A judge in Michigan has a new idea for punishing people who steal from stores. If someone is caught shoplifting, they have to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot. This is meant to teach them a lesson and help the community. The judge thinks this will stop people from stealing and help shoppers save money.

The judge started this car wash punishment in a town near Detroit. He expects many people will have to wash cars in the spring. The judge was surprised by how many people steal from stores. He hopes that washing cars in public will make people think twice about stealing.

Local leaders like the idea of the car wash punishment. They think it’s a smart way to stop theft. The judge will also wash cars with the people who stole, showing that everyone should help the community. This new idea is getting a lot of attention and support.

Original news source: Michigan judge sentences Walmart shoplifters to wash cars in the parking lot (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out different scenarios related to the article (e.g., shoplifting, washing cars, community service) without using words. The rest of the class will guess what each scenario is.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates if they think the car wash punishment is a good idea or not. They will record the answers and later share their findings with the class.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will be given a few minutes to draw a scene from the article, such as the judge, the car wash, or people stealing. After drawing, they will show their picture to a partner and explain what it represents.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Students will think individually about their opinions on the car wash punishment for shoplifting. Then, they will pair up to discuss their thoughts before sharing their ideas with the whole class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a catchy headline for the article that summarizes the main idea. They will then share their headlines with the class and discuss why they chose those words.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What new punishment does the judge in Michigan have for shoplifters?
2. Where do the people have to wash cars as part of their punishment?
3. Why does the judge think washing cars will help people?
4. In which town near Detroit did the judge start this car wash punishment?
5. How do local leaders feel about the car wash punishment?
6. What does the judge do while the people wash cars?
7. Why is this new idea getting a lot of attention?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A judge in Michigan has a new idea for punishing people who steal from (1)______. If someone is caught shoplifting, they have to wash cars in a Walmart (2)______ lot. This is meant to teach them a (3)______ and help the community. The judge thinks this will stop people from stealing and help shoppers save (4)______.

The judge started this car (5)______ punishment in a town near Detroit. He expects many people will have to wash (6)______ in the (7)______. The judge was surprised by how many people steal from stores. He hopes that washing cars in public will make people (8)______ twice about stealing.

(9)______ leaders like the idea of the car wash punishment. They think it’s a smart way to stop theft. The judge will also wash cars with the people who stole, showing that everyone should help the community. This new idea is getting a lot of attention and support.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion about washing cars as a punishment for stealing?
2. How would you feel if you had to wash cars for stealing?
3. Do you think stealing is a big problem in your town? Why or why not?
4. What is a better way to teach people not to steal?
5. Do you like the idea of helping the community? Why?
6. How would you feel if you saw someone washing cars in public?
7. Do you think people would stop stealing if they had to wash cars? Why or why not?
8. What is a good way to help someone who has made a mistake?
9. Do you think judges should come up with new punishments like this? Why?
10. How would you feel if you had to do community work for a mistake?
11. Do you think helping others can change a person’s behavior? Why or why not?
12. What is a fun way to help your community?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. punishing
2. shoplifting
3. community
4. expects
5. surprised
6. leaders
7. smart
8. theft
9. attention
10. support
11. idea
12. punishment

Meanings:
(A) Making someone suffer for doing something wrong
(B) People in charge or in control
(C) Stealing things from a store
(D) Help or approval
(E) A thought or plan
(F) A group of people living in the same area
(G) Notice or interest from others
(H) Taking something that isn’t yours
(I) Clever or intelligent
(J) Thinks something will happen
(K) A penalty for doing something wrong
(L) Feeling something unexpected happened
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the new punishment for shoplifting in Michigan?
(a) Cleaning houses
(b) Washing cars
(c) Picking up trash
(d) Mowing lawns

2. Where do people have to wash cars as part of their punishment?
(a) Walmart parking lot
(b) School parking lot
(c) Library parking lot
(d) Hospital parking lot

3. Who came up with the idea for this punishment?
(a) A teacher
(b) A judge
(c) A police officer
(d) A mayor

4. What does the judge hope washing cars will do?
(a) Make people laugh
(b) Help them find jobs
(c) Make them famous
(d) Teach a lesson

