Breaking News English Lesson: Homelessness

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Prince William hopes to end homelessness in UK (29th June 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Homelessness - Level 3

The UK's Prince William has a new mission. He wants to end homelessness in his country. There are more than 300,000 people sleeping in doorways and on the streets across Britain. In London, the number of "rough sleepers" has increased by 20 per cent in the past year. William will follow the example set by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless charity when he was a schoolboy. He said he would never forget the sadness he felt to see people without a home. William told reporters that: "In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home." He added that people should, "be treated with dignity and given the support they need".

Prince William helped to start a charity called Homewards. Its aim is to end rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary housing. He hopes to be as successful as Finland, where being without a home is almost a thing of the past. Homewards has a five-year project that will focus on six areas of the UK, including one part of London. After the five years, William hopes to widen the project to the whole of the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and…give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each other]." He added: "It's a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together, it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Homelessness - Level 0, Homelessness - Level 1 or Homelessness - Level 2

Sources

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/prince-of-wales-william-homelessness-charity-b2364090.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65997714
https://people.com/prince-william-mission-end-homelessness-inspired-mom-princess-diana-7552673

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. HOMELESSNESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about homelessness. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
prince / mission / homelessness / rough sleepers / charity / schoolboy / dignity /safe /
sofa surfing / housing / successful / home / project / reality / task / working together
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PUBLIC BUILDINGS: Students A strongly believe homeless people should be allowed to sleep in public buildings; Students B strongly believe not. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PROBLEMS: How bad are these social problems? How do we fix them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Bad	Fixes
Homelessness
Crime
Racism
Bullying
Healthcare
Sexism

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. PRINCE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "prince". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CHARITIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best charities at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Homelessness
Animal protection
Disaster aid
Cancer research
Child protection
Mental health
Veterans' care
Historical sites

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	mission	a.	Liking things to change, or liking new ideas.
2.	rough sleepers	b.	Started (as an example) for others to follow, copy, or try to do.
3.	set	c.	Homeless people.
4.	charity	d.	The state or quality of getting respect.
5.	progressive	e.	An important job given to a person or group of people, usually by going to another country
6.	secure	f.	An organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.
7.	dignity	g.	Be sure to stay safe.

Paragraph 2

8.	sofa surfing	h.	Lasting for only a limited period of time.
9.	temporary	i.	The state of things as they actually exist.
10.	a thing of the past	j.	Of short duration; not lasting for long.
11.	focus	k.	Only happened before now, or a long time ago.
12.	reality	l.	Kept / Stopped something from happening.
13.	prevented	m.	Look at closely.
14.	brief	n.	Stay at different friend's homes for a short time, before moving to another home.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

There are 300,000 homeless people in London. T / F
The number of homeless people in London rose by 20% in a year. T / F
Prince William went to see a homeless charity when he was at school. T / F
Prince William said everyone should buy their own home. T / F
Prince William wants to end rough surfing and sofa sleepers. T / F
There is almost no homelessness in Finland. T / F
Prince William's charity will focus on the whole of London first. T / F
Prince William believes homelessness will be a rare thing in the UK. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

mission
increased
sadness
support
need
start
temporary
focus
prevented
rare

sorrow
uncommon
set up
gone up
short-term
require
aim
stopped
help
concentrate

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

The UK's Prince William has
the number of "rough sleepers"
William will follow the example set
In a modern and
people should
Its aim is to end rough
sofa
being without a home is almost a
widen the project to the
It's a big

by his mother
whole of the country
has increased
be treated with dignity
surfing
progressive society
task
sleeping
a new mission
thing of the past

