The Reading / Listening - Level 6

America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully inflated a new, experimental room for crew members to use in space. The inflatable pod is now an extension to the International Space Station (ISS). It is roughly four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days to fully inflate. ISS crew members now have to wait a week before entering it. NASA engineers must first ensure it is airtight. The blow-up compartment is part of a test on the feasibility of inflatable accommodation on the Moon and Mars, and of orbiting space hotels. NASA paid $17.8 million for the demo capsule. It hopes this initial test will lead to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station.

The inflatable is the world's first blow-up capsule for astronauts, cosmonauts and other space travellers. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for short. It is named after Bigelow Aerospace, the company that designed and built it. Company founder Robert Bigelow has spent many years investing in and building hotels. He is currently working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve as hotels in the heavens by the end of the decade. He said he envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism in the future. The pods are small enough to transport as compressed, airless units, but big enough and sturdy enough to live in, once filled with air.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002980277
  • http://www.gizmag.com/beam-habitat-second-attempt-iss/43573/
  • http://www.dw.com/en/nasa-inflates-space-pod-for-iss-astronauts/a-19291301


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. SPACE TOURISM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about space tourism. 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?

       NASA / experimental / crew / members / roughly / engineers / feasibility / capsule /
       inflatable / astronauts / travellers / designed / investing / private / decade / sturdy

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

3. SPACE RESEARCH: Students A strongly believe that money should be spent on health and education instead of space research; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ISS: What do you think life is like on the ISS? Write down or talk about about the good and bad things about the things below. Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Sleep
  • Other people
  • Food
  • Exercise
  • Showering
  • Hobbies
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. SPACE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "space". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SPACE HOTEL: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about a space hotel at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • no immigration
  • space souvenirs
  • saying you've been into space
  • silence
  • the view
  • weightlessness
  • the journey there
  • space food

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The new inflatable room on the ISS is for the crew to use.     T / F
  2. The room is 13.2 metres in length.     T / F
  3. It took three hours for engineers to inflate the room.     T / F
  4. NASA said it would not be able to build any bigger rooms.     T / F
  5. The shortened name of the inflatable room is 'BEAM'.     T / F
  6. A company may have hotels in space by 2020.     T / F
  7. A company boss said inflatables would play a small part in space travel.   T / F
  8. The inflatable pods are strong enough for people to live in them.     T / F

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

  1. inflated
  2. extension
  3. roughly
  4. airtight
  5. initial
  6. built
  7. currently
  8. envisions
  9. compressed
  10. sturdy
  1. approximately
  2. constructed
  3. flattened
  4. add-on
  5. presently
  6. first
  7. visualises
  8. blown up
  9. strong
  10. sealed

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

  1. crew
  2. It is roughly
  3. It took three days to fully
  4. engineers must first ensure
  5. part of a test on the
  6. The inflatable is the world's first blow-
  7. astronauts, cosmonauts and
  8. He is currently working
  9. serve as hotels in
  10. big enough and sturdy
  1. enough to live in
  2. feasibility
  3. other space travellers
  4. four metres long
  5. the heavens
  6. on a project
  7. members
  8. up capsule
  9. it is airtight
  10. inflate

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
roughly
feasibility
successfully
airtight
initial
extension
orbiting
inflate

America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has (1) ____________ inflated a new, experimental room for crew members to use in space. The inflatable pod is now an (2) ____________ to the International Space Station (ISS). It is (3) ____________ four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days to fully (4) ____________. ISS crew members now have to wait a week before entering it. NASA engineers must first ensure it is (5) ____________. The blow-up compartment is part of a test on the (6) ____________ of inflatable accommodation on the Moon and Mars, and of (7) ____________ space hotels. NASA paid $17.8 million for the demo capsule. It hopes this (8) ____________ test will lead to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
founder
heavens
sturdy
short
compressed
currently
capsule
decade

The inflatable is the world's first blow-up (9) ____________ for astronauts, cosmonauts and other space travellers. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for (10) ____________. It is named after Bigelow Aerospace, the company that designed and built it. Company (11) ____________ Robert Bigelow has spent many years investing in and building hotels. He is (12) ____________ working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve as hotels in the (13) ____________ by the end of the (14) ____________. He said he envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism in the future. The pods are small enough to transport as (15) ____________, airless units, but big enough and (16) ____________ enough to live in, once filled with air.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  inflated a new, experimental room for crew members ______
     a.  to use on space
     b.  to use in space
     c.  to use at space
     d.  to use to space

