Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Why do you think people are curious about objects that come from space?
- What do you think it would be like to hold a piece of a rock that came from space?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- visible /VIZ-uh-buhl/
- impact /IM-pakt/
- interstellar /in-ter-STEL-er/
- fragment /FRAG-muhnt/
- estimate /ES-tuh-meyt/
[adjective] – able to be seen
The mountain’s peak was visible through the mist after the fog cleared.
[noun] – the action of one object hitting another
The car crash caused a noticeable impact on the vehicle’s front side.
[adjective] – occurring or existing between stars
The telescope captured stunning images of interstellar clouds forming new stars.
[noun] – a small piece or a part, especially when broken from something whole
The archaeologist carefully examined the fragments of pottery found at the excavation site.
[verb] – to roughly calculate or judge the value, number, or extent of something
The engineer estimates that the construction project will take six months to complete.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
In July 2023, a doorbell camera in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, recorded rare footage and sound of a meteorite hitting Earth. Laura Kelly and her partner discovered unusual debris and dust on their walkway after a stroll. Later, the Meteoritical Society released the video, showing a meteorite striking near their entrance, creating a visible smoke cloud and crackling sound. This was extraordinary because, while meteors are often seen on video, capturing both audio and video of a meteorite impact is extremely rare. The meteorite has since been named “Charlottetown” and officially classified as an interstellar object.
The couple reported the find to the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Reporting System. Chris Herd, a curator, analyzed the fragments and confirmed they were from space. Meteorites, pieces of space debris that survive their journey through Earth’s atmosphere, are rarely found in cities. NASA estimates about 48 tons of space debris enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, but most lands in the ocean. This discovery is scientifically important, offering a chance to study the composition and behavior of meteorites. Experts note that this event highlights how rare meteorite impacts in populated areas are and how modern tools, like doorbell cameras, can help document these celestial events.
The couple reported the find to the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Reporting System. Chris Herd, a curator, analyzed the fragments and confirmed they were from space. Meteorites, pieces of space debris that survive their journey through Earth’s atmosphere, are rarely found in cities. NASA estimates about 48 tons of space debris enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, but most lands in the ocean. This discovery is scientifically important, offering a chance to study the composition and behavior of meteorites. Experts note that this event highlights how rare meteorite impacts in populated areas are and how modern tools, like doorbell cameras, can help document these celestial events.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What did Laura Kelly and her partner find on their walkway after their stroll?
- Why is the recording of the meteorite impact considered extraordinary?
- Who confirmed that the fragments were from space?
- What scientific importance does this meteorite discovery have?
- Why are meteorite impacts in cities considered rare?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen something unusual in the sky, like a shooting star or a bright light? If so, what did it look like? If not, would you like to see something like that? Why or why not?
- If you saw a meteorite falling from the sky, how would you feel? Would you tell anyone about it?
- Do you agree that modern tools like cameras are helpful for science?
- Why do you think people are excited when they find something from space on Earth?
- How do you think tools like doorbell cameras could help with other scientific discoveries in the future?