Forge Valley School in Sheffield has a new rule. Students can’t use phones, smartwatches, or headphones at school. If they do, they have to give them up for a whole day. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, thinks students are using their phones too much and acting like “zombies.”

The school wants students to talk to each other more. Without phones, students say they are making more friends and talking more. The school believes this will help students focus better in class. Many schools are trying similar rules to help students learn better without distractions.

Some students might not like the new rule at first. But the school thinks it will help everyone learn and talk more. They want students to have healthy friendships and pay attention in class. This change is part of a bigger discussion about how much technology should be used in schools.

Original news source: School calls time on pupils’ smart devices (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Choose key words from the article (e.g., phones, smartwatches, headphones, friends, distractions) and have students act them out without speaking while their classmates guess the word.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, have students summarize the article in their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main points and key ideas.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “technology” on the board and have students shout out related words or ideas. Encourage them to expand their vocabulary by exploring different aspects of the topic.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into groups and have them discuss their opinions on the new rule at Forge Valley School. Encourage them to share their thoughts and reasons for their opinions.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about a time when they were without their phones for a whole day. Then, have them pair up and discuss their experiences. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What new rule does Forge Valley School in Sheffield have about phones, smartwatches, and headphones?
2. Why does the head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, think students are acting like “zombies”?
3. How do students feel about talking to each other more without their phones?
4. What does the school believe will happen if students talk more and make more friends?
5. Why might some students not like the new rule at first?
6. What does the school hope will happen if students follow the new rule?
7. Why do you think the school is discussing how much technology should be used in schools?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Forge Valley (1)______ in Sheffield has a new rule. Students can’t use phones, (2)______, or headphones at school. If they do, they have to (3)______ them up for a whole day. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, thinks students are (4)______ their phones too much and acting like “zombies.”

The (5)______ wants students to talk to each other (6)______. Without phones, students say they are making more friends and talking more. The school believes this will help students focus better in class. (7)______ schools are trying (8)______ (9)______s to help students learn better without distractions.

Some students might not like the new rule at first. But the school thinks it will help everyone learn and talk more. They want students to (10)______ healthy friendships and pay attention in class. This (11)______ is part of a bigger discussion about how much (12)______ should be used in schools.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a smartwatch and why do you think some schools don’t allow students to wear them?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t use your phone at school for a whole day?
3. Do you like talking to your friends face-to-face more than using a phone? Why or why not?
4. How do you think not using phones at school can help students focus better in class?
5. Do you think it’s important for students to make friends and talk to each other without using phones? Why or why not?
6. What do you think about the new rule at Forge Valley School?
7. How do you think using phones too much can make students act like “zombies”?
8. Why do you think some students might not like the new rule at first?
9. Do you think it’s a good idea for schools to have rules about using technology? Why or why not?
10. How do you think technology can sometimes be a distraction in the classroom?
11. Why do you think the school wants students to have healthy friendships?
12. Do you think it’s important for students to pay attention in class? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. rule
2. smartwatches
3. zombies
4. distractions
5. focus
6. friendships
7. discussion
8. technology
9. healthy
10. attention
11. similar
12. acting

Meanings:
(A) Machines and tools that make life easier or more fun
(B) Almost the same as something else
(C) Watches that can do more than just tell time, like a mini-computer on your wrist
(D) Things that take your mind away from what you should be doing
(E) Imaginary creatures that move slowly and don’t think much
(F) Being in good condition, not sick or hurt
(G) To concentrate or pay close attention to something
(H) The act of listening or watching carefully
(I) Relationships where people like and care about each other
(J) A guideline or instruction that tells you what you can or cannot do
(K) A talk or conversation about a topic
(L) Behaving or doing something in a certain way
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What new rule does Forge Valley School have about phones, smartwatches, and headphones?
(a) Students can use them anytime
(b) Students can only use them during lunch
(c) Students can’t use them at school
(d) Students can use them in class

2. Who is the head teacher at Forge Valley School?
(a) Mr. Smith
(b) Mr. Barrowclough
(c) Ms. Johnson
(d) Mrs. Patel

3. Why does Mr. Barrowclough think students are acting like “zombies”?
(a) Because they talk too much
(b) Because they sleep in class
(c) Because they use their phones too much
(d) Because they don’t eat lunch

4. What does the school hope will happen if students talk to each other more?
(a) They will use their phones more
(b) They will study less
(c) They will watch more TV
(d) They will make more friends

5. Why does the school believe the new rule will help students focus better in class?
(a) Because they won’t be distracted by their phones
(b) Because they will be allowed to use their phones
(c) Because they will have more homework
(d) Because they will have more tests

6. How do many schools feel about using phones in class?
(a) They want students to use phones all the time
(b) They are trying similar rules to reduce distractions
(c) They encourage students to watch videos in class
(d) They ask students to bring extra phones to school

