Breaking News English Lesson: UAE Mars Mission

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UAE's historic mission to Mars under way (22nd July, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - UAE Mars Mission - Level 6

The space agency of the United Arab Emirates has launched its historic first mission to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope probe on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan on Monday. The probe is on an incredible 500-million-km journey to study the weather and climate on the Red Planet. Hope is scheduled to arrive in Mars' orbit in February 2021, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian orbit for 687 days. It will collect data samples of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their findings will add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as springing up a few surprises.

The UAE has joined the ranks of long-established pioneering space giants such as the USA, Russia, China, India and Japan. Entering the field of space exploration is a testament to the ambitions of this young country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how momentous the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: "It's an understatement to say that the UAE made history last night. By using history as a springboard, the UAE has catapulted itself and along with it the world into the future - a future of insight and intelligence, beyond mere imagination. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour, 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an eternity."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

UAE Mars Mission - Level 4 or UAE Mars Mission - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53394737
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/editorials-columns/uae-did-not-just-make-history-today-it-made-the-future-
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/science/uae-joins-elite-space-race-nations-as-mars-probe-makes-first-contact-1.1051676

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. MARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Mars. 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?
space / agency / historic / mission / rocket / spaceport / anniversary / surprises /
ranks / giants / exploration / ambitions / probe / springboard / future / intelligence
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EXPLORATION: Students A strongly believe space exploration is highly important; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PIONEER: How important is it for a country to be a pioneer in these areas? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Important?	Why?
Space exploration
The arts
Nuclear power
Medicine
The military
Human rights

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. MISSION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "mission". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. NATIONAL AMBITIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important ambitions fro a nation at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Space exploration
Human rights
No poverty
Education system
Health system
Sporting prowess
The arts
100% equality

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	launched	a.	The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
2.	probe	b.	An unmanned exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit information about its environment.
3.	incredible	c.	The curved path around a planet or other object in space.
4.	orbit	d.	Send a missile, satellite, or spacecraft on its course or into space.
5.	formation	e.	Appearing suddenly or unexpected.
6.	atmosphere	f.	Amazing and difficult to believe.
7.	springing	g.	The action of beginning something new (like a country or business).

Paragraph 2

8.	ranks	h.	The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
9.	pioneering	i.	The action of travelling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it.
10.	exploration	j.	A deep understanding of a person or thing.
11.	understatement	k.	The people or nations belonging to or constituting a group or class.
12.	springboard	l.	Involving new ideas or methods.
13.	insight	m.	Of unending time.
14.	eternity	n.	A thing that helps boost a particular action, enterprise, or development.

Before reading / listening

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

The UAE has launched its second mission to Mars. T / F
The voyage to Mars is around 500,000,000km. T / F
The arrival of the probe should coincide with the UAE's 50th anniversary. T / F
The probe will investigate how Mars lost all its air and water. T / F
The article said the UAE is not yet a pioneering space giant. T / F
The article said the probe is a sign of how ambitious the UAE is. T / F
A newspaper called the launch an overstatement. T / F
The newspaper said the launch epitomised an eternity for Arabs. T / F

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

historic
scheduled
formation
samples
springing up
pioneering
field
catapulted
insight
eternity

innovative
specimens
awareness
momentous
propelled
a long time
establishment
planned
creating
sphere

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

The space agency of the
The probe is on an incredible
stay in the Martian
collect data samples of
as well as springing
joined the ranks of long-established
a testament to the ambitions
the UAE has catapulted
a future of insight
a moment that epitomised an

the Martian atmosphere
up a few surprises
eternity
pioneering space giants
orbit for 687 days
and intelligence
United Arab Emirates
of this young country
500-million-km journey
itself

