Breaking News English Lesson: Digital Cameras

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World's largest digital camera installed in Chile (24th March 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Digital Cameras - Level 6

The world's largest ever digital camera has become operational in an observatory in Chile. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera was funded by U.S. government agencies. The enormous device was installed in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the South American nation. Astronomers will now commence a period of testing. They will use the camera to observe the southern hemisphere skies over the next decade. The Department of Energy's Office of Science commented on how momentous the completion of the telescope was. It called the camera "a triumph of science and engineering". It added: "We look forward to seeing the unprecedented images this camera will produce."

The camera is the size of a small car and weighs 2,721 kg. It has a massive 3-billion-pixel sensor. In comparison, today's top-of-the-range smartphone cameras have 200 million pixels. Astronomers will repeatedly scan the sky to take time-lapse images of space. Lead researcher Aaron Roodman said: "We like to say that we're going to make a colour movie of the entire Southern Hemisphere sky." In particular, he hopes to capture images that will shed light on how galaxies formed. Roodman's team will also investigate dark matter – the invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe. In addition, the camera will map our Milky Way galaxy in greater detail than ever before.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Digital Cameras - Level 4 or Digital Cameras - Level 5

Sources

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/tech/worlds-largest-digital-camera-to-help-new-vera-rubin-observatory-make-a-time-lapse-record-of-the-universe-photos
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/world-s-biggest-digital-camera-installed-in-chile-to-explore-universe/ar-AA1B5tWV
https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/rubin-observatorys-3200-megapixel-lsst-camera

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. DIGITAL CAMERAS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about digital cameras. 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?
digital camera / observatory / device / nation / astronomer / testing / telescope /
small car / pixel / sensor / space / galaxies / dark matter / invisible / map / detail
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SPACE: Students A strongly believe space is important; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SCIENCE: What do you know about these sciences? How important are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	Their Importance
Astronomy
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Geology
Meteorology

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

Stars
Yourself
Food
Flowers
The countryside
Sights
Cats and dogs
Friends

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	observatory	a.	Given money to help pay for something.
2.	funded	b.	One half of the Earth or another round object.
3.	commence	c.	Never happened before.
4.	hemisphere	d.	To start something.
5.	momentous	e.	A great win or success.
6.	triumph	f.	A special building where people look at the stars and planets.
7.	unprecedented	g.	Very important.

Paragraph 2

8.	sensor	h.	The best and most expensive of its kind.
9.	top-of-the-range	i.	To explain or help people understand something.
10.	shed light on	j.	To make a picture or plan of a place or area.
11.	dark matter	k.	A type of material or thing, like water or metal
12.	substance	l.	A special kind of substance in space that people cannot see.
13.	portion	m.	A small device that can detect things like heat, light, or movement.
14.	map (verb)	n.	A part of something.

Before reading / listening

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

The digital camera was privately funded. T / F
The camera is now fully functional after testing was concluded. T / F
The camera will be used to look at skies in the southern hemisphere. T / F
The U.S. government hailed the camera as a triumph of engineering. T / F
The camera weighs more than a bus. T / F
The new digital camera has 200 million pixels. T / F
Astronomers will use the camera to look at the origins of galaxies. T / F
The camera will be used to study light matter. T / F

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

operational
funded
device
commence
momentous
massive
top-of-the-range
entire
portion
map

best
gadget
enormous
important
chart
up and running
percentage
financed
whole
start

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

funded by
Astronomers will now commence a period
observe the southern
It called the camera a triumph of science
look forward to seeing the
It has a massive 3-billion-
Astronomers will repeatedly
shed light
investigate dark
the camera will map

scan the sky
unprecedented images
on how galaxies formed
U.S. government agencies
hemisphere skies
of testing
matter
and engineering
our Milky Way galaxy
pixel sensor