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

sadness
streets
need
mission
charity
society
secure
past

The UK's Prince William has a new (1) _____________________. He wants to end homelessness in his country. There are more than 300,000 people sleeping in doorways and on the (2) _____________________ across Britain. In London, the number of "rough sleepers" has increased by 20 per cent in the (3) _____________________ year. William will follow the example set by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless (4) _____________________ when he was a schoolboy. He said he would never forget the (5) _____________________ he felt to see people without a home. William told reporters that: "In a modern and progressive (6) _____________________, everyone should have a safe and (7) _____________________ home." He added that people should, "be treated with dignity and given the support they (8) _____________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

reality
brief
past
aim
widen
part
surfing
firmly

Prince William helped to start a charity called Homewards. Its (9) _____________________ is to end rough sleeping, sofa (10) _____________________ and temporary housing. He hopes to be as successful as Finland, where being without a home is almost a thing of the (11) _____________________. Homewards has a five-year project that will focus on six areas of the UK, including one (12) _____________________ of London. After the five years, William hopes to (13) _____________________ the project to the whole of the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make this a (14) _____________________ and…give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each other]." He added: "It's a big task, but I (15) _____________________ believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, (16) _____________________, and unrepeated."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The UK's Prince William has ______
     a. a new mission
     b. a new missing
     c. a new miss shun
     d. a new mission
2) In London, the number of "rough ______
     a. sleepers" has decreased
     b. sleepers" has ink creased
     c. sleepers" has increased
     d. sleepers" has sink creased
3) He said he would never forget the ______
     a. sadness he fell
     b. sadness he pelt
     c. sadness he melt
     d. sadness he felt
4) In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe ______
     a. and secures home
     b. end secure home
     c. antsy cure home
     d. and secure home
5) He added that people should, "be treated with dignity and given the ______"
     a. support they kneed
     b. support they knead
     c. support they need
     d. support they needy

6) Its aim is to end rough sleeping, sofa surfing ______
     a. end temporary housing
     b. and temporarily housing
     c. and temporary housing
     d. and temporary house sin
7) as successful as Finland, where being without a home is almost a thing ______
     a. off the past
     b. of the passed
     c. of the paste
     d. of the past
8) After the five years, William hopes to ______
     a. wide in the project
     b. why din the project
     c. widen the project
     d. why den the project
9) give people across the UK hope that homelessness ______
     a. can beep vented
     b. can beep reinvented
     c. can be prevent it
     d. can be prevented
10) by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, ______
     a. grief, and unrepeated
     b. brief, and unrepeated
   c. brief, and unrepeatable
     d. brief, and only pea Ted

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The UK's Prince William has (1) ____________________. He wants to end homelessness in his country. There are more than 300,000 people sleeping in doorways and (2) ____________________ across Britain. In London, the number of "rough sleepers" has increased by 20 per cent in (3) ____________________. William will follow the example set by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless (4) ____________________ was a schoolboy. He said he would never forget the sadness he felt to see people without a home. William told reporters that: "(5) ____________________ and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home." He added that people should, "be treated with (6) ____________________ the support they need".

Prince William (7) ____________________ a charity called Homewards. Its aim is to end rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary housing. He hopes to (8) ____________________ as Finland, where being without a home is almost a thing of the past. Homewards has a five-year project that (9) ____________________ six areas of the UK, including one part of London. After the five years, William hopes (10) ____________________ project to the whole of the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make (11) ____________________ and…give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each other]." He added: "It's a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it (12) ____________________ make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated."

Comprehension questions

Where in the UK are 300,000 people sleeping?
Where has homelessness risen by 20 per cent in the past year?
Who took William to a homelessness charity when he was at school?
How did William feel about his visit to a homelessness charity?
What did William say people should be given?
What's the name of Prince William's charity?
Where is homelessness almost a thing of the past?
How many areas of the U.K. will the charity focus on first?
What kind of task did William say tackling homelessness was?
How did William say people should work?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where in the UK are 300,000 people sleeping?
a) in parks and gardens
b) in doorways and on the streets
c) in car parks and on roads
d) in forests and fields
2) Where has homelessness risen by 20 per cent in the past year?
a) Cairo
b) New York
c) Paris
d) London
3) Who took William to a homelessness charity when he was at school?
a) his mother
b) his teacher
c) his father
d) a charity worker
4) How did William feel about his visit to a homelessness charity?
a) distressed
b) exhausted
c) sad
d) down
5) What did William say people should be given?
a) money
b) the support they need
c) a bed
d) blankets