2)  It is roughly four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days ______
     a.  for fully inflate
     b.  to filling inflate
     c.  to fully inflate
     d.  to filled inflate

3)  ISS crew members now have to wait a week ______
     a.  then entering it
     b.  before entering it
     c.  afore entering it
     d.  pre entering it

4)  The blow-up compartment is part of a test ______
     a.  on the feasibility
     b.  in a feasibility
     c.  on the feast ability
     d.  on the freeze ability

5)  NASA paid $17.8 million for ______
     a.  the dynamo capsule
     b.  the demon capsule
     c.  the de-mob capsule
     d.  the demo capsule

6)  the world's first blow-up capsule for astronauts, cosmonauts and ______
     a.  another space travellers
     b.  other space travels
     c.  other space revelers
     d.  other space travellers

7)  Bigelow has spent many years investing ______ hotels
     a.  in and building
     b.  inn and building
     c.  in a building
     d.  inner building

8)  space stations that could serve as hotels in the heavens by the end ______
     a.  of the decadence
     b.  of the decades
     c.  of the decade
     d.  of the arcade

9)  He said he envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism ______
     a.  on the future
     b.  in the futures
     c.  in the futurity
     d.  in the future

10)  but big enough and sturdy enough to live in, once ______
     a.  filtered with there
     b.  filled with air
     c.  filled within air
     d.  filtered with air

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully (1) ___________________, experimental room for crew members to use in space. The inflatable pod is (2) ___________________ to the International Space Station (ISS). It is roughly four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days (3) ___________________. ISS crew members now have to wait a week before entering it. NASA engineers must first ensure (4) ___________________. The blow-up compartment is part of a test on the feasibility of inflatable accommodation on the Moon and Mars, (5) ___________________ space hotels. NASA paid $17.8 million for the demo capsule. It hopes this (6) ___________________ to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station.

The inflatable is the world's first blow-up (7) ___________________, cosmonauts and other space travellers. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for short. (8) ___________________ Bigelow Aerospace, the company that designed and built it. Company founder Robert Bigelow has spent many years (9) ___________________ building hotels. He is currently working on (10) ___________________ two private space stations that could serve as hotels in the heavens by the end of the decade. He said he envisions inflatables (11) ___________________ space travel and tourism in the future. The pods are small enough to transport as compressed, airless units, but big enough and (12) ___________________ live in, once filled with air.

Comprehension questions

  1. Which organisation successfully inflated the ISS extension?
  2. How wide is the inflated pod?
  3. How long do crew members have to wait before entering the pod?
  4. What do crew members have to check for before entering the pod?
  5. How much did NASA pay for the pod?
  6. How many inflatable pods were in space before this one?
  7. What is the shortened name of the pod?
  8. When could space hotels be in space?
  9. What did Robert Bigelow say the inflatables would be a big part of?
  10. What are the inflatable pods sturdy enough to do?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Which organisation successfully inflated the ISS extension?
a) UNICEF
b) NASA
c) NATO
d) NASCAR

2) How wide is the inflated pod?
a) 23 metres
b) 2.3 metres
c) 32 metres
d) 3.2 metres

3) How long do crew members have to wait before entering the pod?
a) 36 hours
b) 3 days
c) a week
d) several hours

4) What do crew members have to check for before entering the pod?
a) to see if it is airtight
b) damage
c) space debris
d) viruses

5) How much did NASA pay for the pod?
a) $178 million
b) $17.8 million
c) $187 million
d) $18.7 million

6) How many inflatable pods were in space before this one?
a) 0
b) 3
c) 11
d) 452

7) What is the shortened name of the pod?
a) ISSY
b) BOB
c) BEAM
d) PODDY

8) When could space hotels be in space?
a) by 2020
b) by 2025
c) by 2030
d) by 2050

9) What did Robert Bigelow say the inflatables would be a big part of?
a) NASA
b) theme parks
c) Disney
d) the future of space travel

10) What are the inflatable pods sturdy enough to do?
a) cut with a knife
b) house 1,000 people
c) live in
d) survive a meteor shower

Role play

Role A — The view

You think the view is the best thing about staying at a space hotel. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): weightlessness, the journey there or souvenirs.

