In Brazil and Colombia, leaders are working hard to save trees in big forests. In Brazil, they were able to save 39% more trees than before because the new leaders care about the environment. Colombia did even better by saving almost half of their trees, thanks to President Gustavo Petro Urrego. But in other places like Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua, more trees are being cut down, which made the world lose 25% more trees.

Even though Brazil and Colombia are doing a good job, there are still too many trees being cut down around the world. Cutting down big, old forests is very bad because these forests help stop the earth from getting too hot. A report says we need to work faster to save these forests. We promised to do better by 2021, and we only have six years left to keep that promise.

The story shows that what leaders decide to do can really help save trees. In Brazil, when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came back, fewer trees were lost because he made strong rules to protect the environment. In Colombia, the government and people worked together to save a lot of trees. This shows that if leaders and people work together, they can save the forests and help the earth.

Original news source: Dramatic drop in logging in key Amazon countries (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Ask them 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 students into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask each group to discuss their opinions on the importance of saving trees.
3. Provide a list of questions for them to discuss, such as “Do you think saving trees is important? Why or why not?”
4. After the discussion, have each group share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article on individual slips of paper.
2. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
3. Give each group a set of vocabulary words.
4. Ask one student from each group to pick a word and draw a picture to represent it.
5. The rest of the group must guess the word based on the drawing.
6. Repeat the process with different words and rotate the drawing responsibility within each group.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Select a scene or situation from the article, such as “Brazilian leaders saving trees” or “Colombian government and people working together.”
3. Ask each group to create a sketch or comic strip that depicts the scene or situation.
4. Give them some time to draw and then have each group present their sketch to the class, explaining the story behind it.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask each group to imagine they are environmental leaders in their own country.
3. Instruct them to discuss and make predictions about what they would do to save trees in the future.
4. Have each group share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are the leaders in Brazil and Colombia doing to help save trees?
2. How much more trees were saved in Brazil compared to before?
3. Who is the President of Colombia that helped save a lot of trees?
4. Which countries are cutting down more trees?
5. Why is cutting down big, old forests bad for the earth?
6. What does the report say about saving forests?
7. What does the story show about the importance of leaders and people working together to save trees?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In Brazil and Colombia, leaders are working hard to (1)______ trees in big forests. In Brazil, they were able to save 39% more trees than before because the new leaders care about the environment. Colombia did even better by saving almost half of their trees, thanks to President (2)______ Petro (3)______. But in other places like Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua, more (4)______ are being cut down, which made the world lose 25% more trees.

Even though (5)______ and (6)______ are doing a good job, there are still too many trees being cut down around the world. Cutting down big, old forests is very bad because these (7)______ help stop the earth from getting too hot. A (8)______ says we need to work faster to save these forests. We promised to do better by 2021, and we only have six years (9)______ to keep that promise.

The story shows that what leaders decide to do can really help save trees. In Brazil, when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (10)______ back, fewer trees were lost because he made (11)______ rules to protect the environment. In Colombia, the government and people (12)______ together to save a lot of trees. This shows that if leaders and people work together, they can save the forests and help the earth.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a forest?
2. How would you feel if you saw a lot of trees being cut down?
3. Do you like trees? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to save trees? Why or why not?
5. How do you think cutting down trees affects the earth?
6. What can leaders do to help save trees?
7. Have you ever seen a big, old forest? What was it like?
8. How can people work together to save forests?
9. Do you think we should make stronger rules to protect the environment? Why or why not?
10. What do you think will happen if we don’t save the forests?
11. How can we work faster to save the forests?
12. What can you do to help save trees in your community?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. environment
2. Colombia
3. forests
4. Bolivia
5. report
6. promise
7. leaders
8. protect
9. government
10. earth
11. rules
12. together

Meanings:
(A) A country in South America that has lots of mountains and forests
(B) Our planet, where we live
(C) People who are in charge and make important decisions
(D) The air, water, and land around us where plants and animals live
(E) A country in South America known for its coffee and beautiful mountains
(F) A written or spoken description that gives information about something
(G) To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger
(H) Instructions that people must follow
(I) Doing something with others, not alone
(J) The group of people who make and enforce laws in a country
(K) Big areas filled with lots of trees and wildlife
(L) Saying you will definitely do something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which countries were able to save more trees?
(a) Bolivia and Laos
(b) Brazil and Colombia
(c) Nicaragua and Colombia
(d) Brazil and Bolivia

2. How much more trees did Brazil save compared to before?
(a) 25%
(b) 39%
(c) 50%
(d) 75%

3. Who is the President of Colombia?
(a) Gustavo Petro Urrego
(b) Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
(c) Jair Bolsonaro
(d) None of the above

4. Why is cutting down big, old forests bad?
(a) They provide homes for animals.
(b) They provide wood for building houses.
(c) They help stop the earth from getting too hot.
(d) They create more space for farming.

