Over 100 big farm machines came to a very important place in London because farmers are very upset. They think no one is helping them make food in the UK. They brought signs and walked together to show they are worried. They don’t like that very cheap food comes from other places. They say this is bad for making food in the UK.

Farmers talked about how they are scared they might not be able to grow food anymore. One farmer said this year might be the last time he can grow food. They don’t like that the government is doing things for the environment but not for growing food. They want big changes so they can keep making food. The government said they do help farmers and want to make sure the UK can make enough food.

Original news source: Tractors brought to Parliament in farmers’ protest (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g. farmers, food, government, environment) and write them on separate pieces of paper. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word without speaking. The team members must guess the word within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep it brief. After both partners have shared their summaries, they can compare and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write a question on the board related to the article (e.g. Do you think the government should do more to help farmers?). Have each student write down their answer on a piece of paper and collect them. Then, read out the question and have students raise their hand for their chosen answer. Count and record the number of hands raised for each option. Discuss the results as a class, encouraging students to explain their reasoning.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper and put them in a hat. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair will pick a word from the hat and draw a picture representing that word. Their partner must guess the word based on the picture. They can use gestures or simple English words to help their partner guess. After a certain amount of time, switch roles.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a catchy headline related to the article. Encourage them to use key words and phrases from the article. Each group will present their headline to the class and explain why they chose it. This activity can also be extended by having students write a short news article to go along with their headline.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did the farmers bring signs and walk together in London?
2. Why are the farmers upset?
3. What do the farmers not like about food from other places?
4. What are the farmers worried might happen?
5. Why do the farmers want big changes?
6. What does the government say they do for the farmers?
7. What did one farmer say might happen this year?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Over 100 big farm machines came to a very important place in London because farmers are very upset. They think no one is helping them (1)______ (2)______ in the UK. They brought signs and walked together to show they are worried. They don’t like that very cheap food comes from other (3)______. They say this is bad for (4)______ food in the UK.

Farmers talked about how they are scared they might not be able to grow food anymore. One farmer said this year might be the (5)______ time he can grow food. They don’t like that the (6)______ is doing things for the environment but not for growing food. They want big changes so they can (7)______ making food. The government said they do help (8)______ and want to make sure the UK can make enough food.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a farmer?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t grow any food anymore?
3. Do you like eating food from other places?
4. Do you think it’s important for the government to help farmers?
5. Why do you think farmers are upset?
6. What do you think the government should do to help farmers?
7. How do you think farmers make food?
8. Why do you think farmers want big changes?
9. Do you think it’s important for the UK to make enough food?
10. How do you think the government can help farmers make enough food?
11. What do you think the signs said that the farmers brought to the important place in London?
12. Why do you think farmers want to keep making food?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. important
2. farmers
3. upset
4. signs
5. worried
6. cheap
7. environment
8. changes
9. government
10. enough

Meanings:
(A) People who grow food and take care of animals on big pieces of land
(B) Something that is very special or means a lot
(C) Making things different than before
(D) When you are scared something bad will happen
(E) As much as you need
(F) Pieces of paper or wood that tell you something when you look at them
(G) The air, water, and land where plants and animals live
(H) The group of people who make rules for a country
(I) Not costing a lot of money
(J) Feeling sad or mad about something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the farmers come to London?
(a) They are upset and want to show they are worried.
(b) They wanted to see the big farm machines.
(c) They wanted to visit a very important place.
(d) They wanted to buy cheap food.

2. What do the farmers not like about food from other places?
(a) It is bad for making food in the UK.
(b) It is not tasty.
(c) It is too expensive.
(d) It is very cheap.

3. What are the farmers scared of?
(a) They might run out of signs.
(b) They might not be able to visit London.
(c) They might not be able to buy cheap food.
(d) They might not be able to grow food anymore.

4. What does the government do for the environment?
(a) They do nothing for the environment.
(b) They do things to help the environment.
(c) They make it harder to grow food.
(d) They make sure the UK can make enough food.