6) What's the name of Prince William's charity?
a) Homeness
b) Homebound
c) Homewards
d) Homeways
7) Where is homelessness almost a thing of the past?
a) Denmark
b) Norway
c) Sweden
d) Finland
8) How many areas of the U.K. will the charity focus on first?
a) sx
b) four
c) three
d) two
9) What kind of task did William say tackling homelessness was?
a) a big task
b) a good task
c) an unenviable task
d) a key task
10) How did William say people should work?
a) at night
b) together
c) happily
d) quickly

Role play

Role A – Homelessness
You think homelessness is the most important charitable cause. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their charities. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): animal protection, cancer research or disaster aid.

Role B – Animal Protection
You think animal protection is the most important charitable cause. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their charities. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): homelessness, cancer research or disaster aid.

Role C – Cancer Research
You think cancer research is the most important charitable cause. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their charities. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): animal protection, homelessness or disaster aid.

Role D – Disaster Aid
You think disaster aid is the most important charitable cause. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their charities. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): animal protection, cancer research or homelessness.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'prince'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'homelessness'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

mission

doorways

past

felt

modern

need

end

Finland

six

widen

hope

task

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Homelessness

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'homeless'?
What do you know about Prince William?
What do you think of homelessness?
What do you think of the UK having so much homelessness?
How can we help homelessness?
What would it be like to be a rough sleeper?
What's homelessness like in your country?
What do you know about William's mother Princess Diana?
How modern and progressive is your country?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'prince'?
What do you think about what you read?
How do people become homeless?
How can we stop homelessness?
What would you do if you were homeless?
What do you think of "sofa surfing"?
Should billionaires build houses for the homeless?
How do you feel when you see a homeless person?
What questions would you like to ask Prince William?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The UK's Prince William has a new (1) ____. He wants to end homelessness in his country. There are more than 300,000 people sleeping in doorways and on the streets (2) ____ Britain. In London, the number (3) ____ "rough sleepers" has increased by 20 per cent in the past year. William will follow the example (4) ____ by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless charity when he was a schoolboy. He said he would never forget the sadness he felt to see people without (5) ____ home. William told reporters that: "In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home." He added that people should, "be treated with dignity and given the support they (6) ____".

Prince William helped to start a charity called Homewards. Its aim is (7) ____ end rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary housing. He hopes to be as successful as Finland, where (8) ____ without a home is almost a thing of the past. Homewards has a five-year project that will focus (9) ____ six areas of the UK, including one part of London. After the five years, William hopes to (10) ____ the project to the whole of the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and…give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each (11) ____]." He added: "It's a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness, rare, (12) ____, and unrepeated."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) passive (b) leisure (c) mission (d) treasure
(a) across (b) above (c) under (d) over
(a) of (b) on (c) at (d) as
(a) set (b) bet (c) let (d) met
(a) whole (b) the (c) all (d) a
(a) needed (b) needing (c) needy (d) need
(a) to (b) for (c) by (d) at
(a) so (b) live (c) not (d) being
(a) on (b) at (c) by (d) of
(a) lengthen (b) widen (c) heighten (d) deepen
(a) otherly (b) other (c) others (d) another
(a) brief (b) grief (c) greet (d) beet

Spelling

Paragraph 1

William has a new smision
300,000 people sleeping in darowoys
the number of grhuo sleepers
In a modern and seoviperrsg society
have a safe and ueercs home
people should be treated with iygdint

Paragraph 2

sofa sirnfgu
tepamrryo housing
soucf on six areas of the UK
widen the rpjotce to the whole of the country
homelessness can be vepnrtdee
biefr, and unrepeated

