Breaking News English Lesson: Rocket Science

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We are as smart as rocket scientists (20th December, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Rocket Science - Level 6

Most of us have the impression that rocket scientists and brain surgeons are super-brainy. Scientists have conducted research that suggests members of the general public are actually just as smart as those high-flyers. Researchers from University College London asked 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to assess six different areas of cognition. The researchers compared their data with those from 18,257 respondents who had previously taken the tests. The researchers said: "Only two differences were significant: the neurosurgeons' problem-solving speed was quicker and their memory recall speed was slower."

The research questions the validity of using English phrases such as "this isn't rocket science" or "that isn't brain surgery". We use these expressions to suggest something is actually quite easy to understand. Are aeronautics and neuroscience so mindboggling? The researchers shed some light on this. They said: "In situations that do not require rapid problem solving, it might be more correct to use 'It's not brain surgery', but in situations where rapid information recall is needed this phrase should be avoided." This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers we once disregarded because of "genius-level" requirements. However, this could lead to a glut of brain surgeons and rocket designers.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Rocket Science - Level 4 or Rocket Science - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59647067
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/rocket-scientists-and-brain-surgeons-are-no-smarter-than-you-study-finds/
https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-pit-rocket-scientists-and-brain-surgeons-against-each-other-in-a-battle-of-wits

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ROCKET SCIENCE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about rocket science. 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?
rocket / scientist / brain surgeon / research / the general public / cognition / memory
validity / English phrases / mindboggling / problems / information / career / genius
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BRAIN SURGEONS: Students A strongly believe brain surgeons are more important than rocket scientists; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HIGH-FLYING JOBS: What do you think of these occupations? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What You Think	Good Things	Bad Things
Rocket scientist
Brain surgeon
Hollywood actor
Lawyer
Army general
CEO

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. GENIUS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "genius". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ATTRIBUTES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best attributes at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

intelligence
sense of humour
humility
kindness
perseverance
loyalty
generosity
selflessness

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	impression	a.	A person who is or has the potential to be very successful, especially academically or in business.
2.	surgeon	b.	The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
3.	brainy	c.	An idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone.
4.	high-flyer	d.	The action of remembering something learned or experienced.
5.	cognition	e.	A doctor who treats injuries or disorders of the body by cutting into it.
6.	respondents	f.	Having or showing higher intelligence.
7.	recall	g.	People who reply to something, especially information for a questionnaire.

Paragraph 2

8.	validity	h.	An excessive supply of something.
9.	aeronautics	i.	The quality of being logically or factually reliable.
10.	mindboggling	j.	The science or practice of building or flying aircraft.
11.	shed light on	k.	Begin a course of action.
12.	embark on	l.	Help to explain something by giving further information about it.
13.	disregarded	m.	Overwhelming; too great to fully understand.
14.	glut	n.	Paid no attention to; ignored.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

The article says everyone thinks rocket scientists are brainy. T / F
Researchers tested the cognition of 72 rocket scientists. T / F
Researchers' found only two major differences in their data. T / F
Neurosurgeons could recall memories quicker than average people. T / F
The researchers said we should never use certain English phrases. T / F
The researchers used a torch to shine light on a question. T / F
The article suggests we could all do the careers we wanted. T / F
The article joked that we could have too many brain surgeons. T / F

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

impression
conducted
assess
cognition
significant
validity
expressions
shed
avoided
glut

evaluate
phrases
steered clear of
notable
carried out
cast
thinking
excess
sense
logic

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

brain surgeons are super-
members of the general
just as smart as those high-
tests designed to assess six different
their memory recall
The research questions the validity
something is actually quite easy
The researchers shed some
embark on careers we
this could lead to a glut

once disregarded
speed
of using English phrases
light on this
brainy
of brain surgeons
areas of cognition
public
to understand