Role B — Weightlessness

You think weightlessness is the best thing about staying at a space hotel. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the view, the journey there or souvenirs.

Role C — The journey there

You think the journey there is the best thing about staying at a space hotel. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): weightlessness, the view or souvenirs.

Role D — Souvenirs

You think souvenirs are the best things about staying at a space hotel. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why):  weightlessness, the journey there or the view.

After reading / listening

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

'space'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'station'.

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

    • first
    • named
    • spent
    • project
    • future
    • filled
    • use
    • roughly
    • wait
    • test
    • orbiting
    • bigger

    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 - International Space Station gets air-filled extension

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'space'?
    3. What do you know about NASA?
    4. What do you think about the inflatable extension?
    5. What could the new inflatable pod be used for?
    6. What do you think it's like to work on the ISS?
    7. Would you like to stay in an inflatable space hotel?
    8. Which is better – a hotel on the Moon or an orbiting hotel?
    9. What dangers could there be with the inflatable capsule?
    10. Would you be a good astronaut? Why?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What is the difference between astronauts and cosmonauts?
    3. What do you know about the ISS?
    4. What are the dangers of working in space?
    5. What do you think of space tourism?
    6. What other uses could there be for inflatable rooms in space?
    7. Would you prefer to stay in a hotel in space or on Earth? Why?
    8. What will space tourism look like in the future?
    9. What are the pros and cons of living in space?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the astronauts?

    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)

    America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully inflated a new, experimental room for crew members to use (1) ____ space. The inflatable pod is now an extension to the International Space Station (ISS). It is  (2) ____ four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days to (3) ____ inflate. ISS crew members now have to wait a week before entering it. NASA engineers must first ensure it is (4) ____. The blow-up compartment is part of a test on the (5) ____ of inflatable accommodation on the Moon and Mars, and of orbiting space hotels. NASA paid $17.8 million for the (6) ____ capsule. It hopes this initial test will lead to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station.

    The inflatable is the world's first blow-up capsule for astronauts, cosmonauts and other space (7) ____. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for (8) ____. It is named after Bigelow Aerospace, the company that designed and built it. Company founder Robert Bigelow has spent many years investing (9) ____ and building hotels. He is currently working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve (10) ____ hotels in the heavens by the end of the decade. He said he envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism in the future. The pods are small enough to transport as (11) ____, airless units, but big enough and sturdy enough to live in, (12) ____ filled with air.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)…..at…..(b)…..in…..(c)…..to…..(d)…..on…..
    2. (a)…..roughs…..(b)…..roughage…..(c)…..rough…..(d)…..roughly…..
    3. (a)…..filled…..(b)…..fully…..(c)…..filling…..(d)…..filler…..
    4. (a)…..tighten…..(b)…..uptight…..(c)…..airtight…..(d)…..tights…..
    5. (a)…..feasibility…..(b)…..frailty…..(c)…..faculty…..(d)…..facility…..
    6. (a)…..demo…..(b)…..repo…..(c)…..ammo…..(d)…..polo…..
    7. (a)…..trapezes…..(b)…..revelers…..(c)…..travails…..(d)…..travellers…..
    8. (a)…..short…..(b)…..small…..(c)…..tiny…..(d)…..length…..
    9. (a)…..to…..(b)…..in…..(c)…..of…..(d)…..at…..
    10. (a)…..on…..(b)…..to…..(c)…..as…..(d)…..by…..
    11. (a)…..compressing…..(b)…..compress…..(c)…..compressed…..(d)…..compresses…..
    12. (a)…..one-time…..(b)…..once…..(c)…..upon…..(d)…..afore

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. National earnsucAtoi and Space Administration (NASA)
    2. engineers must first ensure it is iaightrt
    3. a test on the bafiilesity
    4. ogiitnrb space hotels
    5. $17.8 million for the demo lacseup
    6. bigger tflibaelan rooms at the space station

     

    Paragraph 2

    1. astronauts, otoscunams and other space travellers
    2. He is tncryurel working on a project
    3. serve as hotels in the snvehae
    4. he snnsoivie inflatables as a big part
    5. transport as epcossredm, airless units
    6. rudsty enough to live in

