The leader of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has asked the army to help farmers grow rice. There hasn't been enough rain because of something called El NiΓ±o, which makes it hard to grow enough rice. Rice is very important for people in Indonesia to eat. The president wants the army to use the little rain that has fallen to plant more rice quickly.
El NiΓ±o is making the weather very hot and dry in places near Indonesia. This bad weather means not enough rice can grow. Also, not many people want to work on the farms because they can make more money in the city. The army will help so there will be enough people to work on the farms and grow rice.
The army in Indonesia will work with the people who grow food to help plant rice. They will use land that the army has but isn't using. The army will get seeds and machines to help them grow the rice. The country will also buy rice from other places because they need a lot of it. Indonesia is buying more rice from other countries than almost anyone else.
Original news source: Indonesia asks military to help farmers plant rice (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a slip of paper with a word related to the article (e.g. rice, army, El NiΓ±o, Indonesia). One student from each group will act out the word without speaking, while the other group members guess what it is. The group who guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, have students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep it concise. After both partners have summarized, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences or additional information.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write three statements related to the article on the board (e.g. "The army should help farmers grow rice," "Indonesia should rely on buying rice from other countries," "El NiΓ±o is a serious problem for farmers"). Have students stand up and move to one side of the room to indicate whether they agree, disagree, or are unsure about each statement. Once they have chosen their position, they can discuss their opinions in small groups and try to convince others to change their position if they disagree.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. leader, rain, farmers, rice). One student will choose a word and draw a picture representing it, while the other student tries to guess the word. They can switch roles after each word. The pair with the most correct guesses wins.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about what might happen in the future based on the information in the article. They can consider questions such as: Will the army's help be successful in growing more rice? What other challenges might arise due to El NiΓ±o? How might the situation affect the economy of Indonesia? After the discussion, each group can share their predictions with the class.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Because there hasn't been enough rain and it's hard to grow enough rice.
El NiΓ±o is when the weather gets very hot and dry. It makes it difficult for rice to grow because there is not enough rain.
Because there hasn't been enough rain due to El NiΓ±o.
Because they can make more money in the city.
The army will work with the farmers to plant rice and use their land and machines to help grow the rice.
They will use the land that the army has but isn't using.
Because they need a lot of rice and they don't have enough because of the bad weather.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The leader of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has asked the army to help farmers grow . There hasn't been enough rain because of something called El NiΓ±o, which makes it to grow enough rice. is very important for people in Indonesia to eat. The president wants the to use the little rain that has fallen to more rice quickly. El NiΓ±o is making the weather very hot and dry in places near Indonesia. This bad weather not enough rice can grow. Also, not many people want to work on the because they can make more money in the city. The army will help so there will be enough to work on the farms and grow rice. The army in Indonesia will work with the people who grow food to help plant rice. They will use that the army has but isn't using. The army will get seeds and machines to help them grow the rice. The country will also buy rice from places because they a lot of it. Indonesia is more rice from other countries than almost anyone else.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is El NiΓ±o and how does it affect the weather?
2. How do you think the lack of rain affects farmers and growing rice?
3. Do you think it's a good idea for the army to help farmers grow rice? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you had to work on a farm instead of in the city? Why?
5. Do you like rice? Why or why not?
6. Why is rice important for people in Indonesia to eat?
7. How do you think the army can help farmers grow more rice?
8. What do you think about Indonesia buying rice from other countries? Is it a good idea? Why or why not?
9. Do you think the army should use their land to grow rice? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you were a farmer in Indonesia and there wasn't enough rain to grow rice? Why?
11. What other crops do you think the army could help farmers grow?
12. Do you think the government should provide more support to farmers? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
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