Iceland is getting ready for a possible volcano eruption. The weather people there say a volcano near the Reykjanes area might erupt soon. The town of Grindavík, which is close to where the volcano might erupt, has been told to leave. The weather people say the volcano could erupt in a few days.

The ground has been shaking a lot in southwest Iceland, where Grindavík is. Because of this, a famous hot water pool called the Blue Lagoon is closed, and people have left Grindavík. The people who help in emergencies say leaving Grindavík is just to be safe. The roads to Grindavík are closed now, except for emergency cars.

Everyone in Iceland is watching closely because the volcano might erupt soon. They told everyone in Grindavík to leave to keep them safe. Under the ground, there is a long river of hot rock that shows the volcano might start soon. The people in charge are keeping an eye on everything and have said no one can go to Grindavík now. It’s important for people to stay calm and listen to what they are told to do.

Original news source: Iceland volcano: Emergency declared over volcano Fagradalsfjall eruption concerns (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Assign students into pairs. One student is a news reporter, and the other is a local resident of Grindavík. The reporter interviews the resident about the impending volcano eruption and how they are preparing for it. Encourage students to use new vocabulary from the article and to express feelings and safety measures.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper (e.g., volcano, eruption, evacuate, tremors, emergency, etc.). Split the class into two teams and play Pictionary using these words. The team that guesses the word gets a point.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Read the article to the class and then present a series of statements related to volcano eruptions and safety measures (e.g., “It’s better to evacuate too early than too late,” “Natural disasters are unpredictable,” etc.). Students should move to different areas of the room based on whether they agree or disagree, allowing them to physically show their opinions. Afterward, open a discussion to allow students to explain their positions.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Ask students to draw a scene described in the article. They can choose to illustrate the town of Grindavík preparing for the evacuation, the closed Blue Lagoon, or emergency responders blocking the roads. After drawing, they should describe their picture to a partner, using the vocabulary and information from the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: After discussing the article, students write down their predictions about what will happen next with the volcano near Reykjanes. Will it erupt? What will the consequences be? Students can then share their predictions with the class, and the teacher can guide a discussion on using future tense in English.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Iceland getting ready for?
2. Where is the volcano that might erupt located?
3. What did the people in the town of Grindavík have to do?
4. Why is the Blue Lagoon closed?
5. Who can still use the roads to Grindavík?
6. What is under the ground that shows the volcano might start soon?
7. What is important for people to do during this time?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Iceland is getting ready for a possible volcano eruption. The weather people there say a volcano near the Reykjanes area might erupt soon. The (1)______ of (2)______, which is close to where the volcano might erupt, has been told to (3)______. The weather people say the volcano could erupt in a few days.

The ground has been shaking a lot in (4)______ Iceland, where Grindavík is. Because of this, a famous hot (5)______ pool called the Blue Lagoon is closed, and (6)______ have left Grindavík. The people who help in emergencies say leaving Grindavík is just to be safe. The (7)______ to Grindavík are (8)______ now, except for emergency cars.

Everyone in Iceland is watching closely because the volcano might erupt soon. They told everyone in Grindavík to leave to (9)______ them safe. Under the ground, there is a long river of hot rock that shows the volcano might start soon. The people in charge are keeping an eye on everything and have (10)______ no one can go to Grindavík now. It’s important for people to stay (11)______ and (12)______ to what they are told to do.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a volcano?
2. Have you ever seen a volcano in real life or on TV? What did it look like?
3. How would you feel if you lived near a volcano that might erupt?
4. Do you like to visit places like the Blue Lagoon hot water pool? Why or why not?
5. What would you take with you if you had to leave your town quickly?
6. Do you think it’s important to listen to weather people when they say a volcano might erupt? Why?
7. What is an emergency? Can you give an example?
8. How do you think people stay calm in scary situations like a volcano erupting?
9. Do you know what to do if there’s an emergency where you live?
10. If you were in charge, how would you keep people safe from a volcano?
11. Have you ever had to leave your home because of danger? What happened?
12. Would you want to watch a volcano erupt from far away if you could do it safely? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. volcano
2. eruption
3. Grindavík
4. shaking
5. closed
6. safe
7. river
8. calm

Meanings:
(a) Not in danger or harm
(b) Not worried or afraid
(c) When a volcano explodes and makes fire
(d) When the ground moves a lot
(e) A long line of hot rock under the ground
(f) A town in Iceland that might be in danger
(g) Not open or available
(h) A mountain that can explode and make fire
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where is the volcano that might erupt soon located?
(a) Near the Blue Lagoon
(b) Near the Reykjanes area
(c) In the town of Grindavík
(d) In southwest Iceland

2. Why has the Blue Lagoon been closed?
(a) Because the volcano has already erupted
(b) Because the weather people said so
(c) Because the roads to Grindavík are closed
(d) Because the ground has been shaking a lot

