There is a special flower called the God Flower that is very important to a group of people who live in the mountains. These people are called the Tsou, and they use the flower when they talk to their gods. But the flower is getting harder to find because it is getting warmer in the mountains. The flower needs it to be cold to grow, but it’s not cold enough anymore. This is happening because of something called climate change.

The Tsou people are very sad and worried because their special flower is going away. They need the flower for their special times, but there is no other flower they can use. They want help from people who make big decisions, but they don’t think those people are doing enough. A group that cares about the Earth says the big decision-makers are not working fast enough to stop the Earth from getting too warm. The Tsou people are scared they will lose the way they live and the stories they tell because of the warm weather.

Original news source: Taiwan: The ‘God Flower’ vanishing because of climate change (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary flashcards related to the article (e.g. flower, gods, mountains, climate change, etc.). One student from each group will act out the word on the flashcard without using any words, while the other students try to guess the word. The first group to guess correctly gets a point. Repeat with different students and flashcards.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students work in pairs. Each pair will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner in their own words. Encourage them to use simple language and focus on the key information. After each summary, the listening partner can ask questions for clarification. Switch roles and repeat with a different article or topic.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. flower, gods, mountains, climate change, etc.). Divide the class into teams and give each team a whiteboard or large sheet of paper and markers. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a word from the list. They must draw a picture to represent the word while their team tries to guess it. The first team to guess correctly gets a point. Continue with different students and words.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write a key word from the article on the board, but leave the letters blank. Have the students take turns guessing letters to fill in the word. If a guessed letter is correct, write it in the appropriate space. If it is incorrect, start drawing the hangman. The students must guess the word before the hangman is completed. Repeat with different key words from the article.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students think silently for a few minutes about the implications of climate change on different cultures and communities, such as the Tsou people in the article. Then, pair them up and have them discuss their thoughts with their partner. After a few minutes, bring the class back together and ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class. Encourage the students to use simple language and support their ideas with reasons.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the special flower that the Tsou people use?
2. Why is it getting harder to find the special flower?
3. What is happening to the weather in the mountains?
4. Why are the Tsou people sad and worried?
5. Who do the Tsou people want help from?
6. What do the Tsou people think about the big decision-makers?
7. Why are the Tsou people scared about the warm weather?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There is a special (1)______ called the God Flower that is very important to a group of people who live in the mountains. These people are called the Tsou, and they use the flower when they talk to their gods. But the flower is (2)______ harder to find because it is getting (3)______ in the mountains. The flower needs it to be cold to grow, but it’s not cold enough anymore. This is happening because of something called climate change.

The (4)______ people are very sad and worried because their special flower is going away. They need the flower for their special times, but there is no other flower they can use. They want help from people who make big decisions, but they don’t (5)______ those people are doing enough. A (6)______ that cares about the Earth says the big decision-makers are not working fast enough to stop the Earth from getting too warm. The Tsou people are scared they will (7)______ the way they live and the stories they tell because of the warm (8)______.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a special flower called the God Flower?
2. How do the Tsou people use the God Flower?
3. How do the Tsou people feel about the flower going away?
4. How would you feel if something important to you was going away?
5. Do you like flowers? Why or why not?
6. What do the Tsou people want from the big decision-makers?
7. Do you think the big decision-makers are doing enough to help the Tsou people? Why or why not?
8. What is climate change?
9. How do you think climate change is affecting the God Flower?
10. Why are the Tsou people scared?
11. What are some things we can do to help the Earth?
12. How can we make sure important things like the God Flower don’t go away?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. flower
2. important
3. people
4. mountains
5. cold
6. warmer
7. climate change
8. worried
9. decisions
10. scared

Meanings:
(A) Feeling afraid and nervous
(B) Big choices that someone makes
(C) When the weather gets different because of pollution
(D) Not hot, but feels chilly
(E) A pretty thing that grows in the ground and has petals
(F) Feeling nervous or afraid
(G) Big, tall hills with lots of trees
(H) A group of friends or family
(I) Not as cold as before
(J) Something that is very special and means a lot
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who uses the God Flower?
(a) The city people
(b) The farmers
(c) The animals
(d) The Tsou people

2. Why is the God Flower getting harder to find?
(a) It is getting colder in the mountains
(b) It is getting warmer in the mountains
(c) It is getting windier in the mountains
(d) It is getting rainier in the mountains

3. What do the Tsou people use the flower for?
(a) To make medicine
(b) To talk to their gods
(c) To decorate their houses
(d) To cook food

