Many people in parts of England are getting sick with measles. This sickness is spreading in places like London and Birmingham. In one month, 166 people got measles, and 56 of these were in just one week. Doctors say measles spreads very easily. They also say more people need to get a shot to stop it from spreading.

Mostly kids and young people are getting measles. There is a special shot called MMR that can stop you from getting measles. But, many kids have not gotten this shot. Doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot. This shot can keep kids safe from getting very sick.

Original news source: England now seeing clusters of measles cases (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask each group to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. Afterward, have each group share their summary with the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into two teams. Call out a word and have one student from each team come to the board and draw a picture to represent the word. The rest of the class must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Continue until all the words have been drawn.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write a list of keywords from the article on the board. Divide the class into pairs. One student from each pair must describe the keyword to their partner without using the keyword itself. The partner must try to guess the keyword based on the description. After a set time, switch roles and continue with new keywords.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Instruct the class to think about the topic of the article for a minute. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their thoughts on the topic for a few minutes. Afterward, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the rest of the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the class to imagine what might happen in the future regarding the spread of measles. Have them discuss their predictions in small groups. Then, ask a few groups to share their predictions with the rest of the class. Encourage them to use phrases like “I think…” or “Maybe in the future…” to express their predictions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is happening to many people in parts of England?
2. Where is the sickness spreading?
3. How many people got measles in one month?
4. What do doctors say about how easily measles spreads?
5. What is the special shot called that can stop you from getting measles?
6. Why do doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot?
7. What can the MMR shot do for kids?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Many people in parts of England are getting sick with measles. This (1)______ is spreading in (2)______ like London and Birmingham. In one month, 166 people got measles, and 56 of these were in just one week. Doctors say measles (3)______ very easily. They also say more people need to get a shot to (4)______ it from spreading.

Mostly kids and young (5)______ are getting measles. There is a special shot (6)______ MMR that can stop you from getting measles. But, many kids have not gotten this shot. Doctors want (7)______ to make (8)______ their kids get the MMR shot. This shot can keep kids safe from getting very sick.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is measles?
2. How would you feel if you got sick with measles?
3. Do you like going to the doctor to get shots? Why or why not?
4. Do you know anyone who has had measles? How did they feel?
5. What do doctors say can stop measles from spreading?
6. How do you think measles spreads?
7. Do you think it’s important for kids to get the MMR shot? Why or why not?
8. How would you feel if you had to get a shot to stay safe from measles?
9. Do you know what happens if you don’t get the MMR shot?
10. Why do you think some kids haven’t gotten the MMR shot?
11. Do you think the government should make it mandatory for kids to get the MMR shot? Why or why not?
12. What can parents do to make sure their kids get the MMR shot?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. measles
2. spreading
3. doctors
4. shot
5. kids
6. sick
7. Birmingham
8. MMR
9. parents
10. safe

Meanings:
(A) Young humans, not grown-ups
(B) People who help you when you are not feeling well
(C) A special kind of poke to stop a specific illness
(D) Your mom and dad
(E) Not feeling good, maybe you have to stay in bed
(F) A place in England, a city
(G) A kind of illness that gives you spots and makes you feel very bad
(H) Not in danger, feeling okay
(I) A little poke with a needle to help stop you from getting sick
(J) Moving from one place or person to another
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What sickness are many people in parts of England getting?
(a) Measles
(b) Chickenpox
(c) Flu
(d) Cough

2. Where is measles spreading in England?
(a) Paris and Berlin
(b) New York and Los Angeles
(c) Tokyo and Beijing
(d) London and Birmingham

3. How many people got measles in one month?
(a) 56
(b) 100
(c) 166
(d) 200

4. Who is mostly getting measles?
(a) Adults and elderly
(b) Kids and young people
(c) Dogs and cats
(d) Birds and fish

5. What is the special shot called that can stop you from getting measles?
(a) MMR
(b) ABC
(c) XYZ
(d) DEF

6. Why do doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot?
(a) To make them taller
(b) To make them smarter
(c) To make them stronger
(d) To keep kids safe from getting very sick

7. What do doctors say about measles spreading?
(a) It spreads very slowly
(b) It doesn’t spread at all
(c) It spreads very easily
(d) It only spreads in the summer

8. How can we stop measles from spreading?
(a) By eating lots of candy
(b) By getting the MMR shot
(c) By watching TV all day
(d) By playing video games all night

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Doctors say measles spreads very easily.
2. Adults and elderly people are mostly getting measles.
3. In one month, 166 people got chickenpox.
4. There is a special shot called MMR that cannot stop you from getting measles.
5. Few people in England are getting sick with measles.
6. Doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot.
7. Measles is spreading in places like London and Birmingham.
8. 56 people got measles in just one week.
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 some places in England where people are getting sick with measles?
2. How many people got measles in one month?
3. Who is mostly getting measles?
4. What is the special shot called that can stop you from getting measles?
5. Why do doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is happening to many people in parts of England?
Many people in parts of England are getting sick with measles.

2. Where is the sickness spreading?
The sickness is spreading in places like London and Birmingham.

3. How many people got measles in one month?
166 people got measles in one month.

4. What do doctors say about how easily measles spreads?
Doctors say measles spreads very easily.

5. What is the special shot called that can stop you from getting measles?
The special shot is called MMR.

6. Why do doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot?
Doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot to stop measles from spreading.

7. What can the MMR shot do for kids?
The MMR shot can keep kids safe from getting very sick.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) sickness
(2) places
(3) spreads
(4) stop
(5) people
(6) called
(7) parents
(8) sure
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. measles
Answer: (G) A kind of illness that gives you spots and makes you feel very bad

2. spreading
Answer: (J) Moving from one place or person to another

3. doctors
Answer: (B) People who help you when you are not feeling well

4. shot
Answer: (I) A little poke with a needle to help stop you from getting sick

5. kids
Answer: (A) Young humans, not grown-ups

6. sick
Answer: (E) Not feeling good, maybe you have to stay in bed

7. Birmingham
Answer: (F) A place in England, a city

8. MMR
Answer: (C) A special kind of poke to stop a specific illness

9. parents
Answer: (D) Your mom and dad

10. safe
Answer: (H) Not in danger, feeling okay
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What sickness are many people in parts of England getting?
Answer: (a) Measles

2. Where is measles spreading in England?
Answer: (d) London and Birmingham

3. How many people got measles in one month?
Answer: (c) 166

4. Who is mostly getting measles?
Answer: (b) Kids and young people

5. What is the special shot called that can stop you from getting measles?
Answer: (a) MMR

6. Why do doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot?
Answer: (d) To keep kids safe from getting very sick

7. What do doctors say about measles spreading?
Answer: (c) It spreads very easily

8. How can we stop measles from spreading?
Answer: (b) By getting the MMR shot
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Doctors say measles spreads very easily. (Answer: True)
2. Adults and elderly people are mostly getting measles. (Answer: False)
3. In one month, 166 people got chickenpox. (Answer: False)
4. There is a special shot called MMR that cannot stop you from getting measles. (Answer: False)
5. Few people in England are getting sick with measles. (Answer: False)
6. Doctors want parents to make sure their kids get the MMR shot. (Answer: True)
7. Measles is spreading in places like London and Birmingham. (Answer: True)
8. 56 people got measles in just one week. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