People who know a lot about energy say we are going to use less coal, oil, and gas soon. This is good news, but we have to move fast to using clean energy. Most of the power we use still comes from coal, oil, and gas. People think we will use the most coal, oil, and gas in 2025 and then start using less. We need to change to using energy from the sun and wind because it is cleaner.

Sun and wind power are growing, but they are still a small part of all the power we use. We need to use more things that work with electricity because they are better for the air. Sun and wind power are getting cheaper, which is good. But it costs a lot of money to start using them, especially for countries that don’t have a lot of money. There is a big meeting called COP28 where leaders from all over the world will talk about how to use more clean energy.

Original news source: Fossil fuels: Can humanity really kick its addiction? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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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 energy-related words (e.g. coal, oil, gas, sun, wind, electricity). One person from each group will act out the word without speaking, while the others in the group try to guess what word it is. The group with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article aloud to the class. Afterward, ask the students to work in pairs and write a short summary of the article using their own words. They can then share their summaries with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of energy-related vocabulary words on the board (e.g. coal, oil, gas, sun, wind, electricity, clean energy). Divide the class into pairs or small groups. One person from each group will draw a picture representing one of the words, while the others try to guess what word it is. The group with the most correct guesses wins.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write a list of energy-related vocabulary words on the board. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. One person from each group will choose a word and try to describe it to their partner/group without using the keyword itself. The others have to guess what the keyword is. The group with the most correct guesses wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. One person from each pair will have 2 minutes to read the article and summarize it to their partner. Then, they will switch roles and the other person will summarize it. Afterward, ask the pairs to share their summaries with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some types of energy that we use a lot right now?
2. Are we going to use less coal, oil, and gas in the future?
3. Why do we need to change to using energy from the sun and wind?
4. Are sun and wind power a big part of all the power we use?
5. Why is it good that sun and wind power are getting cheaper?
6. Does it cost a lot of money to start using sun and wind power?
7. What is the big meeting called where leaders from all over the world will talk about clean energy?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

People who know a lot about energy say we are going to use (1)______ (2)______, oil, and gas soon. This is good news, but we have to move fast to using clean energy. Most of the power we use still comes from coal, oil, and gas. People (3)______ we will use the most coal, oil, and gas in 2025 and then start using less. We need to change to using energy from the sun and wind because it is cleaner.

Sun and wind (4)______ are growing, but they are still a small (5)______ of all the power we use. We need to use (6)______ things that work with electricity because they are better for the air. Sun and wind power are getting cheaper, which is good. But it costs a lot of money to (7)______ using them, especially for countries that don’t have a lot of money. There is a big meeting called COP28 where leaders from all over the world will (8)______ about how to use more clean energy.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is clean energy?
2. How would you feel if we used more clean energy?
3. Do you like using electricity? Why or why not?
4. What is COP28?
5. How do you think clean energy can help the environment?
6. Do you think using clean energy is important? Why or why not?
7. What are some ways we can use more clean energy?
8. How do you think using clean energy can help save money?
9. Do you know any examples of clean energy sources?
10. Why do you think it is important for countries to use clean energy?
11. What are some challenges countries might face when switching to clean energy?
12. How can we encourage more people to use clean energy?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. energy
2. clean
3. power
4. coal
5. electricity
6. cheaper
7. meeting
8. leaders
9. countries
10. talk

Meanings:
(A) To use words to tell someone something.
(B) The stuff that comes from plugs in the wall and makes your toys work.
(C) A black rock that burns and can make things work, but it makes the air dirty.
(D) When people come together to listen and share ideas.
(E) Places where lots of people live, like where you have your home.
(F) The thing that makes stuff work, like lights or cars.
(G) The people who make important decisions and help everyone.
(H) Not costing a lot of money.
(I) The strength that makes things go or light up.
(J) Something that is not dirty.
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the three types of energy that we need to use less of?
(a) sun, wind, and water
(b) electricity, solar, and wind
(c) coal, oil, and gas
(d) fire, water, and air

2. What do people think will happen to our use of coal, oil, and gas in 2025?
(a) We will start using less of them.
(b) We will start using more of them.
(c) We will use the same amount.
(d) We will stop using them completely.

3. Why do we need to change to using energy from the sun and wind?
(a) Because it is more expensive.
(b) Because it is harder to use.
(c) Because it is dangerous.
(d) Because it is cleaner.

4. What is the main reason why we need to use more things that work with electricity?
(a) Because they are cheaper.
(b) Because they are easier to use.
(c) Because they are more fun.
(d) Because they are better for the air.

