India wants to get special rocks from the bottom of the ocean to help make the Earth cleaner. They asked for two more chances to look for these rocks in the Indian Ocean. Other big countries like China and Russia are also looking for these rocks because they are very important. They can be used to make clean energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries. A group called the ISA gives permission to look for these rocks, and India wants to have as many chances as Russia and almost as many as China.

India is looking for two types of special rocks in the ocean. But there are some problems with their request, including another country saying that part of the ocean is theirs. India really wants to find these rocks and not be left behind. They want to use the ocean’s rocks to make lots of clean energy. Other countries are also trying to find and use these rocks in a good way, and India is working with Russia to get better at finding these rocks in the ocean.

Original news source: India in undersea race to mine world’s battery metal (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down key words from the article on separate slips of paper. One student from each team will come up and choose a slip of paper without looking at it. They will then act out the word or phrase on the slip of paper without speaking, while their team guesses what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different students and words.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will read the article together and then write a short summary of the main points. After a few minutes, have pairs share their summaries with the class. Encourage students to use their own words and keep the summaries concise.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask students to form small groups of 3-4. Assign each group a question related to the article, such as “Do you think it’s important for countries to search for these special rocks in the ocean? Why or why not?” Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and come up with their opinions. Then, have each group share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. One student will pick a slip of paper and then draw a picture to represent the word without speaking, while their partner or group members try to guess what the word is. The first person to guess correctly gets a point. Repeat with different students and words.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to list the pros (advantages) of searching for these special rocks in the ocean, and assign the other group to list the cons (disadvantages). Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm and write down their ideas. Then, have each group share their lists with the class and facilitate a discussion about the different perspectives.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What does India want to get from the bottom of the ocean?
2. Why are these rocks important?
3. Who gives permission to look for these rocks?
4. Why does India want as many chances as Russia and China?
5. What are some problems with India’s request?
6. Why does India want to find these rocks?
7. Who is India working with to get better at finding these rocks?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

India wants to get special rocks from the bottom of the ocean to help make the Earth cleaner. They asked for two more (1)______ to look for these rocks in the Indian Ocean. Other big countries like (2)______ and Russia are also looking for these rocks because they are very important. They can be used to (3)______ (4)______ energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries. A group called the ISA gives permission to look for these rocks, and India wants to have as many chances as Russia and almost as many as China.

India is (5)______ for two types of special rocks in the ocean. But there are some problems with their request, including another country saying that part of the ocean is theirs. India really (6)______ to find these rocks and not be left behind. They want to use the ocean’s rocks to make (7)______ of clean energy. (8)______ countries are also trying to find and use these rocks in a good way, and India is working with Russia to get better at finding these rocks in the ocean.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What are special rocks?
2. How would you feel if you found special rocks in the ocean?
3. Do you like clean energy? Why or why not?
4. What do you think cars that don’t need gas are like?
5. Do you think it’s important to protect the ocean? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if another country said that part of the ocean is theirs?
7. Do you think it’s fair for India to have as many chances as Russia to look for special rocks?
8. What do you think clean energy can be used for?
9. How would you feel if you could use the ocean’s rocks to make clean energy?
10. Do you think it’s important for countries to work together to find these rocks? Why or why not?
11. What do you think it means to use these rocks in a good way?
12. How would you feel if you were able to help make the Earth cleaner by using special rocks?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. India
2. ocean
3. rocks
4. cleaner
5. energy
6. cars
7. batteries
8. permission
9. problems
10. request

Meanings:
(A) Hard things you find on the ground or at the bottom of water
(B) Power that makes things work, like lights or your toys
(C) Things we drive around in, like a bus or a truck, but smaller
(D) A huge area of salt water that covers most of the Earth
(E) When things are not easy and you have to figure them out
(F) Things that store power to make your toys or phone work
(G) A big country where lots of people live
(H) When you ask someone if you can do something
(I) Something that helps make things not dirty
(J) When someone says it’s okay for you to do something
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🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does India want to get from the bottom of the ocean?
(a) Fish
(b) Special rocks
(c) Shells
(d) Sand

2. Why does India want these special rocks?
(a) To build houses
(b) To make toys
(c) To make clothes
(d) To make the Earth cleaner

3. Who else is looking for these special rocks?
(a) France and Germany
(b) China and Russia
(c) Australia and Brazil
(d) Canada and Japan

