The Reading / Listening - The Sun - Level 3

Scientists have worked out when our Sun will die. It won't be any time soon. It will be in 10 billion years. The scientists are from the University of Manchester in the UK. They predict that in about 5 billion years from now, the Sun will turn into a "red giant". This is the scientific name given to a star at the end of its life. When our Sun becomes a red giant, its centre will shrink. Its outer layers will expand as far as Mars. This means Earth will be burnt and disappear. After our Sun turns into a red giant, it will become a planetary nebula. This is a bubble of gas and space dust. The scientists say no humans will be on Earth when the Sun dies out. Humans will disappear in around one billion years from now.

The Sun is still quite young in space years. It is just 4.6 billion years old. This means it is only around one third into its lifespan. Professor Albert Zijlstra, a scientist from the University of Manchester, explained what happens at the end of a star's life. He said: "When a star dies, it ejects a mass of gas and dust into space.…This reveals the star's core. By this point in the star's life, it is running out of fuel." He said it eventually turns off and dies. Professor Zijlstra was happy that modern science can calculate the age of stars and what will happen to them. He said we can measure the presence of stars in distant galaxies, and "we even have found out what the Sun will do when it dies".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    The Sun - Level 0,  The Sun - Level 1   or  The Sun - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-figured-out-when-and-how-our-sun-will-die-and-it-will-be-epic
  • https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/how-and-when-will-the-sun-die-researchers-have-an-answer-3513891
  • https://www.inverse.com/science/when-will-the-sun-die


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE SUN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Sun. 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?
       scientists / our Sun / soon / 5 billion years from now / giant / Mars / bubble / gas /
       space / professor / dust / modern science / the age of stars / distant galaxies
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PREPARATIONS: Students A strongly believe we should start preparing now for the end of humanity; Students B strongly believe that's silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. END OF THE WORLD: What would you do if the Sun was going to end Earth next week? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.


About...

What?

Why?

Family

 

 

Friends

 

 

Food

 

 

Travel

 

 

Games

 

 

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. BILLION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "billion". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SPACE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most interesting things about space at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • The Sun
  • The Moon
  • Mars
  • Black holes
  • Asteroids
  • Space dust
  • Jupiter
  • Distant galaxies

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. worked out a. Become or make larger.
      2. predict b. Dry powder consisting of tiny bits of earth or waste matter lying on the ground.
      3. scientific c. Found the answer to something.
      4. shrink d. Say or guess a something will happen in the future.
      5. expand e. Become or make smaller in size or amount.
      6. bubble f. A thin ball of liquid with air or another gas.
      7. dust g. About science.

    Paragraph 2

      8. lifespan h. Material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.
      9. eject i. The thick, middle part of a planet or of the Sun.
      10. mass j. Cause or allow something to be seen.
      11. reveal k. The length of time for which a person or animal lives or a thing functions.
      12. core l. Find out the amount or number of something using maths.
      13. fuel m. Throw something or someone out of something.
      14. calculate n. A large body of matter with no definite shape.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says the Sun will not die soon.     T / F
  2. When the Sun becomes a red giant, it will expand to reach Mars.     T / F
  3. After our Sun turns into a red giant, it will become a comet.     T / F
  4. Humans will not be on Earth in two million years from now.     T / F
  5. The Sun is over 4.5 billion years old.     T / F
  6. The Sun is over half way through its life span.     T / F
  7. A professor is unhappy because he cannot calculate the age of stars.     T / F
  8. The professor said he can measure stars in faraway galaxies.     T / F

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

  1. worked out
  2. predict
  3. centre
  4. expand
  5. disappear
  6. quite
  7. ejects
  8. reveals
  9. presence
  10. distant
  1. faraway
  2. die out
  3. sends out
  4. core
  5. existence
  6. calculated
  7. uncovers
  8. fairly
  9. forecast
  10. stretch

