Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever heard of an astronaut who went to space at an old age? If so, who was that astronaut? If not, what age do you think is too old for space travel?
- Do you know what happens to the body when it returns from space? If so, what kind of changes happen? If not, what do you think it feels like?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- space /speys/
- gravity /GRAV-i-tee/
- experiment /ik-SPER-uh-muhnt/
- satellite /SAT-l-ahyt /
- strength /strengkth/
[noun] – the area outside the Earth where the stars and planets are
The rocket went up into space last night.
[noun] – the force that pulls everything down to the Earth
Gravity makes things fall to the ground.
[noun] – a test done to learn something new or prove an idea
The class did an experiment with water and salt.
[noun] – an object sent into space to travel around the Earth
The satellite takes pictures of the Earth.
[noun] – the quality of being strong
The man has great strength to lift heavy boxes.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
In April 2024, astronaut Don Pettit came back to Earth after spending almost seven months in space. The landing took place on April 20 in Kazakhstan, which was also his 70th birthday. Pettit used a Russian Soyuz capsule to return. NASA reported that Pettit is the oldest full-time astronaut to complete a mission of this length. The purpose of the mission was to do science work and study space. Pettit spoke from NASA’s Johnson Space Center and shared that staying in microgravity helped reduce his usual pain. He became sick after landing because his body had to adjust to gravity. Being back on Earth is hard for his body, but floating in space made him feel young again.
During his time in space, Pettit worked on small experiments and took pictures of stars and comets. He also looked at satellites. In his free time, he did simple activities with food items like honey and peanut butter to show how things move in space. These activities helped more people understand space science. Experts said his work was great and said his time in space showed the strength of the human body. Pettit’s work is still seen as very special in the field of space research.
During his time in space, Pettit worked on small experiments and took pictures of stars and comets. He also looked at satellites. In his free time, he did simple activities with food items like honey and peanut butter to show how things move in space. These activities helped more people understand space science. Experts said his work was great and said his time in space showed the strength of the human body. Pettit’s work is still seen as very special in the field of space research.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- When did Don Pettit return to Earth?
- Where did the landing take place?
- How old was Pettit when he landed?
- What kind of capsule did Pettit use to return?
- What did Pettit study in space?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen pictures or videos of space? If so, what did you see? If not, what do you want to see?
- Have you ever learned about gravity in school? If so, what did you learn? If not, what do you want to know?
- Do you agree that older people can still do hard work like space missions?
- What makes space travel hard for the human body?
- How can food activities in space help science learning?