4. What can these special rocks be used to make?
(a) Clean energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries
(b) Food, clothes, and toys
(c) Houses, buildings, and roads
(d) Computers, phones, and TVs

5. Who gives permission to look for these rocks?
(a) The government of India
(b) The ocean animals
(c) The ISA
(d) The rocks themselves

6. What is one problem with India’s request?
(a) The rocks are too heavy to lift
(b) India doesn’t have enough money
(c) Another country says part of the ocean is theirs
(d) The rocks are too small to see

7. What does India want to do with the ocean’s rocks?
(a) Sell them to other countries
(b) Use them to build houses
(c) Throw them away
(d) Make lots of clean energy

8. Who is India working with to get better at finding these rocks?
(a) Russia
(b) China
(c) Australia
(d) Brazil

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. India is working with Russia to get better at finding these rocks in the ocean.
2. China and Russia are not involved in the search for these special rocks because they are not important.
3. Another country claims ownership of a different part of the ocean, which is no issue for India’s search.
4. These special rocks can be used to make clean energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries.
5. A group called the ICS forbids searching for these rocks.
6. India is looking for two types of special rocks in the ocean.
7. India has no interest in having as many chances as Russia and barely any as China to find these rocks.
8. India wants to find special rocks in the ocean to help make the Earth cleaner.
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. What does India want to find at the bottom of the ocean?
2. Why are these rocks important?
3. Who else is looking for these rocks?
4. What is the name of the group that gives permission to look for these rocks?
5. Who is India working with to get better at finding these rocks?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does India want to get from the bottom of the ocean?
India wants to get special rocks from the bottom of the ocean.

2. Why are these rocks important?
These rocks are important because they can be used to make clean energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries.

3. Who gives permission to look for these rocks?
A group called the ISA gives permission to look for these rocks.

4. Why does India want as many chances as Russia and China?
India wants as many chances as Russia and China because they don’t want to be left behind in finding these rocks.

5. What are some problems with India’s request?
One problem is that another country says that part of the ocean is theirs.

6. Why does India want to find these rocks?
India wants to find these rocks because they want to use them to make lots of clean energy.

7. Who is India working with to get better at finding these rocks?
India is working with Russia to get better at finding these rocks.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) chances
(2) China
(3) make
(4) clean
(5) looking
(6) wants
(7) lots
(8) Other
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. India
Answer: (G) A big country where lots of people live

2. ocean
Answer: (D) A huge area of salt water that covers most of the Earth

3. rocks
Answer: (A) Hard things you find on the ground or at the bottom of water

4. cleaner
Answer: (I) Something that helps make things not dirty

5. energy
Answer: (B) Power that makes things work, like lights or your toys

6. cars
Answer: (C) Things we drive around in, like a bus or a truck, but smaller

7. batteries
Answer: (F) Things that store power to make your toys or phone work

8. permission
Answer: (J) When someone says it’s okay for you to do something

9. problems
Answer: (E) When things are not easy and you have to figure them out

10. request
Answer: (H) When you ask someone if you can do something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does India want to get from the bottom of the ocean?
Answer: (b) Special rocks

2. Why does India want these special rocks?
Answer: (d) To make the Earth cleaner

3. Who else is looking for these special rocks?
Answer: (b) China and Russia

4. What can these special rocks be used to make?
Answer: (a) Clean energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries

5. Who gives permission to look for these rocks?
Answer: (c) The ISA

6. What is one problem with India’s request?
Answer: (c) Another country says part of the ocean is theirs

7. What does India want to do with the ocean’s rocks?
Answer: (d) Make lots of clean energy

8. Who is India working with to get better at finding these rocks?
Answer: (a) Russia
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. India is working with Russia to get better at finding these rocks in the ocean. (Answer: True)
2. China and Russia are not involved in the search for these special rocks because they are not important. (Answer: False)
3. Another country claims ownership of a different part of the ocean, which is no issue for India’s search. (Answer: False)
4. These special rocks can be used to make clean energy, cars that don’t need gas, and batteries. (Answer: True)
5. A group called the ICS forbids searching for these rocks. (Answer: False)
6. India is looking for two types of special rocks in the ocean. (Answer: True)
7. India has no interest in having as many chances as Russia and barely any as China to find these rocks. (Answer: False)
8. India wants to find special rocks in the ocean to help make the Earth cleaner. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