The Reading / Listening - Space Force Uniform - Level 6

The U.S. military has officially unveiled the uniforms for its newly created Space Force. The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space operations branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was officially created alongside the U.S. Space Command when President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2019. Special uniforms have been designed for Space Force personnel, but they have created quite a stir on social media. The uniforms were launched on the Space Force Twitter account. The tweet announced the uniforms had "touched down in the Pentagon". However, the design is the usual camouflage green, black and brown and not camouflaged for space.

The USSF is the sixth branch of the U.S. military. It is America's first new armed service since the establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. President Trump said: "The Space Force will help us deter aggression and control the ultimate high ground. Space is the world's new war-fighting domain. Amid grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely vital." Many people thought the force needed a special uniform. Some critics said it needed to be black, so as to blend in with the dark of space. Military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a waste of taxpayers' money and that no combatants would be floating around in space in the near future.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Space Force Uniform - Level 4  or  Space Force Uniform - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/space-force-uniforms-camo-camouflage-print-pentagon-command-2020-1
  • https://www.newsweek.com/space-force-camo-uniform-twitter-1482906
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-space-force-uniform-camouflage-trump-a9289731.html


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

Warm-ups

1. SPACE FORCES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about space forces. 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?
       military / uniforms / space / personnel / create a stir / design / camouflage / green /
       branch / aggression / ultimate / high ground / threats / security / vital / taxpayers
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SPACE: Students A strongly believe humans should stay out of space; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. UNIFORMS: Design uniforms for these people? What special features will they have? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Uniform

Features

Teachers

 

 

Babies

 

 

Rock singers

 

 

Politicians

 

 

Waiters

 

 

Journalists

 

 

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. BRANCH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "branch". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MILITARY: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important military units at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Space force
  • Spies
  • Cyber fighters
  • Sailors
  • Soldiers
  • Fighter pilots
  • Submariners
  • Alpine force

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. unveiled a. A division or office of a large business or organization, operating locally or having a particular function.
      2. branch b. Started or set in motion a new activity or enterprise.
      3. personnel c. A state of confused and noisy disturbance.
      4. stir d. People employed in an organization or engaged in military service.
      5. launched e. Revealed or shown to the public for the first time.
      6. touched down f. The disguising of military staff, equipment, and buildings by painting or covering them the same colour as their surroundings.
      7. camouflage g. Arrived; of an aircraft or spacecraft making contact with the ground when landing.

    Paragraph 2

      8. armed h. Absolutely necessary or important; essential.
      9. establishment i. Equipped with or carrying a weapon or weapons.
      10. deter j. Giving cause for alarm; serious.
      11. ultimate k. A person or nation involved in fighting during a war.
      12. grave l. Discourage someone from doing something.
      13. vital m. Being the best or most extreme example of its kind.
      14. combatant n. The action of creating and starting something or being created, especially a business or organisation.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The U.S. military put a veil on its new Space Force uniforms.     T / F
  2. President Trump signed an act to create the Space Force in 2019.     T / F
  3. Very few people commented about the uniforms on social media.     T / F
  4. The new uniforms are black and dark blue.     T / F
  5. The Space Force is the sixth area of the U.S. military to be created.     T / F
  6. Donald Trump said American superiority in space is vital.     T / F
  7. Military officials don't want to use taxpayers' money to design uniforms.  T / F
  8. Space Force combatants will go up into space soon.     T / F

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

  1. unveiled
  2. branch
  3. signed
  4. stir
  5. camouflage
  6. establishment
  7. deter
  8. vital
  9. blend in
  10. combatants
  1. foundation
  2. fuss
  3. servicemen / women
  4. disguise
  5. essential
  6. revealed
  7. merge
  8. division
  9. prevent
  10. penned

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

  1. The U.S. military has officially unveiled
  2. It was officially created alongside
  3. designed for Space Force
  4. they have created quite a
  5. the design is the usual camouflage
  6. It is America's first new
  7. The Space Force will help us
  8. Amid grave threats
  9. it needed to be black, so
  10. a waste of taxpayers'
  1. the U.S. Space Command
  2. armed service
  3. stir on social media
  4. money
  5. the uniforms
  6. deter aggression
  7. as to blend
  8. green, black and brown
  9. to our national security
  10. personnel

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
personnel
design
stir
unveiled
camouflaged
branch
alongside
touched