4. Why are the Tsou people sad and worried?
(a) They have too many flowers
(b) They have too much food
(c) They have too many friends
(d) Their special flower is going away

5. Who do the Tsou people want help from?
(a) People who live in the city
(b) People who are doctors
(c) People who make big decisions
(d) People who are teachers

6. What is the group that cares about the Earth saying?
(a) The big decision-makers are not working fast enough
(b) The big decision-makers are working too fast
(c) The big decision-makers are doing a great job
(d) The big decision-makers are not important

7. What are the Tsou people scared of losing?
(a) Their toys and games
(b) Their clothes and shoes
(c) The way they live and the stories they tell
(d) Their food and water

8. Why is the warm weather a problem for the Tsou people?
(a) The flower needs it to be cold to grow
(b) The flower needs it to be hot to grow
(c) The flower needs it to be windy to grow
(d) The flower needs it to be rainy to grow

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True or False Questions:

1. A group that is indifferent about the Earth says the big decision-makers are working fast enough to stop the Earth from getting too warm.
2. The Tsou people don’t want help from people who make big decisions.
3. There is a regular flower that the Tsou people use to talk to their gods.
4. The Tsou people live in the mountains.
5. The flower needs it to be cold to grow.
6. The Tsou people are sad and worried because their special flower is going away.
7. The Tsou people are scared they will lose their way of life and their stories because of the warm weather.
8. The flower is becoming more accessible to find because it is getting warmer in the mountains.
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 is the special flower called that the Tsou people use to talk to their gods?
2. Why is it getting harder for the Tsou people to find the special flower?
3. Why are the Tsou people sad and worried?
4. Who do the Tsou people want help from?
5. Why are the Tsou people scared they will lose the way they live and the stories they tell?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the special flower that the Tsou people use?
The special flower is called the God Flower.

2. Why is it getting harder to find the special flower?
It is getting harder to find the special flower because it is getting warmer in the mountains.

3. What is happening to the weather in the mountains?
The weather in the mountains is getting warmer.

4. Why are the Tsou people sad and worried?
The Tsou people are sad and worried because their special flower is going away and they need it for their special times.

5. Who do the Tsou people want help from?
The Tsou people want help from the people who make big decisions.

6. What do the Tsou people think about the big decision-makers?
The Tsou people think that the big decision-makers are not doing enough to stop the Earth from getting too warm.

7. Why are the Tsou people scared about the warm weather?
The Tsou people are scared about the warm weather because they might lose the way they live and the stories they tell.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) flower
(2) getting
(3) warmer
(4) Tsou
(5) think
(6) group
(7) lose
(8) weather
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. flower
Answer: (E) A pretty thing that grows in the ground and has petals

2. important
Answer: (J) Something that is very special and means a lot

3. people
Answer: (H) A group of friends or family

4. mountains
Answer: (G) Big, tall hills with lots of trees

5. cold
Answer: (D) Not hot, but feels chilly

6. warmer
Answer: (I) Not as cold as before

7. climate change
Answer: (C) When the weather gets different because of pollution

8. worried
Answer: (F) Feeling nervous or afraid

9. decisions
Answer: (B) Big choices that someone makes

10. scared
Answer: (A) Feeling afraid and nervous
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who uses the God Flower?
Answer: (d) The Tsou people

2. Why is the God Flower getting harder to find?
Answer: (b) It is getting warmer in the mountains

3. What do the Tsou people use the flower for?
Answer: (b) To talk to their gods

4. Why are the Tsou people sad and worried?
Answer: (d) Their special flower is going away

5. Who do the Tsou people want help from?
Answer: (c) People who make big decisions

6. What is the group that cares about the Earth saying?
Answer: (a) The big decision-makers are not working fast enough

7. What are the Tsou people scared of losing?
Answer: (c) The way they live and the stories they tell

8. Why is the warm weather a problem for the Tsou people?
Answer: (a) The flower needs it to be cold to grow
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True or False Answers:

1. A group that is indifferent about the Earth says the big decision-makers are working fast enough to stop the Earth from getting too warm. (Answer: False)
2. The Tsou people don’t want help from people who make big decisions. (Answer: False)
3. There is a regular flower that the Tsou people use to talk to their gods. (Answer: False)
4. The Tsou people live in the mountains. (Answer: True)
5. The flower needs it to be cold to grow. (Answer: True)
6. The Tsou people are sad and worried because their special flower is going away. (Answer: True)
7. The Tsou people are scared they will lose their way of life and their stories because of the warm weather. (Answer: True)
8. The flower is becoming more accessible to find because it is getting warmer in the mountains. (Answer: False)
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