In Brazil, it is very, very hot right now. Many places are being told to be careful because of the heat. In Rio de Janeiro, it got hotter than it ever has in November. It feels even hotter than it really is because the air is wet. The hot weather will stay until the end of the week and lots of people are feeling it.

People say the hot weather is because of something called El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather. Almost 3,000 places in Brazil are being told to watch out because it’s so hot. In Rio, it was so hot it broke a record. It feels like it’s almost 60 degrees because of the wet air. Everyone is using a lot of power to try to stay cool because of the heat.

Original news source: Brazil: Health warnings as country gripped by ‘unbearable’ heatwave (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades: Hot Weather Edition
Instructions: Prepare a set of index cards with words and phrases related to the article and weather, such as “hot,” “El Niño,” “Rio de Janeiro,” “record temperature,” “air conditioner,” and “humidity.” Split the class into two teams. One student from a team draws a card and acts out the word or phrase without speaking or writing anything, while their team tries to guess the word. Each correct guess earns a point.

– Opinion Poll: Feeling the Heat
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the weather from the article, like “It’s important to stay hydrated in hot weather” or “Air conditioning is essential during a heatwave.” Each student must walk around the classroom and ask their peers whether they agree or disagree with each statement, tallying up the responses. This activity encourages students to practice asking questions and expressing simple opinions.

– Sketch It: Weather Symbols
Instructions: Provide students with blank paper and pencils. Call out different weather-related terms from the article, such as “sun,” “thermometer,” “sweat,” “fan,” and “ice.” Students must quickly sketch their interpretation of each term. Afterward, students can show their drawings and say the word in English, promoting vocabulary retention and speaking practice.

– Vocabulary Pictionary: Climate Edition
Instructions: Write down vocabulary words from the article onto slips of paper, such as “heat,” “temperature,” “humidity,” “power,” and “weather.” Divide the class into small groups and give each group a set of words. Students take turns drawing a word while their group guesses what it is in English. This activity helps reinforce new vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.

– Think-Pair-Share: Extreme Weather Experiences
Instructions: Ask students to think about a time when they experienced extreme weather. In pairs, students take turns sharing their experience using simple past tense. Encourage them to describe how they felt and what they did, using vocabulary from the article. After sharing with their partner, each pair will present a summary of one of their stories to the class. This activity promotes listening, speaking, and the use of past tense in a personal context.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What country is the story talking about?
2. What are people in many places being told to be careful of?
3. In what city did it get hotter than ever in November?
4. Why does it feel hotter than it really is?
5. When will the hot weather stop?
6. Why do people say it is so hot?
7. What are people using a lot of to try to stay cool?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In Brazil, it is very, very hot right now. Many (1)______ are being told to be careful because of the heat. In Rio de Janeiro, it got (2)______ than it ever has in November. It feels even hotter than it really is because the air is wet. The hot (3)______ will stay until the end of the week and lots of people are feeling it.

(4)______ say the hot weather is because of something (5)______ El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather. Almost 3,000 places in (6)______ are being told to watch out because it’s so hot. In Rio, it was so hot it broke a (7)______. It feels like it’s almost 60 (8)______ because of the wet air. Everyone is using a lot of power to try to stay cool because of the heat.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is hot weather?
2. Do you like hot weather? Why or why not?
3. How do you feel when it is very hot outside?
4. What do you do to stay cool when it’s hot?
5. What is El Niño?
6. Do you think hot weather can be dangerous? Why?
7. Have you ever felt air that is wet? What does it feel like?
8. How does it feel to break a record? Can you think of a record you would like to break?
9. Do you use a fan or air conditioner when it is hot? Which one do you like more?
10. What is your favorite season? Is it hot or cold?
11. Do you drink more water when it is hot? Why is that important?
12. Have you ever been to a place where it was very, very hot? What did you do there?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Brazil
2. hot
3. places
4. heat
5. air
6. weather
7. power
8. cool

Meanings:
(a) Not hot, but not cold either – just right
(b) A country in South America with a big rainforest
(c) Very, very warm
(d) Energy that makes things work, like lights and fans
(e) Locations or areas
(f) The stuff we breathe that feels warm or cold
(g) Very high temperature
(h) What the sky is like – sunny, rainy, etc.
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are people being told to be careful in Brazil?
(a) Because it is very hot
(b) Because it is very cold
(c) Because it is raining a lot
(d) Because there is a lot of wind

