In India, people grow a very special and expensive spice called saffron, but they are having trouble growing as much as they used to. The weather is changing, with less rain and hotter days, which makes it hard for the saffron plants to grow. Also, there are fewer fields where saffron can be planted because more buildings are being built. Farmers are not getting enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron or to water their plants.

Scientists are trying to help by making new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather. They use a special method that changes the plants’ seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger. This can make the plants grow better. Farmers are also learning to plant trees that give shade to the saffron plants, which helps them grow. Some farmers are even trying a completely new way to grow saffron inside big metal boxes without using soil.

Saffron farming in India is having a hard time because of the weather, too many buildings, and not enough help for farmers. But people are working on ways to fix these problems. They want to make sure that they can keep growing saffron, which is very important for cooking and medicine in India.

Original news source: Red gold’: Why saffron production is dwindling in India (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Ask each group to read the article and summarize the main points in 3-4 sentences.
4. Have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group a role (e.g. farmers, scientists, government officials, consumers).
3. Ask each group to discuss and come up with their opinions on the saffron farming issues mentioned in the article.
4. Have each group present their opinions and discuss the different perspectives.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into pairs.
3. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words.
4. One student from each pair will draw a picture to represent a word, while the other student guesses the word.
5. Switch roles and continue until all the vocabulary words have been used.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions:
1. Write down key vocabulary words from the article on the board, but leave out some letters.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. Choose one student from each team to guess the missing letters and complete the word.
4. Give each team a chance to guess the word. If they guess correctly, they earn a point.
5. Continue with different words and keep score to determine the winning team.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group a specific topic related to saffron farming (e.g. climate change, urbanization, technological advancements).
3. Ask each group to brainstorm and discuss the pros and cons of their assigned topic.
4. Have each group present their findings and engage in a class discussion about the different aspects of saffron farming.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the special spice that people grow in India?
2. Why are the saffron plants having trouble growing as much as before?
3. What are scientists doing to help the saffron plants grow better?
4. How are farmers learning to help the saffron plants grow?
5. Why is saffron farming in India having a hard time?
6. What are people doing to try and fix the problems with saffron farming?
7. Why is growing saffron important in India?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In India, people grow a very special and expensive (1)______ called (2)______, but they are having (3)______ growing as much as they used to. The weather is changing, with less rain and hotter days, which makes it hard for the saffron plants to grow. Also, there are fewer fields where saffron can be planted because more buildings are being built. Farmers are not getting (4)______ (5)______ to learn new ways to grow saffron or to water their plants.

(6)______ are trying to help by making new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather. They use a special method that changes the plants’ seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger. This can make the plants grow better. Farmers are also learning to plant (7)______ that give shade to the saffron plants, which (8)______ them grow. Some farmers are even (9)______ a completely new way to grow saffron inside big metal boxes without using soil.

(10)______ farming in India is having a hard time because of the (11)______, too many (12)______, and not enough help for farmers. But people are working on ways to fix these problems. They want to make sure that they can keep growing saffron, which is very important for cooking and medicine in India.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is saffron and why is it special and expensive?
2. How do you think the weather changing with less rain and hotter days affects the saffron plants?
3. Do you think it is a good idea for scientists to make new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather? Why or why not?
4. How do you think planting trees that give shade to the saffron plants can help them grow?
5. Do you think growing saffron inside big metal boxes without using soil is a good idea? Why or why not?
6. How do you think the lack of help for farmers affects their ability to grow saffron?
7. Why do you think saffron is important for cooking and medicine in India?
8. How would you feel if you were a saffron farmer and you couldn’t grow as much saffron as before?
9. Do you like saffron? Why or why not?
10. What do you think can be done to solve the problems faced by saffron farmers in India?
11. How do you think the saffron farming industry in India can be protected for the future?
12. Do you think it is important to find ways to help farmers grow saffron? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. saffron
2. plants
3. weather
4. buildings
5. farmers
6. trees
7. shade
8. cooking

Meanings:
(a) The condition of the atmosphere, like hot or cold
(b) Tall plants with leaves and branches
(c) Structures made by people, like houses and offices
(d) An area of darkness created by something blocking the sun
(e) Living things that grow in the ground
(f) People who grow crops and take care of animals
(g) The process of preparing food by heating it
(h) A special and expensive spice grown in India
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are saffron plants having trouble growing in India?
(a) There are too many buildings being built.
(b) Farmers are not getting enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron.
(c) The weather is changing and there is less rain and hotter days.
(d) All of the above.

2. How are scientists trying to help with the saffron plants?
(a) They are planting trees that give shade to the saffron plants.
(b) They are making new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather.
(c) They are trying a completely new way to grow saffron inside big metal boxes without using soil.
(d) All of the above.

3. Why is saffron farming in India important?
(a) Saffron is a very special and expensive spice.
(b) Saffron farming helps the economy in India.
(c) None of the above.
(d) Saffron is used for cooking and medicine in India.

4. What is the main problem for saffron farmers in India?
(a) There are too many buildings being built.
(b) Farmers are not getting enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron.
(c) The weather is changing and there is less rain and hotter days.
(d) All of the above.

5. How do scientists change the saffron plants’ seeds?
(a) They use a special method that changes the seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger.
(b) They use a special method that changes the seeds with water.
(c) They use a special method that changes the seeds with soil.
(d) None of the above.

