The Reading / Listening - TRAPPIST-1 - Level 3

Ever since the discovery of a new solar system several weeks ago, scientists have been discussing whether planets in the system could contain life. Scientists called the system "TRAPPIST-1". It contains a small sun and seven Earth-sized planets. It is very similar to our own solar system. NASA scientist Michael Gillon said three of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets receive as much heat from its sun as Venus, Earth and Mars receive from our Sun. He said this provides the right environment for life to exist. TRAPPIST-1 is in a star system called Aquarius. It is nearly 40 light-years away from the Earth. Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just 1/1000th of its brightness, but that could be enough to support life.

Michael Gillon explained that you could see the other six planets in the sky if you were on one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. A neighbouring planet could look bigger than our view of our Moon. Mr Gillon said: "If you were on the surface of one of these planets, you would have a wonderful view of the other planets. You wouldn't see them like we see Venus or Mars, like dots of light. You would see them really as we see the Moon. You would see the structures on these worlds." Astronomer Dr Jessie Christiansen said life exists everywhere, "such as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves, or things at the bottom of the ocean where there's no light". She said it could be possible for life to exist on some of these planets.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    TRAPPIST-1 - Level 0 TRAPPIST-1 - Level 1   or  TRAPPIST-1 - Level 2

Sources
  • http://sciexaminer.com/news/space/earth-2-0-trappist-1-host-another-earth-2357.html
  • http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2017/0227/Could-the-TRAPPIST-1-worlds-harbor-alien-life
  • http://www.space.com/35811-life-on-trappist-1-earth-like-exoplanets.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. PLANETS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about planets. 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?

       discovery / scientists / planets / solar system / heat / environment / light years / life /
       sky / neighbouring / the Moon / wonderful view / Mars / bacteria / caves / the ocean

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ALIEN LIFE: Students A strongly believe finding alien life would be good for us on Earth; Students B strongly believe it would be terrible, a nightmare, very bad….  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ALIENS: What would we do if we found aliens on other planets? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What?

Why?

First contact

 

 

Disease

 

 

Bringing them to Earth

 

 

Communication

 

 

Sharing knowledge

 

 

Dangers

 

 

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. SOLAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "solar". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SPACE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most interesting things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • the Northern Lights
  • Mars
  • asteroids
  • galaxies far, far away
  • Earth
  • the Moon
  • comets
  • black holes

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The TRAPPIST-1 solar system was first discovered in 2012.     T / F
  2. There are 7 planets in the TRAPPIST-1 solar system.     T / F
  3. Three of the planets get as much heat as the Earth.     T / F
  4. Our Sun is 1,000 times brighter than the TRAPPIST-1 sun.     T / F
  5. A scientist said you can see the TRAPPIST-1 planets from Earth.     T / F
  6. The scientist said you can see Mars from the TRAPPIST-1 planets.     T / F
  7. From one TRAPPIST-1 planet, you can see structures on the others.     T / F
  8. Nothing lives at the bottom of the ocean where there's no light.     T / F

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

  1. discovery
  2. discussing
  3. receive
  4. right
  5. enough
  6. neighbouring
  7. wonderful
  8. dots
  9. survives
  10. exist
  1. get
  2. spots
  3. sufficient
  4. marvellous
  5. finding
  6. remains alive
  7. correct
  8. talking about
  9. be alive
  10. adjacent

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

  1. Ever since the discovery of a new solar
  2. It contains a small sun and seven
  3. planets receive as much heat from its sun
  4. It is nearly 40 light-years
  5. just 1/1000th
  6. you could see the other six planets
  7. If you were on the surface
  8. like dots
  9. things at the bottom
  10. it could be possible for life to exist on
  1. as Venus
  2. some of these planets
  3. of its brightness
  4. of light
  5. in the sky
  6. away from the Earth
  7. system
  8. of the ocean
  9. Earth-sized planets
  10. of one of these planets

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
receive
discovery
years
right
brightness
sized
whether
star

Ever since the (1) ____________ of a new solar system several weeks ago, scientists have been discussing (2) ____________ planets in the system could contain life. Scientists called the system "TRAPPIST-1". It contains a small sun and seven Earth- (3) ____________ planets. It is very similar to our own solar system. NASA scientist Michael Gillon said three of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets (4) ____________ as much heat from its sun as Venus, Earth and Mars receive from our Sun. He said this provides the (5) ____________ environment for life to exist. TRAPPIST-1 is in a (6) ____________ system called Aquarius. It is nearly 40 light-(7) ____________ away from the Earth. Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just 1/1000th of its (8) ____________, but that could be enough to support life.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
wonderful
view
everywhere
sky
exist
dots
ocean
surface