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

flyers
cognition
impression
recall
aerospace
significant
brainy
respondents

Most of us have the (1) _____________________ that rocket scientists and brain surgeons are super-(2) _____________________. Scientists have conducted research that suggests members of the general public are actually just as smart as those high-(3) _____________________. Researchers from University College London asked 329 (4) _____________________ engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to assess six different areas of (5) _____________________. The researchers compared their data with those from 18,257 (6) _____________________ who had previously taken the tests. The researchers said: "Only two differences were (7) _____________________: the neurosurgeons' problem-solving speed was quicker and their memory (8) _____________________ speed was slower."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

rapid
validity
glut
recall
mindboggling
genius
expressions
avoided

The research questions the (9) _____________________ of using English phrases such as "this isn't rocket science" or "that isn't brain surgery". We use these (10) _____________________ to suggest something is actually quite easy to understand. Are aeronautics and neuroscience so (11) _____________________? The researchers shed some light on this. They said: "In situations that do not require (12) _____________________ problem solving, it might be more correct to use 'It's not brain surgery', but in situations where rapid information (13) _____________________ is needed this phrase should be (14) _____________________." This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers we once disregarded because of "(15) _____________________ -level" requirements. However, this could lead to a (16) _____________________ of brain surgeons and rocket designers.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Most of us have the impression that rocket scientists and brain surgeons ______
     a. are super-barmy
     b. are super-grainy
     c. are super-bonny
     d. are super-brainy
2) Scientists have conducted research that suggests members of ______
     a. the general public
     b. the generally public
     c. the general publicly
     d. the generally publicly
3) 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to assess six different ______
     a. areas of cognitive
     b. areas of cog ignition
     c. areas of cognition
     d. areas of cog nation
4) The researchers compared their data with those ______
     a. from 18,257 respondents
     b. from 18,257 despondence
     c. from 18,257 resplendent
     d. from 18,257 despondency
5) the neurosurgeons' problem-solving speed was quicker and their ______
     a. memory reek call speed
     b. memory reek all speed
     c. memory recall speed
     d. memory wreck all speed

6) The research questions the validity of ______
     a. using English phrase is
     b. using English phrases
     c. using English phases
     d. using English phase is
7) Are aeronautics and neuroscience so mindboggling? The researchers ______ on this
     a. shed same light
     b. shred some light
     c. shred same light
     d. shed some light
8) but in situations where rapid information recall is needed this phrase ______
     a. should be avoided
     b. should be evaded
     c. should be avoidance
     d. should be abeyance
9) This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers ______
     a. we once this regarded
     b. we once disk regarded
     c. we once disregarded
     d. we once dish regarded
10) However, this could lead to a ______ surgeons
     a. guilt of brain
     b. glut of brain
     c. glue of brain
     d. gluts of brain

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Most of us have (1) ____________________ rocket scientists and brain surgeons are super-brainy. Scientists (2) ____________________ that suggests members of the general public are actually (3) ____________________ as those high-flyers. Researchers from University College London asked 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to assess six different (4) ____________________. The researchers compared their data with those from 18,257 respondents who (5) ____________________ the tests. The researchers said: "Only two differences were significant: the neurosurgeons' problem-solving speed was quicker and (6) ____________________ speed was slower."

The research questions (7) ____________________ using English phrases such as "this isn't rocket science" or "that isn't brain surgery". We use these expressions to suggest something is (8) ____________________ to understand. Are aeronautics and neuroscience so mindboggling? The researchers (9) ____________________ on this. They said: "In situations that do not require rapid problem solving, it might be more correct to use 'It's not brain surgery', (10) ____________________ where rapid information recall is needed (11) ____________________ be avoided." This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers we once disregarded because of "genius-level" requirements. However, this could lead (12) ____________________ of brain surgeons and rocket designers.

