At Harvard Law School, a special old paper was found. People thought it was just a copy, but it is actually an original. This paper is called the Magna Carta. It was bought a long time ago for just a little money. Now, it is very valuable and worth a lot.

Two smart people found out it was real. One of them is a teacher who studies old history. They looked at pictures of the paper online and did tests. They found out it was from the year 1300. This makes it very special and important.

The Magna Carta is a very old paper from 1215. It talks about the rights of people. Harvard Law School wants to keep it safe. They will not sell it, even though it is worth a lot of money.

Original news source: Magna Carta ‘copy’ miscatalogued in 1940s found to be original (Sky News)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out key vocabulary words or phrases related to the Magna Carta, such as “Harvard,” “original,” “valuable,” and “rights.” The rest of the class guesses what they are acting out.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Students draw key vocabulary words from the article, like “paper,” “money,” and “history,” on the board. Classmates guess the words based on the drawings.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Students think about what the Magna Carta is and why it is important. They discuss their ideas with a partner, then share their thoughts with the whole class.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students walk around the classroom and ask each other if they think historical documents like the Magna Carta are important today. They tally the results and discuss their findings with the class.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Students predict how they think the discovery of the Magna Carta will affect Harvard Law School in the future. They can share their predictions in small groups or with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What special paper was found at Harvard Law School?
2. What is the name of the paper that is very old and important?
3. Who found out that the paper was real?
4. What year did the paper come from?
5. Why is the Magna Carta important?
6. Does Harvard Law School want to sell the Magna Carta?
7. When was the Magna Carta made?
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🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

At (1)______ Law School, a special old paper was found. People thought it was just a copy, but it is actually an (2)______. This paper is called the Magna Carta. It was bought a long time ago for just a little money. Now, it is very valuable and worth a lot.

Two smart (3)______ found out it was real. One of them is a teacher who (4)______ old history. They looked at pictures of the (5)______ online and did tests. They found out it was from the year 1300. This (6)______ it very special and important.

The Magna Carta is a very old paper from 1215. It (7)______ about the rights of people. Harvard Law School wants to keep it safe. They will not (8)______ it, even though it is worth a lot of money.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a special paper you have at home?
2. Do you like to learn about old things? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you found something very old and special?
4. Do you think it is important to keep old things safe? Why?
5. What is a right that you think is very important?
6. Do you like to read stories about history? Why?
7. How would you feel if someone sold something very special?
8. What is a treasure you would like to find?
9. Do you think old papers can be very valuable? Why or why not?
10. What is something you want to keep safe?
11. How would you feel if you could visit a place with old papers?
12. Do you think it is fun to learn about the past? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. original
2. valuable
3. teacher
4. history
5. pictures
6. tests
7. rights
8. safe
9. sell
10. money

Meanings:
(A) Images that you take with a camera
(B) Things you are allowed to do
(C) Coins and paper you use to buy things
(D) To give something for money
(E) Things that happened a long time ago
(F) Something that is worth a lot
(G) A person who helps you learn
(H) Things you do to find out if something is true
(I) The first one, not a copy
(J) Not in danger, protected
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🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the special paper found at Harvard Law School?
(a) Magna Carta
(b) Declaration of Independence
(c) Constitution
(d) Bill of Rights

2. When was the Magna Carta made?
(a) 1300
(b) 1215
(c) 1500
(d) 1600

3. Who found out the paper was real?
(a) A group of kids
(b) A famous singer
(c) A movie star
(d) Two smart people

4. What does the Magna Carta talk about?
(a) Animals
(b) Rights of people
(c) Food
(d) Games

5. What does Harvard Law School want to do with the Magna Carta?
(a) Keep it safe
(b) Throw it away
(c) Sell it
(d) Give it to a friend

6. How much money was the Magna Carta bought for a long time ago?
(a) A lot of money
(b) No money
(c) A little money
(d) A big bag of candy

7. What year did the smart people find out the paper was from?
(a) 1215
(b) 1400
(c) 1300
(d) 1500

8. Is the Magna Carta very valuable now?
(a) No
(b) Maybe
(c) I don’t know
(d) Yes

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. One of the smart people is a teacher who studies old history.
2. A special old paper was found at Harvard Law School.
3. The document is named the Magna Carta.
4. The Magna Carta was acquired recently for a significant sum.
5. The Magna Carta is relatively new and discusses people’s responsibilities.
6. People thought the paper was a copy, but it is real.
7. Two smart people found out the paper is real.
8. Harvard Law School is considering selling the Magna Carta to keep it safe.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What old paper was found at Harvard Law School?
2. Who found out the paper was real?
3. When was the Magna Carta made?
4. Why is the Magna Carta important?
5. Will Harvard Law School sell the Magna Carta?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What special paper was found at Harvard Law School?
The Magna Carta.

2. What is the name of the paper that is very old and important?
The Magna Carta.

3. Who found out that the paper was real?
Two smart people, one is a teacher.

4. What year did the paper come from?
The year 1300.

5. Why is the Magna Carta important?
It talks about the rights of people.

6. Does Harvard Law School want to sell the Magna Carta?
No, they want to keep it safe.

7. When was the Magna Carta made?
It was made in 1215.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Harvard
(2) original
(3) people
(4) studies
(5) paper
(6) makes
(7) talks
(8) sell
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. original
Answer: (I) The first one, not a copy

2. valuable
Answer: (F) Something that is worth a lot

3. teacher
Answer: (G) A person who helps you learn

4. history
Answer: (E) Things that happened a long time ago

5. pictures
Answer: (A) Images that you take with a camera

6. tests
Answer: (H) Things you do to find out if something is true

7. rights
Answer: (B) Things you are allowed to do

8. safe
Answer: (J) Not in danger, protected

9. sell
Answer: (D) To give something for money

10. money
Answer: (C) Coins and paper you use to buy things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the special paper found at Harvard Law School?
Answer: (a) Magna Carta

2. When was the Magna Carta made?
Answer: (b) 1215

3. Who found out the paper was real?
Answer: (d) Two smart people

4. What does the Magna Carta talk about?
Answer: (b) Rights of people

5. What does Harvard Law School want to do with the Magna Carta?
Answer: (a) Keep it safe

6. How much money was the Magna Carta bought for a long time ago?
Answer: (c) A little money

7. What year did the smart people find out the paper was from?
Answer: (c) 1300

8. Is the Magna Carta very valuable now?
Answer: (d) Yes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. One of the smart people is a teacher who studies old history. (Answer: True)
2. A special old paper was found at Harvard Law School. (Answer: True)
3. The document is named the Magna Carta. (Answer: False)
4. The Magna Carta was acquired recently for a significant sum. (Answer: False)
5. The Magna Carta is relatively new and discusses people’s responsibilities. (Answer: False)
6. People thought the paper was a copy, but it is real. (Answer: True)
7. Two smart people found out the paper is real. (Answer: True)
8. Harvard Law School is considering selling the Magna Carta to keep it safe. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