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

decade
triumph
operational
commence
funded
unprecedented
momentous
installed

The world's largest ever digital camera has become (1) _________________________________ in an observatory in Chile. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera was (2) _________________________________ by U.S. government agencies. The enormous device was (3) _________________________________ in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the South American nation. Astronomers will now (4) _________________________________ a period of testing. They will use the camera to observe the southern hemisphere skies over the next (5) _________________________________. The Department of Energy's Office of Science commented on how (6) _________________________________ the completion of the telescope was. It called the camera "a (7) _________________________________ of science and engineering". It added: "We look forward to seeing the (8) _________________________________ images this camera will produce."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

scan
matter
massive
detail
entire
portion
pixels
shed

The camera is the size of a small car and weighs 2,721 kg. It has a (9) _________________________________ 3-billion-pixel sensor. In comparison, today's top-of-the-range smartphone cameras have 200 million (10) _________________________________. Astronomers will repeatedly (11) _________________________________ the sky to take time-lapse images of space. Lead researcher Aaron Roodman said: "We like to say that we're going to make a colour movie of the (12) _________________________________ Southern Hemisphere sky." In particular, he hopes to capture images that will (13) _________________________________ light on how galaxies formed. Roodman's team will also investigate dark (14) _________________________________ – the invisible substance that makes up a significant (15) _________________________________ of the universe. In addition, the camera will map our Milky Way galaxy in greater (16) _________________________________ than ever before.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The world's largest ever digital camera has become operational ______
     a. in an observatory
     b. in an auditorium
     c. in an abortorium
     d. in an abattoir
2) The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera was funded by ______
     a. U.S. government agent see
     b. U.S. government age and seas
     c. U.S. government agency
     d. U.S. government agencies
3) Astronomers will now commence a ______
     a. period off testing
     b. period of testing
     c. period oft testing
     d. period oaf testing
4) observe the southern hemisphere skies over ______
     a. the next decadence
     b. the next decal
     c. the next decade
     d. the next deck aid
5) seeing the unprecedented images this ______
     a. camera will produce
     b. camera will produced
     c. camera will produces
     d. camera will producer

6) It has a massive 3-______
     a. billion-pixel sense or
     b. billion-pixel cents or
     c. billion-pixel sensor
     d. billion-pixel sensory
7) In comparison, today's top-of-______
     a. the-derange smartphone
     b. the-grange smartphone
     c. the-range smartphone
     d. the-arrange smartphone
8) Astronomers will repeatedly scan the sky to take ______
     a. time-elopes images
     b. time-laps images
     c. time-lapse images
     d. time-clasp images
9) In particular, he hopes to capture images that will shed light on ______
     a. how galaxy formed
     b. how glaciers formed
     c. how galaxies formed
     d. how goal axes formed
10) Roodman's team will also ______
     a. investigate stark matter
     b. investigate dark master
     c. investigate dark matter
     d. investigates dark matter

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world's largest ever digital camera has (1) _______________________________________________ an observatory in Chile. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera was funded by U.S. government agencies. The enormous (2) _______________________________________________ in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the South American nation. Astronomers will now (3) _______________________________________________ of testing. They will use the camera to observe the southern hemisphere skies over (4) _______________________________________________. The Department of Energy's Office of Science commented on how momentous the completion of the telescope was. It called the camera "a (5) _______________________________________________ and engineering". It added: "We look forward to seeing (6) _______________________________________________ this camera will produce."

The camera is the size of a small (7) _______________________________________________ 2,721 kg. It has a massive 3-billion-pixel sensor. In comparison, today's (8) _______________________________________________ smartphone cameras have 200 million pixels. Astronomers will repeatedly scan the sky to take (9) _______________________________________________ of space. Lead researcher Aaron Roodman said: "We like to say that we're going to make a colour movie of the entire Southern Hemisphere sky." In particular, he hopes to capture images that will (10) _______________________________________________ how galaxies formed. Roodman's team will also investigate dark matter – (11) _______________________________________________ that makes up a significant portion of the universe. In addition, the camera will map our Milky Way (12) _______________________________________________ detail than ever before.