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

probe
coincide
springing
first
findings
scheduled
incredible
orbit

The space agency of the United Arab Emirates has launched its historic (1) _____________________ mission to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope (2) _____________________ on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan on Monday. The probe is on an (3) _____________________ 500-million-km journey to study the weather and climate on the Red Planet. Hope is (4) _____________________ to arrive in Mars' orbit in February 2021, to (5) _____________________ with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian (6) _____________________ for 687 days. It will collect data samples of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their (7) _____________________ will add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as (8) _____________________ up a few surprises.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

catapulted
field
momentous
mere
ranks
eternity
testament
springboard

The UAE has joined the (9) _____________________ of long-established pioneering space giants such as the USA, Russia, China, India and Japan. Entering the (10) _____________________ of space exploration is a (11) _____________________ to the ambitions of this young country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how (12) _____________________ the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: "It's an understatement to say that the UAE made history last night. By using history as a (13) _____________________, the UAE has (14) _____________________ itself and along with it the world into the future - a future of insight and intelligence, beyond (15) _____________________ imagination. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour, 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) its historic first mission to Mars. The UAE launched ______
     a. its Hope globe
     b. its Hope probe
     c. its Hope prose
     d. its Hope prove
2) to arrive in Mars' orbit in February 2021, to ______ 50th anniversary
     a. coincidence with the
     b. coincide with the
     c. coincides with the
     d. coinciding with the
3) The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian ______ days
     a. orbit for 687
     b. all bit for 687
     c. or bits for 687
     d. orb it for 687
4) It will collect data samples of the Martian ______
     a. atmosphere to analysis
     b. atmosphere to analyses
     c. atmosphere to analyst
     d. atmosphere to analyse
5) how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as springing ______ surprises
     a. up the few
     b. upper few
     c. upper a few
     d. up a few

6) The UAE has joined the ranks of long-established ______
     a. pioneer in space giants
     b. pioneering spaced giants
     c. pioneering space giants
     d. pie a nearing spacy giants
7) Entering the field of space exploration is a testament ______
     a. to the ambitious
     b. to the ambitiously
     c. to the ambitions
     d. to the gambits on
8) By using history as a springboard, the UAE ______
     a. has catapulted itself
     b. has catapult it itself
     c. has cat a pulled itself
     d. has Acapulco itself
9) a future of insight and intelligence, beyond ______
     a. mere imagination
     b. more imagination
     c. mare imagination
     d. mire imagination
10) and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that ______
     a. epitomised an eternal
     b. epitomised the eternity
     c. epitomised an eternity
     d. epitomised on eternity

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The space agency of the United Arab Emirates has (1) ____________________ first mission to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope probe on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan on Monday. The probe is on an incredible 500-million-km (2) ____________________ the weather and climate on the Red Planet. Hope is (3) ____________________ in Mars' orbit in February 2021, (4) ____________________ the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian orbit for 687 days. It will (5) ____________________ of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their findings will add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as (6) ____________________ few surprises.

The UAE has (7) ____________________ of long-established pioneering space giants such as the USA, Russia, China, India and Japan. Entering the field of space exploration is (8) ____________________ the ambitions of this young country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how momentous the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: "It's (9) ____________________ say that the UAE made history last night. By using history as a springboard, the UAE has (10) ____________________ along with it the world into the future - a future of insight and intelligence, (11) ____________________. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour, 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

What institution of the UAE launched the probe?
What kind of rocket was used in the launch?
When will the probe arrive in the Martian orbit?
For how long will the probe stay in the Martian orbit?
What did the article say the probe would spring up?
What has the UAE joined the ranks of?
What is the probe a testament to regarding the UAE?
What did a newspaper say the UAE had made?
Where did the newspaper say the UAE had catapulted itself?
For how long did a newspaper suggest the launch epitomised?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What institution of the UAE launched the probe?
a) the science ministry
b) the space agency
c) the tourism department
d) the Mars Secretariat
2) What kind of rocket was used in the launch?
a) a Mars Rover X-3000
b) a big one
c) a Chinese-made one
d) an H2-A rocket
3) When will the probe arrive in the Martian orbit?
a) next week
b) by the end of the year
c) February 2021
d) March 16th, 2086
4) For how long will the probe stay in the Martian orbit?
a) 687 days
b) 1,687 days
c) 16,870 days
d) 68.7 days
5) What did the article say the probe would spring up?
a) rocks
b) a few surprises
c) gravity
d) water

6) What has the UAE joined the ranks of?
a) space giants
b) legends
c) captain and colonel
d) five, eight and nine
7) What is the probe a testament to regarding the UAE?
a) its scientists
b) its money
c) its ambitions
d) its vision
8) What did a newspaper say the UAE had made?
a) history
b) a mess
c) a rocket
d) a nation happy
9) Where did the newspaper say the UAE had catapulted itself?
a) into the clouds
b) into the blue yonder
c) into the stratosphere
d) into the future
10) For how long did a newspaper suggest the launch epitomised?
a) a month of Sundays
b) about twenty minutes
c) an eternity
d) once in a blue moon

Role play

Role A – Space Exploration
You think space exploration is the most important national ambition. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ambitions. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a great education system, 100 equality or sporting prowess.

