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Helping Mozambique’s Forests: Bringing Back the Trees

A project in Mozambique is partnering with local communities to restore forests and combat deforestation.

Try this article at a different level?

 

In Mozambique, a project is helping to stop the cutting down of too many trees. The forests are being cleared for farms, and some trees are being cut down illegally. This project works with villages near Chimanimani National Park to bring back the forests. By teaching people better ways to use the land, they hope to make the forests healthy again.

A video shows how bad the deforestation problem is in Mozambique. It talks about why it’s important to bring back the forests and keep the plants and animals safe. The project works with local people, which helps make sure the forests stay healthy. By getting the villages involved, the project hopes people will care more about the forests.

The video also shows that the project is already making a difference. It talks about how the forests are starting to grow back and how this helps the local people. By planting new trees and using the land wisely, they can fix the damage done by cutting down too many trees. This project is a good example of how people can work together to save the environment.

Original news source: ‘It’s possible to regain the forest we once had’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

1projectA plan or task to achieve something
2deforestationCutting down too many trees
3illegalNot allowed by law
4villagesSmall communities or groups of houses
5environmentThe natural world around us
6involvedTaking part in something
7differenceA change that has an effect
8wiselyDoing something in a smart way
9damageHarm or injury
10forestsLarge areas covered with trees
11plantingPutting seeds or plants in the ground to grow
12clearedRemoved or taken away

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Ask them to read the article together and summarize it in 3-4 sentences. After they have finished, have each pair share their summary with the rest of the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think it is important to protect forests? Why or why not?” Divide the class into small groups and have them discuss their opinions. Then, have each group choose a spokesperson to share their group’s opinion with the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. deforestation, illegal, project). Divide the class into small groups and give each group a whiteboard or a piece of paper. One student from each group will choose a word from the list and draw a picture to represent that word. The rest of the group must guess the word based on the drawing. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about the following question: “What are some ways we can help protect the environment?” Give them a few minutes to think individually, then have them pair up with a partner and share their ideas. After they have discussed, ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the rest of the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of forests and deforestation. For example, they could discuss whether they think the problem will get worse or better, and what actions they think should be taken to address the issue. After they have finished their discussions, have each group share their predictions with the rest of the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the project in Mozambique trying to stop?
2. Why are the forests being cleared?
3. Who does the project work with to bring back the forests?
4. Why is it important to bring back the forests?
5. How is the project making sure the forests stay healthy?
6. How are the forests starting to grow back?
7. What can people do to fix the damage done by cutting down too many trees?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In Mozambique, a project is (1)______ to stop the cutting down of too many trees. The forests are being cleared for farms, and some trees are being cut down illegally. This project (2)______ with villages near Chimanimani National Park to (3)______ back the forests. By teaching people (4)______ ways to use the land, they hope to make the forests healthy again.

A video shows how bad the deforestation problem is in Mozambique. It (5)______ about why it’s important to bring back the forests and keep the (6)______ and animals safe. The project works with local (7)______, which helps make sure the forests stay healthy. By (8)______ the villages involved, the project hopes people will care more about the forests.

The video also shows that the project is already (9)______ a difference. It talks about how the forests are (10)______ to grow back and how this helps the local people. By planting new trees and using the land wisely, they can fix the damage done by cutting down too many trees. This (11)______ is a good (12)______ of how people can work together to save the environment.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is deforestation?
2. How would you feel if the forests near your home were being cut down?
3. Do you like plants and animals? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the importance of bringing back the forests?
5. How do you think teaching people better ways to use the land can help the forests?
6. Do you think it’s important for local people to be involved in projects like this? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you were able to help bring back the forests in your area?
8. Do you think planting new trees can fix the damage done by cutting down too many trees? Why or why not?
9. What are some ways you can use the land wisely to protect the environment?
10. Do you think people should work together to save the environment? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the local people benefit from the forests growing back?
12. What can you do to help protect the forests in your community?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. project
2. deforestation
3. illegal
4. villages
5. environment
6. involved
7. difference
8. wisely
9. damage
10. forests
11. planting
12. cleared

Meanings:
(A) Small communities or groups of houses
(B) A change that has an effect
(C) Doing something in a smart way
(D) Not allowed by law
(E) Removed or taken away
(F) Large areas covered with trees
(G) The natural world around us
(H) Putting seeds or plants in the ground to grow
(I) Harm or injury
(J) A plan or task to achieve something
(K) Cutting down too many trees
(L) Taking part in something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are the forests in Mozambique being cleared?
(a) For houses
(b) For roads
(c) For schools
(d) For farms

2. What is the project in Mozambique trying to do?
(a) Build more farms
(b) Bring back the forests
(c) Cut down more trees
(d) Destroy the National Park

