SEO

July 30, 2009

Happy NASA Anniversary Day! English Lesson

MP3 Listening

THE READING / PRESCRIPT

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live here on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to counter the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race that saw some of the greatest achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was launched in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted off in 1981. Other milestones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.

NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is to find out as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new plan for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and beyond. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are presently on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of all”.


PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.

the National Aeronautics and

a.

at the universe

2

the USA’s space exploration

b.

blasted off in 1981

3.

the way we look

c.

Hubble Telescope

4.

the greatest achievements

d.

and Space Administration

5.

the first reusable Space Shuttle

e.

in human history

6.

Other milestones include the

f.

programme

 

Paragraph 2

1.

NASA will never

a.

and search for life

2

find out as much as it can

b.

and beyond

3.

To explore the universe

c.

of explorers

4.

inspire the next generation

d.

stop exploring

5.

future missions to Mars

e.

“For the benefit of all”

6.

As NASA’s motto says, this is

f.

about our universe


LISTENING GAP FILL

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It ____________________ USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has ____________________ live here on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower _____________________ the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race ____________________ greatest achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab ____________________ 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted off in 1981. Other ____________________ the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.

NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is ____________________ as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To ____________________ and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush ____________________ for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and beyond. In 2007, NASA stated ____________________ on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft ____________________ way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “____________________”.


WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was ____________ on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has ____________ the way we live here on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to ____________ the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became ____________ in the Space Race that saw some of the ____________ achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was ____________ in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first ____________ Space Shuttle blasted off in 1981. Other ____________ include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.

 

 

 

greatest
counter
established
reusable
milestones
involved
changed
launched

NASA will never stop exploring. Its ____________ is to find out as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To ____________ the universe and search for life; to ____________ the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new ____________ for astronauts to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for ____________ missions to Mars and beyond. In 2007, NASA stated it ____________ to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are ____________ on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the ____________ of all”.

 

 

inspire
 
aimed
explore
future
benefit
presently
mission
plan


CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established / establishing on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible from / for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live here / there on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to count / counter the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race that saw / seen some of the greatest achievements in human / humans history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was launched in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted up / off in 1981. Other milestones / gemstones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.

NASA will never stop explores / exploring. Its mission is to find out as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for lives / life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announcement / announced a new plan for astronauts to return to the Moon by / until 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and beyond / before. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on / in Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are current / presently on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of some / all”.


MULTIPLE CHOICE

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible (1) ____ the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live (2) ____ on Earth, and the way we look at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to (3) ____ the Soviet Union’s space programme. For several decades, NASA became (4) ____ in the Space Race that saw some of the greatest achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was (5) ____ in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted (6) ____ in 1981. Other milestones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.

NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is to find (7) ____ as much as it can about our universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for (8) ____; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new plan for astronauts to return to the Moon (9) ____ 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and (10) ____. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are (11) ____ on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of (12) ____”.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.

(a)

from

(b)

for

(c)

of

(d)

by

2.

(a)

there

(b)

down

(c)

up

(d)

here

3.

(a)

counter

(b)

counting

(c)

counts

(d)

count

4.

(a)

involved

(b)

involves

(c)

involving

(d)

involved

5.

(a)

lunched

(b)

launcher

(c)

launched

(d)

launching

6.

(a)

on

(b)

up

(c)

down

(d)

off

7.

(a)

in

(b)

out

(c)

up

(d)

of

8.

(a)

life

(b)

living

(c)

lives

(d)

live

9.

(a)

until

(b)

since

(c)

by

(d)

at

10.

(a)

behind

(b)

beyond

(c)

before

(d)

begin

11.

(a)

present

(b)

presence

(c)

presently

(d)

presenter

12.

(a)

some

(b)

few

(c)

half

(d)

all


SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

weanling Aeronautics and Space Administration

2.

look at the Evangelist

3.

unicorn the Soviet Union’s space programmer

4.

some of the graticule achievements

5.

Skylab was chalcedony in 1973

6.

milestones enlighten the Hubble Telescope

 

Paragraph 2

7.

NASA will never stop prehensile

8.

Erin the next generation

9.

George W. Bush anchormen a new plan

10.

future pianissimo to Mars

11.

spacecraft are Petronella on their way

12.

“For the Firestone of all”


PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” US President George W. Bush announced a new plan for astronauts

(    )

launched in 1973 and became the first space station; and the first reusable Space Shuttle blasted

(    )

achievements in human history. The Apollo project put the first man, Neil Armstrong, on the Moon in 1969; Skylab was

(    )

to return to the Moon by 2018. He said NASA would set up a Moon Base for future missions to Mars and

1  )

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established on July 29th, 1958. It was responsible

(    )

NASA will never stop exploring. Its mission is to find out as much as it can about our

(    )

off in 1981. Other milestones include the Hubble Telescope and the International Space Station.

(    )

at the universe. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created it to counter the Soviet Union’s space

(    )

programme. For several decades, NASA became involved in the Space Race that saw some of the greatest

(    )

over half the solar system. As NASA’s motto says, this is “For the benefit of all”.

(    )

beyond. In 2007, NASA stated it aimed to put a man on Mars by 2037. There are also plans to explore

(    )

universe. In early February 2006, NASA said its aim was: “To explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next

(    )

Saturn and study the Sun. NASA spacecraft are presently on their way to Mercury and Pluto. Other planned missions cover

(    )

for the USA’s space exploration programme. NASA has changed the way we live here on Earth, and the way we look


SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

for     responsible     was     It     exploration     space     USA’s     the

2.

has     way    here    NASA     the     live    Earth     changed    we     on

3.

in     achievements     greatest     the     of     Some    history     human

4.

Shuttle     off     first     Space     blasted     The     reusable

5.

Hubble     the     include     milestones     Other     Telescope

6.

find     out     as     much     as     it     can     Its     mission     is     to

7.

next     of     To     the     generation     explorers     inspire

8.

astronauts     to     A    for     return     Moon     plan     to    the     new

9.

to     man     NASA     aimed     a     Mars     it     put     on     stated

10.

Planned     system     solar     the     half     over     cover     missions


DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________


THE NASA’S ANNIVERSARY SURVEY

Write five questions about NASA’s Anniversary in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.


WRITING

Write about NASA’s Anniversary for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________


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 more information about NASA’s Anniversary. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about NASA’s Anniversary. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. POSTER: Make your own poster about NASA’s Anniversary. Write about will happen on this day around the world.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.