5. What is happening to the cost of sun and wind power?
(a) It is getting more expensive.
(b) It is getting cheaper.
(c) It is staying the same.
(d) It is unpredictable.

6. Why is it difficult for some countries to start using sun and wind power?
(a) Because they don’t have enough sun and wind.
(b) Because they don’t want to.
(c) Because it costs a lot of money.
(d) Because they don’t know how.

7. What is the name of the big meeting where leaders from all over the world will talk about clean energy?
(a) COP28
(b) COP20
(c) COP10
(d) COP5

8. What will the leaders at the meeting talk about?
(a) How to use more coal, oil, and gas.
(b) How to use more clean energy.
(c) How to use less clean energy.
(d) How to use less electricity.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sun and wind power are growing, but they are still a small part of all the power we use.
2. Sun and wind power are not getting cheaper.
3. We should stick to using energy from the sun and wind because it is cleaner.
4. We need to use more things that work with electricity because they are better for the air.
5. People think we will use the most coal, oil, and gas in 2025 and then start using less.
6. There is no big meeting called COP28 where leaders from all over the world will talk about how to use more clean energy.
7. People who know a lot about energy say we will use less coal, oil, and gas soon.
8. Most of the power we use does not come from coal, oil, and gas.
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 make power for us?
2. Why do we need to start using clean energy?
3. What are two types of clean energy?
4. Why is it hard for some countries to start using clean energy?
5. What is the big meeting called where leaders will talk about clean energy?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some types of energy that we use a lot right now?
We use a lot of coal, oil, and gas right now.

2. Are we going to use less coal, oil, and gas in the future?
Yes, we are going to use less coal, oil, and gas in the future.

3. Why do we need to change to using energy from the sun and wind?
We need to change to using energy from the sun and wind because it is cleaner and better for the air.

4. Are sun and wind power a big part of all the power we use?
No, sun and wind power are still a small part of all the power we use.

5. Why is it good that sun and wind power are getting cheaper?
It is good that sun and wind power are getting cheaper because more people can afford to use them.

6. Does it cost a lot of money to start using sun and wind power?
Yes, it costs a lot of money to start using sun and wind power.

7. What is the big meeting called where leaders from all over the world will talk about clean energy?
The big meeting is called COP28.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) less
(2) coal
(3) think
(4) power
(5) part
(6) more
(7) start
(8) talk
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. energy
Answer: (F) The thing that makes stuff work, like lights or cars.

2. clean
Answer: (J) Something that is not dirty.

3. power
Answer: (I) The strength that makes things go or light up.

4. coal
Answer: (C) A black rock that burns and can make things work, but it makes the air dirty.

5. electricity
Answer: (B) The stuff that comes from plugs in the wall and makes your toys work.

6. cheaper
Answer: (H) Not costing a lot of money.

7. meeting
Answer: (D) When people come together to listen and share ideas.

8. leaders
Answer: (G) The people who make important decisions and help everyone.

9. countries
Answer: (E) Places where lots of people live, like where you have your home.

10. talk
Answer: (A) To use words to tell someone something.
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the three types of energy that we need to use less of?
Answer: (c) coal, oil, and gas

2. What do people think will happen to our use of coal, oil, and gas in 2025?
Answer: (a) We will start using less of them.

3. Why do we need to change to using energy from the sun and wind?
Answer: (d) Because it is cleaner.

4. What is the main reason why we need to use more things that work with electricity?
Answer: (d) Because they are better for the air.

5. What is happening to the cost of sun and wind power?
Answer: (b) It is getting cheaper.

6. Why is it difficult for some countries to start using sun and wind power?
Answer: (c) Because it costs a lot of money.

7. What is the name of the big meeting where leaders from all over the world will talk about clean energy?
Answer: (a) COP28

8. What will the leaders at the meeting talk about?
Answer: (b) How to use more clean energy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sun and wind power are growing, but they are still a small part of all the power we use. (Answer: True)
2. Sun and wind power are not getting cheaper. (Answer: False)
3. We should stick to using energy from the sun and wind because it is cleaner. (Answer: False)
4. We need to use more things that work with electricity because they are better for the air. (Answer: True)
5. People think we will use the most coal, oil, and gas in 2025 and then start using less. (Answer: True)
6. There is no big meeting called COP28 where leaders from all over the world will talk about how to use more clean energy. (Answer: False)
7. People who know a lot about energy say we will use less coal, oil, and gas soon. (Answer: True)
8. Most of the power we use does not come from coal, oil, and gas. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