Some smart people are watching bugs and the weather to help stop sicknesses that come from the air getting warmer. The air getting warmer changes how people feel and get sick. These smart people look at the weather, find places where bad bugs live, and check other things that make people sick. They want to make a special warning that tells people when they need to be careful. This can help people stay healthy by teaching them, telling doctors, and keeping water from standing still because bad bugs lay eggs in water.

The air getting warmer is making some sicknesses go to new places. When it gets warmer and rains more, the bad bugs that make people sick can live better and go to new places. If we don’t stop putting bad air into the sky, it will get even warmer and better for bad bugs. There are a lot more people getting sick from a bad bug sickness called dengue than before. There is a special project that tries to tell when this sickness will happen so people can get ready and stop it from spreading.

Original news source: How scientists are fighting climate-fuelled disease (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Word Association
Instructions: Have the students take turns saying a word that they associate with the article. For example, if one student says “bugs,” the next student might say “insects” or “mosquitoes.” Encourage the students to explain their associations if they can.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each pair must draw a picture to represent each word, while the other student tries to guess what word is being represented. After a certain amount of time, switch roles.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In small groups, have the students create a catchy headline for the article. Encourage them to use the vocabulary words from the article in their headlines. Each group can share their headline with the class and explain their reasoning behind it.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will brainstorm the pros of a warmer climate, while the other group will brainstorm the cons. After a few minutes, have each group share their ideas with the class. This can lead to a discussion about the potential benefits and drawbacks of climate change.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the students work individually or in pairs to make predictions about the future of the environment based on the information in the article. They can write or draw their predictions and then share them with the class. Encourage them to use vocabulary words from the article in their predictions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some things that smart people are watching to help stop sicknesses?
2. How does the air getting warmer change how people feel and get sick?
3. What do the smart people do to find places where bad bugs live?
4. Why do the smart people want to make a special warning?
5. How can the special warning help people stay healthy?
6. What happens when it gets warmer and rains more?
7. Why is it important to stop putting bad air into the sky?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some smart people are watching bugs and the weather to help stop sicknesses that come from the air getting warmer. The air getting warmer changes how people feel and get sick. These smart people look at the weather, (1)______ places where bad bugs (2)______, and check other (3)______ that make people sick. They want to make a special warning that tells people when they need to be careful. This can help people stay healthy by teaching them, telling doctors, and keeping water from (4)______ still because bad bugs lay eggs in (5)______.

The air getting warmer is making some sicknesses go to new places. When it gets warmer and (6)______ more, the bad bugs that make people sick can live better and go to new places. If we don’t stop putting bad air into the sky, it will get even warmer and better for bad bugs. There are a lot more (7)______ (8)______ sick from a bad bug sickness called dengue than before. There is a special project that tries to tell when this sickness will happen so people can get ready and stop it from spreading.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a bug?
2. How would you feel if you got sick from a bug?
3. Do you like warm weather? Why or why not?
4. What do you think happens when it rains a lot?
5. How can bugs make people sick?
6. Do you know any ways to stay healthy?
7. Why is it important to teach people about staying healthy?
8. How do bugs lay eggs?
9. Do you think it’s important to listen to doctors? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever seen a bug? What did it look like?
11. What do you do when you see a bug in your house?
12. Do you think it’s important to stop putting bad air into the sky? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. bugs
2. weather
3. sicknesses
4. air
5. warmer
6. places
7. warning
8. eggs
9. project
10. spreading

Meanings:
(A) Tiny things that baby bugs come from
(B) Something that tells you to be careful
(C) When something goes from one place to many places
(D) The stuff you breathe in and out
(E) What the sky is like outside, like if it’s sunny or rainy
(F) Different locations or areas
(G) Small creatures that crawl and fly around
(H) When it’s not as cold as before
(I) A special plan or idea to help with something
(J) When you don’t feel well and your body hurts
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are some things that smart people look at to help stop sicknesses?
(a) Cars, buildings, and trees
(b) Books, computers, and toys
(c) Bugs, weather, and other things that make people sick
(d) Food, clothes, and shoes

2. How does the air getting warmer affect people?
(a) It makes people happy and healthy
(b) It makes people sad and tired
(c) It changes how people feel and get sick
(d) It doesn’t affect people at all

3. What do bad bugs do when the air gets warmer and it rains more?
(a) They disappear and never come back
(b) They can live better and go to new places
(c) They hide in the ground and don’t move
(d) They become nice bugs and help people

4. What happens if we keep putting bad air into the sky?
(a) It will get even warmer and better for bad bugs
(b) It will get colder and bad bugs will go away
(c) It will stay the same and not affect anything
(d) It will make people happy and healthy

