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the ARTICLE (for teachers) Obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research believes that obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year in the US. This statement is supported by the annual number of cancer cases. It is the first evidence that shows the link between cancer and obesity. However, health experts already know that obesity shortens the survival rate of people with cancer. Leaner and healthier lifestyles are important to reduce the risks of cancer. Obesity starts in childhood, which shouldn't be a surprise. After all, children copy the eating habits of their parents. If mom and dad often eat fast food, children mistakenly believe that hamburgers, fries, and jumbo-sized soft drinks are okay choices. New evidence shows that weight problems are caused by other reasons too. In addition, these causes are not so obvious. For example, if very young kids drink two or more sweetened drinks daily, then they tended to weigh more and have more body fat. In addition, past studies show that overweight teens have a greater chance of becoming obese adults, which then leads to health problems like cancer. Obesity is a major concern, and something must be done. Teacher's Notes: * Underlined words in red typeface are the recommended vocabulary for this lesson. Heads Up English - 1
WARM-UPS Select one or all of the following warm-up activities. 1: Define: What does "obesity" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give examples? 2: Brainstorm: Brainstorm with a partner words and ideas for "obesity" for two minutes. Next, talk about the words and ideas for five minutes. 3: Title: Today's article is: "." What will you read about? 4: Do you agree or disagree? Why? a. Obesity is a serious problem. b. Obesity should be called a disease like cancer or AIDS. c. Cancer is a serious problem. d. Obesity causes cancer. e. I'm very concerned about my health. Heads Up English - 2
VOCABULARY Select one of the following vocabulary acquisition activities. 1: Vocabulary match: Individually or in pairs/groups, match the words in column A (from the article) with the best choice in column B. a. annual u. lower b. evidence v. likely to happen c. reduce w. information d. jumbo x. clear e. obvious y. yearly f. tend z. very large 2: Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word. obvious reduce evidence annual jumbo tended a. This statement is supported by the ( ) number of cancer cases. b. It is the first ( ) that shows the link between cancer and obesity. c. Healthier lifestyles are important to ( ) the risks of cancer. d. Children believe that hamburgers and ( )-sized drinks are okay. e. These causes are not so ( ). f. They ( ) to weigh more and have more body fat. 3: Define: Look in your dictionary for each word. Write the definition, correctly pronounce the word, and give an example sentence to the class. a. annual: b. evidence: c. reduce: d. jumbo: e. obvious: f. tend: Heads Up English - 3
WORD RECOGNITION These activities are optional. They reinforce vocabulary and increase reading speed. 1: Word Search: Find only the target words (in bold). Time yourself, and see how long it takes to find all the words. obvious reduce evidence annual jumbo tended L X W L A Y S Z A O U U V D Z K O O A M I U D W N B M E U R S T S H O F O P N J N M F S N S M E U I L I T U J T U I D W X C V E I J V M J W A C A J A Q B N T B H B R E D U C E L S O Y A E B O O L A U N A R R G F W C N D D K F W U B R K T H Q T G D K I U F J Y Y Q P A I S X W E Y S V M L J J K Q N W W J F D N H F E E B J E E V E P P T A N X U A D B O M R A G Y F Z R V E L E C N E D I V E V L Q N I U G Z M D D W I J H W A C Y W O K L H P L F N O X 2: Target Word Pool: Find only the target words (in bold) with their exact match. Time yourself, and see how long it takes to find all the words. obvious reduce evidence annual jumbo tended evidence tending reduction ostentatious annals biannual intended jumbo jumbos obvious annually jumper evidences reducing reduce oblivious evidently tends tended limbo obviously annual reduced obfuscate unintended jimmy evident annul credence reduces Heads Up English - 4
pre- or post-comprehension Select one or more activity to direct students before the article is read, or to check understanding after the article is read. 1: Brainstorm Questions: Brainstorm questions that you would like to ask about today's topic. Answer a partner the questions. He shouldn't look at the article when he answers. 2: True or False?: Guess (before the article) or answer (after the article) if the sentence is true or false. If false, correct the sentence. a. Cancer can cause obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. T/F b. Obese people with cancer don't live as long as others with cancer. T/F c. According to the article, children pick up eating habits from their parents. T/F d. Obesity is easily controlled by limiting cheeseburgers and other fast foods. T/F e. According to the article, obesity is a serious problem. T/F 3: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension. a. How many cancer cases occur yearly because of obesity? b. What does the article say about survival rates for obese people with cancer? c. What does the article say about parents who often go to fast food restaurants? d. What is the link between obesity, childhood, and sweetened drinks? e. How does the article end? 4: Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence. a. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research believes that obesity... b. After all, children copy the... c. New evidence shows that weight problems are... d. Obesity is a major concern, and... Heads Up English - 5