5. In which town did the judge start this car wash punishment?
(a) Near Chicago
(b) Near New York
(c) Near Detroit
(d) Near Los Angeles

6. How do local leaders feel about the car wash punishment?
(a) They like it
(b) They dislike it
(c) They don’t care
(d) They are confused

7. What does the judge plan to do while people wash cars?
(a) Watch them from a distance
(b) Give them money
(c) Take pictures
(d) Wash cars with them

8. Why is this new idea getting attention?
(a) It is very funny
(b) It is very easy
(c) It is different and helpful
(d) It is very expensive

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. People who steal from stores will wash cars in a Walmart parking lot.
2. This new punishment idea is not getting much attention.
3. The judge wants this punishment to teach a lesson and help the community.
4. A judge in Michigan has an old way to punish shoplifters.
5. The car wash punishment started in a city near Chicago.
6. Local leaders support the idea of washing cars as punishment.
7. The judge will clean cars with the people who stole.
8. The judge is surprised by how many people steal from stores.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What does the judge in Michigan want people to do if they are caught stealing from stores?
2. Why does the judge think washing cars will help people learn a lesson?
3. Where did the judge start this car wash punishment?
4. How do local leaders feel about the car wash punishment idea?
5. What does the judge do while the people who stole are washing cars?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What new punishment does the judge in Michigan have for shoplifters?
The judge makes shoplifters wash cars.

2. Where do the people have to wash cars as part of their punishment?
They have to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot.

3. Why does the judge think washing cars will help people?
The judge thinks it will teach them a lesson and help the community.

4. In which town near Detroit did the judge start this car wash punishment?
The judge started this car wash punishment in a town near Detroit, but the article does not give the town’s name.

5. How do local leaders feel about the car wash punishment?
Local leaders think it is a smart way to stop theft.

6. What does the judge do while the people wash cars?
The judge washes cars with the people who stole.

7. Why is this new idea getting a lot of attention?
This new idea is getting a lot of attention because it is different and many people support it.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) stores
(2) parking
(3) lesson
(4) money
(5) wash
(6) cars
(7) spring
(8) think
(9) Local
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. punishing
Answer: (A) Making someone suffer for doing something wrong

2. shoplifting
Answer: (C) Stealing things from a store

3. community
Answer: (F) A group of people living in the same area

4. expects
Answer: (J) Thinks something will happen

5. surprised
Answer: (L) Feeling something unexpected happened

6. leaders
Answer: (B) People in charge or in control

7. smart
Answer: (I) Clever or intelligent

8. theft
Answer: (H) Taking something that isn’t yours

9. attention
Answer: (G) Notice or interest from others

10. support
Answer: (D) Help or approval

11. idea
Answer: (E) A thought or plan

12. punishment
Answer: (K) A penalty for doing something wrong
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the new punishment for shoplifting in Michigan?
Answer: (b) Washing cars

2. Where do people have to wash cars as part of their punishment?
Answer: (a) Walmart parking lot

3. Who came up with the idea for this punishment?
Answer: (b) A judge

4. What does the judge hope washing cars will do?
Answer: (d) Teach a lesson

5. In which town did the judge start this car wash punishment?
Answer: (c) Near Detroit

6. How do local leaders feel about the car wash punishment?
Answer: (a) They like it

7. What does the judge plan to do while people wash cars?
Answer: (d) Wash cars with them

8. Why is this new idea getting attention?
Answer: (c) It is different and helpful
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. People who steal from stores will wash cars in a Walmart parking lot. (Answer: True)
2. This new punishment idea is not getting much attention. (Answer: False)
3. The judge wants this punishment to teach a lesson and help the community. (Answer: True)
4. A judge in Michigan has an old way to punish shoplifters. (Answer: False)
5. The car wash punishment started in a city near Chicago. (Answer: False)
6. Local leaders support the idea of washing cars as punishment. (Answer: True)
7. The judge will clean cars with the people who stole. (Answer: False)
8. The judge is surprised by how many people steal from stores. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