Michael Gillon explained that you could see the other six planets in the (9) ____________ if you were on one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. A neighbouring planet could look bigger than our (10) ____________ of our Moon. Mr Gillon said: "If you were on the (11) ____________ of one of these planets, you would have a (12) ____________ view of the other planets. You wouldn't see them like we see Venus or Mars, like (13) ____________ of light. You would see them really as we see the Moon. You would see the structures on these worlds." Astronomer Dr Jessie Christiansen said life exists (14) ____________, "such as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves, or things at the bottom of the (15) ____________ where there's no light". She said it could be possible for life to (16) ____________ on some of these planets.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Ever since the discovery of a new solar system ______
     a.  several weeks age
     b.  seven weeks ago
     c.  severe week ago
     d.  several weeks ago

2)  discussing whether planets in the system could ______
     a.  contain life
     b.  contain lives
     c.  contain live
     d.  contain lively

3)  It is very similar to our own ______
     a.  polar systems
     b.  solar systemic
     c.  polar system
     d.  solar system

4)  He said this provides the right environment for ______
     a.  life to exists
     b.  life to existed
     c.  life to exist
     d.  life to existing

5)  Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just 1/1000th ______
     a.  for its brightness
     b.  of its bright nest
     c.  of its brightness
     d.  from its bright knees

6)  Michael Gillon explained that you could see the other six ______
     a.  planets in the sky
     b.  planet in the sky
     c.  planets in a sky
     d.  planets in the skies

7)  A neighbouring planet could look bigger than our view ______
     a.  off our Moon
     b.  of your Moon
     c.  of our Moon
     d.  of our Moons

8)  You wouldn't see them like we see Venus or Mars, like ______
     a.  dots off light
     b.  dots of light
     c.  dots for light
     d.  dots from light

9)  Dr Jessie Christiansen said life exists everywhere, ______
     a.  such has bacteria
     b.  such was bacteria
     c.  such is bacteria
     d.  such as bacteria

10)  or things at the bottom of the ocean where ______
     a.  there's no light
     b.  there's no lights
     c.  there's no lighter
     d.  there's no lighten

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Ever since the discovery (1) ___________________ system several weeks ago, scientists have been discussing whether (2) ___________________ system could contain life. Scientists called the system "TRAPPIST-1". It (3) ___________________ sun and seven Earth-sized planets. It is very similar to our own solar system. NASA scientist Michael Gillon said three of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets (4) ___________________ heat from its sun as Venus, Earth and Mars receive from our Sun. He said this provides the right environment (5) ___________________. TRAPPIST-1 is in a star system called Aquarius. It is nearly 40 light-years away from the Earth. Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just (6) ___________________ its brightness, but that could be enough to support life.

Michael Gillon explained that you could (7) ___________________ six planets in the sky if you were on one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. A neighbouring planet could look bigger (8) ___________________ our Moon. Mr Gillon said: "If you were on the (9) ___________________ these planets, you would have a wonderful view of the other planets. You wouldn't see them like we see Venus or Mars, like (10) ___________________. You would see them really as we see the Moon. You would see the structures on these worlds." Astronomer Dr Jessie Christiansen said (11) ___________________, "such as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves, or things at the bottom of the ocean where there's no light". She said it could be possible for (12) ___________________ some of these planets.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many weeks ago did the article say the solar system was found?
  2. How many planets does the new solar system contain?
  3. What did the article say TRAPPIST-1 was similar to?
  4. How far away is TRAPPIST-1 from the Earth?
  5. How much brighter is our Sun than the TRAPPIST-1 sun?
  6. What might the TRAPPIST-1 planets look bigger than from each planet?
  7. What kind of view did the scientist say there might be from the planets?
  8. What did the scientist say you could see on the planets?
  9. What did an astronomer say could live in 130-degree heat in caves?
  10. What did the astronomer say was not at the bottom of the ocean?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many weeks ago did the article say the solar system was found?
a) two
b) several
c) a few
d) numerous

2) How many planets does the new solar system contain?
a) 5
b) 8
c) 6
d) 7

3) What did the article say TRAPPIST-1 was similar to?
a) our solar system
b) Jupiter
c) the Milky Way
d) Aquarius

4) How far away is TRAPPIST-1 from the Earth?
a) nearly 4 years
b) nearly 400 billion km
c) nearly 40 light-years
d) nearly 40 light months

5) How much brighter is our Sun than the TRAPPIST-1 sun?
a) 1,000,000 times
b) 1,000 times
c) 10,000 times
d) 100,000 times