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

  1. Scientists have worked out when
  2. It won't be any
  3. Its outer layers will expand
  4. This is a bubble
  5. Humans will disappear
  6. it is only around one third
  7. it ejects a mass of gas
  8. This reveals the star's
  9. it is running
  10. the presence of stars in distant
  1. as far as Mars
  2. in around one billion years
  3. core
  4. galaxies
  5. time soon
  6. and dust into space
  7. out of fuel
  8. our Sun will die
  9. into its lifespan
  10. of gas and space dust

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
predict
bubble
scientific
burnt
disappear
time
turn
shrink

Scientists have worked out when our Sun will die. It won't be any (1) _____________________ soon. It will be in 10 billion years. The scientists are from the University of Manchester in the UK. They (2) _____________________ that in about 5 billion years from now, the Sun will (3) _____________________ into a "red giant". This is the (4) _____________________ name given to a star at the end of its life. When our Sun becomes a red giant, its centre will (5) _____________________. Its outer layers will expand as far as Mars. This means Earth will be (6) _____________________ and disappear. After our Sun turns into a red giant, it will become a planetary nebula. This is a (7) _____________________ of gas and space dust. The scientists say no humans will be on Earth when the Sun dies out. Humans will (8) _____________________ in around one billion years from now.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
lifespan
eventually
ejects
calculate
quite
distant
happens
point

The Sun is still (9) _____________________ young in space years. It is just 4.6 billion years old. This means it is only around one third into its (10) _____________________. Professor Albert Zijlstra, a scientist from the University of Manchester, explained what (11) _____________________ at the end of a star's life. He said: "When a star dies, it (12) _____________________ a mass of gas and dust into space....This reveals the star's core. By this (13) _____________________ in the star's life, it is running out of fuel." He said it (14) _____________________ turns off and dies. Professor Zijlstra was happy that modern science can (15) _____________________ the age of stars and what will happen to them. He said we can measure the presence of stars in (16) _____________________ galaxies, and "we even have found out what the Sun will do when it dies".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists have worked out when our Sun will die. It won't be ______
     a.  many time soon
     b.  any times moon
     c.  any time soon
     d.  any times swoon
2)  When our Sun becomes a red giant, its ______
     a.  centre will shrink
     b.  centre will shrank
     c.  centre will shrunk
     d.  centre will shriek
3)  it will become a planetary nebula. This is a bubble of gas ______
     a.  and space dusty
     b.  and space dust
     c.  and space dusts
     d.  and space adjust
4)  The scientists say no humans will be on Earth when the ______
     a.  Sun dies shout
     b.  Sun die shout
     c.  Sun die spout
     d.  Sun dies out
5)  Humans will disappear in around one billion ______
     a.  years from know
     b.  years from no
     c.  years from now
     d.  years from then

6)  This means it is only around one third ______
     a.  unto its lifespan
     b.  onto its lifespan
     c.  in two its lifespan
     d.  into its lifespan
7)  explained what happens at the end of ______
     a.  a star's life
     b.  a star strife
     c.  a star slice
     d.  a star's leaf
8)  into space....This reveals ______
     a.  the star's core
     b.  the star score
     c.  the stars cor!
     d.  the star's curl
9)  By this point in the star's life, it is running ______
     a.  out of file
     b.  out of foal
     c.  out of feel
     d.  out of fuel
10)  He said we can measure the presence of stars ______
     a.  in distance galaxies
     b.  in distant galaxies
     c.  in distant galaxy
     d.  in disdain galaxies

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have (1) ____________________ our Sun will die. It won't be any time soon. It will be in 10 billion years. The scientists are from the University of Manchester in the UK. They (2) ____________________ about 5 billion years from now, the Sun will turn into a "red giant". This is the scientific name given to a star at (3) ____________________ its life. When our Sun becomes a red giant, its centre will shrink. Its outer layers will expand as far as Mars. This means Earth will (4) ____________________ disappear. After our Sun turns into a red giant, it will become a planetary nebula. This is a bubble of (5) ____________________ dust. The scientists say no humans will be on Earth when the Sun dies out. Humans will disappear (6) ____________________ billion years from now.