The U.S. military has officially (1) ____________ the uniforms for its newly created Space Force. The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space operations (2) ____________ of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was officially created (3) ____________ the U.S. Space Command when President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2019. Special uniforms have been designed for Space Force (4) ____________, but they have created quite a (5) ____________ on social media. The uniforms were launched on the Space Force Twitter account. The tweet announced the uniforms had "(6) ____________ down in the Pentagon". However, the (7) ____________ is the usual camouflage green, black and brown and not (8) ____________ for space.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
deter
absolutely
grave
combatants
establishment
military
blend
superiority

The USSF is the sixth branch of the U.S. (9) ____________. It is America's first new armed service since the (10) ____________ of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. President Trump said: "The Space Force will help us (11) ____________ aggression and control the ultimate high ground. Space is the world's new war-fighting domain. Amid (12) ____________ threats to our national security, American (13) ____________ in space is (14) ____________ vital." Many people thought the force needed a special uniform. Some critics said it needed to be black, so as to (15) ____________ in with the dark of space. Military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a waste of taxpayers' money and that no (16) ____________ would be floating around in space in the near future.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The U.S. military has officially unveiled the uniforms for its newly ______
     a.  create it Space Force
     b.  create a Space Force
     c.  creates Space Force
     d.  created Space Force
2)  The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space ______
     a.  upper rations branch
     b.  op rations branch
     c.  op a rations branch
     d.  operations branch
3)  Special uniforms have been designed for Space ______
     a.  Force personnel
     b.  Force personal
     c.  Force personally
     d.  Force Person Mel
4)  The uniforms were launched on the Space Force ______
     a.  Twitter accounted
     b.  Twitter account
     c.  Twitter accounting
     d.  Twitter A-count
5)  the usual camouflage green, black and brown and not ______ space
     a.  camouflaged far
     b.  camouflaged four
     c.  camouflaged for
     d.  camouflaged fir

6)  The USSF is the sixth branch of the ______
     a.  U.S. militia
     b.  U.S. militarize
     c.  U.S. military
     d.  U.S. milli-tree
7)  The Space Force will help us deter aggression and control ______ ground
     a.  the penultimate high
     b.  the estimate high
     c.  the ultimatum high
     d.  the ultimate high
8)  Amid grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space ______
     a.  is absolutely vital
     b.  is absolutely bite all
     c.  is absolutely rival
     d.  is absolutely vitality
9)  Some critics said it needed to be black, so as ______
     a.  too blending
     b.  two blending
     c.  to blend in
     d.  too blend in
10)  be a waste of taxpayers' money and that no combatants ______ around
     a.  would be float in
     b.  would be floating
     c.  would be float thing
     d.  would be floating in

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The U.S. military has (1) ___________________ uniforms for its newly created Space Force. The United States Space Force (USSF) is the (2) ___________________ of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was officially (3) ___________________ U.S. Space Command when President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2019. Special uniforms have been designed for Space Force personnel, but they have created (4) ___________________ on social media. The uniforms were launched on the Space Force Twitter account. The tweet announced the uniforms (5) ___________________ in the Pentagon". However, the design is the usual camouflage green, black and brown and (6) ___________________ space.

The USSF is the sixth branch of the U.S. military. It is America's first new armed service (7) ___________________ of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. President Trump said: "The Space Force will help (8) ___________________ and control the ultimate high ground. Space is the world's new war-fighting domain. (9) ___________________ to our national security, American superiority in space (10) ___________________." Many people thought the force needed a special uniform. Some critics said it needed to be black, so as to (11) ___________________ the dark of space. Military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a waste of taxpayers' money and that no combatants would (12) ___________________ in space in the near future.

Comprehension questions

  1. Who unveiled the new Space Force uniforms?
  2. When did Donald trump sign the act that created the Space Force?
  3. What did the uniforms create on social media?
  4. What platform was used to launch the uniforms?
  5. What did the article say the uniforms were not camouflaged for?
  6. How many branches are there in the U.S. military now?
  7. When was the U.S. Air Force established?
  8. What did President Trump say the Space Force would deter?
  9. What did critics say the uniform needed to blend in with?
  10. What will combatants not be doing in space any time soon?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who unveiled the new Space Force uniforms?
a) Captain Kirk
b) President Trump
c) the U.S. military
d) NASA
2) When did Donald trump sign the act that created the Space Force?
a) December 2019
b) last week
c) January 2017
d) last summer
3) What did the uniforms create on social media?
a) a stir
b) a mix
c) a panic
d) laughter
4) What platform was used to launch the uniforms?
a) the NASA website
b) Twitter
c) scaffolding
d) a black stage
5) What did the article say the uniforms were not camouflaged for?
a) the Milky Way
b) the Aurora Borealis
c) attacks from aliens
d) space

