МАТЕРІАЛИ ДО УРОКІВ

TRAVEL, COMMUNITY & COMMUNICATION

Подорожі, волонтерство та міжкультурне спілкування

КТМ

Розробила:
Коліда Тетяна Миколаївна
вчитель англійської мови

Львів
2026

АНОТАЦІЯ

Матеріал «TRAVEL, COMMUNITY & COMMUNICATION» є тематичною частиною авторської системи вправ для учнів 8–9 класів. Добірка містить англомовні тексти рівня A2–B1 та практичні завдання, спрямовані на розвиток читання, словникового запасу, критичного мислення й уміння висловлювати власну думку англійською мовою.

МЕТОДИЧНІ РЕКОМЕНДАЦІЇ

Перед читанням доцільно активізувати фонові знання учнів за допомогою заголовка та ключових слів. Перше читання спрямовується на розуміння загальної думки, друге - на пошук деталей. Після читання учні виконують лексичні, тестові та творчі завдання. Матеріали можна використовувати для індивідуальної, парної, групової та самостійної роботи.

ЗМІСТ ДОБІРКИ

1. A Weekend Without Social Media

2. Travelling by Train

3. A Community Sports Day

4. Volunteering in the Community

5. The Hidden Value of Public Libraries

6. A School Exchange Experience

1. A Weekend Without Social Media

Leo used to check his phone before he even got out of bed. Messages, short videos and notifications followed him through breakfast, homework and the evening. One Friday, his older sister challenged him to spend an entire weekend without social media. Leo agreed, although he expected the experiment to be boring.

On Saturday morning, he automatically reached for his phone several times. Instead of opening an app, he went outside with his bicycle. Later he helped his father cook lunch and finished a book that had been lying on his desk for weeks. He noticed that the day seemed longer when he was not constantly switching his attention between different posts.

On Sunday, Leo met two friends in the park. They talked for nearly two hours and planned a football game for the following week. By Sunday evening, Leo did not want to delete social media forever, but he decided to change the way he used it. He turned off unnecessary notifications and created phone-free periods for studying, meals and sleep. The weekend taught him that technology is useful when people control it instead of allowing it to control their time.

A. Answer the questions

1. What challenge did Leo accept?

2. What did he do instead of using social media on Saturday?

3. What did he notice about his day?

4. Which changes did he make after the experiment?

B. True or False

1. Leo used to check his phone before he even got out of bed. T / F

2. Leo decided to delete every social media account permanently. T / F

3. Leo agreed, although he expected the experiment to be boring. T / F

4. Leo spent Saturday morning watching short videos. T / F

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The experiment lasted: a) a weekend b) a month c) one hour

2. Leo finished: a) a book b) a video game c) a school project

3. Afterwards he turned off: a) unnecessary notifications b) his phone forever c) the internet at home

D. Fill in the gaps

Word bank: notifications, attention, bicycle, control

1. Complete with a word from the box: __________.

2. Find in the text the word connected with “attention” and write it here: __________.

3. Complete with a word from the box: __________.

4. Find in the text the word connected with “control” and write it here: __________.

E. Vocabulary: synonyms and antonyms

1. boring — uninteresting

2. constantly — again and again

3. useful — useless (opposite)

F. Match the ideas

Match the beginning (1–4) with the best ending (A–D).

1. The main character or group

2. One important detail

3. The text suggests

4. The final idea

A. faces a situation that requires a decision.

B. shows how the problem is handled.

C. a practical lesson that can be used in real life.

D. summarizes what was learned from the experience.

2. Travelling by Train

When Sofia’s family planned a holiday in another city, they chose to travel by train instead of car. Sofia was disappointed at first because she thought the journey would be slow. However, she changed her mind soon after they left the station. She could walk along the carriage, read comfortably and watch villages and fields through the window.

The train stopped in several towns, and passengers came and went. Sofia noticed that travelling by public transport felt different from sitting in a car. Her father did not have to concentrate on driving, so the family could talk, play a word game and share lunch together. They also arrived near the city centre and did not need to search for parking.

The trip was not perfect. One connection was delayed, and the station was crowded. Still, Sofia decided that train travel had advantages. It could be relaxing, practical and, on many routes, a more environmentally friendly choice than travelling alone by car. She began to understand that the journey itself can become part of the experience.