The Sun is still (7) ____________________ space years. It is just 4.6 billion years old. This means it is only around (8) ____________________ its lifespan. Professor Albert Zijlstra, a scientist from the University of Manchester, explained what happens at the end of a star's life. He said: "When a star dies, it (9) ____________________ of gas and dust into space....This reveals the star's core. By this point in the star's life, it is running (10) ____________________." He said it eventually turns off and dies. Professor Zijlstra was happy that modern science can calculate (11) ____________________ stars and what will happen to them. He said we can measure the presence of stars in distant galaxies, and "we (12) ____________________ out what the Sun will do when it dies".

Comprehension questions

  1. What will the Sun become in 5 billion years from now?
  2. What will happen to the centre of the Sun in 5 billion years from now?
  3. Where will the outer layers of the Sun reach in 5 billion years from now?
  4. What does a planetary nebula contain?
  5. When will humans disappear from Earth?
  6. How old is the Sun?
  7. What is Albert Zijlstra's job?
  8. What does a star eject into space when it dies?
  9. What does a star run out of before it dies?
  10. Where can a professor measure the presence of stars?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What will the Sun become in 5 billion years from now?
a) nothing
b) a scary monster
c) a red giant
d) a mess
2) What will happen to the centre of the Sun in 5 billion years from now?
a) it will shrink
b) it will burn more brightly
c) it will explode
d) it will turn black in colour
3) Where will the outer layers of the Sun reach in 5 billion years from now?
a) the next galaxy
b) Mars
c) Pluto
d) Antarctica
4) What does a planetary nebula contain?
a) stars and galaxies
b) rock and comets
c) hydrogen and helium
d) gas and space dust
5) When will humans disappear from Earth?
a) in a 1,000 years from now
b) in 100 million years from now
c) in a billion years from now
d) no one knows

6) How old is the Sun?
a) 4.8 billion years old
b) 4.6 billion years old
c) 4.2 billion years old
d) 4.4 billion years old
7) What is Albert Zijlstra's job?
a) He's an astronaut.
b) He's a science fiction writer.
c) He's a rocket engineer.
d) He's a professor.
8) What does a star eject into space when it dies?
a) clouds and silver rain
b) gas and dust
c) comets and asteroids
d) hydrogen and helium
9) What does a star run out of before it dies?
a) dark
b) fuel
c) time
d) space
10) Where can a professor measure the presence of stars?
a) in distant galaxies
b) in his laboratory
c) on his computer
d) in our nearest galaxy

Role play

Role  A – The Sun
You think the Sun is the most interesting thing in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Moon, Mars or distant galaxies.

Role  B – The Moon
You think the Moon is the most interesting thing in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Sun, Mars or distant galaxies.

Role  C – Mars
You think Mars is the most interesting thing in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Moon, the Sun or distant galaxies.

Role  D – Distant Galaxies
You think distant galaxies are the most interesting things in space. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as interesting. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Moon, Mars or the Sun.

After reading / listening

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

'sun'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'billion'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • worked
    • predict
    • life
    • layers
    • bubble
    • disappear
    • young
    • happens
    • mass
    • fuel
    • age
    • even

    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 - The Sun

    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 'sun'?
    3. What do you know about our Sun?
    4. Do you worry about the Sun dying?
    5. Can you imagine how long 10 billion years is?
    6. How interested are you in space?
    7. How do you feel about the Earth being destroyed by the Sun?
    8. Will humans die out earlier because of climate change?
    9. How can we make sure humans can survive on Earth?
    10. Would you like to go into space?

