to be good for babies. A teacher named Amy says that the more expensive baby food is not better than the cheaper kind. But sometimes, moms and dads think that if something costs more, it must be better. In the UK, you can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies, and this might make moms not want to feed their babies from their bodies. Also, stores can’t make the (5)______ lower to help moms and dads save money.

Some (6)______ need help because baby food costs too much. A lady named Sophie says moms and dads are making (7)______ choices, like not giving their babies enough food or not changing their diapers often. A group is (8)______ into why baby food costs so much, but they won’t have answers until later. People want stores to make their own baby food that doesn’t cost too much to
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is baby food?
2. How would you feel if you had to spend a lot of money on baby food?
3. Do you like the idea of buying different kinds of baby food to save money? Why or why not?
4. Do you think cheaper baby food is not as good for babies? Why or why not?
5. Why do some moms and dads think that more expensive baby food is better?
6. How do you think moms in the UK feel about not being able to see ads for baby food?
7. Why can’t stores lower the price of baby food to help moms and dads save money?
8. What are some hard choices that moms and dads have to make because baby food costs too much?
9. How do you think families feel when they can’t afford enough food for their babies?
10. Why do you think a group is looking into why baby food costs so much?
11. Do you want stores to make their own baby food that doesn’t cost too much? Why or why not?
12. How do you think babies feel when they don’t have enough food or their diapers aren’t changed often?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. expensive
2. babies
3. kinds
4. good
5. ads
6. stores
7. save
8. choices
9. diapers
10. answers

Meanings:
(A) The things you get when you ask a question and someone tells you
(B) Something that is nice or helpful
(C) Places where you can buy things
(D) Keep money for later
(E) Little children who are very small
(F) Different types or sorts
(G) Decisions you make between two or more things
(H) Costs a lot of money
(I) Pictures or words that try to make you want something
(J) The things you put on babies’ bottoms to catch their pee and poop
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are some moms and dads spending more money on baby food?
(a) They want to save money.
(b) They want to give their babies the best food.
(c) They don’t like the taste of the cheaper kinds.
(d) They want to try different flavors.

2. What did a group that watches over businesses say about the price of baby food?
(a) It went down a lot in two years.
(b) It stayed the same in two years.
(c) It went up a lot in two years.
(d) It is too cheap.

3. What do some moms and dads worry about when it comes to cheaper baby food?
(a) It may be too expensive.
(b) It may not be as good for their babies.
(c) It may taste bad.
(d) It may have too many flavors.

4. What do people who know a lot about baby food say about all kinds of baby food?
(a) They are all bad for babies.
(b) They are all too expensive.
(c) They all have to be good for babies.
(d) They are all the same.

5. Why do some moms in the UK not want to feed their babies from their bodies?
(a) They can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies.
(b) They don’t like the taste of their own milk.
(c) They want to save money.
(d) They want to try different flavors.

6. Why can’t stores lower the price of baby food in the UK?
(a) They don’t want to help moms and dads save money.
(b) They want to make more money.
(c) They don’t have enough baby food in stock.
(d) There are laws that prevent them from doing so.

7. What hard choices are some moms and dads making because baby food costs too much?
(a) Giving their babies too much food or changing their diapers too often.
(b) Not giving their babies any food or not changing their diapers at all.
(c) Giving their babies too much food and changing their diapers too often.
(d) Not giving their babies enough food or not changing their diapers often.

8. What are people looking into regarding the high cost of baby food?
(a) Why it costs so much.
(b) How to make it taste better.
(c) How to make it more expensive.
(d) Why it is not good for babies.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Buying different kinds of baby food can waste moms and dads money.
2. Some families need help because baby food costs too much.
3. Baby food that you mix with water is getting more expensive.
4. A group that watches over businesses says the price of baby food went up a lot in two years.
5. Some moms and dads get to spend less money on baby food.
6. All kinds of baby food are bad for babies, according to people who know a lot about it.
7. Some moms and dads trust that cheaper baby food is not as good for their babies.
8. In the UK, you can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies.
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 are some moms and dads spending more money on baby food?
2. What does the group that watches over businesses say about the price of baby food?
3. Are all kinds of baby food good for babies, according to people who know a lot about it?
4. Why can’t you see ads for baby food for very little babies in the UK?
5. What are some hard choices that moms and dads are making because baby food costs too much?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are some moms and dads spending more money on baby food?
Because the price of baby food has gone up a lot in the past two years.

2. What does the group that watches over businesses say about the price of baby food?
They say the price for baby food has gone up a lot in the past two years.

3. Can moms and dads save money by buying different kinds of baby food?
Yes, if moms and dads buy different kinds of baby food, they can save a lot of money.

4. What are some moms and dads worried about when it comes to cheaper baby food?
Some moms and dads worry that the cheaper baby food may not be as good for their babies.

5. What do people who know a lot about baby food say about the different kinds?
People who know a lot about baby food say that all kinds of baby food are good for babies.

6. Why might moms in the UK not want to feed their babies from their bodies?
In the UK, moms can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies, so they might not want to feed their babies from their bodies.

7. Why are some families having a hard time with baby food?
Some families are having a hard time with baby food because it costs too much and they can’t afford it.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) food
(2) businesses
(3) kind
(4) have
(5) price
(6) families
(7) hard
(8) looking
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. expensive
Answer: (H) Costs a lot of money

2. babies
Answer: (E) Little children who are very small

3. kinds
Answer: (F) Different types or sorts

4. good
Answer: (B) Something that is nice or helpful

5. ads
Answer: (I) Pictures or words that try to make you want something

6. stores
Answer: (C) Places where you can buy things

7. save
Answer: (D) Keep money for later

8. choices
Answer: (G) Decisions you make between two or more things

9. diapers
Answer: (J) The things you put on babies’ bottoms to catch their pee and poop

10. answers
Answer: (A) The things you get when you ask a question and someone tells you
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are some moms and dads spending more money on baby food?
Answer: (b) They want to give their babies the best food.

2. What did a group that watches over businesses say about the price of baby food?
Answer: (c) It went up a lot in two years.

3. What do some moms and dads worry about when it comes to cheaper baby food?
Answer: (b) It may not be as good for their babies.

4. What do people who know a lot about baby food say about all kinds of baby food?
Answer: (c) They all have to be good for babies.

5. Why do some moms in the UK not want to feed their babies from their bodies?
Answer: (a) They can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies.

6. Why can’t stores lower the price of baby food in the UK?
Answer: (d) There are laws that prevent them from doing so.

7. What hard choices are some moms and dads making because baby food costs too much?
Answer: (d) Not giving their babies enough food or not changing their diapers often.

8. What are people looking into regarding the high cost of baby food?
Answer: (a) Why it costs so much.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Buying different kinds of baby food can waste moms and dads money. (Answer: False)
2. Some families need help because baby food costs too much. (Answer: True)
3. Baby food that you mix with water is getting more expensive. (Answer: True)
4. A group that watches over businesses says the price of baby food went up a lot in two years. (Answer: True)
5. Some moms and dads get to spend less money on baby food. (Answer: False)
6. All kinds of baby food are bad for babies, according to people who know a lot about it. (Answer: False)
7. Some moms and dads trust that cheaper baby food is not as good for their babies. (Answer: False)
8. In the UK, you can’t see ads for baby food for very little babies. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