Some US states want to stop kids from using smartphones in schools. California and New York are thinking about new rules. The governors of these states want to ban phones in classrooms. Many schools already have rules about phone use. In the 2021-2022 school year, most schools did not allow phones for non-school stuff.

Teachers worry that kids use phones too much and don’t talk to each other. Both Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules. Some states, like Florida, already have laws to stop phone use in classrooms. They also block social media on school Wi-Fi. Experts say too much phone use can make kids feel sad and worried.

Original news source: US states want to ban phones in schools. It might be a challenge (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. smartphones, schools, rules, social media, etc.). One student from each team will act out a word without speaking, and their team members will try to guess the word. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask students to form pairs or small groups. Give each group a list of questions related to the article (e.g. Do you think smartphones should be banned in schools? Why or why not?). Each student takes turns asking and answering the questions within their group. Afterward, have a class discussion to share and compare different opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Provide students with a list of vocabulary words from the article. Have them take turns drawing one word at a time on the board or on a piece of paper, while their classmates try to guess the word. Encourage students to use gestures and body language to convey meaning.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student will have 1-2 minutes to summarize the main points of the article to their partner. Then, they switch roles. Encourage students to use their own words and focus on the most important information. Afterward, have a class discussion to share and compare their summaries.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, ask students to create catchy headlines related to the article. Provide them with key vocabulary words or phrases that they must include in their headlines. Each group presents their headline to the class, explaining why they chose it and how it reflects the main idea of the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some US states thinking about doing with smartphones in schools?
2. Why do teachers worry about kids using phones too much?
3. Do Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules?
4. Which state already has laws to stop phone use in classrooms?
5. What do experts say too much phone use can make kids feel?
6. Did most schools allow phones for non-school stuff in the 2021-2022 school year?
7. What do some schools already have rules about?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some US states want to (1)______ kids from using (2)______ in schools. California and New York are thinking about new rules. The governors of these states want to ban phones in classrooms. Many schools already (3)______ (4)______ about phone use. In the 2021-2022 school year, most schools did not allow phones for non-school stuff.

Teachers worry that kids use phones too much and don’t talk to each (5)______. Both (6)______ and Democrats agree on making new phone rules. Some states, like Florida, already have (7)______ to stop phone use in classrooms. They also block social media on school Wi-Fi. Experts say too much phone use can (8)______ kids feel sad and worried.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a smartphone?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t use your phone at school?
3. Do you like using your phone a lot? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to talk to other kids at school? Why or why not?
5. What do you think about the new rules to ban phones in classrooms?
6. How do you think kids will feel if they can’t use their phones in school?
7. Do you think it’s a good idea to have rules about phone use in school? Why or why not?
8. What do you think about the experts saying too much phone use can make kids feel sad and worried?
9. How do you think kids can have fun without using their phones?
10. Do you think it’s fair that some schools have already banned phones? Why or why not?
11. What do you like to do at school besides using your phone?
12. How do you think your school would be different if phones were not allowed?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. governors
2. ban
3. classrooms
4. Republicans
5. Democrats
6. laws
7. block
8. social media
9. experts
10. worried

Meanings:
(A) Websites and apps where people talk and share pictures
(B) Rooms where students learn
(C) To stop something from happening
(D) A group of people with different political ideas, often called the Dems
(E) Feeling scared or nervous about something
(F) People who know a lot about something
(G) Rules made by the government
(H) People who lead a state
(I) A group of people with similar political ideas, often called the GOP
(J) To stop something from getting through
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are some US states thinking about doing with smartphones in schools?
(a) Giving them to students
(b) Selling them
(c) Banning them
(d) Using them for lessons

2. Why do teachers worry about kids using phones too much?
(a) Because they talk too much
(b) Because they don’t talk to each other
(c) Because they use them for school work
(d) Because they use them for fun

3. Which political parties agree on making new phone rules?
(a) Republicans and Independents
(b) Democrats and Libertarians
(c) Republicans and Democrats
(d) Democrats and Socialists

4. What do some states already have laws for?
(a) Stopping phone use in classrooms
(b) Encouraging phone use in classrooms
(c) Giving phones to students
(d) Allowing social media on school Wi-Fi