    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 'billion'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What does the Sun do?
    5. How can the Sun be dangerous?
    6. What do you know about stars?
    7. What do you know about galaxies?
    8. Do you like the Sun or Moon better?
    9. Would you like to live in a sunnier country?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Scientists have worked (1) ____ when our Sun will die. It won't be (2) ____ time soon. It will be in 10 billion years. The scientists are from the University of Manchester in the UK. They predict (3) ____ in about 5 billion years from now, the Sun will turn into a "red giant". This is the scientific name given to a star at the end (4) ____ its life. When our Sun becomes a red giant, its centre will shrink. Its outer layers will expand as far as Mars. This means Earth will be (5) ____ and disappear. After our Sun turns into a red giant, it will become a planetary nebula. This is a bubble of gas and space dust. The scientists say no humans will be on Earth when the Sun dies out. Humans will (6) ____ in around one billion years from now.

    The Sun is still (7) ____ young in space years. It is just 4.6 billion years old. This means it is only around one third into its lifespan. Professor Albert Zijlstra, a scientist from the University of Manchester, explained what happens at the end of a star's (8) ____. He said: "When a star dies, it ejects a mass of gas and dust into space....This reveals the star's (9) ____. By this point in the star's life, it is running out of fuel." He said it eventually turns off and dies. Professor Zijlstra was happy that modern science can (10) ____ the age of stars and what will happen to them. He said we can measure the (11) ____ of stars in distant galaxies, and "we (12) ____ have found out what the Sun will do when it dies".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     of     (b)     in     (c)     up     (d)     out    
    2. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     many     (d)     any    
    3. (a)     so     (b)     that     (c)     when     (d)     what    
    4. (a)     by     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     so    
    5. (a)     burnt     (b)     blunt     (c)     brunt     (d)     bland    
    6. (a)     disappear     (b)     gone     (c)     death     (d)     bye bye    
    7. (a)     quite     (b)     quit     (c)     quiet     (d)     quilt    
    8. (a)     death     (b)     day     (c)     life     (d)     voyage    
    9. (a)     root     (b)     seed     (c)     pip     (d)     core    
    10. (a)     calculator     (b)     calculate     (c)     calculated     (d)     calculation    
    11. (a)     reward     (b)     gift     (c)     token     (d)     presence    
    12. (a)     every     (b)     even     (c)     ever     (d)     event

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. They cderpti that in about 5 billion years
    2. This is the sienfitcci name
    3. its centre will nrhsik
    4. Earth will be burnt and raseipdap
    5. a beblbu of gas and space dust
    6. no hsamun will be on Earth

    Paragraph 2

    1. around one third into its leiafnsp
    2. This levesra the star's core
    3. it tyeneavllu turns off
    4. ccauaeltl the age of stars
    5. semreua the presence of stars
    6. in sntidta galaxies

    Put the text back together

    (...)  from now, the Sun will turn into a "red giant". This is the scientific name given to a star at the end
    (..1..) Scientists have worked out when our Sun will die. It won't be any time soon. It will be
    (...)  third into its lifespan. Professor Albert Zijlstra, a scientist from the University of Manchester, explained what
    (...)  of its life. When our Sun becomes a red giant, its centre will shrink. Its outer layers will
    (...)  say no humans will be on Earth when the Sun dies out. Humans will disappear in around one billion years from now.
    (...)  The Sun is still quite young in space years. It is just 4.6 billion years old. This means it is only around one
    (...)  off and dies. Professor Zijlstra was happy that modern science can calculate the age
    (...)  galaxies, and "we even have found out what the Sun will do when it dies".
    (...)  in 10 billion years. The scientists are from the University of Manchester in the UK. They predict that in about 5 billion years
    (...)  happens at the end of a star's life. He said: "When a star dies, it ejects a mass of gas and
    (...)  dust into space....This reveals the star's core. By this point in the star's life, it is running out of fuel." He said it eventually turns
    (...)  giant, it will become a planetary nebula. This is a bubble of gas and space dust. The scientists
    (...)  of stars and what will happen to them. He said we can measure the presence of stars in distant
    (...)  expand as far as Mars. This means Earth will be burnt and disappear. After our Sun turns into a red