5. When did Brazil lose fewer trees?
(a) When President Gustavo Petro Urrego came to power.
(b) When President Jair Bolsonaro was elected.
(c) None of the above
(d) When President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came back.

6. What did the report say about saving forests?
(a) We are doing a great job already.
(b) We have saved enough trees.
(c) We need to work faster.
(d) None of the above

7. Who can save the forests and help the earth?
(a) Leaders and people working together.
(b) Only the government.
(c) Only the environmental organizations.
(d) None of the above

8. How many years do we have left to keep the promise of saving trees?
(a) Ten years
(b) Two years
(c) None of the above
(d) Six years

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Colombia destroyed almost half of their trees, despite President Gustavo Petro Urrego’s efforts.
2. The story shows that when leaders and people work against each other, they can harm the forests and hinder the earth.
3. Cutting down big, old forests is bad because they help stop the earth from getting too hot.
4. Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua are cutting down more trees, causing the world to lose 25% more trees.
5. We promised to do better by 2021 and have six years left to keep that promise.
6. Brazil was unable to save 39% more trees than before because their new leaders do not care about the environment.
7. Brazil and Colombia are working hard to save trees in their big forests.
8. A report says we need to work slower to save these forests.
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 are some countries that have been successful in saving trees?
2. How much more trees did Brazil save compared to before?
3. Why is cutting down big, old forests bad for the earth?
4. What did President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva do to help save trees in Brazil?
5. What does the article suggest about the importance of leaders and people working together to save forests?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are the leaders in Brazil and Colombia doing to help save trees?
The leaders in Brazil and Colombia are making strong rules and working together with the people to protect the forests and stop trees from being cut down.

2. How much more trees were saved in Brazil compared to before?
In Brazil, 39% more trees were saved compared to before.

3. Who is the President of Colombia that helped save a lot of trees?
The President of Colombia who helped save a lot of trees is Gustavo Petro Urrego.

4. Which countries are cutting down more trees?
Countries like Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua are cutting down more trees.

5. Why is cutting down big, old forests bad for the earth?
Cutting down big, old forests is bad for the earth because these forests help stop the earth from getting too hot. They also provide homes for many animals and plants.

6. What does the report say about saving forests?
The report says that we need to work faster to save the forests. We made a promise to do better by 2021, and we only have six years left to keep that promise.

7. What does the story show about the importance of leaders and people working together to save trees?
The story shows that when leaders and people work together, they can save the forests and help the earth. It is important for leaders to make strong rules and for people to support and follow those rules to protect the environment.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) save
(2) Gustavo
(3) Urrego
(4) trees
(5) Brazil
(6) Colombia
(7) forests
(8) report
(9) left
(10) came
(11) strong
(12) worked
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. environment
Answer: (D) The air, water, and land around us where plants and animals live

2. Colombia
Answer: (E) A country in South America known for its coffee and beautiful mountains

3. forests
Answer: (K) Big areas filled with lots of trees and wildlife

4. Bolivia
Answer: (A) A country in South America that has lots of mountains and forests

5. report
Answer: (F) A written or spoken description that gives information about something

6. promise
Answer: (L) Saying you will definitely do something

7. leaders
Answer: (C) People who are in charge and make important decisions

8. protect
Answer: (G) To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger

9. government
Answer: (J) The group of people who make and enforce laws in a country

10. earth
Answer: (B) Our planet, where we live

11. rules
Answer: (H) Instructions that people must follow

12. together
Answer: (I) Doing something with others, not alone
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Which countries were able to save more trees?
Answer: (b) Brazil and Colombia

2. How much more trees did Brazil save compared to before?
Answer: (b) 39%

3. Who is the President of Colombia?
Answer: (a) Gustavo Petro Urrego

4. Why is cutting down big, old forests bad?
Answer: (c) They help stop the earth from getting too hot.

5. When did Brazil lose fewer trees?
Answer: (d) When President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came back.

6. What did the report say about saving forests?
Answer: (c) We need to work faster.

7. Who can save the forests and help the earth?
Answer: (a) Leaders and people working together.

8. How many years do we have left to keep the promise of saving trees?
Answer: (d) Six years
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Colombia destroyed almost half of their trees, despite President Gustavo Petro Urrego’s efforts. (Answer: False)
2. The story shows that when leaders and people work against each other, they can harm the forests and hinder the earth. (Answer: False)
3. Cutting down big, old forests is bad because they help stop the earth from getting too hot. (Answer: True)
4. Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua are cutting down more trees, causing the world to lose 25% more trees. (Answer: True)
5. We promised to do better by 2021 and have six years left to keep that promise. (Answer: True)
6. Brazil was unable to save 39% more trees than before because their new leaders do not care about the environment. (Answer: False)
7. Brazil and Colombia are working hard to save trees in their big forests. (Answer: True)
8. A report says we need to work slower to save these forests. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