Comprehension questions

Who was the digital camera funded by?
What will stargazers now start?
For how long will astronomers use the camera to look into space?
What did the U.S. government say the telescope was a triumph of?
What does the government department look forward to seeing?
How big is the camera?
How many pixels does the camera's sensor have?
What kind of images will the camera take?
What does the researcher hope the camera will shed light on?
What will the camera help to map?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who was the digital camera funded by?
a) a Japanese camera maker
b) U.S. government agencies
c) tech billionaires
d) It was crowd-funded.
2) What will stargazers now start?
a) looking for new universes
b) the next project
c) new jobs
d) a period of testing
3) For how long will astronomers use the camera to look into space?
a) 5 years
b) 7 years
c) 10 years
d) 20 years
4) What did the U.S. government say the telescope was a triumph of?
a) science and engineering
b) mind over matter
c) astrology and astronomy
d) science fiction
5) What does the government department look forward to seeing?
a) stars
b) unprecedented images
c) new things
d) a bright future

6) How big is the camera?
a) the size of a small car
b) pretty big
c) the size of a house
d) the size of a bus
7) How many pixels does the camera's sensor have?
a) one billion
b) two billion
c) three billion
d) four billion
8) What kind of images will the camera take?
a) time-lapse images
b) high-speed photos
c) dark ones
d) stars and comets
9) What does the researcher hope the camera will shed light on?
a) black holes
b) the dark
c) asteroids
d) how galaxies formed
10) What will the camera help to map?
a) war zones
b) deserts and jungles
c) our Milky Way
d) GPS

Role play

Role A – Food
You think food is the best thing to take photos of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least photogenic of these (and why): yourself, cats and dogs or friends.

Role B – Yourself
You think yourself is the best thing to take photos of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least photogenic of these (and why): food, cats and dogs or friends.

Role C – Cats and Dogs
You think cats and dogs is the best thing to take photos of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least photogenic of these (and why): yourself, food or friends.

Role D – Friends
You think friends is the best thing to take photos of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least photogenic of these (and why): yourself, cats and dogs or food.

After reading / listening

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

'digital'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'camera'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

ever

funded

device

period

completion

triumph

car

three

lapse

shed

significant

detail

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 - Digital Cameras

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 'digital'?
What do you think of digital cameras?
What do you think of the huge digital camera in the article?
How important is it to explore space?
What do you want to know about our universe?
Are skies different in the southern and northern hemispheres?
What do you think is a triumph of science?
What do you think is a triumph of engineering?
What images do you look forward to seeing?

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 'camera'?
What do you think about what you read?
Is a digital or film camera best?
How many pixels does your camera have?
What do you like taking photos of?
How important is it to have a good camera?
What do you know about dark matter?
What do you know about the Milky Way?
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)

The world's largest ever digital camera has become (1) ____ in an observatory in Chile. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera was (2) ____ by U.S. government agencies. The enormous device was installed in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the South American nation. Astronomers will now (3) ____ a period of testing. They will use the camera to observe the southern hemisphere skies over (4) ____ next decade. The Department of Energy's Office of Science commented (5) ____ how momentous the completion of the telescope was. It called the camera "a triumph of science and engineering". It added: "We look forward to seeing the (6) ____ images this camera will produce."

The camera is the size of a small car and weighs 2,721 kg. It has a massive 3-billion-pixel (7) ____. In comparison, today's top-of-the-range smartphone cameras have 200 million pixels. Astronomers will repeatedly (8) ____ the sky to take time-lapse images of space. Lead researcher Aaron Roodman said: "We like to say that we're going to make a colour movie of the (9) ____ Southern Hemisphere sky." In particular, he hopes to capture images that will (10) ____ light on how galaxies formed. Roodman's team will also investigate dark (11) ____ – the invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe. In addition, the camera will (12) ____ our Milky Way galaxy in greater detail than ever before.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) operational (b) operates (c) operated (d) operating
(a) fanned (b) floundered (c) funded (d) fended
(a) commerce (b) comment (c) commence (d) commit
(a) a (b) whole (c) all (d) the
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) by
(a) dented (b) unprecedented (c) indented (d) indentured
(a) sensei (b) sensory (c) sensing (d) sensor
(a) scam (b) scan (c) skim (d) scum
(a) all (b) every (c) entire (d) each
(a) shelter (b) cave (c) cabin (d) shed
(a) mute (b) mutter (c) muster (d) matter
(a) atlas (b) map (c) GPS (d) directions

Spelling

Paragraph 1

in an votrayrobes in Chile
The oursemno device was installed
mrsoatnerso will now commence
the southern spheerihme
a pmuirth of science
seeing the cedentupernd images

Paragraph 2

a massive 3-billion- sliexp sensor
shed light on how xelgaasi formed
gtevniasiet dark matter
blisnievi
ctubseasn
significant tnorpoi of the universe