    Put the words in the right order

    1. when   die   .   Scientists   out   Sun   our   will   worked
    2. a   Sun   The   turn   red   giant   .   will   into
    3. name   a   scientific   star   .   The   given   to
    4. disappear   .   This   burnt   will   Earth   and   be   means
    5. around   Humans   billion   one   years   .   in   will   disappear
    6. is   Sun   young   years   .   still   in   The   space
    7. third   It's   its   lifespan   .   around   into   only   one
    8. science   stars   .   calculate   can   Modern   age   the   of
    9. in   stars   presence   the   Measure   galaxies   .   distant   of
    10. out   will   do   .   Sun   We   found   what   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have worked out / in when our Sun will die. It won't be any time soon. It will be at / in 10 billion years. The scientists are from the University of Manchester in the UK. They predict / prediction that in about 5 billion years from now, the Sun will turn into / onto a "red giant". This is the scientific name given / gave to a star at the end of its life. When our Sun becomes a red giant, its centre will stink / shrink. Its outer layers will expand as far has / as Mars. This means Earth will be burnt and disappear. After our Sun turns into a red giant, it will become a planetary nebula. This is a trouble / bubble of gas and space dust. The scientists say not / no humans will be on Earth when the Sun dies out. Humans will disappear in around one billion years from then / now.

    The Sun is still quite / quit young in space years. It is just 4.6 billion years old. This means it is only around one third / thirds into its lifespan. Professor Albert Zijlstra, a scientist from the University of Manchester, explained that / what happens at the end of a star's life. He said: "When a star deaths / dies, it ejects a mass of gas and dust / dusty into space....This reveals / rebels the star's corn / core. By this point in the star's life, it is running out / in of fuel." He said it eventually turns off and dies. Professor Zijlstra was happy that modern science can calculate the age / old of stars and what will happen to them. He said we can measure the presence of stars in distant / distance galaxies, and "we even have found out what the Sun will do when it dies".

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

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

    Sc__nt_sts  h_v_  w_rk_d  __t  wh_n  __r  S_n  w_ll  d__.  _t  w_n't  b_  _ny  t_m_  s__n.  _t  w_ll  b_  _n  10  b_ll__n  y__rs.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  _r_  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  M_nch_st_r  _n  th_  _K.  Th_y  pr_d_ct  th_t  _n  _b__t  5  b_ll__n  y__rs  fr_m  n_w,  th_  S_n  w_ll  t_rn  _nt_  _  "r_d  g__nt".  Th_s  _s  th_  sc__nt_f_c  n_m_  g_v_n  t_  _  st_r  _t  th_  _nd  _f  _ts  l_f_.  Wh_n  __r  S_n  b_c_m_s  _  r_d  g__nt,  _ts  c_ntr_  w_ll  shr_nk.  _ts  __t_r  l_y_rs  w_ll  _xp_nd  _s  f_r  _s  M_rs.  Th_s  m__ns  __rth  w_ll  b_  b_rnt  _nd  d_s_pp__r.  _ft_r  __r  S_n  t_rns  _nt_  _  r_d  g__nt,  _t  w_ll  b_c_m_  _  pl_n_t_ry  n_b_l_.  Th_s  _s  _  b_bbl_  _f  g_s  _nd  sp_c_  d_st.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  s_y  n_  h_m_ns  w_ll  b_  _n  __rth  wh_n  th_  S_n  d__s  __t.  H_m_ns  w_ll  d_s_pp__r  _n  _r__nd  _n_  b_ll__n  y__rs  fr_m  n_w.