Put the text back together

(...) "In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home." He added
(...) than 300,000 people sleeping in doorways and on the streets across Britain. In London, the number
(...) part of London. After the five years, William hopes to widen the project to the whole of
( 1 ) The UK's Prince William has a new mission. He wants to end homelessness in his country. There are more
(...) that people should, "be treated with dignity and given the support they need".
(...) schoolboy. He said he would never forget the sadness he felt to see people without a home. William told reporters that:
(...) the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and…give
(...) people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each other]." He added: "It's a big
(...) surfing and temporary housing. He hopes to be as successful as Finland, where being without a home is almost a thing of
(...) Prince William helped to start a charity called Homewards. Its aim is to end rough sleeping, sofa
(...) task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated."
(...) set by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless charity when he was a
(...) the past. Homewards has a five-year project that will focus on six areas of the UK, including one
(...) of "rough sleepers" has increased by 20 per cent in the past year. William will follow the example

Put the words in the right order

are over people sleeping in 300,000 doorways . There
his He homelessness wants to in end country .
took homeless charity . a She to him
never sadness the said he He would forget .
said people He be with dignity . should treated
helped to start charity a Homewards . William called
as be hopes Finland . successful He to as
Britain . Widen of the project whole the to
a make to I reality . want this
homelessness make to rare . possible is It

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The UK's Prince William has a new massive / mission. He wants to end homelessness in his country. There are more than 300,000 people slept / sleeping in doorways and on the streets under / across Britain. In London, the number of "rough sleepers" has increased by / at 20 per cent in the past year. William will follow the example set / let by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless charity back / when he was a schoolboy. He said he would never forget the sadness / sad he felt to see people without a home. William told reporters that: "In a modern and progress / progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home." He added / multiplied that people should, "be treated with dignity and given a / the support they need".

Prince William helped to start a charitable / charity called Homewards. Its aim is to end rough sleeping, sofa surfing / skiing and temporary housing. He hopes to be as successful was / as Finland, where being without a home is almost a thing / think of the past. Homewards has a five-year project that will focus on / in six areas of the UK, including one part of London. After the five years, William hopes for / to widen the project to the hole / whole of the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make this a real / reality and…give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each another / other]." He added: "It's a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, grief / brief, and unrepeated."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _K's Pr_nc_ W_ll__m h_s _ n_w m_ss__n. H_ w_nts t_ _nd h_m_l_ssn_ss _n h_s c__ntry. Th_r_ _r_ m_r_ th_n 300,000 p__pl_ sl__p_ng _n d__rw_ys _nd _n th_ str__ts _cr_ss Br_t__n. _n L_nd_n, th_ n_mb_r _f "r__gh sl__p_rs" h_s _ncr__s_d by 20 p_r c_nt _n th_ p_st y__r. W_ll__m w_ll f_ll_w th_ _x_mpl_ s_t by h_s m_th_r, D__n_, Pr_nc_ss _f W_l_s. Sh_ t__k h_m t_ _ h_m_l_ss ch_r_ty wh_n h_ w_s _ sch__lb_y. H_ s__d h_ w__ld n_v_r f_rg_t th_ s_dn_ss h_ f_lt t_ s__ p__pl_ w_th__t _ h_m_. W_ll__m t_ld r_p_rt_rs th_t: "_n _ m_d_rn _nd pr_gr_ss_v_ s_c__ty, _v_ry_n_ sh__ld h_v_ _ s_f_ _nd s_c_r_ h_m_." H_ _dd_d th_t p__pl_ sh__ld, "b_ tr__t_d w_th d_gn_ty _nd g_v_n th_ s_pp_rt th_y n__d".

