Many people in the UK and other countries are not getting enough sleep. This can cause health problems and cost businesses a lot of money. To help people sleep better, there are now many apps and other technologies available. For example, there are apps that provide soothing bedtime stories, track sleep patterns, and even help manage sleep disorders. Some health agencies are now recommending these technologies to help people sleep better. However, there can be downsides to using technology at night, such as the bright light from the phone screen. Experts suggest that people should try to learn from the technology so they can eventually sleep without it. Some people may also need more personalized medical treatments to help them sleep. Overall, it is important to recognize the importance of sleep for our health and well-being.
Original news source: The tech helping people get a better night’s sleep (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. BEDTIME STORY APP
Instructions: Ask students to discuss with a partner or in small groups about how they prepare for bed. Do they read a book, listen to music, or do something else? Then, introduce the concept of a bedtime story app that can help people fall asleep faster. Ask students to brainstorm ideas for what kind of bedtime stories they would like to hear.
2. SLEEP PATTERNS
Instructions: Draw a table on the whiteboard with the days of the week as columns and the hours of the day as rows. Ask students to fill in their sleep patterns for the past week, including what time they went to bed and woke up each day. Then, ask them to compare their patterns with a partner and discuss any similarities or differences.
3. TECHNOLOGY AT NIGHT
Instructions: Discuss the article with the students and ask them if they use technology at night. Do they think it helps or hinders their sleep? Then, ask them to brainstorm a list of activities they could do instead of using technology before bed.
4. SLEEP DISORDERS
Instructions: Introduce the concept of sleep disorders and explain that some people need medical treatments to help them sleep. Ask students to work in pairs and research a different type of sleep disorder (e.g. insomnia, sleep apnea) and present their findings to the class.
5. THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP
Instructions: Have students create posters or infographics that highlight the importance of sleep for our health and well-being. They can include facts, statistics, and tips for getting a good night’s rest. Then, ask them to present their posters to the class and discuss any similarities or differences between their ideas.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why do some people in the UK and other countries not get enough sleep?
2. What can happen if people don’t get enough sleep?
3. What are some technologies that can help people sleep better?
4. Do health agencies recommend using technology to help people sleep better?
5. What is a downside of using technology at night?
6. What do experts suggest people should do with technology to help them sleep without it eventually?
7. Do some people need medical treatments to help them sleep?
8. Why is it important to recognize the importance of sleep for our health and well-being?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Many people in the UK and other countries are not getting enough (1)______. This can cause health problems and cost businesses a lot of (2)______. To help people sleep better, there are now many apps and other (3)___________ available. For example, there are apps that provide soothing bedtime stories, track sleep patterns, and even help manage sleep (4)__________. Some health agencies are now recommending these technologies to help people sleep better. However, there can be downsides to using technology at night, such as the bright light from the (5)_______ screen. Experts suggest that people should try to learn from the technology so they can eventually sleep without it. Some people may also need more personalized medical (6)___________ to help them sleep. Overall, it is important to recognize the importance of sleep for our (7)_________ and well-being.
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Do you think it’s important to get enough sleep?
2. Have you ever had trouble sleeping?
3. Do you think using technology can help you sleep better?
4. Have you ever used an app to help you sleep?
5. Do you think staring at a bright phone screen can affect your sleep?
6. What do you do to help you fall asleep?
7. Have you ever heard a bedtime story to help you sleep?
8. Do you think it’s important to have a regular sleep pattern?
9. What do you think happens to your body when you don’t get enough sleep?
10. Do you think sleep is important for your health?
11. How many hours of sleep do you think you need each night?
12. What do you think are some good ways to relax before bed?
13. Do you know anyone who has trouble sleeping?
14. Have you ever tried any home remedies to help you sleep?
15. What do you think is the best way to get a good night’s sleep?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. sleep
2. apps
3. bedtime
4. health
5. technology
6. patterns
7. disorders
8. personalized
Meanings:
A) The way something happens or is repeated
B) Something that helps you do something else
C) The time when you go to bed
D) The condition of your body and mind
E) Using computers, phones, and other devices to do things
F) Problems with your body or mind
G) Making something just for you
H) Resting your body and mind
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why is it important to get enough sleep?