    Th_  S_n  _s  st_ll  q__t_  y__ng  _n  sp_c_  y__rs.  _t  _s  j_st  4.6  b_ll__n  y__rs  _ld.  Th_s  m__ns  _t  _s  _nly  _r__nd  _n_ th_rd  _nt_  _ts  l_f_sp_n.  Pr_f_ss_r  _lb_rt  Z_jlstr_,  _  sc__nt_st  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  M_nch_st_r,  _xpl__n_d  wh_t  h_pp_ns  _t  th_  _nd  _f  _  st_r's  l_f_.  H_  s__d:  "Wh_n  _  st_r  d__s,  _t  _j_cts  _  m_ss  _f  g_s  _nd  d_st  _nt_  sp_c_....Th_s  r_v__ls  th_  st_r's  c_r_.  By  th_s  p__nt  _n  th_  st_r's  l_f_,  _t  _s  r_nn_ng  __t  _f  f__l."  H_  s__d  _t  _v_nt__lly  t_rns  _ff  _nd  d__s.  Pr_f_ss_r  Z_jlstr_  w_s  h_ppy  th_t  m_d_rn  sc__nc_  c_n  c_lc_l_t_  th_  _g_  _f  st_rs  _nd  wh_t  w_ll  h_pp_n  t_  th_m.  H_  s__d  w_  c_n  m__s_r_  th_  pr_s_nc_  _f  st_rs  _n  d_st_nt  g_l_x__s,  _nd  "w_  _v_n  h_v_  f__nd  __t  wh_t  th_  S_n  w_ll  d_  wh_n  _t  d__s".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have worked out when our sun will die it wont be any time soon it will be in 10 billion years the scientists are from the university of manchester in the uk they predict that in about 5 billion years from now the sun will turn into a red giant this is the scientific name given to a star at the end of its life when our sun becomes a red giant its centre will shrink its outer layers will expand as far as mars this means earth will be burnt and disappear after our sun turns into a red giant it will become a planetary nebula this is a bubble of gas and space dust the scientists say no humans will be on earth when the sun dies out humans will disappear in around one billion years from now

    the sun is still quite young in space years it is just 46 billion years old this means it is only around onethird into its lifespan professor albert zijlstra a scientist from the university of manchester explained what happens at the end of a stars life he said when a star dies it ejects a mass of gas and dust into spacethis reveals the stars core by this point in the stars life it is running out of fuel he said it eventually turns off and dies professor zijlstra was happy that modern science can calculate the age of stars and what will happen to them he said we can measure the presence of stars in distant galaxies and we even have found out what the sun will do when it dies

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ScientistshaveworkedoutwhenourSunwilldie.Itwon'tbeanytimesoo
    n.Itwillbein10billionyears.ThescientistsarefromtheUniversityofMan
    chesterintheUK.Theypredictthatinabout5billionyearsfromnow,theS
    unwillturnintoa"redgiant".Thisisthescientificnamegiventoastaratth
    eendofitslife.WhenourSunbecomesaredgiant,itscentrewillshrink.Its
    outerlayerswillexpandasfarasMars.ThismeansEarthwillbeburntand
    disappear.AfterourSunturnsintoaredgiant,itwillbecomeaplanetaryn
    ebula.Thisisabubbleofgasandspacedust.Thescientistssaynohumans
    willbeonEarthwhentheSundiesout.Humanswilldisappearinaroundon
    ebillionyearsfromnow.TheSunisstillquiteyounginspaceyears.Itisjust
    4.6billionyearsold.Thismeansitisonlyaroundonethirdintoitslifespan.
    ProfessorAlbertZijlstra,ascientistfromtheUniversityofManchester,e
    xplainedwhathappensattheendofastar'slife.Hesaid:"Whenastardies
    ,itejectsamassofgasanddustintospace....Thisrevealsthestar'score.B
    ythispointinthestar'slife,itisrunningoutoffuel."Hesaiditeventuallytur
    nsoffanddies.ProfessorZijlstrawashappythatmodernsciencecancalc
    ulatetheageofstarsandwhatwillhappentothem.Hesaidwecanmeasur
    ethepresenceofstarsindistantgalaxies,and"weevenhavefoundoutw
    hattheSunwilldowhenitdies".

    Free writing

    Write about death of our Sun for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should start worrying about the death of the Sun. 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. THE SUN: Make a poster about the Sun. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ASTRONOMY: Write a magazine article about making astronomy a must-study subject in schools. 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 the Sun. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on the Sun. 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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