Many kids around the world are having trouble seeing things far away. This is called being short-sighted. More kids in Asia have this problem. Watching screens a lot and staying inside during Covid made it worse. By 2050, even more kids might have this problem.

During Covid, kids stayed inside more, and their eyes got worse. Experts say kids should play outside for two hours every day. Girls might have more trouble because they play outside less. Parents should get their kids’ eyes checked often. Glasses can help kids see better if they are short-sighted.

Original news source: One in three children short-sighted, study suggests (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Have students take turns acting out phrases related to the article, such as “short-sighted,” “wearing glasses,” or “playing outside.” The rest of the class can guess the phrase being acted out.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into teams. Give each team a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g., short-sighted, glasses, outside). One student from each team has to draw the word while their team tries to guess what it is.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student plays the role of a news reporter reporting on the increase of short-sightedness in kids, and the other student plays the role of an expert giving advice on how to prevent it. They can switch roles halfway through the activity.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write down key words from the article (e.g., short-sighted, glasses, outside) on the board. Have students say a word that they associate with each key word. This can help reinforce vocabulary and encourage speaking practice.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have students think about how they can protect their eyesight based on the article. Pair them up to discuss their ideas, and then share with the class. This activity encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and speaking practice.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why do some kids have trouble seeing things far away?
2. What is another word for being short-sighted?
3. What happened to kids’ eyes when they stayed inside a lot during Covid?
4. How many hours should kids play outside every day, according to experts?
5. Who might have more trouble with their eyes because they play outside less?
6. What can help kids see better if they are short-sighted?
7. What should parents do often to make sure their kids’ eyes are okay?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Many kids around the (1)______ are having trouble seeing things far away. This is (2)______ being short-sighted. More kids in Asia have this problem. Watching (3)______ a lot and staying inside during Covid (4)______ it worse. By 2050, even more kids might have this problem.

During Covid, kids stayed inside more, and their (5)______ got worse. Experts say kids should play outside for two (6)______ every day. Girls might have more trouble because they (7)______ outside less. Parents should get their kids’ eyes (8)______ often. Glasses can help kids see better if they are short-sighted.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is short-sighted?
2. How would you feel if you had to wear glasses?
3. Do you like playing outside? Why or why not?
4. What do you think might happen if kids watch screens a lot?
5. Do you think it’s important to get your eyes checked? Why?
6. How do you feel when you can’t see things far away?
7. Do you think it’s fun to play outside for two hours every day?
8. Why do you think girls might have more trouble with their eyes?
9. What do you like to do outside?
10. How do you think glasses help kids see better?
11. Do you think it’s good to stay inside all day? Why or why not?
12. What would you do if you couldn’t see things properly?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. trouble
2. screens
3. experts
4. checked
5. glasses
6. short-sighted
7. Covid
8. worse
9. outside
10. parents

Meanings:
(A) Flat surfaces that show pictures or videos, like TVs or tablets
(B) Something that makes things hard or difficult
(C) The place where you play, not inside
(D) Things you wear on your face to help you see better
(E) The people who take care of you, like mom and dad
(F) A sickness that made people stay home
(G) Not able to see far away clearly
(H) Looked at to make sure everything is okay
(I) People who know a lot about something
(J) Not as good as before
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the problem called when kids have trouble seeing things far away?
(a) Being tall
(b) Being short-sighted
(c) Having long hair
(d) Being happy

2. Where did kids spend more time during Covid?
(a) Outside
(b) Inside
(c) At school
(d) In the park

3. What can help kids see better if they are short-sighted?
(a) Hats
(b) Scarves
(c) Shoes
(d) Glasses

4. How many hours a day should kids play outside, according to experts?
(a) One minute
(b) Three days
(c) Two hours
(d) Five seconds

5. Who might have more trouble with their eyes because they play outside less?
(a) Girls
(b) Boys
(c) Parents
(d) Teachers

6. What might happen to more kids by the year 2050?
(a) They might have the same eye problem
(b) They might have more trouble seeing far away
(c) They might all wear glasses
(d) They might all become superheroes

7. What is the best way for parents to help their kids with their eyes?
(a) Buy them new toys
(b) Let them watch TV all day
(c) Never take them outside
(d) Get their eyes checked often

8. What made kids’ eyes worse during Covid?
(a) Playing outside more
(b) Eating healthy food
(c) Staying inside more
(d) Sleeping early

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Staying outside during Covid made eyes worse too.
2. Experts say kids should play inside for two hours every day.
3. Parents should ignore their kids’ eyes often.
4. Kids in Asia have this problem more.
5. Watching screens a lot can improve eyes.
6. Glasses can help kids see better if they can’t see far away.
7. Girls might have more trouble seeing far away.
8. Many kids have trouble seeing far away.
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. Why do many kids around the world have trouble seeing things far away?
2. What is it called when someone has trouble seeing things far away?
3. What made kids’ eyes get worse during Covid?
4. How many hours a day should kids play outside, according to experts?
5. How can glasses help kids who are short-sighted?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why do some kids have trouble seeing things far away?
Some kids have trouble seeing things far away because they are short-sighted.

2. What is another word for being short-sighted?
Another word for being short-sighted is nearsighted.

3. What happened to kids’ eyes when they stayed inside a lot during Covid?
Kids’ eyes got worse when they stayed inside a lot during Covid.

4. How many hours should kids play outside every day, according to experts?
According to experts, kids should play outside for two hours every day.

5. Who might have more trouble with their eyes because they play outside less?
Girls might have more trouble with their eyes because they play outside less.

6. What can help kids see better if they are short-sighted?
Glasses can help kids see better if they are short-sighted.

7. What should parents do often to make sure their kids’ eyes are okay?
Parents should get their kids’ eyes checked often to make sure they are okay.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) world
(2) called
(3) screens
(4) made
(5) eyes
(6) hours
(7) play
(8) checked
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. trouble
Answer: (B) Something that makes things hard or difficult

2. screens
Answer: (A) Flat surfaces that show pictures or videos, like TVs or tablets

3. experts
Answer: (I) People who know a lot about something

4. checked
Answer: (H) Looked at to make sure everything is okay

5. glasses
Answer: (D) Things you wear on your face to help you see better

6. short-sighted
Answer: (G) Not able to see far away clearly

7. Covid
Answer: (F) A sickness that made people stay home

8. worse
Answer: (J) Not as good as before

9. outside
Answer: (C) The place where you play, not inside

10. parents
Answer: (E) The people who take care of you, like mom and dad
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the problem called when kids have trouble seeing things far away?
Answer: (b) Being short-sighted

2. Where did kids spend more time during Covid?
Answer: (b) Inside

3. What can help kids see better if they are short-sighted?
Answer: (d) Glasses

4. How many hours a day should kids play outside, according to experts?
Answer: (c) Two hours

5. Who might have more trouble with their eyes because they play outside less?
Answer: (a) Girls

6. What might happen to more kids by the year 2050?
Answer: (a) They might have the same eye problem

7. What is the best way for parents to help their kids with their eyes?
Answer: (d) Get their eyes checked often

8. What made kids’ eyes worse during Covid?
Answer: (c) Staying inside more
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Staying outside during Covid made eyes worse too. (Answer: False)
2. Experts say kids should play inside for two hours every day. (Answer: False)
3. Parents should ignore their kids’ eyes often. (Answer: False)
4. Kids in Asia have this problem more. (Answer: True)
5. Watching screens a lot can improve eyes. (Answer: False)
6. Glasses can help kids see better if they can’t see far away. (Answer: True)
7. Girls might have more trouble seeing far away. (Answer: True)
8. Many kids have trouble seeing far away. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