Role B – A Great Education System
You think a great education system is the most important national ambition. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ambitions. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): space exploration, 100 equality or sporting prowess.

Role C – 100% Equality
You think 100 equality is the most important national ambition. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ambitions. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a great education system, space exploration or sporting prowess.

Role D – Sporting Prowess
You think sporting prowess is the most important national ambition. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ambitions. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a great education system, 100 equality or space exploration.

After reading / listening

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

'Mars'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'space'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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

incredible

2021

687

findings

few

ranks

field

momentous

say

insight

14

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 - UAE Mars Mission

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 'Mars'?
How important is space exploration?
How historic is the UAE's mission to Mars?
Should all countries have a space programme?
What do you know about Mars?
What do you know about the United Arab Emirates?
What would you like the UAE's probe to find?
How will the UAE mission help people on Earth?
How likely it is we will be living on Mars one day?

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 'space'?
What do you think about what you read?
What does it mean to the UAE to belong to the space club?
What ambitions does your country have?
What is the most momentous occasion in your country's history?
What do you imagine the future will be like?
What can other countries learn from the UAE's vision?
Why did the launch epitomise 'an eternity' for 400 millions Arabs?
What questions would you like to ask the Emirates Mars Mission?

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 space agency of the United Arab Emirates has launched its historic first mission to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope (1) ____ on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan on Monday. The probe is (2) ____ an incredible 500-million-km journey to study the weather and climate on the Red Planet. Hope is scheduled (3) ____ arrive in Mars' orbit in February 2021, to (4) ____ with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian orbit for 687 days. It will collect data (5) ____ of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their findings will add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as (6) ____ up a few surprises.

The UAE has joined the ranks of long-established pioneering space giants such (7) ____ the USA, Russia, China, India and Japan. Entering the field of space exploration is a (8) ____ to the ambitions of this young country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how (9) ____ the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: "It's an understatement to say that the UAE made history last night. By using history as a springboard, the UAE has (10) ____ itself and along with it the world into the future - a future of insight and intelligence, beyond (11) ____ imagination. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour, 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an (12) ____."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) globe (b) prose (c) probe (d) trope
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) by
(a) on (b) to (c) at (d) in
(a) coincidence (b) collision (c) collide (d) coincide
(a) stamps (b) simples (c) samples (d) supple
(a) surging (b) springing (c) jumping (d) leaping
(a) as (b) is (c) was (d) be
(a) affirmation (b) filament (c) firmament (d) testament
(a) moment (b) memento (c) momentous (d) momentum
(a) closeted (b) ingratiated (c) spurned (d) catapulted
(a) mare (b) mere (c) mire (d) more
(a) eternity (b) uncertainty (c) affinity (d) insanity

Spelling

Paragraph 1

lnauhdce its historic first mission to Mars
a cprpsaeto in Japan
an incredible 500-million-km enoyujr
Hope is eudsehdcl to arrive
stay in the Martian rbtoi for 687 days
collect data samples of the Martian mtsoepearh

Paragraph 2

pioneinreg space giants
temtentas to the ambitions of this young country
how uonsmmtoe the Hope probe is for the UAE
the UAE has ucatdtplea itself
a future of shtniig and intelligence
a moment that epitomised an nreittey