Comprehension questions

What is most people's impression of rocket scientists?
How many neurosurgeons took part in the researchers' tests?
How many areas of cognition were tested?
What had over 18,000 respondents previously done?
Whose memory recall speed was slower?
What does the article say the research questions the validity of?
What did the researchers shed light on?
What phrase should we avoid where rapid information recall is required?
What does the article say the research gives to career seekers?
What could there be a glut of in future?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is most people's impression of rocket scientists?
a) they go to space
b) they are dull
c) they are super-brainy
d) they love science fiction
2) How many neurosurgeons took part in the researchers' tests?
a) 72
b) 88
c) 18,257
d) 329
3) How many areas of cognition were tested?
a) five
b) six
c) four
d) seven
4) What had over 18,000 respondents previously done?
a) been brainy
b) been neurosurgeons
c) been rocket scientists
d) the tests
5) Whose memory recall speed was slower?
a) the general public
b) rocket scientists
c) neurosurgeons
d) researchers

6) What does the article say the research questions the validity of?
a) tests
b) some English phrases
c) neurosurgeons
d) rocket scientists
7) What did the researchers shed light on?
a) space
b) dark
c) a cabin
d) whether aeronautics and neuroscience are mindboggling
8) What phrase should we avoid where rapid information recall is required?
a) Oh my God
b) It's not brain surgery
c) It's on the tip of my tongue
d) This isn't rocket science
9) What does the article say the research gives to career seekers?
a) jobs
b) hope
c) better salaries
d) information
10) What could there be a glut of in future?
a) brain surgeons and rocket designers
b) researchers
c) phrases
d) geniuses

Role play

Role A – Intelligence
You think intelligence is the most important attribute in a person. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attributes. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a sense of humour, loyalty or generosity.

Role B – Sense of Humour
You think a sense of humour is the most important attribute in a person. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attributes. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): intelligence, loyalty or generosity.

Role C – Loyalty
You think loyalty is the most important attribute in a person. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attributes. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a sense of humour, intelligence or generosity.

Role D – Generosity
You think generosity is the most important attribute in a person. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attributes. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a sense of humour, loyalty or intelligence.

After reading / listening

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

'rocket'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'science'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

impression

general

329

six

data

slower

phrases

actually

shed

correct

hope

glut

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 - Rocket Science

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'rocket'?
How intelligent are you?
How can we increase our intelligence?
Do you think rocket scientists are super-brainy?
How do people become rocket scientists?
Would you rather be a rocket scientist or brain surgeon?
What are your problem solving abilities like?
How is your memory?
What would change in life if you were more intelligent?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'science'?
What do you think about what you read?
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
Do you find it difficult to remember English phrases?
What career would you love to embark on?
How do people become brain surgeons?
What makes one person more intelligent than another?
Do you think we are all of similar intelligence?
What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

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)

Most of us have the impression that rocket scientists and brain surgeons are super-(1) ____. Scientists have conducted research that suggests members of the general public are actually just as smart as those high-(2) ____. Researchers from University College London asked 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to (3) ____ six different areas of cognition. The researchers compared their data with (4) ____ from 18,257 respondents who had (5) ____ taken the tests. The researchers said: "Only two differences were significant: the neurosurgeons' problem-solving speed was quicker and their memory (6) ____ speed was slower."

The research questions the (7) ____ of using English phrases such as "this isn't rocket science" or "that isn't brain surgery". We use these expressions to suggest something is (8) ____ quite easy to understand. Are aeronautics and neuroscience so mindboggling? The researchers (9) ____ some light on this. They said: "In situations that do not require rapid problem solving, it might be more correct to use 'It's not brain surgery', but (10) ____ situations where rapid information recall is needed this phrase should (11) ____ avoided." This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers we once disregarded because of "genius-level" requirements. However, this could lead to a (12) ____ of brain surgeons and rocket designers.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) brainless (b) brainwave (c) brainy (d) brains
(a) flyers (b) rowers (c) pilots (d) sailors
(a) assess (b) recess (c) abscess (d) abyss
(a) those (b) them (c) these (d) that's
(a) imperviously (b) previously (c) prior (d) past
(a) bell (b) remember (c) size (d) recall
(a) prize (b) legality (c) validity (d) obscurity
(a) actively (b) actual (c) actuary (d) actually
(a) shed (b) shack (c) cabin (d) hut
(a) on (b) in (c) at (d) of
(a) done (b) be (c) have (d) get
(a) jut (b) lute (c) glut (d) mute

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Most of us have the reopsniims that...
brain gsrusnoe
329 cpreaesao engineers
six different areas of oionitngc
from 18,257 nsndeeropst
two differences were agnisciftin