5. What changes do the farmers want?
(a) They want to buy more signs.
(b) They want to visit other countries.
(c) They want big changes so they can keep making food.
(d) They want to buy cheap food.

6. What did one farmer say about this year?
(a) This year will be the best year for growing food.
(b) This year might be the last time he can grow food.
(c) This year will be the easiest year for growing food.
(d) This year will be the hardest year for growing food.

7. What did the government say about helping farmers?
(a) They do help farmers and want to make sure the UK can make enough food.
(b) They do not help farmers and do not care about food in the UK.
(c) They do not help farmers but want to buy cheap food.
(d) They do not help farmers but want to visit London.

8. What did the farmers bring to the protest?
(a) Food
(b) Money
(c) Signs
(d) Toys

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They say this is bad for making food in the UK.
2. The farmers are scared they might not be able to grow food anymore.
3. The farmers like that very cheap food comes from other places.
4. The farmers want big changes so they can keep making food.
5. The government said they don’t support farmers and want to ensure the UK struggles to produce enough food.
6. One farmer said this year might be the first time he can grow food.
7. The farmers brought signs and walked together to show they are worried.
8. Many farmers in the UK are content because they believe that others are supporting them in producing food.
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 the farmers upset?
2. What did the farmers bring with them to show they are worried?
3. Why don’t the farmers like cheap food from other places?
4. What are the farmers scared of?
5. What do the farmers want the government to do?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did the farmers bring signs and walk together in London?
They brought signs and walked together to show they are worried and upset.

2. Why are the farmers upset?
The farmers are upset because they think no one is helping them make food in the UK.

3. What do the farmers not like about food from other places?
The farmers don’t like that very cheap food comes from other places.

4. What are the farmers worried might happen?
The farmers are worried that they might not be able to grow food anymore.

5. Why do the farmers want big changes?
The farmers want big changes so they can keep making food.

6. What does the government say they do for the farmers?
The government says they help farmers and want to make sure the UK can make enough food.

7. What did one farmer say might happen this year?
One farmer said this year might be the last time he can grow food.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) make
(2) food
(3) places
(4) making
(5) last
(6) government
(7) keep
(8) farmers
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. important
Answer: (B) Something that is very special or means a lot

2. farmers
Answer: (A) People who grow food and take care of animals on big pieces of land

3. upset
Answer: (J) Feeling sad or mad about something

4. signs
Answer: (F) Pieces of paper or wood that tell you something when you look at them

5. worried
Answer: (D) When you are scared something bad will happen

6. cheap
Answer: (I) Not costing a lot of money

7. environment
Answer: (G) The air, water, and land where plants and animals live

8. changes
Answer: (C) Making things different than before

9. government
Answer: (H) The group of people who make rules for a country

10. enough
Answer: (E) As much as you need
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the farmers come to London?
Answer: (a) They are upset and want to show they are worried.

2. What do the farmers not like about food from other places?
Answer: (d) It is very cheap.

3. What are the farmers scared of?
Answer: (d) They might not be able to grow food anymore.

4. What does the government do for the environment?
Answer: (b) They do things to help the environment.

5. What changes do the farmers want?
Answer: (c) They want big changes so they can keep making food.

6. What did one farmer say about this year?
Answer: (b) This year might be the last time he can grow food.

7. What did the government say about helping farmers?
Answer: (a) They do help farmers and want to make sure the UK can make enough food.

8. What did the farmers bring to the protest?
Answer: (c) Signs
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They say this is bad for making food in the UK. (Answer: True)
2. The farmers are scared they might not be able to grow food anymore. (Answer: True)
3. The farmers like that very cheap food comes from other places. (Answer: False)
4. The farmers want big changes so they can keep making food. (Answer: True)
5. The government said they don’t support farmers and want to ensure the UK struggles to produce enough food. (Answer: False)
6. One farmer said this year might be the first time he can grow food. (Answer: False)
7. The farmers brought signs and walked together to show they are worried. (Answer: True)
8. Many farmers in the UK are content because they believe that others are supporting them in producing food. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