6) How many branches are there in the U.S. military now?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 3
d) 4
7) When was the U.S. Air Force established?
a) 1947
b) 1937
c) 1927
d) 1917
8) What did President Trump say the Space Force would deter?
a) Klingons
b) Star Wars
c) aggression
d) aliens
9) What did critics say the uniform needed to blend in with?
a) the bright Sun
b) everyday surroundings
c) cities
d) the dark of space
10) What will combatants not be doing in space any time soon?
a) floating around
b) chasing aliens
c) fighting on Mars
d) teleporting

Role play

Role  A – Space Force
You think a space force is the most important part of the military. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their parts. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): navy, army or submariners.

Role  B – Navy
You think a navy is the most important part of the military. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their parts. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): space force, army or submariners.

Role  C – Army
You think an army is the most important part of the military. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their parts. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): navy, space force or submariners.

Role  D – Submariners
You think submariners are the most important part of the military. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their parts. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): navy, army or space force.

After reading / listening

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

'space'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'force'.

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

    • unveiled
    • officially
    • signed
    • stir
    • touched
    • usual
    • sixth
    • first
    • ground
    • vital
    • blend
    • floating

    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 - Space Force Uniform

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'space'?
    3. What do you think of the idea of a space force?
    4. Why might your country need a space force?
    5. What will a space force do?
    6. What kind of uniform should space force personnel have?
    7. What dangers are there from space?
    8. Would you like to be part of the Space Force?
    9. What training would a Space Force operative need?
    10. What do you think of the green and brown camouflage uniform?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'uniform'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What kind of war might be fought in space?
    5. What training would a Space Force operative do every day in space?
    6. What security threats are there from space?
    7. How vital is superiority in space?
    8. What kind of uniform would you design for the Space Force?
    9. How would you feel about going into space?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a Space Force member?

    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 U.S. military has officially (1) ____ the uniforms for its newly created Space Force. The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space operations (2) ____ of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was officially created alongside the U.S. Space Command when President Donald Trump (3) ____ the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2019. Special uniforms have been designed for Space Force (4) ____, but they have created quite a (5) ____ on social media. The uniforms were launched on the Space Force Twitter account. The tweet announced the uniforms had "touched down in the Pentagon". However, the design is the (6) ____ camouflage green, black and brown and not camouflaged for space.

    The USSF is the sixth branch of the U.S. military. It is America's first new (7) ____ service since the establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. President Trump said: "The Space Force will help us (8) ____ aggression and control the ultimate high ground. Space is the world's new war-fighting domain. Amid (9) ____ threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely (10) ____." Many people thought the force needed a special uniform. Some critics said it needed to be black, so as to (11) ____ in with the dark of space. Military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a waste of taxpayers' money and that no combatants would be (12) ____ around in space in the near future.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     reveled     (b)     unveiled     (c)     veiled     (d)     rivaled    
    2. (a)     batch     (b)     bunch     (c)     brunch     (d)     branch    
    3. (a)     signature     (b)     signed     (c)     signatory     (d)     singed     
    4. (a)     personal     (b)     personality     (c)     personnel     (d)     person    
    5. (a)     stir     (b)     whisk     (c)     mix     (d)     blend    
    6. (a)     usual     (b)     usually     (c)     usage     (d)     uses    
    7. (a)     legged     (b)     backed     (c)     headed     (d)     armed    
    8. (a)     deter     (b)     defer     (c)     refer     (d)     farer    
    9. (a)     crypt     (b)     grave     (c)     cemetery     (d)     tomb    
    10. (a)     viral     (b)     rival     (c)     vital     (d)     rebel    
    11. (a)     blonde     (b)     bland     (c)     blend     (d)     brand    
    12. (a)     gravity     (b)     floating     (c)     vacuuming     (d)     spacing

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. officially ivdulnee the uniforms
    2. the space tnaeorsoip branch
    3. created gldsoeain the U.S. Space Command
    4. Space Force relpenosn
    5. dencannuo the uniforms had touched down
    6. the usual mcgoflauae green

