Japan has decided to send fighter jets it made with the UK and Italy to other places. This is new because Japan usually does not do things like this. They want to do this because they are worried about China and North Korea. These fighter jets are very smart and have special tools to help them. Before they send any jets, the people in charge have to say it’s okay. They plan to start using these jets in the year 2035.

Japan is trying to work more with other countries to keep everyone safe. The leader of Japan is going to visit the US to talk about working together. Japan says it needs to send these jets to other places so it can be a good partner in keeping peace. But, Japan still wants to follow its peaceful ways and will be very careful about sending these jets. This is a big change from how Japan used to be after a big war long ago when it said it would only protect itself and not fight in wars.

Original news source: Japan to sell fighter jets in break from pacifism (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. fighter jets, China, North Korea, peace, etc.). One person from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word without speaking. The team members will try to guess the word. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to the article. One person from each group will draw a picture of one of the words while the rest of the group tries to guess what it is. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to write down their opinion on whether Japan should send the fighter jets to other places. Then, have them pair up and share their opinions with each other. After that, ask a few students to share their partner’s opinion with the class, and facilitate a discussion on the different perspectives.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a keyword from the article on the board, but replace the letters with dashes. The students take turns guessing letters and trying to guess the word. If a student guesses a correct letter, write it in the appropriate spot. If a student guesses a wrong letter, begin drawing a hangman on the board. The students win if they can guess the word before the hangman is completed.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student come up with two true statements and one false statement related to the article. They will take turns sharing their statements with a partner or small group. The goal is to guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages students to practice speaking and listening skills while also reviewing the article content.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is Japan sending fighter jets to other places?
2. What countries did Japan make the fighter jets with?
3. Why does Japan want to work with other countries?
4. Where is the leader of Japan going to visit?
5. Why does Japan want to keep peace?
6. Was Japan different a long time ago?
7. When will Japan start using these jets?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Japan has (1)______ to send fighter jets it made with the UK and Italy to other places. This is new because Japan usually does not do (2)______ like this. They want to do this because they are worried about China and North Korea. These fighter jets are very smart and (3)______ special tools to help them. Before they send any jets, the people in charge have to say it’s (4)______. They plan to start using these jets in the year 2035.

Japan is trying to work more with other countries to keep everyone safe. The leader of Japan is going to (5)______ the US to talk about working together. Japan says it needs to send these jets to other places so it can be a good partner in keeping (6)______. But, Japan still wants to follow its peaceful (7)______ and will be very careful about (8)______ these jets. This is a big change from how Japan used to be after a big war long ago when it said it would only protect itself and not fight in wars.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What are fighter jets?
2. How would you feel if you saw a fighter jet in the sky?
3. Do you think it’s important for countries to work together to keep everyone safe? Why or why not?
4. Do you like the idea of Japan sending fighter jets to other places? Why or why not?
5. What do you think “keeping peace” means?
6. How do you think these fighter jets can help keep peace?
7. Why do you think Japan wants to work more with other countries now?
8. Do you know any other countries that have fighter jets? Which ones?
9. What do you think “peaceful ways” means?
10. How do you think Japan can be a good partner in keeping peace?
11. Do you think it’s important for countries to protect themselves? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the world would be different if there were no fighter jets?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. decided
2. fighter jets
3. Italy
4. China
5. special
6. charge
7. partner
8. peace
9. change
10. protect

Meanings:
(A) A country known for pizza and pasta
(B) Fast planes used by the army
(C) To choose something
(D) To keep someone or something safe from harm
(E) The person who makes sure things are done right
(F) Very different and not like others
(G) A big country where pandas come from
(H) When things become different than before
(I) A friend you work with
(J) When everyone is nice to each other and no one is fighting
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is Japan sending fighter jets to other places?
(a) Because they are worried about China and North Korea.
(b) Because they want to show off their new jets.
(c) Because they want to start a war.
(d) Because they don’t like other countries.

2. What year do they plan to start using these jets?
(a) 2035
(b) 2020
(c) 2050
(d) 2010

3. What is Japan’s leader going to do in the US?
(a) Start a war with the US.
(b) Visit famous landmarks in the US.
(c) Talk about working together with the US.
(d) Buy souvenirs in the US.