5. What is the name of the bad bug sickness that more people are getting?
(a) Malaria
(b) Flu
(c) Chickenpox
(d) Dengue

6. What does the special project try to do?
(a) Teach people how to cook and clean
(b) Tell when the sickness will happen so people can get ready and stop it from spreading
(c) Give people money and toys
(d) Make people happy and healthy

7. What can help people stay healthy?
(a) Eating lots of candy and junk food
(b) Watching TV all day and not going outside
(c) Playing video games and not doing homework
(d) Teaching them, telling doctors, and keeping water from standing still

8. Where do bad bugs lay eggs?
(a) In water
(b) In the sky
(c) In the ground
(d) In people’s houses

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The air getting colder can make people feel sick and change how they feel.
2. These smart people ignore the weather and don’t bother finding places where bad bugs live to help prevent people from getting sick.
3. When it gets warmer and rains more, the bad bugs that make people sick can live better and go to new places.
4. The air getting warmer is not causing any sicknesses to go to new places.
5. Some unintelligent people are studying bugs and the weather to help spread sicknesses that come from the air getting warmer.
6. The warning can teach people, tell doctors, and prevent water from standing still because bad bugs lay eggs in water.
7. If we don’t stop putting bad air into the sky, it will get even warmer and better for bad bugs.
8. They want to make a special warning that tells people when they need to be careful to stay healthy.
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 things that smart people look at to help stop sicknesses?
2. How does the air getting warmer affect how people feel and get sick?
3. Why is it important to keep water from standing still?
4. What happens when it gets warmer and rains more?
5. What is the special project trying to do with the sickness called dengue?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some things that smart people are watching to help stop sicknesses?
They are watching bugs and the weather.

2. How does the air getting warmer change how people feel and get sick?
When the air gets warmer, people may feel hotter and more uncomfortable. It can also make it easier for bad bugs to survive and spread sickness.

3. What do the smart people do to find places where bad bugs live?
They look at the weather and study where bad bugs are most likely to live.

4. Why do the smart people want to make a special warning?
They want to warn people when they need to be careful about getting sick from bad bugs.

5. How can the special warning help people stay healthy?
The special warning can teach people how to stay healthy, tell doctors about the sickness, and help prevent bad bugs from laying eggs in water.

6. What happens when it gets warmer and rains more?
When it gets warmer and rains more, bad bugs that make people sick can live better and spread to new places.

7. Why is it important to stop putting bad air into the sky?
It is important to stop putting bad air into the sky because it makes the air warmer, which can make people sicker and help bad bugs survive and spread.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) find
(2) live
(3) things
(4) standing
(5) water
(6) rains
(7) people
(8) getting
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. bugs
Answer: (G) Small creatures that crawl and fly around

2. weather
Answer: (E) What the sky is like outside, like if it’s sunny or rainy

3. sicknesses
Answer: (J) When you don’t feel well and your body hurts

4. air
Answer: (D) The stuff you breathe in and out

5. warmer
Answer: (H) When it’s not as cold as before

6. places
Answer: (F) Different locations or areas

7. warning
Answer: (B) Something that tells you to be careful

8. eggs
Answer: (A) Tiny things that baby bugs come from

9. project
Answer: (I) A special plan or idea to help with something

10. spreading
Answer: (C) When something goes from one place to many places
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are some things that smart people look at to help stop sicknesses?
Answer: (c) Bugs, weather, and other things that make people sick

2. How does the air getting warmer affect people?
Answer: (c) It changes how people feel and get sick

3. What do bad bugs do when the air gets warmer and it rains more?
Answer: (b) They can live better and go to new places

4. What happens if we keep putting bad air into the sky?
Answer: (a) It will get even warmer and better for bad bugs

5. What is the name of the bad bug sickness that more people are getting?
Answer: (d) Dengue

6. What does the special project try to do?
Answer: (b) Tell when the sickness will happen so people can get ready and stop it from spreading

7. What can help people stay healthy?
Answer: (d) Teaching them, telling doctors, and keeping water from standing still

8. Where do bad bugs lay eggs?
Answer: (a) In water
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The air getting colder can make people feel sick and change how they feel. (Answer: False)
2. These smart people ignore the weather and don’t bother finding places where bad bugs live to help prevent people from getting sick. (Answer: False)
3. When it gets warmer and rains more, the bad bugs that make people sick can live better and go to new places. (Answer: True)
4. The air getting warmer is not causing any sicknesses to go to new places. (Answer: False)
5. Some unintelligent people are studying bugs and the weather to help spread sicknesses that come from the air getting warmer. (Answer: False)
6. The warning can teach people, tell doctors, and prevent water from standing still because bad bugs lay eggs in water. (Answer: True)
7. If we don’t stop putting bad air into the sky, it will get even warmer and better for bad bugs. (Answer: True)
8. They want to make a special warning that tells people when they need to be careful to stay healthy. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