    Paragraph 2

    1. the U.S. tilarymi
    2. deter negrigoass
    3. the iatletmu high ground
    4. American yupireirost in space
    5. Some ircstic said it needed to be black
    6. no mbctasnaot would be floating around

    Put the text back together

    (...)  vital." Many people thought the force needed a special uniform. Some critics said it needed to be black, so as to blend
    (...)  aggression and control the ultimate high ground. Space is the world's new war-fighting domain. Amid grave
    (...)  threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely
    (...)  have created quite a stir on social media. The uniforms were launched on the Space Force Twitter
    (...)  design is the usual camouflage green, black and brown and not camouflaged for space.
    (...)  in December 2019. Special uniforms have been designed for Space Force personnel, but they
    1  ) The U.S. military has officially unveiled the uniforms for its newly created Space Force. The United States Space Force (USSF) is
    (...)  The USSF is the sixth branch of the U.S. military. It is America's first new armed service since the
    (...)  in with the dark of space. Military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a waste
    (...)  alongside the U.S. Space Command when President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act
    (...)  account. The tweet announced the uniforms had "touched down in the Pentagon". However, the
    (...)  establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. President Trump said: "The Space Force will help us deter
    (...)  the space operations branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was officially created
    (...)  of taxpayers' money and that no combatants would be floating around in space in the near future.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   U.S.   has   unveiled   The   officially   uniforms   .   military
    2. officially   the   Command   .   alongside   created   It   was   Space
    3. Space   personnel   .   have   designed   Force   for   been   Uniforms
    4. media   .   created   They   social   quite   stir   a   on
    5. announced   tweet   uniforms   The   touched   the   had   down   .
    6. the   aggression   ultimate   and   Deter   control   high   ground   .
    7. vital   .   superiority   in   is   American   absolutely   space
    8. with   the   blend   space   .   of   To   dark   in
    9. waste   uniforms   are   a   taxpayers'   New   of   money   .
    10. combatants   No   be   around   floating   in   would   space   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The U.S. military has officially unveiled the uniforms for its newly / new created Space Force. The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space operations branch / brunch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was officially created siding / alongside the U.S. Space Command when President Donald Trump signed / singed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2019. Special uniforms have done / been designed for Space Force personal / personnel, but they have created quite a mix / stir on social media. The uniforms were launched on the Space Force Twitter account. The tweet announced the uniforms had "touched up / down in the Pentagon". However, the design is the usually / usual camouflage green, black and brown and not camouflaged for spaces / space.

    The USSF is the sixth branch of the U.S. military. It is America's first new armed / arm service since the establish / establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. President Trump said: "The Space Force will help us defer / deter aggression and control the ultimately / ultimate high ground. Space is the world's new war-fighting domain / domino. Amid grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely viral / vital." Many people thought the force needed a specially / special uniform. Some critics said it needed to be black, so as to blend / bland in with the dark of space. Military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a wastage / waste of taxpayers' money and that no combatants / combats would be floating around in space in the near future.

    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)

    T h_ U . S . m_l_t_r y h_s _f f_c__ l l y _n v__ l_d t h_ _n_f_r m s f_r _t s n_w l y c r__ t_d S p_c_ F_r c_. T h_ U n_t_d S t_t_s S p_c_ F_r c_ ( U S S F ) _s t h_ s p_c_ _p_r_t__ n s b r_n c h _f t h_ U . S . A r m_d F_r c_s . I t w_s _f f_c__ l l y c r__ t_d _l_n g s_d_ t h_ U . S . S p_c_ C_m m_n d w h_n P r_s_d_n t D_n_l d T r_m p s_g n_d t h_ 2 0 2 0 N_t__ n_l D_f_n s_ A_t h_r_z_t__ n A c t _n D_c_m b_r 2 0 1 9 . S p_c__ l _n_f_r m s h_v_ b__ n d_s_g n_d f_r S p_c_ F_r c_ p_r s_n n_l , b_t t h_y h_v_ c r__ t_d q__ t_ _ s t_r _n s_c__ l m_d__ . T h_ _n_f_r m s w_r_ l__ n c h_d _n t h_ S p_c_ F_r c_ T w_t t_r _c c__ n t . T h_ t w__ t _n n__ n c_d t h_ _n_f_r m s h_d " t__ c h_d d_w n _n t h_ P_n t_g_n " . H_w_v_r , t h_ d_s_g n _s t h_ _s__ l c_m__ f l_g_ g r__ n , b l_c k _n d b r_w n _n d n_t c_m__ f l_g_d f_r s p_c_.

