Last year, more grown-ups started buying toys for themselves, even though fewer toys were sold overall. This group of grown-ups, called "kidults," makes up a big part of the toy market, spending lots of money on toys. People think grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy inside. At a big toy event in London, people saw that those who make and sell toys are trying to get grown-ups to buy toys by making different kinds of toys and games for them.
Not just board games, but also action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys are popular with grown-ups. Social media and the idea that toys can help grown-ups feel calm are reasons why they like them. Also, because there are fewer kids and things cost more, grown-ups are buying toys for themselves as a treat instead of spending money on going out. Even when it's hard to sell toys, the interest from grown-ups in toys is a chance for those who make and sell toys to do well by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy.
Original news source: Cuddly toy sellers chase an unlikely audience: 'Kidults' (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will act out a toy or game while the others guess what it is. The student acting out the toy or game should use body language and gestures, but cannot speak or make any sounds. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.
– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article as a class and then have the students write a short summary of the main points. After they have finished, have them share their summaries with a partner or the whole class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students if they like toys and why or why not. Have them write down their answers and then go around the class and ask their classmates the same question. They should tally up the responses and then share the results with the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. toys, grown-ups, kidults, board games, action figures) on the board. Divide the class into small groups and give each group a whiteboard or paper. One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it. The other students in the group must try to guess what word it is.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students read the article individually and then pair up with a partner. They should discuss what they found interesting or surprising about the article. After a few minutes, have them share their thoughts with the whole class.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Kidults are grown-ups who like to buy and play with toys.
Grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy inside.
Grown-ups like board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys.
Social media shows grown-ups what toys are popular and makes them want to buy them.
Grown-ups are buying toys for themselves because there are fewer kids and things cost more, so they want to have fun at home instead of spending money on going out.
It is important for toy makers to make toys for grown-ups because they can make more money by selling toys to them.
Toys can make grown-ups feel calm because they can help them relax and have fun, which can make them feel calm and happy.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Last , more grown-ups started buying toys for themselves, even though fewer toys were sold overall. This group of grown-ups, called "kidults," makes up a big of the toy market, spending lots of money on toys. People think grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy inside. At a big toy event in , people saw that those who make and sell toys are trying to get grown-ups to buy toys by making different kinds of toys and games for them. Not just games, but also action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys are popular with grown-ups. Social media and the idea that toys can grown-ups feel calm are reasons why they them. Also, because there are fewer kids and things cost more, grown-ups are buying toys for themselves as a treat instead of spending money on out. Even when it's to sell toys, the interest from grown-ups in toys is a chance for those who make and sell toys to do well by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What are "kidults"?
2. How do toys make people feel?
3. Do you like toys? Why or why not?
4. What kinds of toys do grown-ups like to buy?
5. Why do you think grown-ups like to collect things?
6. How do toys help grown-ups feel calm?
7. Do you think it's a good idea for grown-ups to buy toys for themselves? Why or why not?
8. What other things could grown-ups spend their money on instead of toys?
9. How do you think toy makers can make toys that grown-ups will enjoy?
10. Do you think it's important for grown-ups to have fun? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you saw a grown-up playing with toys?
12. What is your favorite toy and why do you like it?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
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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