A. Answer the questions

1. Why was Sofia disappointed before the journey?

2. What could the family do because the father was not driving?

3. What problem occurred during the trip?

4. Which advantages of train travel did Sofia discover?

B. True or False

1. When Sofia’s family planned a holiday in another city, they chose to travel by train instead of car. T / F

2. Sofia’s family travelled by plane. T / F

3. She could walk along the carriage, read comfortably and watch villages and fields through the window. T / F

4. The family had to search a long time for city-centre parking. T / F

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The family travelled by: a) train b) car c) plane

2. The father could relax because he did not have to: a) drive b) buy tickets c) carry bags

3. One disadvantage was: a) a delayed connection b) no windows c) no seats

D. Fill in the gaps

Word bank: carriage, parking, delayed, journey

1. Complete with a word from the box: __________.

2. Find in the text the word connected with “parking” and write it here: __________.

3. Complete with a word from the box: __________.

4. Find in the text the word connected with “journey” and write it here: __________.

E. Vocabulary: synonyms and antonyms

1. crowded — full of people

2. practical — useful

3. slow — fast (opposite)

F. Match the ideas

Match the beginning (1–4) with the best ending (A–D).

1. The main character or group

2. One important detail

3. The text suggests

4. The final idea

A. faces a situation that requires a decision.

B. shows how the problem is handled.

C. a practical lesson that can be used in real life.

D. summarizes what was learned from the experience.

3. A Community Sports Day

A local youth centre wanted to organize a sports day, but the volunteers had a problem: they wanted everyone to feel welcome, including people who did not enjoy competitive sport. Instead of planning only races and football matches, they asked teenagers in the neighbourhood for ideas.

The final programme included team games, a walking challenge, table tennis, dance workshops and a simple obstacle course. Some activities were competitive, while others focused on cooperation or learning a new movement. Volunteers also created rest areas and made sure water was available.

On the day of the event, the most successful activity was a mixed-age team challenge. Younger children, teenagers and adults had to solve physical puzzles together. The organizers realized that a community event works best when success has more than one meaning. Winning can be exciting, but participation, cooperation and trying something new can be valuable too.

A. Answer the questions

1. Why did organizers ask local teenagers for ideas?

2. Name two non-traditional activities in the programme.

3. What was special about the mixed-age challenge?

4. What did organizers learn about the meaning of success?

B. True or False

1. A local youth centre wanted to organize a sports day, but the volunteers had a problem: they wanted everyone to feel welcome, including people who did not enjoy competitive sport. T / F

2. The sports day included only competitive races. T / F

3. Some activities were competitive, while others focused on cooperation or learning a new movement. T / F

4. The organizers decided that winning was the only valuable result. T / F

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The centre wanted: a) everyone to feel welcome b) only athletes to attend c) only adults to compete

2. The programme included: a) dance workshops b) car racing c) online exams

3. The mixed-age challenge required: a) cooperation b) silence c) individual competition only

D. Fill in the gaps

Word bank: competitive, cooperation, volunteers, participation

1. Complete with a word from the box: __________.

2. Find in the text the word connected with “cooperation” and write it here: __________.

3. Complete with a word from the box: __________.

4. Find in the text the word connected with “participation” and write it here: __________.

E. Vocabulary: synonyms and antonyms

1. welcome — accepted

2. valuable — important

3. success — failure (opposite)

F. Match the ideas

Match the beginning (1–4) with the best ending (A–D).

1. The main character or group

2. One important detail

3. The text suggests

4. The final idea

A. faces a situation that requires a decision.

B. shows how the problem is handled.

C. a practical lesson that can be used in real life.

D. summarizes what was learned from the experience.

4. Volunteering in the Community

Many teenagers want to make their neighbourhood a better place, but they are not always sure where to begin. Volunteering is one practical answer. A student can help at a local library, collect food for families, clean a park, support an animal shelter, or take part in a school charity event.

Volunteering is not only useful for other people. It also teaches important life skills. Teenagers learn to communicate with different people, plan their time, solve small problems and work as part of a team. They may also discover interests that later influence their choice of studies or career.

A successful volunteer does not need to do something enormous. Regular small actions can be very valuable. For example, spending one hour a week helping younger pupils with reading can make a real difference. The most important things are responsibility, respect and willingness to help.