Put the text back together

(    )    addition, the camera will map our Milky Way galaxy in greater detail than ever before.
(    )    commence a period of testing. They will use the camera to observe the southern
(    )    device was installed in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the South American nation. Astronomers will now
(    )    engineering". It added: "We look forward to seeing the unprecedented images this camera will produce."
(    )    hemisphere skies over the next decade. The Department of Energy's Office of Science commented
(    )    matter – the invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe. In
(    )    on how momentous the completion of the telescope was. It called the camera "a triumph of science and
(    )    scan the sky to take time-lapse images of space. Lead researcher Aaron Roodman said: "We like to say
(    )    sensor. In comparison, today's top-of-the-range smartphone cameras have 200 million pixels. Astronomers will repeatedly
(    )    Survey Telescope camera was funded by U.S. government agencies. The enormous
(    )    that we're going to make a colour movie of the entire Southern Hemisphere sky." In particular, he hopes
(    )    The camera is the size of a small car and weighs 2,721 kg. It has a massive 3-billion-pixel
( 1 ) The world's largest ever digital camera has become operational in an observatory in Chile. The Large Synoptic
(    )    to capture images that will shed light on how galaxies formed. Roodman's team will also investigate dark

Put the words in the right order

The camera operational has become world's largest digital .
Astronomers commence now will a testing period of .
Use observe the to camera hemisphere southern the .
It triumph called science a of the camera .
We forward to images unprecedented seeing the look .
The size a of is car the camera .
Repeatedly time-lapse sky the scan images to take .
A of Southern the colour movie entire Hemisphere .
It galaxies how on shed light will formed .
Invisible portion that make up a significant substances .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The world's largest ever digital camera has become operated / operational in an observatory in Chile. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera was funded / fended by U.S. government agencies. The enormous device was installation / installed in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the South American nation. Astronomers will now commence / commerce a period of testing. They will use the camera to observe the southern hemisphere skies over the next / past decade. The Department of Energy's Office of Science commented on what / how momentous the completion of the telescope was. It called the camera "a triumph off / of science and engineers / engineering". It added: "We look forward to seeing / seen the unprecedented images this camera will product / produce."

The camera is the size of a small car and weights / weighs 2,721 kg. It has a massive 3-billion-pixel sensor. In comparison, today's top-of-the-range / ranch smartphone cameras have 200 million pixels. Astronomers will repeatedly scan a / the sky to take time-elapse / lapse images of space. Lead researcher Aaron Roodman said: "We like / liking to say that we're going to make a colour movie of the every / entire Southern Hemisphere sky." In particular / peculiar, he hopes to capture images that will shed dark / light on how galaxies formed. Roodman's team will also investigate dark / light matter – the invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe. In addition, the camera will map / diagram our Milky Way galaxy in greater detail than ever before.

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

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

Th_ w_rld's l_rg_st _v_r d_g_t_l c_m_r_ h_s b_c_m_ _p_r_t__n_l _n _n _bs_rv_t_ry _n Ch_l_. Th_ L_rg_ Syn_pt_c S_rv_y T_l_sc_p_ c_m_r_ w_s f_nd_d by _.S. g_v_rnm_nt _g_nc__s. Th_ _n_rm__s d_v_c_ w_s _nst_ll_d _n th_ V_r_ C. R_b_n _bs_rv_t_ry _n th_ S__th _m_r_c_n n_t__n. _str_n_m_rs w_ll n_w c_mm_nc_ _ p_r__d _f t_st_ng. Th_y w_ll _s_ th_ c_m_r_ t_ _bs_rv_ th_ s__th_rn h_m_sph_r_ sk__s _v_r th_ n_xt d_c_d_. Th_ D_p_rtm_nt _f _n_rgy's _ff_c_ _f Sc__nc_ c_mm_nt_d _n h_w m_m_nt__s th_ c_mpl_t__n _f th_ t_l_sc_p_ w_s. _t c_ll_d th_ c_m_r_ "_ tr__mph _f sc__nc_ _nd _ng_n__r_ng". _t _dd_d: "W_ l__k f_rw_rd t_ s___ng th_ _npr_c_d_nt_d _m_g_s th_s c_m_r_ w_ll pr_d_c_."