(a) It helps you make friends
(b) It can cause health problems
(c) It makes you better at sports
(d) It helps you get better grades
2. What can technology do to help people sleep better?
(a) Provide delicious food
(b) Track sleep patterns
(c) Teach you how to play an instrument
(d) Help you learn a new language
3. What can be a downside to using technology at night?
(a) It can make you too warm
(b) It can make you too cold
(c) It can make it too bright
(d) It can make it too dark
4. What is one type of app that can help people sleep better?
(a) Social media
(b) Video games
(c) Bedtime stories
(d) Exercise trackers
5. What are some health problems that can be caused by not getting enough sleep?
(a) Headaches and back pain
(b) Stomachaches and ear infections
(c) Sunburn and allergies
(d) Depression and heart disease
6. What should people do to eventually sleep without technology?
(a) Keep using technology every night
(b) Learn from the technology
(c) Throw away all technology
(d) Sleep during the day instead
7. What might some people need to help them sleep better?
(a) A new phone
(b) More friends
(c) Personalized medical treatments
(d) More exercise
8. Why is it important to recognize the importance of sleep?
(a) So you can stay up late
(b) So you can watch TV all night
(c) So you can be healthy and happy
(d) So you can skip school
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. People in the UK and other countries are getting too much sleep.
2. Not getting enough sleep can cause health problems.
3. There are apps that can help people sleep better.
4. Sleep apps never have any downsides.
5. Health agencies recommend using technology to help people sleep.
6. Experts suggest people should eventually learn to sleep without technology.
7. Everyone can benefit from the same medical treatments to help them sleep.
8. It’s not important to recognize the importance of sleep for our health and well-being.
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 is the article about?
2. Why is it important to get enough sleep?
3. What are some technologies that can help people sleep better?
4. Are there any downsides to using technology at night?
5. What should people do to eventually sleep without technology?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Why do some people in the UK and other countries not get enough sleep?
Answer: Some people in the UK and other countries do not get enough sleep because they stay up late or have trouble falling asleep.
2. What can happen if people don’t get enough sleep?
Answer: If people don’t get enough sleep, it can cause health problems like feeling tired, grumpy, or getting sick more easily.
3. What are some technologies that can help people sleep better?
Answer: Some technologies that can help people sleep better are apps that provide soothing bedtime stories, track sleep patterns, and help manage sleep disorders.
4. Do health agencies recommend using technology to help people sleep better?
Answer: Yes, some health agencies recommend using technology to help people sleep better.
5. What is a downside of using technology at night?
Answer: A downside of using technology at night is the bright light from the phone screen, which can make it harder to sleep.
6. What do experts suggest people should do with technology to help them sleep without it eventually?
Answer: Experts suggest that people should try to learn from the technology so they can eventually sleep without it.
7. Do some people need medical treatments to help them sleep?
Answer: Yes, some people need medical treatments to help them sleep.
8. Why is it important to recognize the importance of sleep for our health and well-being?
Answer: It is important to recognize the importance of sleep for our health and well-being because sleep helps our bodies rest and recharge, so we can feel better and be healthier.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. sleep
2. money
3. technologies
4. disorders
5. phone
6. treatments
7. health
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. sleep
Answer: H) Resting your body and mind
2. apps
Answer: B) Something that helps you do something else
3. bedtime
Answer: C) The time when you go to bed
4. health
Answer: D) The condition of your body and mind
5. technology
Answer: E) Using computers, phones, and other devices to do things
6. patterns
Answer: A) The way something happens or is repeated
7. disorders
Answer: F) Problems with your body or mind
8. personalized
Answer: G) Making something just for you
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why is it important to get enough sleep?
Answer: (b) It can cause health problems
2. What can technology do to help people sleep better?
Answer: (b) Track sleep patterns
3. What can be a downside to using technology at night?
Answer: (c) It can make it too bright
4. What is one type of app that can help people sleep better?
Answer: (c) Bedtime stories
5. What are some health problems that can be caused by not getting enough sleep?
Answer: (d) Depression and heart disease
6. What should people do to eventually sleep without technology?
Answer: (b) Learn from the technology
7. What might some people need to help them sleep better?
Answer: (c) Personalized medical treatments
8. Why is it important to recognize the importance of sleep?
Answer: (c) So you can be healthy and happy
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. People in the UK and other countries are getting too much sleep.
Answer: False
2. Not getting enough sleep can cause health problems.
Answer: True
3. There are apps that can help people sleep better.
Answer: True
4. Sleep apps never have any downsides.
Answer: False
5. Health agencies recommend using technology to help people sleep.
Answer: True
6. Experts suggest people should eventually learn to sleep without technology.
Answer: True
7. Everyone can benefit from the same medical treatments to help them sleep.
Answer: False
8. It’s not important to recognize the importance of sleep for our health and well-being.
Answer: False
Go back to questions ⇧