6. What do farmers learn to do to help the saffron plants grow?
(a) They learn to water the plants more often.
(b) They learn to plant trees that give shade to the saffron plants.
(c) They learn to plant the saffron plants in bigger fields.
(d) None of the above.

7. Why are there fewer fields where saffron can be planted in India?
(a) There are too many buildings being built.
(b) The weather is changing and there is less rain and hotter days.
(c) Farmers are not getting enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron.
(d) None of the above.

8. What is the special method that scientists use to help the saffron plants grow better?
(a) They change the plants’ seeds with water.
(b) They change the plants’ seeds with soil.
(c) None of the above.
(d) They change the plants’ seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The changing weather makes it easy for saffron plants to grow.
2. Scientists are not trying to help by creating new types of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather.
3. The weather in India is stable, with more rain and cooler days.
4. Farmers are not receiving enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron or water their plants.
5. In India, people grow a special and expensive spice called saffron.
6. No farmers are experimenting with growing saffron inside metal boxes without using soil.
7. Farmers are learning to plant trees that provide shade for saffron plants, which helps them grow.
8. There are fewer fields available for saffron planting because more buildings are being built.
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 are Indian farmers having trouble growing saffron?
2. What are some of the problems that the weather is causing for saffron plants?
3. How are scientists trying to help the farmers grow saffron?
4. What are some ways that farmers are learning to protect the saffron plants from the weather?
5. Why is it important to find solutions to the problems facing saffron farming in India?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the special spice that people grow in India?
The special spice that people grow in India is called saffron.

2. Why are the saffron plants having trouble growing as much as before?
The saffron plants are having trouble growing as much as before because the weather is changing. There is less rain and hotter days, which makes it hard for the saffron plants to grow.

3. What are scientists doing to help the saffron plants grow better?
Scientists are making new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather. They use a special method to change the plants’ seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger. This helps the plants grow better.

4. How are farmers learning to help the saffron plants grow?
Farmers are learning to plant trees that give shade to the saffron plants. This helps the saffron plants grow better. Some farmers are also trying a new way to grow saffron inside big metal boxes without using soil.

5. Why is saffron farming in India having a hard time?
Saffron farming in India is having a hard time because of the weather. There is less rain and hotter days, which makes it hard for the saffron plants to grow. Also, there are fewer fields where saffron can be planted because more buildings are being built. Farmers also don’t have enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron or to water their plants.

6. What are people doing to try and fix the problems with saffron farming?
People are trying to fix the problems with saffron farming by making new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather. They are also planting trees that give shade to the saffron plants, which helps them grow. Some people are even trying a completely new way to grow saffron inside big metal boxes without using soil.

7. Why is growing saffron important in India?
Growing saffron is important in India because it is used for cooking and medicine. It is a special and expensive spice that is used in many traditional Indian dishes. It also has some health benefits and is used in traditional Indian medicine.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) spice
(2) saffron
(3) trouble
(4) enough
(5) help
(6) Scientists
(7) trees
(8) helps
(9) trying
(10) Saffron
(11) weather
(12) buildings
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. saffron
Answer: (h) A special and expensive spice grown in India

2. plants
Answer: (e) Living things that grow in the ground

3. weather
Answer: (a) The condition of the atmosphere, like hot or cold

4. buildings
Answer: (c) Structures made by people, like houses and offices

5. farmers
Answer: (f) People who grow crops and take care of animals

6. trees
Answer: (b) Tall plants with leaves and branches

7. shade
Answer: (d) An area of darkness created by something blocking the sun

8. cooking
Answer: (g) The process of preparing food by heating it
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are saffron plants having trouble growing in India?
Answer: (c) The weather is changing and there is less rain and hotter days.

2. How are scientists trying to help with the saffron plants?
Answer: (b) They are making new kinds of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather.

3. Why is saffron farming in India important?
Answer: (d) Saffron is used for cooking and medicine in India.

4. What is the main problem for saffron farmers in India?
Answer: (c) The weather is changing and there is less rain and hotter days.

5. How do scientists change the saffron plants’ seeds?
Answer: (a) They use a special method that changes the seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger.

6. What do farmers learn to do to help the saffron plants grow?
Answer: (b) They learn to plant trees that give shade to the saffron plants.

7. Why are there fewer fields where saffron can be planted in India?
Answer: (a) There are too many buildings being built.

8. What is the special method that scientists use to help the saffron plants grow better?
Answer: (d) They change the plants’ seeds with something like sunlight, but much stronger.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The changing weather makes it easy for saffron plants to grow. (Answer: False)
2. Scientists are not trying to help by creating new types of saffron plants that can handle the tough weather. (Answer: False)
3. The weather in India is stable, with more rain and cooler days. (Answer: False)
4. Farmers are not receiving enough help to learn new ways to grow saffron or water their plants. (Answer: True)
5. In India, people grow a special and expensive spice called saffron. (Answer: True)
6. No farmers are experimenting with growing saffron inside metal boxes without using soil. (Answer: False)
7. Farmers are learning to plant trees that provide shade for saffron plants, which helps them grow. (Answer: True)
8. There are fewer fields available for saffron planting because more buildings are being built. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