    Put the text back together

    (    )…..in the future. The pods are small enough to transport as compressed, airless units,

    (    )…..four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days to fully inflate. ISS crew members now have to wait a

    (    )…..building hotels. He is currently working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve as hotels in the

    (    )…..members to use in space. The inflatable pod is now an extension to the International Space Station (ISS). It is roughly

    (    )…..hotels. NASA paid $17.8 million for the demo capsule. It hopes

    (    )…..company that designed and built it. Company founder Robert Bigelow has spent many years investing in and

    (    )…..The inflatable is the world's first blow-up capsule for astronauts, cosmonauts and other space

    (    )…..America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully inflated a new, experimental room for crew

    (    )…..week before entering it. NASA engineers must first ensure it is airtight. The blow-up compartment is part of a test

    (    )…..heavens by the end of the decade. He said he envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism

    (    )…..on the feasibility of inflatable accommodation on the Moon and Mars, and of orbiting space

    (    )…..travellers. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for short. It is named after Bigelow Aerospace, the

    (    )…..this initial test will lead to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station.

    (    )…..but big enough and sturdy enough to live in, once filled with air.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. new   A   space  in  use  to  members  crew  for  room  experimental , .
    2. must   engineers   NASA   airtight   is   it   ensure   first   .
    3. accommodation   inflatable   of   feasibility   the   on   test   A   .
    4. million   for   the   demo   capsule   NASA   paid   $17   .8
    5. space   inflatable   station   rooms   Lead   at   to   the   bigger   .
    6. inflatable  The astronauts  for  capsule  up - blow  first  world's  the  is .
    7. that   as   the   stations   serve   in   Space   could   hotels   heavens   .
    8. He   travel  space  of   part   big   a  as  inflatables  envisions  he  said  .
    9. ,   to   airless   transport   units   as   Small   compressed   enough   .
    10. ,  enough  Big   once   to  enough  filled  live  and  with  in  sturdy  air  .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully inflation / inflated a new, experimental room for crew / clue members to use / used in space. The inflatable pod is now an extended / extension to the International Space Station (ISS). It is roughly / rough four metres long and 3.2 metres wide. It took three days to fully inflate. ISS crew members now have to wait a week then / before entering it. NASA engineers must first ensure / in case it is airtight. The blow-up compartment is part of a test on the feasibility / feasible of inflatable accommodation on the Moon and Mars, and of orbiting spaced / space hotels. NASA paid $17.8 million for the demo capsule. It hopes this initial / initially test will lead to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station.

    The inflatable is the world's first blew up / blow-up capsule for astronauts, cosmonauts and another / other space travellers. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for / four short. It is named after Bigelow Aerospace, the company that designed and build / built it. Company founder Robert Bigelow has spent many / much years investing in and building hotels. He is present / currently working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve / save as hotels in the heavens by the end of the decade. He said he visions / envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism in / on the future. The pods are small enough to transport as compressed, airless units, but big enough and study / sturdy enough to live in, once filled with air.

    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_r_c_'s N_t__n_l __r_n__t_cs _nd Sp_c_ _dm_n_str_t__n (N_S_) h_s s_cc_ssf_lly _nfl_t_d _ n_w, _xp_r_m_nt_l r__m f_r cr_w m_mb_rs t_ _s_ _n sp_c_. Th_ _nfl_t_bl_ p_d _s n_w _n _xt_ns__n t_ th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l Sp_c_ St_t__n (_SS). _t _s r__ghly f__r m_tr_s l_ng _nd 3.2 m_tr_s w_d_. _t t__k thr__ d_ys t_ f_lly _nfl_t_. _SS cr_w m_mb_rs n_w h_v_ t_ w__t _ w__k b_f_r_ _nt_r_ng _t. N_S_ _ng_n__rs m_st f_rst _ns_r_ _t _s __rt_ght. Th_ bl_w-_p c_mp_rtm_nt _s p_rt _f _ t_st _n th_ f__s_b_l_ty _f _nfl_t_bl_ _cc_mm_d_t__n _n th_ M__n _nd M_rs, _nd _f _rb_t_ng sp_c_ h_t_ls. N_S_ p__d $17.8 m_ll__n f_r th_ d_m_ c_ps_l_. _t h_p_s th_s _n_t__l t_st w_ll l__d t_ b_gg_r _nfl_t_bl_ r__ms _t th_ sp_c_ st_t__n.