6) What might the TRAPPIST-1 planets look bigger than from each planet?
a) Mount Everest
b) the Sun
c) our Moon
d) an airplane

7) What kind of view did the scientist say there might be from the planets?
a) a scary one
b) a dark one
c) a colourful one
d) a wonderful view

8) What did the scientist say you could see on the planets?
a) structures
b) aliens
c) cheese
d) water

9) What did an astronomer say could live in 130-degree heat in caves?
a) bacteria
b) aliens
c) worms
d) dragons

10) What did the astronomer say was not at the bottom of the ocean?
a) treasure
b) light
c) bacteria
d) fish

Role play

Role A — Earth

You think the Earth is the most interesting thing in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are boring. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Mars, black holes or galaxies far, far away.

Role B — Mars

You think Mars is the most interesting thing in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are boring. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Earth, black holes or galaxies far, far away.

Role C — Black Holes

You think black holes are the most interesting things in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are boring. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Mars, the Earth or galaxies far, far away.

Role D — Galaxies

You think galaxies far, far away are the most interesting things in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are boring. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Mars, black holes or the Earth.

After reading / listening

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

'solar'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'system'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • six
    • bigger
    • wonderful
    • dots
    • 130
    • possible
    • since
    • similar
    • heat
    • 40
    • smaller
    • support

    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 - Scientists say there could be life on TRAPPIST-1 planets

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'planet'?
    3. What do you know about TRAPPIST-1
    4. What do you think of our planet Earth?
    5. How would you feel if scientists discovered life on other planets?
    6. What would you say to an alien if you met one?
    7. What is the right environment to support life?
    8. What do you think alien life might look like?
    9. How exciting would it be to travel in space?
    10. What do scientists do all day?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'solar'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about our solar system?
    5. How beautiful is our solar system?
    6. What is your favourite space movie?
    7. What do you know about the Moon?
    8. Should we study astronomy more at school?
    9. What is your favourite planet, and why?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    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)

    Ever since the discovery of a new solar system (1) ____ weeks ago, scientists have been discussing whether planets in the system could (2) ____ life. Scientists called the system "TRAPPIST-1". It contains a small sun and seven Earth-(3) ____ planets. It is very similar to our own solar system. NASA scientist Michael Gillon said three of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets receive as much heat from (4) ____ sun as Venus, Earth and Mars receive from our Sun. He said this provides the right environment for life to exist. TRAPPIST-1 is in a star system called Aquarius. It is nearly 40 (5) ____-years away from the Earth. Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just 1/1000th of its brightness, but that could (6) ____ enough to support life.

    Michael Gillon explained that you could see the (7) ____ six planets in the sky if you were on one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. A neighbouring planet could look bigger than our view (8) ____ our Moon. Mr Gillon said: "If you were on the surface of one of (9) ____ planets, you would have a wonderful view of the other planets. You wouldn't see them like we see Venus or Mars, like (10) ____ of light. You would see them really (11) ____ we see the Moon. You would see the structures on these worlds." Astronomer Dr Jessie Christiansen said life exists everywhere, "such as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves, or things at the bottom of the ocean where there's (12) ____ light". She said it could be possible for life to exist on some of these planets.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     severe     (b)     several     (c)     seven     (d)     service    
    2. (a)     contract     (b)     constrain     (c)     content     (d)     contain    
    3. (a)     size     (b)     sized     (c)     sizing     (d)     seized    
    4. (a)     hot     (b)     them     (c)     its     (d)     solar    
    5. (a)     light     (b)     bright     (c)     flash     (d)     sparkling    
    6. (a)     be     (b)     live     (c)     once     (d)     so    
    7. (a)     the others     (b)     another     (c)     others     (d)     other    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     for     (c)     from     (d)     off    
    9. (a)     that     (b)     these     (c)     their     (d)     them    
    10. (a)     craters     (b)     mounds     (c)     dots     (d)     marks    
    11. (a)     was     (b)     has     (c)     as     (d)     is    
    12. (a)     non     (b)     no     (c)     not     (d)     nom

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Ever since the srcovidey
    2. a new aslro system
    3. It sotnican a small sun
    4. It is very ilsarmi to our own
    5. provides the right vnemoinentr
    6. could be enough to sutorpp life

    Paragraph 2

    1. Michael Gillon leaipdnxe that
    2. If you were on the cfrusae
    3. have a ldeonfuwr view
    4. see the tursecrtsu on these worlds
    5. at the bottom of the noeca
    6. it could be possible for life to xstei

    Put the text back together

    (    )     planets in the system could contain life. Scientists called the system "TRAPPIST-1". It contains a small sun

    (    )     and seven Earth-sized planets. It is very similar to our own solar system. NASA scientist Michael Gillon said three

    (    )     Michael Gillon explained that you could see the other six planets in the sky if you were

    (    )     "If you were on the surface of one of these planets, you would have a wonderful view of the

    (    )     ocean where there's no light". She said it could be possible for life to exist on some of these planets.