2. Where did it get hotter than ever in November?
(a) London
(b) Rio de Janeiro
(c) Berlin
(d) Tokyo

3. Why does it feel even hotter than it really is?
(a) Because the air is dry
(b) Because the air is wet
(c) Because it is nighttime
(d) Because it is cloudy

4. How long will the hot weather stay in Brazil?
(a) Until the end of the month
(b) Until next year
(c) Until the end of the week
(d) It will never go away

5. What is causing the hot weather in Brazil?
(a) Snow and ice
(b) Rain and thunderstorms
(c) El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather
(d) Wind and tornadoes

6. How many places in Brazil are being told to watch out because of the heat?
(a) Almost 1,000
(b) Almost 500
(c) Almost 100
(d) Almost 3,000

7. What record did the hot weather in Rio break?
(a) The hottest November temperature
(b) The coldest November temperature
(c) The wettest November
(d) The windiest November

8. Why are people using a lot of power in Brazil?
(a) To stay warm because of the cold
(b) To charge their phones
(c) To watch TV
(d) To stay cool because of the heat

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. People in Brazil are being told to be careless because of the cold weather.
2. The cold weather will last until the end of the week.
3. In Rio de Janeiro, it is hotter than it has ever been in November.
4. The hot weather is caused by something called El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather.
5. It is very cold in Brazil right now.
6. Many people in Brazil are feeling the heat.
7. The air in Brazil is wet, which makes it feel even hotter.
8. Almost 3,000 places in Brazil are being warned about the cold weather.
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. How hot is it in Brazil right now?
2. What city in Brazil got very hot?
3. Why does it feel even hotter in Brazil?
4. When will the hot weather stop?
5. What are people using a lot because it is so hot?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What country is the story talking about?
The story is talking about Brazil.

2. What are people in many places being told to be careful of?
People are being told to be careful of the heat.

3. In what city did it get hotter than ever in November?
It got hotter than ever in November in Rio de Janeiro.

4. Why does it feel hotter than it really is?
It feels hotter because the air is wet.

5. When will the hot weather stop?
The hot weather will stop at the end of the week.

6. Why do people say it is so hot?
People say it is so hot because of El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather.

7. What are people using a lot of to try to stay cool?
People are using a lot of power to try to stay cool.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) places
(2) hotter
(3) weather
(4) People
(5) called
(6) Brazil
(7) record
(8) degrees
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Brazil
Answer: (b) A country in South America with a big rainforest

2. hot
Answer: (c) Very, very warm

3. places
Answer: (e) Locations or areas

4. heat
Answer: (g) Very high temperature

5. air
Answer: (f) The stuff we breathe that feels warm or cold

6. weather
Answer: (h) What the sky is like – sunny, rainy, etc.

7. power
Answer: (d) Energy that makes things work, like lights and fans

8. cool
Answer: (a) Not hot, but not cold either – just right
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are people being told to be careful in Brazil?
Answer: (a) Because it is very hot

2. Where did it get hotter than ever in November?
Answer: (b) Rio de Janeiro

3. Why does it feel even hotter than it really is?
Answer: (b) Because the air is wet

4. How long will the hot weather stay in Brazil?
Answer: (c) Until the end of the week

5. What is causing the hot weather in Brazil?
Answer: (c) El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather

6. How many places in Brazil are being told to watch out because of the heat?
Answer: (d) Almost 3,000

7. What record did the hot weather in Rio break?
Answer: (a) The hottest November temperature

8. Why are people using a lot of power in Brazil?
Answer: (d) To stay cool because of the heat
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. People in Brazil are being told to be careless because of the cold weather. (Answer: False)
2. The cold weather will last until the end of the week. (Answer: False)
3. In Rio de Janeiro, it is hotter than it has ever been in November. (Answer: True)
4. The hot weather is caused by something called El Niño and changes in the Earth’s weather. (Answer: True)
5. It is very cold in Brazil right now. (Answer: False)
6. Many people in Brazil are feeling the heat. (Answer: True)
7. The air in Brazil is wet, which makes it feel even hotter. (Answer: True)
8. Almost 3,000 places in Brazil are being warned about the cold weather. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