Objective: Students discuss to decide what to do with twin foundlings
Level: B2 +
Timing: 1 hour
Materials: Projector to show the list of criteria for adoption. Otherwise, copies of criteria
Procedure:
Students work in groups (3 or 4 max.)A)
- Tell students the story of the abandoned child (Story below)
- Ask the questions. How should authorities react? ( Most groups would try to find the parents).
- Ask teams of students to be specific about practicalities: the means to find the parents, how to ensure the parents are the real parents..., etc. Also, authorities need to make sure the baby is not sick.
B)
- Tell students the parents were not found. The foundlings are up for adoption.
- Tell students the administration is deciding on the adoption criteria. Project the criteria below.
- Students create a YES/NO checklist to decide the characteristics of the ideal parents. Students need to accept or rule out the adoption criteria (See below) providing compelling reasons.
- Ask students to add other criteria or caveats for the adoption. (See suggestions below)
- Students share their ideas/debate
The story:
A truck driver was in a gas station. He was just about to get into his truck when he heard two babies screaming right in front of his wheel. He picked the babies up and took them to the authorities.
The authorities need to react.
Adoption criteria to discuss:
The ideal parents should:
[ ] be under 30 years old
[ ] be of the same racial group as the child
[ ] be of the same religious group as each other
[ ] be a married couple
[ ] be a heterosexual couple
[ ] both have jobs
[ ] have other children in the family
[ ] not be living in poverty
[ ] have some professional experience of dealing with children, i.e. as teachers or nurses
Suggestions
Authorities should a foster family, not family to adopt just in case the biological parents turned up
Siblings should not be separated.
A truck driver was in a gas station. He was just about to get into his truck when he heard two babies screaming right in front of his wheel. He picked the babies up and took them to the authorities.
The authorities need to react.
Adoption criteria to discuss:
The ideal parents should:
[ ] be under 30 years old
[ ] be of the same racial group as the child
[ ] be of the same religious group as each other
[ ] be a married couple
[ ] be a heterosexual couple
[ ] both have jobs
[ ] have other children in the family
[ ] not be living in poverty
[ ] have some professional experience of dealing with children, i.e. as teachers or nurses
Suggestions
Authorities should a foster family, not family to adopt just in case the biological parents turned up
Siblings should not be separated.
Source: https://portaldalinguainglesa.blogspot.com/2016/10/adopting-child-eflesl-speaking-activity.html (adapted)