7. How do some students feel about the new rule at first?
(a) They love it
(b) They are excited
(c) They are sad
(d) They might not like it

8. What is the new rule at Forge Valley School part of a bigger discussion about?
(a) How much technology should be used in schools
(b) How many books students should read
(c) How long recess should be
(d) How many sports teams the school should have

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The school wants students to talk to each other more and make new friends without distractions.
2. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, believes students are using their phones too much and acting like “zombies.”
3. The school hopes that by increasing phone use, students will be able to focus better in class.
4. Many other schools are also trying out similar rules to help students learn without being distracted by technology.
5. The new rule at Forge Valley School is not part of a bigger discussion about how much technology should be allowed in schools.
6. If students break the new rule, they have to give up their devices for a whole day.
7. Students have reported that with phones, they are making more friends and talking more with their classmates.
8. Students at Forge Valley School in Sheffield can use phones, smartwatches, and headphones during school hours.
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. Why can’t students at Forge Valley School use phones, smartwatches, or headphones?
2. What does the head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, think students are acting like when they use their phones too much?
3. How do students feel about talking to each other more without their phones at school?
4. Why does the school believe that talking more and making friends will help students focus better in class?
5. What is the bigger discussion that the new rule at Forge Valley School is a part of?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What new rule does Forge Valley School in Sheffield have about phones, smartwatches, and headphones?
– Students can’t use phones, smartwatches, or headphones at school. If they do, they have to give them up for a whole day.

2. Why does the head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, think students are acting like “zombies”?
– Mr. Barrowclough thinks students are using their phones too much and not talking to each other.

3. How do students feel about talking to each other more without their phones?
– Students say they are making more friends and talking more without their phones.

4. What does the school believe will happen if students talk more and make more friends?
– The school believes this will help students focus better in class.

5. Why might some students not like the new rule at first?
– Some students might not like the rule because they can’t use their phones, smartwatches, or headphones.

6. What does the school hope will happen if students follow the new rule?
– The school hopes students will have healthy friendships and pay attention in class.

7. Why do you think the school is discussing how much technology should be used in schools?
– The school is discussing this because they want to make sure students are learning well without getting distracted by technology.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) School
(2) smartwatches
(3) give
(4) using
(5) school
(6) more
(7) Many
(8) similar
(9) rule
(10) have
(11) change
(12) technology
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. rule
Answer: (J) A guideline or instruction that tells you what you can or cannot do

2. smartwatches
Answer: (C) Watches that can do more than just tell time, like a mini-computer on your wrist

3. zombies
Answer: (E) Imaginary creatures that move slowly and don’t think much

4. distractions
Answer: (D) Things that take your mind away from what you should be doing

5. focus
Answer: (G) To concentrate or pay close attention to something

6. friendships
Answer: (I) Relationships where people like and care about each other

7. discussion
Answer: (K) A talk or conversation about a topic

8. technology
Answer: (A) Machines and tools that make life easier or more fun

9. healthy
Answer: (F) Being in good condition, not sick or hurt

10. attention
Answer: (H) The act of listening or watching carefully

11. similar
Answer: (B) Almost the same as something else

12. acting
Answer: (L) Behaving or doing something in a certain way
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What new rule does Forge Valley School have about phones, smartwatches, and headphones?
Answer: (c) Students can’t use them at school

2. Who is the head teacher at Forge Valley School?
Answer: (b) Mr. Barrowclough

3. Why does Mr. Barrowclough think students are acting like “zombies”?
Answer: (c) Because they use their phones too much

4. What does the school hope will happen if students talk to each other more?
Answer: (d) They will make more friends

5. Why does the school believe the new rule will help students focus better in class?
Answer: (a) Because they won’t be distracted by their phones

6. How do many schools feel about using phones in class?
Answer: (b) They are trying similar rules to reduce distractions

7. How do some students feel about the new rule at first?
Answer: (d) They might not like it

8. What is the new rule at Forge Valley School part of a bigger discussion about?
Answer: (a) How much technology should be used in schools
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The school wants students to talk to each other more and make new friends without distractions. (Answer: True)
2. The head teacher, Mr. Barrowclough, believes students are using their phones too much and acting like “zombies.” (Answer: True)
3. The school hopes that by increasing phone use, students will be able to focus better in class. (Answer: False)
4. Many other schools are also trying out similar rules to help students learn without being distracted by technology. (Answer: True)
5. The new rule at Forge Valley School is not part of a bigger discussion about how much technology should be allowed in schools. (Answer: False)
6. If students break the new rule, they have to give up their devices for a whole day. (Answer: True)
7. Students have reported that with phones, they are making more friends and talking more with their classmates. (Answer: False)
8. Students at Forge Valley School in Sheffield can use phones, smartwatches, and headphones during school hours. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