3. Why have people left the town of Grindavík?
(a) Because the Blue Lagoon is closed
(b) To be safe
(c) Because the roads are closed
(d) Because the volcano has already erupted

4. What are the weather people in Iceland doing?
(a) Watching closely for a possible volcano eruption
(b) Helping people in emergencies
(c) Closing the roads to Grindavík
(d) Telling everyone to leave Grindavík

5. What is the advice for people in Iceland?
(a) Go to Grindavík to see the volcano eruption
(b) Ignore the weather people’s warnings
(c) Open the roads to Grindavík
(d) Stay calm and listen to what they are told to do

6. What is the current status of the roads to Grindavík?
(a) Closed, except for emergency cars
(b) Open to everyone
(c) Closed for repairs
(d) Open only during the day

7. What is the reason for telling everyone in Grindavík to leave?
(a) To watch the volcano eruption from a safe distance
(b) To cause panic and chaos
(c) To keep them safe
(d) To test the emergency response system

8. What is the main concern in Iceland right now?
(a) The closure of the Blue Lagoon
(b) The shaking ground in southwest Iceland
(c) The possibility of a volcano eruption
(d) The safety of the people in Grindavík

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The people in charge have given permission for anyone to go to Grindavík now.
2. The famous hot water pool called the Blue Lagoon is closed because of the shaking ground.
3. The weather people in Iceland think a volcano near Reykjanes might erupt soon.
4. People have flocked to Grindavík for safety.
5. The town of Grindavík, which is close to the volcano, has been advised to stay.
6. Everyone in Iceland is watching closely for the volcano to erupt.
7. The roads to Grindavík are open to all vehicles.
8. Iceland is preparing for a possible volcano eruption.
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 might happen near the Reykjanes area in Iceland?
2. What did the weather people tell the town of Grindavík to do?
3. Why is the Blue Lagoon closed right now?
4. Who can still use the roads to Grindavík?
5. What should people in Iceland do while waiting for the volcano?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Iceland getting ready for?
Iceland is getting ready for a volcano that might erupt soon.

2. Where is the volcano that might erupt located?
The volcano is near the Reykjanes area.

3. What did the people in the town of Grindavík have to do?
The people in the town of Grindavík were told to leave the town.

4. Why is the Blue Lagoon closed?
The Blue Lagoon is closed because the ground is shaking a lot, which can be dangerous.

5. Who can still use the roads to Grindavík?
Only emergency cars can use the roads to Grindavík now.

6. What is under the ground that shows the volcano might start soon?
There is a long river of hot rock under the ground that shows the volcano might start soon.

7. What is important for people to do during this time?
It is important for people to stay calm and listen to what they are told to do.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) town
(2) Grindavík
(3) leave
(4) southwest
(5) water
(6) people
(7) roads
(8) closed
(9) keep
(10) said
(11) calm
(12) listen
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. volcano
Answer: (h) A mountain that can explode and make fire

2. eruption
Answer: (c) When a volcano explodes and makes fire

3. Grindavík
Answer: (f) A town in Iceland that might be in danger

4. shaking
Answer: (d) When the ground moves a lot

5. closed
Answer: (g) Not open or available

6. safe
Answer: (a) Not in danger or harm

7. river
Answer: (e) A long line of hot rock under the ground

8. calm
Answer: (b) Not worried or afraid
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where is the volcano that might erupt soon located?
Answer: (b) Near the Reykjanes area

2. Why has the Blue Lagoon been closed?
Answer: (d) Because the ground has been shaking a lot

3. Why have people left the town of Grindavík?
Answer: (b) To be safe

4. What are the weather people in Iceland doing?
Answer: (a) Watching closely for a possible volcano eruption

5. What is the advice for people in Iceland?
Answer: (d) Stay calm and listen to what they are told to do

6. What is the current status of the roads to Grindavík?
Answer: (a) Closed, except for emergency cars

7. What is the reason for telling everyone in Grindavík to leave?
Answer: (c) To keep them safe

8. What is the main concern in Iceland right now?
Answer: (c) The possibility of a volcano eruption
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The people in charge have given permission for anyone to go to Grindavík now. (Answer: False)
2. The famous hot water pool called the Blue Lagoon is closed because of the shaking ground. (Answer: True)
3. The weather people in Iceland think a volcano near Reykjanes might erupt soon. (Answer: True)
4. People have flocked to Grindavík for safety. (Answer: False)
5. The town of Grindavík, which is close to the volcano, has been advised to stay. (Answer: False)
6. Everyone in Iceland is watching closely for the volcano to erupt. (Answer: True)
7. The roads to Grindavík are open to all vehicles. (Answer: False)
8. Iceland is preparing for a possible volcano eruption. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