    Th_ _nfl_t_bl_ _s th_ w_rld's f_rst bl_w-_p c_ps_l_ f_r _str_n__ts, c_sm_n__ts _nd _th_r sp_c_ tr_v_ll_rs. _t _s c_ll_d th_ B_g_l_w _xp_nd_bl_ _ct_v_ty M_d_l_, _r B__M f_r sh_rt. _t _s n_m_d _ft_r B_g_l_w __r_sp_c_, th_ c_mp_ny th_t d_s_gn_d _nd b__lt _t. C_mp_ny f__nd_r R_b_rt B_g_l_w h_s sp_nt m_ny y__rs _nv_st_ng _n _nd b__ld_ng h_t_ls. H_ _s c_rr_ntly w_rk_ng _n _ pr_j_ct t_ b__ld tw_ pr_v_t_ sp_c_ st_t__ns th_t c__ld s_rv_ _s h_t_ls _n th_ h__v_ns by th_ _nd _f th_ d_c_d_. H_ s__d h_ _nv_s__ns _nfl_t_bl_s _s _ b_g p_rt _f sp_c_ tr_v_l _nd t__r_sm _n th_ f_t_r_. Th_ p_ds _r_ sm_ll _n__gh t_ tr_nsp_rt _s c_mpr_ss_d, __rl_ss _n_ts, b_t b_g _n__gh _nd st_rdy _n__gh t_ l_v_ _n, _nc_ f_ll_d w_th __r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    america's national aeronautics and space administration (nasa) has successfully inflated a new experimental room for crew members to use in space the inflatable pod is now an extension to the international space station (iss) it is roughly four metres long and 32 metres wide it took three days to fully inflate iss crew members now have to wait a week before entering it nasa engineers must first ensure it is airtight the blow-up compartment is part of a test on the feasibility of inflatable accommodation on the moon and mars and of orbiting space hotels nasa paid $178 million for the demo capsule it hopes this initial test will lead to bigger inflatable rooms at the space station

    the inflatable is the world's first blow-up capsule for astronauts cosmonauts and other space travellers it is called the bigelow expandable activity module or beam for short it is named after bigelow aerospace the company that designed and built it company founder robert bigelow has spent many years investing in and building hotels he is currently working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve as hotels in the heavens by the end of the decade he said he envisions inflatables as a big part of space travel and tourism in the future the pods are small enough to transport as compressed airless units but big enough and sturdy enough to live in once filled with air

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    America'sNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA)hass
    uccessfullyinflatedanew,experimentalroomforcrewmemberstousei
    nspace.TheinflatablepodisnowanextensiontotheInternationalSpace
    Station(ISS).Itisroughlyfourmetreslongand3.2metreswide.Ittookth
    reedaystofullyinflate.ISScrewmembersnowhavetowaitaweekbefore
    enteringit.NASAengineersmustfirstensureitisairtight.Theblow-upco
    mpartmentispartofatestonthefeasibilityofinflatableaccommodation
    ontheMoonandMars,andoforbitingspacehotels.NASApaid$17.8milli
    onforthedemocapsule.Ithopesthisinitialtestwillleadtobiggerinflatabl
    eroomsatthespacestation.Theinflatableistheworld'sfirstblow-upca
    psuleforastronauts,cosmonautsandotherspacetravellers.Itiscalledt
    heBigelowExpandableActivityModule,orBEAMforshort.Itisnamedaft
    erBigelowAerospace,thecompanythatdesignedandbuiltit.Companyf
    ounderRobertBigelowhasspentmanyyearsinvestinginandbuildingho
    tels.Heiscurrentlyworkingonaprojecttobuildtwoprivatespacestation
    sthatcouldserveashotelsintheheavensbytheendofthedecade.Hesaid
    heenvisionsinflatablesasabigpartofspacetravelandtourisminthefutu
    re.Thepodsaresmallenoughtotransportascompressed,airlessunits,b
    utbigenoughandsturdyenoughtolivein,oncefilledwithair.

    Free writing

    Write about International Space Station for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Money should be spent on health and education, not space research. 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 the ISS inflatable room. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. SPACE TOURISM: Write a magazine article about space tourism. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    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 space tourism. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what people could do on a space holiday. 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.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You