The World News Crossword - April 29th, 2018

The World News Crossword document is a one-page crossword based on the events of last week’s news. There are also two one-page ‘Search and Cloze’ puzzles: Facebook users’ personal data and What started the Syrian civil war? These extra puzzles give students the opportunity to learn a little more about two recent news events.

The crossword includes questions the EU ban on an insecticide that’s been killing bees for years, Japan’s objection to the mango mousse at the North and South Korea summit, and the really big news about the Tasmanian devils. There was also big news that Australia’s government is spending 500 million dollars to rescue the Great Barrier Reef and a university in Melbourne was evacuated because of a toxic gas leak (which turned out to be stinky rotting fruit in a library cupboard).

But it’s less about what happened last week around the world and more about why. That’s the discussion that students will create among themselves as they complete this crossword. Why are India and China having a border dispute? Why did Myanmar’s sort-of leader contact the UN and not just lead her country? Why is a virus killing indigenous Australians? Why is Facebook making so much money? Or how? Why is Saudi Arabia at war with Yemen? What does the rodent population in New Zealand have to do with climate change?

The World News Crossword is an excellent homework activity because it encourages students to watch or read the news. It’s an excellent group-activity for home room because it encourages students to use their IT for research. It’s an excellent activity for encouraging problem-solving skills.