Paragraph 2

The research questions the vitlaidy
We use these expironesss
so diggloinnbgm
this phrase should be aviedod
careers we once deigeddarrs
"genius-level" tqeinemruesr

Put the text back together

(...) problem-solving speed was quicker and their memory recall speed was slower."
(...) should be avoided." This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers we once
(...) as smart as those high-flyers. Researchers from University College London asked 329 aerospace
(...) use 'It's not brain surgery', but in situations where rapid information recall is needed this phrase
(...) brainy. Scientists have conducted research that suggests members of the general public are actually just
(...) light on this. They said: "In situations that do not require rapid problem solving, it might be more correct to
(...) The research questions the validity of using English phrases such as "this isn't rocket science"
(...) disregarded because of "genius-level" requirements. However, this could lead to a glut of brain surgeons and rocket designers.
(...) taken the tests. The researchers said: "Only two differences were significant: the neurosurgeons'
(...) engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to assess six different areas of
( 1 ) Most of us have the impression that rocket scientists and brain surgeons are super-
(...) or "that isn't brain surgery". We use these expressions to suggest something is actually quite
(...) cognition. The researchers compared their data with those from 18,257 respondents who had previously
(...) easy to understand. Are aeronautics and neuroscience so mindboggling? The researchers shed some

Put the words in the right order

super scientists brain and surgeons brainy . are Rocket
as are high-flyers . They smart as just those
designed areas different to assess cognition . Tests of
their The with those . researchers data compared
was speed problem solving neurosurgeons' The quicker .
using Research English the validity of questions phrases .
suggest expressions to something . these We use
information recall situations In needed . where is rapid
We once careers on can embark disregarded . we
to This of could lead glut surgeons . a

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Most of us have the compression / impression that rocket scientists and brain surgeons are super-brainy. Scientists have contracted / conducted research that suggests members of the general / generally public are actually just as smart as them / those high-flyers. Researchers from University College London asked 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete / compete tests designed to assess six different areas of cognitive / cognition. The researchers compared their data of / with those from 18,257 respondents who has / had previously taken the tests. The researchers said: "Only two differences were significance / significant: the neurosurgeons' problem-solving speed was quicker and their memory recall speed is / was slower."

The research questions the validity / valid of using English phrases such as "this isn't rocket science" nor / or "that isn't brain surgery". We use these expressions to / for suggest something is actually quite easily / easy to understand. Are aeronautics and neuroscience so / real mindboggling? The researchers shed some light on this. They said: "In / On situations that do not require rapid problem solving, it might be more correct for / to use 'It's not brain surgery', but in situations where rapid information recall is needed this phrase should be / have avoided." This gives hope to all of us that we can embark on / to careers we once disregarded because of "genius-level" requirements. However, this could lead to a glut on / of brain surgeons and rocket designers.

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)

M_st _f _s h_v_ th_ _mpr_ss__n th_t r_ck_t sc__nt_sts _nd br__n s_rg__ns _r_ s_p_r-br__ny. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ c_nd_ct_d r_s__rch th_t s_gg_sts m_mb_rs _f th_ g_n_r_l p_bl_c _r_ _ct__lly j_st _s sm_rt _s th_s_ h_gh-fly_rs. R_s__rch_rs fr_m _n_v_rs_ty C_ll_g_ L_nd_n _sk_d 329 __r_sp_c_ _ng_n__rs _nd 72 n__r_s_rg__ns t_ c_mpl_t_ t_sts d_s_gn_d t_ _ss_ss s_x d_ff_r_nt _r__s _f c_gn_t__n. Th_ r_s__rch_rs c_mp_r_d th__r d_t_ w_th th_s_ fr_m 18,257 r_sp_nd_nts wh_ h_d pr_v___sly t_k_n th_ t_sts. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d: "_nly tw_ d_ff_r_nc_s w_r_ s_gn_f_c_nt: th_ n__r_s_rg__ns' pr_bl_m-s_lv_ng sp__d w_s q__ck_r _nd th__r m_m_ry r_c_ll sp__d w_s sl_w_r."