A. Answer the questions

1. What is the main idea of the text?

2. Name two important details from the text.

3. What example does the author give?

4. Why is this topic useful for teenagers?

5. What can a reader learn from the text?

B. True or False

1. The text presents a real-life topic. T / F

2. The author gives at least one example. T / F

3. The text says learning is unnecessary. T / F

4. The topic can be connected with everyday life. T / F

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The text is mainly: a) informative b) an advertisement c) a joke

2. The author wants readers to: a) understand the topic b) buy something c) ignore the issue

3. The best summary is: a) practical ideas can improve understanding b) nothing can change c) details are unimportant

D. Fill in the gaps

Complete five sentences with suitable words from the text.

1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________

E. Vocabulary

Find three useful words in the text and write a synonym or short definition for each. Then choose two words and write their antonyms.

F. Think and write

1. Write a 4–5 sentence summary.

2. Give your opinion about the topic and one reason.

3. Write one question you would like to discuss with a classmate.

5. The Hidden Value of Public Libraries

A modern public library is much more than a room full of books. Many libraries offer free internet access, quiet study spaces, language clubs, workshops and cultural events. For teenagers, a library can be a comfortable place to prepare homework, meet classmates for a project or discover a new hobby.

Libraries are also important because they give people access to information. Not every family can buy many books or pay for digital services. A library helps reduce this difference by making knowledge available to everyone.

Technology has changed libraries, but it has not made them unnecessary. Many libraries now lend e-books, provide online catalogues and teach visitors how to search for reliable information. In this way, the traditional library has become a bridge between printed culture and the digital world.

A. Answer the questions

1. What is the main idea of the text?

2. Name two important details from the text.

3. What example does the author give?

4. Why is this topic useful for teenagers?

5. What can a reader learn from the text?

B. True or False

1. The text presents a real-life topic. T / F

2. The author gives at least one example. T / F

3. The text says learning is unnecessary. T / F

4. The topic can be connected with everyday life. T / F

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The text is mainly: a) informative b) an advertisement c) a joke

2. The author wants readers to: a) understand the topic b) buy something c) ignore the issue

3. The best summary is: a) practical ideas can improve understanding b) nothing can change c) details are unimportant

D. Fill in the gaps

Complete five sentences with suitable words from the text.

1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________

E. Vocabulary

Find three useful words in the text and write a synonym or short definition for each. Then choose two words and write their antonyms.

F. Think and write

1. Write a 4–5 sentence summary.

2. Give your opinion about the topic and one reason.

3. Write one question you would like to discuss with a classmate.

6. A School Exchange Experience

When Marta joined a one-week school exchange, she was excited but nervous. She had studied English for several years, yet speaking all day with new people felt very different from doing exercises in a classroom.

During the first two days, Marta sometimes searched for words and asked people to repeat sentences. Her host family was patient, and her exchange partner encouraged her to keep talking. By the middle of the week, Marta noticed that she was translating less in her head and responding more naturally.

The exchange also taught her that communication is not about perfect grammar in every sentence. Listening carefully, asking questions and showing interest are equally important. When Marta returned home, she still wanted to improve her English, but she was much more confident about using it.

A. Answer the questions

1. What is the main idea of the text?

2. Name two important details from the text.

3. What example does the author give?

4. Why is this topic useful for teenagers?

5. What can a reader learn from the text?

B. True or False

1. The text presents a real-life topic. T / F

2. The author gives at least one example. T / F

3. The text says learning is unnecessary. T / F

4. The topic can be connected with everyday life. T / F

C. Choose the correct answer

1. The text is mainly: a) informative b) an advertisement c) a joke

2. The author wants readers to: a) understand the topic b) buy something c) ignore the issue

3. The best summary is: a) practical ideas can improve understanding b) nothing can change c) details are unimportant

D. Fill in the gaps

Complete five sentences with suitable words from the text.

1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________

E. Vocabulary

Find three useful words in the text and write a synonym or short definition for each. Then choose two words and write their antonyms.

F. Think and write

1. Write a 4–5 sentence summary.

2. Give your opinion about the topic and one reason.

3. Write one question you would like to discuss with a classmate.

ВИКОРИСТАНІ ДЖЕРЕЛА

British Council LearnEnglish Teens - Reading materials and methodological ideas.

British Council LearnEnglish Teens - A2 Reading and B1 Reading.

Cambridge English - Activities for Learners.

Тексти та вправи в добірці авторськи опрацьовані й адаптовані для учнів 8–9 класів.