Put the text back together

(...) add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as springing up a few surprises.
(...) samples of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their findings will
(...) on Monday. The probe is on an incredible 500-million-km journey to study the weather and climate on the Red Planet. Hope is
(...) springboard, the UAE has catapulted itself and along with it the world into the future - a future of insight and intelligence,
(...) The UAE has joined the ranks of long-established pioneering space giants such as the USA, Russia, China, India
( 1 ) The space agency of the United Arab Emirates has launched its historic first mission
(...) understatement to say that the UAE made history last night. By using history as a
(...) beyond mere imagination. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour,
(...) formation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian orbit for 687 days. It will collect data
(...) country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how momentous the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: "It's an
(...) to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope probe on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan
(...) and Japan. Entering the field of space exploration is a testament to the ambitions of this young
(...) 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an eternity."
(...) scheduled to arrive in Mars' orbit in February 2021, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the

Put the words in the right order

mission its Mars . historic It to first launched
is probe The incredible an journey . 500-million-km on
Hope arrive scheduled Mars' orbit . to in is
50th of the anniversary formation of the UAE . The
few springing well As surprises . as a up
giants . ranks of space long-established pioneering Joined the
the country . of this Testament ambitions to
itself UAE The future . the catapulted has into
and Insight beyond intelligence mere imagination .
eternity . Yesterday epitomised moment a an that was

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The space agency of the United Arab Emirates has launched its historian / historic first mission to Mars. The UAE launched its Hope globe / probe on an H2-A rocket from a spaceport in Japan on Monday. The probe is on an incredible / incredibly 500-million-km journey to study the weather and climate on / in the Red Planet. Hope is scheduled / schedule to arrive in Mars' orbit in February 2021, to coincidence / coincide with the 50th anniversary of the formation / affirmation of the UAE. The Emirates Mars Mission will stay in the Martian circle / orbit for 687 days. It will collect data samples of the Martian atmosphere to analyse. Scientists in Dubai hope their funding / findings will add to our understanding of how Mars lost a lot of its air and water, as well as jumping / springing up a few surprises.

The UAE has joined the ranks / links of long-established pioneering space giants / gigantic such as the USA, Russia, China, India and Japan. Entering the patch / field of space exploration is a firmament / testament to the ambitions of this young country. The Khaleej Times newspaper explained how momentarily / momentous the Hope probe is for the UAE. It wrote: "It's an understatement to say that the UAE did / made history last night. By using history as a springboard / sounding board, the UAE has catapulted itself and along with it the world / word into the future - a future of insight and intelligence, beyond mere / more imagination. For more than 400 million Arabs in the world, one hour, 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an eternal / eternity."

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_ s p_c_ _g_n c y _f t h_ U n_t_d A r_b E m_r_t_s h_s l__ n c h_d _t s h_s t_r_c f_r s t m_s s__ n t_ M_r s . T h_ U A E l__ n c h_d _t s H_p_ p r_b_ _n _n H 2 - A r_c k_t f r_m _ s p_c_p_r t _n J_p_n _n M_n d_y . T h_ p r_b_ _s _n _n _n c r_d_b l_ 5 0 0 - m_l l__ n - k m j__ r n_y t_ s t_d y t h_ w__ t h_r _n d c l_m_t_ _n t h_ R_d P l_n_t . H_p_ _s s c h_d_l_d t_ _r r_v_ _n M_r s ' _r b_t _n F_b r__ r y 2 0 2 1 , t_ c__ n c_d_ w_t h t h_ 5 0 t h _n n_v_r s_r y _f t h_ f_r m_t__ n _f t h_ U A E . T h_ E m_r_t_s M_r s M_s s__ n w_l l s t_y _n t h_ M_r t__ n _r b_t f_r 6 8 7 d_y s . I t w_l l c_l l_c t d_t_ s_m p l_s _f t h_ M_r t__ n _t m_s p h_r_ t_ _n_l y s_. S c__ n t_s t s _n D_b__ h_p_ t h__ r f_n d_n g s w_l l _d d t_ __ r _n d_r s t_n d_n g _f h_w M_r s l_s t _ l_t _f _t s __ r _n d w_t_r , _s w_l l _s s p r_n g_n g _p _ f_w s_r p r_s_s .