    (    )     our Sun. He said this provides the right environment for life to exist. TRAPPIST-1 is in a star system called

    (    )     Aquarius. It is nearly 40 light-years away from the Earth. Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just

    (    )     exists everywhere, "such as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves, or things at the bottom of the

    (    )     on one of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. A neighbouring planet could look bigger than our view of our Moon. Mr Gillon said:

    1  )     Ever since the discovery of a new solar system several weeks ago, scientists have been discussing whether

    (    )     other planets. You wouldn't see them like we see Venus or Mars, like dots of light. You would see them really as we

    (    )     see the Moon. You would see the structures on these worlds." Astronomer Dr Jessie Christiansen said life

    (    )     of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets receive as much heat from its sun as Venus, Earth and Mars receive from

    (    )     1/1000th of its brightness, but that could be enough to support life.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   system   ago   of   solar   weeks   discovery   new   several   The   .
    2. the   Discussing   system   whether  could   planets   contain   in   life   .
    3. similar   system   to   It   our   is   own   very   solar   .
    4. life   the   to   right   exist   environment   This   for   provides   .
    5. -   years   away   from   the   Earth   It   is   nearly   40   light   .
    6. other   in   You   the   planets   sky   see   six   the   could   .
    7. of   planets   have   view   other   would   wonderful   the   You   a   .
    8. see   wouldn't   You   Venus   see   we   like   them   .
    9. the   ocean   where   there's   no   light   Things   at   the  bottom   of   .
    10. to   possible  It   of  exist  for  could  these  on  life  be  planets  some  .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Ever since the discovery / discover of a new solar system several week / weeks ago, scientists have been discussing whether / weather planets in the system could contain life / live. Scientists called the system "TRAPPIST-1". It contains a small sun and seven Earth-sized planets. It is very same / similar to our own solar system. NASA scientist Michael Gillon said three of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets receive as / has much heat from its sun as Venus, Earth and Mars receive from your / our Sun. He said this provides the right environment for life to exits / exist. TRAPPIST-1 is in a star system called Aquarius. It is nearly 40 light-years away / far from the Earth. Its sun is smaller than our Sun and has just 1/1000th of its brightly / brightness, but that could be enough to support life.

    Michael Gillon explained that you could see the another / other six planets in the sky if you were on one / once of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. A neighbouring planet could look bigger than our view of our Moon. Mr Gillon said: "If you were on the surface / surfaced of one of these planets, you would have a wonderful view for / of the other planets. You wouldn't see it / them like we see Venus or Mars, like dots / dot of light. You would see them really as we see the Moon. You would see the structural / structures on these worlds." Astronomer Dr Jessie Christiansen said life exists everywhere, "such / so as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves, or things / thinks at the bottom of the ocean where there's any / no light". She said it could be possible for life to exist on some of these planets.

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

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

    _v_r s_nc_ th_ d_sc_v_ry _f _ n_w s_l_r syst_m s_v_r_l w__ks _g_, sc__nt_sts h_v_ b__n d_sc_ss_ng wh_th_r pl_n_ts _n th_ syst_m c__ld c_nt__n l_f_. Sc__nt_sts c_ll_d th_ syst_m "TR_PP_ST-1". _t c_nt__ns _ sm_ll s_n _nd s_v_n __rth-s_z_d pl_n_ts. _t _s v_ry s_m_l_r t_ __r _wn s_l_r syst_m. N_S_ sc__nt_st M_ch__l G_ll_n s__d thr__ _f th_ s_v_n TR_PP_ST-1 pl_n_ts r_c__v_ _s m_ch h__t fr_m _ts s_n _s V_n_s, __rth _nd M_rs r_c__v_ fr_m __r S_n. H_ s__d th_s pr_v_d_s th_ r_ght _nv_r_nm_nt f_r l_f_ t_ _x_st. TR_PP_ST-1 _s _n _ st_r syst_m c_ll_d _q__r__s. _t _s n__rly 40 l_ght-y__rs _w_y fr_m th_ __rth. _ts s_n _s sm_ll_r th_n __r S_n _nd h_s j_st 1/1000th _f _ts br_ghtn_ss, b_t th_t c__ld b_ _n__gh t_ s_pp_rt l_f_.