3. How does the project work with the local people?
(a) By cutting down more trees
(b) By building more houses
(c) By teaching them better ways to use the land
(d) By destroying the forests

4. Why is it important to bring back the forests?
(a) To keep the plants and animals safe
(b) To build more farms
(c) To cut down more trees
(d) To destroy the National Park

5. How are the forests starting to grow back?
(a) By cutting down more trees
(b) By planting new trees
(c) By building more houses
(d) By destroying the forests

6. What is the main message of the video?
(a) People should cut down more trees
(b) People should build more farms
(c) People can work together to save the environment
(d) People should destroy the National Park

7. How does the project hope to make people care more about the forests?
(a) By cutting down more trees
(b) By building more houses
(c) By destroying the forests
(d) By getting the villages involved

8. What is the project in Mozambique a good example of?
(a) How people can work together to save the environment
(b) How people can cut down more trees
(c) How people can build more farms
(d) How people can destroy the National Park

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A project near Chimanimani National Park is not helping to bring back the forests.
2. The project works against local people to make sure the forests stay healthy.
3. In Mozambique, many trees are being cut down for farms and some are being cut down illegally.
4. The project teaches people better ways to use the land.
5. The video shows that the project is already making a difference by helping the forests grow back.
6. The video shows how bad the deforestation problem is in Mozambique.
7. By cutting down trees and using the land irresponsibly, the project can worsen the damage done by cutting down too many trees.
8. This project is a bad example of people working together to save the environment.
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 problem in Mozambique that the project is trying to stop?
2. How are the forests being cleared in Mozambique?
3. Who is the project working with to bring back the forests?
4. Why is it important to bring back the forests and keep the plants and animals safe?
5. How is the project making a difference in Mozambique?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the project in Mozambique trying to stop?
The project is trying to stop the cutting down of too many trees.

2. Why are the forests being cleared?
The forests are being cleared for farms and some trees are being cut down illegally.

3. Who does the project work with to bring back the forests?
The project works with villages near Chimanimani National Park.

4. Why is it important to bring back the forests?
It is important to bring back the forests to keep the plants and animals safe.

5. How is the project making sure the forests stay healthy?
The project is making sure the forests stay healthy by teaching people better ways to use the land.

6. How are the forests starting to grow back?
The forests are starting to grow back by planting new trees and using the land wisely.

7. What can people do to fix the damage done by cutting down too many trees?
People can fix the damage done by cutting down too many trees by planting new trees and using the land wisely.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) helping
(2) works
(3) bring
(4) better
(5) talks
(6) plants
(7) people
(8) getting
(9) making
(10) starting
(11) project
(12) example
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. project
Answer: (J) A plan or task to achieve something

2. deforestation
Answer: (K) Cutting down too many trees

3. illegal
Answer: (D) Not allowed by law

4. villages
Answer: (A) Small communities or groups of houses

5. environment
Answer: (G) The natural world around us

6. involved
Answer: (L) Taking part in something

7. difference
Answer: (B) A change that has an effect

8. wisely
Answer: (C) Doing something in a smart way

9. damage
Answer: (I) Harm or injury

10. forests
Answer: (F) Large areas covered with trees

11. planting
Answer: (H) Putting seeds or plants in the ground to grow

12. cleared
Answer: (E) Removed or taken away
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are the forests in Mozambique being cleared?
Answer: (d) For farms

2. What is the project in Mozambique trying to do?
Answer: (b) Bring back the forests

3. How does the project work with the local people?
Answer: (c) By teaching them better ways to use the land

4. Why is it important to bring back the forests?
Answer: (a) To keep the plants and animals safe

5. How are the forests starting to grow back?
Answer: (b) By planting new trees

6. What is the main message of the video?
Answer: (c) People can work together to save the environment

7. How does the project hope to make people care more about the forests?
Answer: (d) By getting the villages involved

8. What is the project in Mozambique a good example of?
Answer: (a) How people can work together to save the environment
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A project near Chimanimani National Park is not helping to bring back the forests. (Answer: False)
2. The project works against local people to make sure the forests stay healthy. (Answer: False)
3. In Mozambique, many trees are being cut down for farms and some are being cut down illegally. (Answer: True)
4. The project teaches people better ways to use the land. (Answer: True)
5. The video shows that the project is already making a difference by helping the forests grow back. (Answer: True)
6. The video shows how bad the deforestation problem is in Mozambique. (Answer: True)
7. By cutting down trees and using the land irresponsibly, the project can worsen the damage done by cutting down too many trees. (Answer: False)
8. This project is a bad example of people working together to save the environment. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

How about these other Level 2 articles?

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