    T h_ U S S F _s t h_ s_x t h b r_n c h _f t h_ U . S . m_l_t_r y . I t _s A m_r_c_' s f_r s t n_w _r m_d s_r v_c_ s_n c_ t h_ _s t_b l_s h m_n t _f t h_ U . S . A_r F_r c_ _n 1 9 4 7 . P r_s_d_n t T r_m p s__ d : " T h_ S p_c_ F_r c_ w_l l h_l p _s d_t_r _g g r_s s__ n _n d c_n t r_l t h_ _l t_m_t_ h_g h g r__ n d . S p_c_ _s t h_ w_r l d ' s n_w w_r - f_g h t_n g d_m__ n . A m_d g r_v_ t h r__ t s t_ __ r n_t__ n_l s_c_r_t y , A m_r_c_n s_p_r__ r_t y _n s p_c_ _s _b s_l_t_l y v_t_l . " M_n y p__ p l_ t h__ g h t t h_ f_r c_ n__ d_d _ s p_c__ l _n_f_r m . S_m_ c r_t_c s s__ d _t n__ d_d t_ b_ b l_c k , s_ _s t_ b l_n d _n w_t h t h_ d_r k _f s p_c_. M_l_t_r y _f f_c__ l s p__ n t_d __ t t h_t d_s_g n_n g n_w _n_f_r m s w__ l d b_ _ w_s t_ _f t_x p_y_r s ' m_n_y _n d t h_t n_ c_m b_t_n t s w__ l d b_ f l__ t_n g _r__ n d _n s p_c_ _n t h_ n__ r f_t_r_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the us military has officially unveiled the uniforms for its newly created space force the united states space force ussf is the space operations branch of the us armed forces it was officially created alongside the us space command when president donald trump signed the 2020 national defense authorization act in december 2019 special uniforms have been designed for space force personnel but they have created quite a stir on social media the uniforms were launched on the space force twitter account the tweet announced the uniforms had touched down in the pentagon however the design is the usual camouflage green black and brown and not camouflaged for space

    the ussf is the sixth branch of the us military it is americas first new armed service since the establishment of the us air force in 1947 president trump said the space force will help us deter aggression and control the ultimate high ground space is the worlds new war fighting domain amid grave threats to our national security american superiority in space is absolutely vital many people thought the force needed a special uniform some critics said it needed to be black so as to blend in with the dark of space military officials pointed out that designing new uniforms would be a waste of taxpayers money and that no combatants would be floating around in space in the near future

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheU.S.militaryhasofficiallyunveiledtheuniformsforitsnewlycreated
    SpaceForce.TheUnitedStatesSpaceForce(USSF)isthespaceoperatio
    nsbranchoftheU.S.ArmedForces.Itwasofficiallycreatedalongsidethe
    U.S.SpaceCommandwhenPresidentDonaldTrumpsignedthe2020Na
    tionalDefenseAuthorizationActinDecember2019.Specialuniformsha
    vebeendesignedforSpaceForcepersonnel,buttheyhavecreatedquite
    astironsocialmedia.TheuniformswerelaunchedontheSpaceForceTwi
    tteraccount.Thetweetannouncedtheuniformshad"toucheddowninth
    ePentagon".However,thedesignistheusualcamouflagegreen,blacka
    ndbrownandnotcamouflagedforspace.TheUSSFisthesixthbranchoft
    heU.S.military.ItisAmerica'sfirstnewarmedservicesincetheestablish
    mentoftheU.S.AirForcein1947.PresidentTrumpsaid:"TheSpaceForc
    ewillhelpusdeteraggressionandcontroltheultimatehighground.Spac
    eistheworld'snewwar-fightingdomain.Amidgravethreatstoournatio
    nalsecurity,Americansuperiorityinspaceisabsolutelyvital."Manypeo
    plethoughttheforceneededaspecialuniform.Somecriticssaiditneede
    dtobeblack,soastoblendinwiththedarkofspace.Militaryofficialspoint
    edoutthatdesigningnewuniformswouldbeawasteoftaxpayers'money
    andthatnocombatantswouldbefloatingaroundinspaceinthenearfutu
    sre.

    Free writing

    Write about Space Force uniform for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All nations need a space force to control space. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. SPACE FORCES: Make a poster about space forces. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. UNIFORM: Write a magazine article about the Space Force uniform having to be black. 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 space forces. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what a space force is for. 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

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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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