post-comprehension Select one or more activity to discuss the contents of the article. 1: Vocabulary: Circle any other unknown words/phrases in the article. In pairs/groups, use your dictionaries to understand these words. Write an example sentence for each one. 2: Class Questions: Read through the article once more, and write down any questions that you would like to talk about in pairs/groups or as a class. Answer the questions. 3: Summarize: Work with a partner to summarize the article in your own words. 4: Discuss: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your answers and ask more questions with your partner. a. Did you like this article? Why/not? b. How serious of a problem is obesity? Please explain. c. What are some reasons that people become obese? Are any of these preventable? d. How concerned are you with serious illnesses, like cancer? Please explain. e. What should parents do in order to prevent obesity in their children? f. Should the government or other organizations do anything to limit obesity? 5: Discuss: What can be done to prevent obesity, in turn limiting the risk of cancer? Brainstorm and discuss ideas with a partner in the following categories, then share these with another pair of classmates. Education: Medicine: Legal:???: 6: Google Search: Type "obesity" into Google news and read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings. Heads Up English - 6
STUDENT HANDOUT (the article) Obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research believes that obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year in the US. This statement is supported by the annual number of cancer cases. It is the first evidence that shows the link between cancer and obesity. However, health experts already know that obesity shortens the survival rate of people with cancer. Leaner and healthier lifestyles are important to reduce the risks of cancer. Obesity starts in childhood, which shouldn't be a surprise. After all, children copy the eating habits of their parents. If mom and dad often eat fast food, children mistakenly believe that hamburgers, fries, and jumbo-sized soft drinks are okay choices. New evidence shows that weight problems are caused by other reasons too. In addition, these causes are not so obvious. For example, if very young kids drink two or more sweetened drinks daily, then they tended to weigh more and have more body fat. In addition, past studies show that overweight teens have a greater chance of becoming obese adults, which then leads to health problems like cancer. Obesity is a major concern, and something must be done. Notes: Heads Up English - 7
STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank) Fill in the blank with the correct word. concern evidence obvious healthier reduce jumbo causes tended annual surprise Obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research believes that obesity (a. ) more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year in the US. This statement is supported by the (b. ) number of cancer cases. It is the first (c. ) that shows the link between cancer and obesity. However, health experts already know that obesity shortens the survival rate of people with cancer. Leaner and (d. ) lifestyles are important to (e. ) the risks of cancer. Obesity starts in childhood, which shouldn't be a (f. ). After all, children copy the eating habits of their parents. If mom and dad often eat fast food, children mistakenly believe that hamburgers, fries, and (g. )-sized soft drinks are okay choices. New evidence shows that weight problems are caused by other reasons too. In addition, these causes are not so (h. ). For example, if very young kids drink two or more sweetened drinks daily, then they (i. ) to weigh more and have more body fat. In addition, past studies show that overweight teens have a greater chance of becoming obese adults, which then leads to health problems like cancer. Obesity is a major (j. ), and something must be done. Heads Up English - 8
STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening) Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and then listen once more. Obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research believes that obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year in the US. This statement is supported by the annual number of cancer cases. It is the first evidence that shows the link between cancer and obesity. However, a). Leaner and healthier lifestyles are important to reduce the risks of cancer. Obesity starts in childhood, which shouldn't be a surprise. After all, children copy the eating habits of their parents. If mom and dad often eat fast food, children mistakenly believe that hamburgers, fries, and jumbo-sized soft drinks are okay choices. New evidence shows that weight problems are caused by other reasons too. In addition, these causes are not so obvious. For example, b), then they tended to weigh more and have more body fat. In addition, c), which then leads to health problems like cancer. Obesity is a major concern, and something must be done. Sentence #1: Sentence #2: Sentence #3: Heads Up English - 9
ANSWER KEY Vocabulary 1: Vocabulary Match: a. y b. w 2: Fill in the Blanks: a. annual b. evidence c. u c. reduce d. z e. x d. jumbo e. obvious f. v f. tended pre- or post-comprehension 1. True or False: 2. Fragments: a. F b. T c. T d. F e. T a. causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer each year in the US. b. eating habits of their parents. c. caused by other reasons too. d. something must be done. Student Handout 1: Fill in the Blanks: a. causes f. surprise b. annual g. jumbo c. evidence h. obvious d. healthier i. tended e. reduce j. concern 2: Extended Listening: a. health experts already know that obesity shortens the survival rate of people with cancer b. if very young kids drink two or more sweetened drinks daily c. past studies show that overweight teens have a greater chance of becoming obese adults Heads Up English - 10