5. What can too much phone use make kids feel?
(a) Happy and excited
(b) Calm and relaxed
(c) Angry and frustrated
(d) Sad and worried

6. What did most schools not allow in the 2021-2022 school year?
(a) Phones for school stuff
(b) Tablets for non-school stuff
(c) Tablets for school stuff
(d) Phones for non-school stuff

7. What do some schools already have rules about?
(a) Phone use
(b) Tablet use
(c) Computer use
(d) All of the above

8. What do experts say about too much phone use?
(a) It can make kids feel happy and excited
(b) It can make kids feel sad and worried
(c) It can make kids feel calm and relaxed
(d) It can make kids feel angry and frustrated

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Some US states want to make a new rule to stop kids from using smartphones in schools.
2. The governors of these states want to allow phones in classrooms.
3. In the last school year, most schools did not allow phones for non-school things.
4. Both Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules.
5. Teachers worry that kids use phones too much and don’t talk to each other.
6. Many schools already have no rules about phone use.
7. Some states, like Florida, already have laws to allow phone use in classrooms.
8. California and New York are two states that are not considering making this new rule.
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 US states thinking about doing with smartphones in schools?
2. Why do teachers worry about kids using phones too much?
3. Do Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules?
4. What do some states already have laws for?
5. How can too much phone use make kids feel?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some US states thinking about doing with smartphones in schools?
Some US states are thinking about banning smartphones in schools.

2. Why do teachers worry about kids using phones too much?
Teachers worry that kids use phones too much and don’t talk to each other.

3. Do Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules?
Yes, both Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules.

4. Which state already has laws to stop phone use in classrooms?
Florida already has laws to stop phone use in classrooms.

5. What do experts say too much phone use can make kids feel?
Experts say too much phone use can make kids feel sad and worried.

6. Did most schools allow phones for non-school stuff in the 2021-2022 school year?
No, most schools did not allow phones for non-school stuff in the 2021-2022 school year.

7. What do some schools already have rules about?
Some schools already have rules about phone use.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) stop
(2) smartphones
(3) have
(4) rules
(5) other
(6) Republicans
(7) laws
(8) make
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. governors
Answer: (H) People who lead a state

2. ban
Answer: (C) To stop something from happening

3. classrooms
Answer: (B) Rooms where students learn

4. Republicans
Answer: (I) A group of people with similar political ideas, often called the GOP

5. Democrats
Answer: (D) A group of people with different political ideas, often called the Dems

6. laws
Answer: (G) Rules made by the government

7. block
Answer: (J) To stop something from getting through

8. social media
Answer: (A) Websites and apps where people talk and share pictures

9. experts
Answer: (F) People who know a lot about something

10. worried
Answer: (E) Feeling scared or nervous about something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are some US states thinking about doing with smartphones in schools?
Answer: (c) Banning them

2. Why do teachers worry about kids using phones too much?
Answer: (b) Because they don’t talk to each other

3. Which political parties agree on making new phone rules?
Answer: (c) Republicans and Democrats

4. What do some states already have laws for?
Answer: (a) Stopping phone use in classrooms

5. What can too much phone use make kids feel?
Answer: (d) Sad and worried

6. What did most schools not allow in the 2021-2022 school year?
Answer: (d) Phones for non-school stuff

7. What do some schools already have rules about?
Answer: (a) Phone use

8. What do experts say about too much phone use?
Answer: (b) It can make kids feel sad and worried
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Some US states want to make a new rule to stop kids from using smartphones in schools. (Answer: True)
2. The governors of these states want to allow phones in classrooms. (Answer: False)
3. In the last school year, most schools did not allow phones for non-school things. (Answer: True)
4. Both Republicans and Democrats agree on making new phone rules. (Answer: True)
5. Teachers worry that kids use phones too much and don’t talk to each other. (Answer: True)
6. Many schools already have no rules about phone use. (Answer: False)
7. Some states, like Florida, already have laws to allow phone use in classrooms. (Answer: False)
8. California and New York are two states that are not considering making this new rule. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