Th_ r_s__rch q__st__ns th_ v_l_d_ty _f _s_ng _ngl_sh phr_s_s s_ch _s "th_s _sn't r_ck_t sc__nc_" _r "th_t _sn't br__n s_rg_ry". W_ _s_ th_s_ _xpr_ss__ns t_ s_gg_st s_m_th_ng _s _ct__lly q__t_ __sy t_ _nd_rst_nd. _r_ __r_n__t_cs _nd n__r_sc__nc_ s_ m_ndb_ggl_ng? Th_ r_s__rch_rs sh_d s_m_ l_ght _n th_s. Th_y s__d: "_n s_t__t__ns th_t d_ n_t r_q__r_ r_p_d pr_bl_m s_lv_ng, _t m_ght b_ m_r_ c_rr_ct t_ _s_ '_t's n_t br__n s_rg_ry', b_t _n s_t__t__ns wh_r_ r_p_d _nf_rm_t__n r_c_ll _s n__d_d th_s phr_s_ sh__ld b_ _v__d_d." Th_s g_v_s h_p_ t_ _ll _f _s th_t w_ c_n _mb_rk _n c_r__rs w_ _nc_ d_sr_g_rd_d b_c__s_ _f "g_n__s-l_v_l" r_q__r_m_nts. H_w_v_r, th_s c__ld l__d t_ _ gl_t _f br__n s_rg__ns _nd r_ck_t d_s_gn_rs.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

most of us have the impression that rocket scientists and brain surgeons are superbrainy scientists have conducted research that suggests members of the general public are actually just as smart as those highflyers researchers from university college london asked 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons to complete tests designed to assess six different areas of cognition the researchers compared their data with those from 18257 respondents who had previously taken the tests the researchers said only two differences were significant the neurosurgeons problemsolving speed was quicker and their memory recall speed was slower

the research questions the validity of using english phrases such as this isnt rocket science or that isnt brain surgery we use these expressions to suggest something is actually quite easy to understand are aeronautics and neuroscience so mindboggling the researchers shed some light on this they said in situations that do not require rapid problem solving it might be more correct to use its not brain surgery but in situations where rapid information recall is needed this phrase should be avoided this gives hope to all of us that we can embark on careers we once disregarded because of geniuslevel requirements however this could lead to a glut of brain surgeons and rocket designers

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Mostofushavetheimpressionthatrocketscientistsandbrainsurgeonsa
resuper-brainy.Scientistshaveconductedresearchthatsuggestsme
mbersofthegeneralpublicareactuallyjustassmartasthosehigh-flye
rs.ResearchersfromUniversityCollegeLondonasked329aerospaceen
gineersand72neurosurgeonstocompletetestsdesignedtoassesssixdi
fferentareasofcognition.Theresearcherscomparedtheirdatawiththo
sefrom18,257respondentswhohadpreviouslytakenthetests.Theres
earcherssaid:"Onlytwodifferencesweresignificant:theneurosurgeon
s'problem-solvingspeedwasquickerandtheirmemoryrecallspeedw
asslower."TheresearchquestionsthevalidityofusingEnglishphrasess
uchas"thisisn'trocketscience"or"thatisn'tbrainsurgery".Weusethese
expressionstosuggestsomethingisactuallyquiteeasytounderstand.A
reaeronauticsandneurosciencesomindboggling?Theresearchersshe
dsomelightonthis.Theysaid:"Insituationsthatdonotrequirerapidpro
blemsolving,itmightbemorecorrecttouse'It'snotbrainsurgery',butin
situationswhererapidinformationrecallisneededthisphraseshouldbe
avoided."Thisgiveshopetoallofusthatwecanembarkoncareersweonc
edisregardedbecauseof"genius-level"requirements.However,thisco
uldleadtoaglutofbrainsurgeonsandrocketdesigners.

Free writing

Write about rocket science for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Anyone can be a rocket scientist if they really want to. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ROCKET SCIENCE: Make a poster about rocket science. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. INTELLIGENCE: Write a magazine article about governments focusing on efforts to get us to use our intelligence in a better way. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
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 rocket science. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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

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Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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