Th_ c_m_r_ _s th_ s_z_ _f _ sm_ll c_r _nd w__ghs 2,721 kg. _t h_s _ m_ss_v_ 3-b_ll__n-p_x_l s_ns_r. _n c_mp_r_s_n, t_d_y's t_p-_f-th_-r_ng_ sm_rtph_n_ c_m_r_s h_v_ 200 m_ll__n p_x_ls. _str_n_m_rs w_ll r_p__t_dly sc_n th_ sky t_ t_k_ t_m_-l_ps_ _m_g_s _f sp_c_. L__d r_s__rch_r __r_n R__dm_n s__d: "W_ l_k_ t_ s_y th_t w_'r_ g__ng t_ m_k_ _ c_l__r m_v__ _f th_ _nt_r_ S__th_rn H_m_sph_r_ sky." _n p_rt_c_l_r, h_ h_p_s t_ c_pt_r_ _m_g_s th_t w_ll sh_d l_ght _n h_w g_l_x__s f_rm_d. R__dm_n's t__m w_ll _ls_ _nv_st_g_t_ d_rk m_tt_r – th_ _nv_s_bl_ s_bst_nc_ th_t m_k_s _p _ s_gn_f_c_nt p_rt__n _f th_ _n_v_rs_. _n _dd_t__n, th_ c_m_r_ w_ll m_p __r M_lky W_y g_l_xy _n gr__t_r d_t__l th_n _v_r b_f_r_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the worlds largest ever digital camera has become operational in an observatory in chile the large synoptic survey telescope camera was funded by us government agencies the enormous device was installed in the vera c rubin observatory in the south american nation astronomers will now commence a period of testing they will use the camera to observe the southern hemisphere skies over the next decade the department of energys office of science commented on how momentous the completion of the telescope was it called the camera a triumph of science and engineering it added we look forward to seeing the unprecedented images this camera will produce

the camera is the size of a small car and weighs 2721 kg it has a massive 3 billion pixel sensor in comparison todays top of the range smartphone cameras have 200 million pixels astronomers will repeatedly scan the sky to take time lapse images of space lead researcher aaron roodman said we like to say that were going to make a colour movie of the entire southern hemisphere sky in particular he hopes to capture images that will shed light on how galaxies formed roodmans team will also investigate dark matter the invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe in addition the camera will map our milky way galaxy in greater detail than ever before

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Theworld'slargesteverdigitalcamerahasbecomeoperationalinanobs
ervatoryinChile.TheLargeSynopticSurveyTelescopecamerawasfund
edbyU.S.governmentagencies.Theenormousdevicewasinstalledint
heVeraC.RubinObservatoryintheSouthAmericannation.Astronomer
swillnowcommenceaperiodoftesting.Theywillusethecameratoobser
vethesouthernhemisphereskiesoverthenextdecade.TheDepartmen
tofEnergy'sOfficeofSciencecommentedonhowmomentousthecompl
etionofthetelescopewas.Itcalledthecamera"atriumphofscienceande
ngineering".Itadded:"Welookforwardtoseeingtheunprecedentedim
agesthiscamerawillproduce."Thecameraisthesizeofasmallcarandwe
ighs2,721kg.Ithasamassive3-billion-pixelsensor.Incomparison,tod
ay'stop-of-the-rangesmartphonecamerashave200millionpixels.Ast
ronomerswillrepeatedlyscantheskytotaketime-lapseimagesofspac
e.LeadresearcherAaronRoodmansaid:"Weliketosaythatwe'regoingt
omakeacolourmovieoftheentireSouthernHemispheresky."Inparticu
lar,hehopestocaptureimagesthatwillshedlightonhowgalaxiesforme
d.Roodman'steamwillalsoinvestigatedarkmatter–theinvisiblesubs
tancethatmakesupasignificantportionoftheuniverse.Inaddition,thec
amerawillmapourMilkyWaygalaxyingreaterdetailthaneverbefore.

Free writing

Write about digital camera for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It is essential for humans to understand and explore space. 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. DIGITAL CAMERAS: Make a poster about digital cameras. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. SPACE: Write a magazine article about governments spending more money to look at space. 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 digital cameras. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Digital Cameras

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