    M_ch__l G_ll_n _xpl__n_d th_t y__ c__ld s__ th_ _th_r s_x pl_n_ts _n th_ sky _f y__ w_r_ _n _n_ _f th_ TR_PP_ST-1 pl_n_ts. _ n__ghb__r_ng pl_n_t c__ld l__k b_gg_r th_n __r v__w _f __r M__n. Mr G_ll_n s__d: "_f y__ w_r_ _n th_ s_rf_c_ _f _n_ _f th_s_ pl_n_ts, y__ w__ld h_v_ _ w_nd_rf_l v__w _f th_ _th_r pl_n_ts. Y__ w__ldn't s__ th_m l_k_ w_ s__ V_n_s _r M_rs, l_k_ d_ts _f l_ght. Y__ w__ld s__ th_m r__lly _s w_ s__ th_ M__n. Y__ w__ld s__ th_ str_ct_r_s _n th_s_ w_rlds." _str_n_m_r Dr J_ss__ Chr_st__ns_n s__d l_f_ _x_sts _v_rywh_r_, "s_ch _s b_ct_r__ th_t s_rv_v_s _n 130-d_gr__ c_v_s, _r th_ngs _t th_ b_tt_m _f th_ _c__n wh_r_ th_r_'s n_ l_ght". Sh_ s__d _t c__ld b_ p_ss_bl_ f_r l_f_ t_ _x_st _n s_m_ _f th_s_ pl_n_ts.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    ever since the discovery of a new solar system several weeks ago scientists have been discussing whether planets in the system could contain life scientists called the system "trappist-1" it contains a small sun and seven earth-sized planets it is very similar to our own solar system nasa scientist michael gillon said three of the seven trappist-1 planets receive as much heat from its sun as venus earth and mars receive from our sun he said this provides the right environment for life to exist trappist-1 is in a star system called aquarius it is nearly 40 light-years away from the earth its sun is smaller than our sun and has just 1/1000th of its brightness but that could be enough to support life

    michael gillon explained that you could see the other six planets in the sky if you were on one of the trappist-1 planets a neighbouring planet could look bigger than our view of our moon mr gillon said "if you were on the surface of one of these planets you would have a wonderful view of the other planets you wouldn't see them like we see venus or mars like dots of light you would see them really as we see the moon you would see the structures on these worlds" astronomer dr jessie christiansen said life exists everywhere "such as bacteria that survives in 130-degree caves or things at the bottom of the ocean where there's no light" she said it could be possible for life to exist on some of these planets

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Eversincethediscoveryofanewsolarsystemseveralweeksago,scienti
    stshavebeendiscussingwhetherplanetsinthesystemcouldcontainlife
    .Scientistscalledthesystem"TRAPPIST-1".Itcontainsasmallsunan
    dsevenEarth-sizedplanets.Itisverysimilartoourownsolarsyste
    m.NASAscientistMichaelGillonsaidthreeofthesevenTRAPPIST-1pl
    anetsreceiveasmuchheatfromitssunasVenus,EarthandMarsreceivef
    romourSun.Hesaidthisprovidestherightenvironmentforlifetoexist.T
    RAPPIST-1isinastarsystemcalledAquarius.Itisnearly40light-yea
    rsawayfromtheEarth.ItssunissmallerthanourSunandhasjust1/1000
    thofitsbrightness,butthatcouldbeenoughtosupportlife.MichaelGillon
    explainedthatyoucouldseetheothersixplanetsintheskyifyouwereono
    neoftheTRAPPIST-1planets.Aneighbouringplanetcouldlookbiggerth
    anourviewofourMoon.MrGillonsaid:"Ifyouwereonthesurfaceofoneof
    theseplanets,youwouldhaveawonderfulviewoftheotherplanets.You
    wouldn'tseethemlikeweseeVenusorMars,likedotsoflight.Youwoulds
    eethemreallyasweseetheMoon.Youwouldseethestructuresonthese
    worlds."AstronomerDrJessieChristiansensaidlifeexistseverywhere,
    "suchasbacteriathatsurvivesin130-degreecaves,orthingsatthebot
    tomoftheoceanwherethere'snolight".Shesaiditcouldbepossibleforlif
    etoexistonsomeoftheseplanets.

    Free writing

    Write about TRAPPIST-1 for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Finding life on other planets would be good for us on Earth. Discuss.

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    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 TRAPPIST-1. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. PLANETS: Make a poster about planets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. ALIEN LIFE: Write a magazine article about how finding alien life could change things for us on Earth. What would change? Include imaginary interviews with people who think finding alien life would be bad for us, and with people who think finding alien life would be good for us.

    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 planets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on why finding alien life would be good for us on Earth. 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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