T h_ U A E h_s j__ n_d t h_ r_n k s _f l_n g -_s t_b l_s h_d p__ n__ r_n g s p_c_ g__ n t s s_c h _s t h_ U S A , R_s s__ , C h_n_, I n d__ _n d J_p_n . E n t_r_n g t h_ f__ l d _f s p_c_ _x p l_r_t__ n _s _ t_s t_m_n t t_ t h_ _m b_t__ n s _f t h_s y__ n g c__ n t r y . T h_ K h_l__ j T_m_s n_w s p_p_r _x p l__ n_d h_w m_m_n t__ s t h_ H_p_ p r_b_ _s f_r t h_ U A E . I t w r_t_: " I t ' s _n _n d_r s t_t_m_n t t_ s_y t h_t t h_ U A E m_d_ h_s t_r y l_s t n_g h t . B y _s_n g h_s t_r y _s _ s p r_n g b__ r d , t h_ U A E h_s c_t_p_l t_d _t s_l f _n d _l_n g w_t h _t t h_ w_r l d _n t_ t h_ f_t_r_ - _ f_t_r_ _f _n s_g h t _n d _n t_l l_g_n c_, b_y_n d m_r_ _m_g_n_t__ n . F_r m_r_ t h_n 4 0 0 m_l l__ n A r_b s _n t h_ w_r l d , _n_ h__ r , 5 8 m_n_t_s _n d 1 4 s_c_n d s p_s t m_d n_g h t l_s t n_g h t w_s _ m_m_n t t h_t _p_t_m_s_d _n _t_r n_t y . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the space agency of the united arab emirates has launched its historic first mission to mars the uae launched its hope probe on an h2a rocket from a spaceport in japan on monday the probe is on an incredible 500millionkm journey to study the weather and climate on the red planet hope is scheduled to arrive in mars orbit in february 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the uae the emirates mars mission will stay in the martian orbit for 687 days it will collect data samples of the martian atmosphere to analyse scientists in dubai hope their findings will add to our understanding of how mars lost a lot of its air and water as well as springing up a few surprises

the uae has joined the ranks of longestablished pioneering space giants such as the usa russia china india and japan entering the field of space exploration is a testament to the ambitions of this young country the khaleej times newspaper explained how momentous the hope probe is for the uae it wrote its an understatement to say that the uae made history last night by using history as a springboard the uae has catapulted itself and along with it the world into the future a future of insight and intelligence beyond mere imagination for more than 400 million arabs in the world one hour 58 minutes and 14 seconds past midnight last night was a moment that epitomised an eternity

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThespaceagencyoftheUnitedArabEmirateshaslauncheditshistoricfir
stmissiontoMars.TheUAElauncheditsHopeprobeonanH2-Arocke
tfromaspaceportinJapanonMonday.Theprobeisonanincredible500-
million-kmjourneytostudytheweatherandclimateontheRedPlanet.
HopeisscheduledtoarriveinMars'orbitinFebruary2021,tocoincidewit
hthe50thanniversaryoftheformationoftheUAE.TheEmiratesMarsMis
sionwillstayintheMartianorbitfor687days.Itwillcollectdatasamplesof
theMartianatmospheretoanalyse.ScientistsinDubaihopetheirfinding
swilladdtoourunderstandingofhowMarslostalotofitsairandwater,asw
ellasspringingupafewsurprises.TheUAEhasjoinedtheranksoflong-es
tablishedpioneeringspacegiantssuchastheUSA,Russia,China,Indiaa
ndJapan.Enteringthefieldofspaceexplorationisatestamenttotheamb
itionsofthisyoungcountry.TheKhaleejTimesnewspaperexplainedho
wmomentoustheHopeprobeisfortheUAE.Itwrote:"It'sanunderstate
menttosaythattheUAEmadehistorylastnight.Byusinghistoryasaspri
ngboard,theUAEhascatapulteditselfandalongwithittheworldintothef
uture-afutureofinsightandintelligence,beyondmereimagination.Fo
rmorethan400millionArabsintheworld,onehour,58minutesand14se
condspastmidnightlastnightwasamomentthatepitomisedaneternity
."

Free writing

Write about UAE's Mars mission for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Exploring space is the greatest thing a nation can do. 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. MARS: Make a poster about Mars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. INVESTMENT: Write a magazine article about governments spending more money on research into Mars. 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 Mars. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on missions to Mars. 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: UAE Mars Mission

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