Pr_nc_ W_ll__m h_lp_d t_ st_rt _ ch_r_ty c_ll_d H_m_w_rds. _ts __m _s t_ _nd r__gh sl__p_ng, s_f_ s_rf_ng _nd t_mp_r_ry h__s_ng. H_ h_p_s t_ b_ _s s_cc_ssf_l _s F_nl_nd, wh_r_ b__ng w_th__t _ h_m_ _s _lm_st _ th_ng _f th_ p_st. H_m_w_rds h_s _ f_v_-y__r pr_j_ct th_t w_ll f_c_s _n s_x _r__s _f th_ _K, _ncl_d_ng _n_ p_rt _f L_nd_n. _ft_r th_ f_v_ y__rs, W_ll__m h_p_s t_ w_d_n th_ pr_j_ct t_ th_ wh_l_ _f th_ c__ntry. H_ s__d: "Thr__gh H_m_w_rds, _ w_nt t_ m_k_ th_s _ r__l_ty _nd…g_v_ p__pl_ _cr_ss th_ _K h_p_ th_t h_m_l_ssn_ss c_n b_ pr_v_nt_d wh_n w_ [h_lp __ch _th_r]." H_ _dd_d: "_t's _ b_g t_sk, b_t _ f_rmly b_l__v_ th_t by w_rk_ng t_g_th_r _t _s p_ss_bl_ t_ m_k_ h_m_l_ssn_ss r_r_, br__f, _nd _nr_p__t_d."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the uks prince william has a new mission he wants to end homelessness in his country there are more than 300000 people sleeping in doorways and on the streets across britain in london the number of rough sleepers has increased by 20 per cent in the past year william will follow the example set by his mother diana princess of wales she took him to a homeless charity when he was a schoolboy he said he would never forget the sadness he felt to see people without a home william told reporters that in a modern and progressive society everyone should have a safe and secure home he added that people should be treated with dignity and given the support they need

prince william helped to start a charity called homewards its aim is to end rough sleeping sofa surfing and temporary housing he hopes to be as successful as finland where being without a home is almost a thing of the past homewards has a fiveyear project that will focus on six areas of the uk including one part of london after the five years william hopes to widen the project to the whole of the country he said through homewards i want to make this a reality andgive people across the uk hope that homelessness can be prevented when we help each other he added its a big task but i firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare brief and unrepeated

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheUK'sPrinceWilliamhasanewmission.Hewantstoendhomelessnes
sinhiscountry.Therearemorethan300,000peoplesleepingindoorway
sandonthestreetsacrossBritain.InLondon,thenumberof"roughsleep
ers"hasincreasedby20percentinthepastyear.Williamwillfollowtheex
amplesetbyhismother,Diana,PrincessofWales.Shetookhimtoahome
lesscharitywhenhewasaschoolboy.Hesaidhewouldneverforgetthesa
dnesshefelttoseepeoplewithoutahome.Williamtoldreportersthat:"I
namodernandprogressivesociety,everyoneshouldhaveasafeandsec
urehome."Headdedthatpeopleshould,"betreatedwithdignityandgiv
enthesupporttheyneed".PrinceWilliamhelpedtostartacharitycalledH
omewards.Itsaimistoendroughsleeping,sofasurfingandtemporaryh
ousing.HehopestobeassuccessfulasFinland,wherebeingwithoutaho
meisalmostathingofthepast.Homewardshasafive-yearprojectthatw
illfocusonsixareasoftheUK,includingonepartofLondon.Afterthefivey
ears,Williamhopestowidentheprojecttothewholeofthecountry.Hesai
d:"ThroughHomewards,Iwanttomakethisarealityand…givepeopleac
rosstheUKhopethathomelessnesscanbepreventedwhenwe[helpeac
hother]."Headded:"It'sabigtask,butIfirmlybelievethatbyworkingto
gether,itispossibletomakehomelessnessrare,brief,andunrepeated."

Free writing

Write about homelessness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Governments should resign if there is homelessness in their country. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. HOMELESSNESS: Make a poster about homelessness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PUBLIC BUILDINGS: Write a magazine article about cities letting homelessness people to sleep in public buildings. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on homelessness. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reduce homelessness. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: Homelessness

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