A recent study found that one out of every three kids has trouble seeing things far away, a condition called short-sightedness or myopia. This problem is becoming more common among young people, possibly because they spend a lot of time looking at screens and less time outside, especially during the Covid lockdowns. Experts predict that by 2050, even more children could have this issue.
The study showed that places like Japan, South Korea, China, and Russia have the highest rates of myopia, while countries like Paraguay and Uganda have lower levels. Over five million kids and teens from 50 countries were part of the research, which revealed a big increase in short-sightedness, especially after the Covid pandemic.
Myopia usually starts in primary school and gets worse until around age 20 when the eye stops growing. Things like genetics and spending too much time on screens can make myopia worse. Girls tend to have more myopia than boys, possibly because they start puberty earlier.
To protect kids' eyesight, experts suggest that children spend at least two hours outside every day, especially between ages seven and nine. It's also important to get regular eye check-ups since myopia often runs in families. While myopia can't be cured, it can be managed with glasses or contact lenses. Special lenses that help the eye grow differently might slow down myopia in young children, but they can be expensive.
It's important to notice signs of myopia early, like having trouble seeing things far away, sitting close to screens, getting headaches, or rubbing the eyes a lot. By encouraging outdoor activities, regular eye check-ups, and knowing the risk factors for myopia, parents and caregivers can help protect children's eye health and overall well-being.
Original news source: One in three children short-sighted, study suggests (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide students into pairs. Each pair will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. After a few minutes, have pairs share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of questions related to the article, such as "Do you think spending too much time on screens is the main cause of myopia in children?" or "Should schools include more outdoor activities to prevent myopia?" Have students move around the class, asking their classmates the questions and recording their answers. Afterward, discuss the results as a class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Have students pick a word and draw it on the board without using any letters or numbers. Their classmates must guess the word based on the drawing. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary retention.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about a time when they or someone they know experienced myopia or any other eye condition. Then, pair them up to discuss their thoughts and experiences. Finally, have a few pairs share their discussions with the whole class.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the students into small groups. Assign each group a key point from the article (e.g., the causes of myopia, ways to prevent myopia, signs of myopia). Ask them to create a visual representation of their assigned point on a piece of paper. After a few minutes, have each group present their sketch to the class and explain their thinking behind it.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Short-sightedness or myopia.
Experts think myopia is becoming more common among young people because they spend a lot of time looking at screens and less time outside, especially during the Covid lockdowns.
Countries like Japan, South Korea, China, and Russia have the highest rates of myopia according to the study.
Myopia usually starts in primary school and gets worse until around age 20 when the eye stops growing.
Girls tend to have more myopia than boys, possibly because they start puberty earlier.
Experts suggest that children spend at least two hours outside every day, especially between ages seven and nine, to protect their eyesight.
Myopia cannot be cured, but it can be managed with glasses or contact lenses. Special lenses that help the eye grow differently might slow down myopia in young children, but they can be expensive.
Some signs that someone might have myopia include having trouble seeing things far away, sitting close to screens, getting headaches, or rubbing the eyes a lot.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A recent found that one out of every three kids has seeing things far away, a condition called short-sightedness or myopia. This problem is becoming more common among young people, possibly because they spend a lot of time looking at screens and less time outside, especially during the lockdowns. Experts predict that by 2050, even more children could have this issue. The study that places like Japan, South Korea, China, and Russia have the highest rates of , while like Paraguay and Uganda have lower . Over five million kids and teens from 50 countries were part of the research, which revealed a big increase in short-sightedness, especially after the Covid pandemic. usually starts in primary school and gets worse until around age 20 when the eye stops growing. Things like genetics and spending too much time on screens can make myopia . Girls tend to have more myopia than boys, possibly because they puberty earlier. To kids' eyesight, experts suggest that children spend at least two hours outside every day, especially between ages seven and nine. It's also important to get regular eye check-ups since myopia often runs in families. While myopia can't be , it can be managed with glasses or contact lenses. Special lenses that help the eye grow differently might slow down myopia in young , but they can be expensive. It's important to notice signs of myopia early, like having trouble seeing things far away, sitting close to screens, getting headaches, or the eyes a lot. By encouraging activities, regular eye check-ups, and knowing the risk factors for myopia, parents and caregivers can help protect children's eye health and well-being.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is myopia and why do you think it's becoming more common among kids?
2. How would you feel if you had trouble seeing things far away like some kids do?
3. Do you like spending time outside? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it's important for kids to have regular eye check-ups? Why?
5. What are some ways parents and caregivers can help protect children's eye health according to the article?
6. How do you think spending too much time on screens can affect your eyesight?
7. Why do you think girls tend to have more myopia than boys?
8. What are some signs of myopia that the article mentions?
9. How do you think myopia can affect a child's overall well-being?
10. Why is it suggested that children spend at least two hours outside every day?
11. Do you think it's easy to manage myopia with glasses or contact lenses? Why or why not?
12. What do you think could be done to raise awareness about the importance of eye health among kids?
13. How do you think genetics play a role in the development of myopia?
14. Why do you think the study found higher rates of myopia in certain countries compared to others?
15. What outdoor activities do you enjoy that could help protect your eyesight, according to the experts in the article?
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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