Many children around the world are having trouble seeing things far away. This problem is called myopia, or being short-sighted. The number of children with myopia is growing, especially in Asia. Using screens a lot and not playing outside enough are making it worse, especially during the Covid lockdowns.
During Covid lockdowns, kids stayed inside more, which hurt their eyesight. By 2050, more than half of teenagers might have myopia. Girls might get it more than boys because they spend less time outside. Experts say kids should play outside for at least two hours every day to help their eyes.
Parents can help by making sure kids play outside and get their eyes checked regularly. Myopia can't be cured, but glasses or contact lenses can help. Special lenses can also slow it down in kids. Taking care of kids' eyes now can help prevent problems when they grow up.
Original news source: One in three children short-sighted, study suggests (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Write down words related to the article on small pieces of paper (e.g., myopia, screens, outdoors, glasses). Have students take turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking while the others guess what it is.
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student summarizes the article about myopia to their partner in their own words. Then, they switch roles. Encourage the use of different vocabulary and expressions each time they summarize.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word "myopia" on the board. Ask students to call out words or phrases that they associate with myopia. Encourage them to explain their associations. This can help expand their vocabulary related to the topic.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Have a student pick a word and draw it on the board without writing any letters or numbers. The rest of the class tries to guess the word.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about how they can take care of their eyes based on the information in the article. Then, have them pair up and share their ideas. Finally, open the discussion to the whole class and encourage students to share their partners' thoughts as well.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Myopia is also known as being short-sighted.
More children are having trouble seeing things far away because they use screens a lot and don't play outside enough.
Spending time outside can help prevent myopia by giving kids' eyes a break from looking at things up close all the time.
Parents can help by making sure their kids play outside for at least two hours every day and get their eyes checked regularly.
Myopia can't be cured completely, but glasses or contact lenses can help improve vision.
Glasses or contact lenses can help by making things far away look clearer for people with myopia.
It's important to take care of kids' eyes now to prevent vision problems when they grow up.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Many around the world are having trouble seeing things far away. This problem is called , or being short-sighted. The number of children with myopia is growing, especially in Asia. screens a lot and not playing outside enough are making it , especially during the . During Covid lockdowns, kids stayed inside more, which hurt their eyesight. By 2050, more than half of teenagers might have myopia. might get it more than because they spend less time outside. Experts say kids should play outside for at least two every day to help their eyes. Parents can help by making sure kids play outside and get their checked regularly. Myopia can't be cured, but glasses or contact lenses can help. Special lenses can also slow it down in . Taking of kids' eyes now can help prevent problems when they grow up.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is myopia and why do you think it's a problem for kids?
2. How would you feel if you had to play outside for two hours every day?
3. Do you like spending time outside playing? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it's important for kids to get their eyes checked regularly? Why?
5. What do you think might happen if kids don't take care of their eyes when they are young?
6. How do you think wearing glasses or contact lenses can help with myopia?
7. Why do you think girls might get myopia more than boys?
8. What are some things you can do to protect your eyes while using screens a lot?
9. How do you think special lenses can help slow down myopia in kids?
10. Do you think it's better to play outside or stay inside all day? Why?
11. Why do you think playing outside is good for kids' eyes?
12. How can parents help their kids take care of their eyes better?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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