4. Why does Japan want to work with other countries?
(a) To start a war.
(b) To make other countries angry.
(c) To keep everyone safe.
(d) To be alone.

5. What did Japan used to say after a big war long ago?
(a) It would start more wars.
(b) It would make friends with other countries.
(c) It would give away its fighter jets.
(d) It would only protect itself and not fight in wars.

6. What kind of jets did Japan make with the UK and Italy?
(a) Passenger jets.
(b) Fighter jets.
(c) Toy jets.
(d) Rocket jets.

7. What are the fighter jets from Japan like?
(a) Very silly and have no tools.
(b) Very smart and have special tools to help them.
(c) Very old and broken.
(d) Very slow and cannot fly.

8. How careful will Japan be about sending these jets?
(a) Not careful at all.
(b) A little bit careful.
(c) Very careless.
(d) Very careful.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Japan wants to be a good partner in keeping peace.
2. The leader of Japan is not going to visit the US to talk about working together.
3. The people in charge have to say it’s okay before sending the jets.
4. The fighter jets have special tools to help them.
5. Japan plans to stop using the jets in the year 2035.
6. Japan is sending fighter jets to other places.
7. Japan is not worried about China and North Korea.
8. Japan usually does things like this.
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 are fighter jets?
2. Why does Japan want to send the fighter jets to other places?
3. Who has to say it’s okay before Japan can send the jets?
4. Why is the leader of Japan going to visit the US?
5. What did Japan say it would do after a big war long ago?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why is Japan sending fighter jets to other places?
Japan is sending fighter jets to other places because they are worried about China and North Korea.

2. What countries did Japan make the fighter jets with?
Japan made the fighter jets with the UK and Italy.

3. Why does Japan want to work with other countries?
Japan wants to work with other countries to keep everyone safe and be a good partner in keeping peace.

4. Where is the leader of Japan going to visit?
The leader of Japan is going to visit the US.

5. Why does Japan want to keep peace?
Japan wants to keep peace because they want to follow their peaceful ways and be careful about sending these jets.

6. Was Japan different a long time ago?
Yes, Japan was different a long time ago. After a big war, Japan said it would only protect itself and not fight in wars.

7. When will Japan start using these jets?
Japan will start using these jets in the year 2035.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) decided
(2) things
(3) have
(4) okay
(5) visit
(6) peace
(7) ways
(8) sending
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. decided
Answer: (C) To choose something

2. fighter jets
Answer: (B) Fast planes used by the army

3. Italy
Answer: (A) A country known for pizza and pasta

4. China
Answer: (G) A big country where pandas come from

5. special
Answer: (F) Very different and not like others

6. charge
Answer: (E) The person who makes sure things are done right

7. partner
Answer: (I) A friend you work with

8. peace
Answer: (J) When everyone is nice to each other and no one is fighting

9. change
Answer: (H) When things become different than before

10. protect
Answer: (D) To keep someone or something safe from harm
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is Japan sending fighter jets to other places?
Answer: (a) Because they are worried about China and North Korea.

2. What year do they plan to start using these jets?
Answer: (a) 2035

3. What is Japan’s leader going to do in the US?
Answer: (c) Talk about working together with the US.

4. Why does Japan want to work with other countries?
Answer: (c) To keep everyone safe.

5. What did Japan used to say after a big war long ago?
Answer: (d) It would only protect itself and not fight in wars.

6. What kind of jets did Japan make with the UK and Italy?
Answer: (b) Fighter jets.

7. What are the fighter jets from Japan like?
Answer: (b) Very smart and have special tools to help them.

8. How careful will Japan be about sending these jets?
Answer: (d) Very careful.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Japan wants to be a good partner in keeping peace. (Answer: True)
2. The leader of Japan is not going to visit the US to talk about working together. (Answer: False)
3. The people in charge have to say it’s okay before sending the jets. (Answer: True)
4. The fighter jets have special tools to help them. (Answer: True)
5. Japan plans to stop using the jets in the year 2035. (Answer: False)
6. Japan is sending fighter jets to other places. (Answer: True)
7. Japan is not worried about China and North Korea. (Answer: False)
8. Japan usually does things like this. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