Word power: Space exploration

江陰一中 張小薇

The general idea of word power

This period is about vocabulary learning. In this period we will learn some words about outer space to enlarge our vocabulary. Also we will learn the names and the position of all the planets in the solar system.

Teaching aims:

1. Learn some new words of space and space exploration, such as astronaut, spaceman spacesuit, space walk, spaceship, space shuttle, space exploration, space station, outer space, launch , orbit, unmanned spaceship, rocket, artificial, sample, tracking, satellite, planet,etc.

2. Get some general information of space and space exploration: the solar system, some famous astronauts like Yuri Gagarin, Alexei Leonov, and Yang Liwei, brief history of world space exploration, and China’s steps in space exploration.

Teaching Important Points

1. How to master the words quickly and efficiently

2. How to understand the meaning of the speech made by the scientist

Teaching methods

1. Pictures for making the class more lively and content vivid

2. Read and recite the new words and repeat the activity

Teaching aids

Multi-media

Teaching Procedure

Step A Lead-in

[Picture of the full moon and Chang’e]

T: Look at the screen. What can you see?

S: We can see the full moon.

T: Don’t you think it’s very attractive? As a matter of fact, the moon looks so beautiful that ancient people imagined that a fairy named Chang’e lived there. Do you want to see Chang’e if you have a chance?

S: Yes, very much..

T: Actually, there has been someone to the moon. Do you know who he is?

[picture of Armstrong]

S: Armstrong, an American. He’s the first human being that set foot on the moon. He also said something very famous, that is, ‘It’s one small step for man; one giant leap for the mankind.’

T: Wonderful! What do we call this kind of activities in space?

S: Space exploration.

T: Good. Today, we are going to learn some words and get to know something of space and space exploration.

Step B Words Learning

[Picture of an astronaut]

T: What’s the person? What do we call his clothes? And the walk?

S: He’s an astronaut/spaceman. He is wearing a spacesuit, and he is taking a space walk.

T: How does he travel to space?

S: He travels to space by spaceship.

T: Good. Let’s share some pictures of spaceships.

[Pictures of spaceships and a space shuttle]

T: Spaceship has two kinds. Do you know what they are?

S: They are manned spaceships, like Shenzhou V and Shenzhou VI, and unmanned spaceships that don’t carry man.

T: Wonderful! And what about this one?

S: That’s a space shuttle, a kind of spaceship that looks like an aeroplane.

T: Do you know the difference between a spaceship and a space shuttle?

S: A spaceship can be used only once, and a space shuttle can be used several times.

T: Let’s see some famous space shuttles in the world.

[Pictures of Columbia and Challenger; the former is marked with 19 and 7, while the latter marked with 10 and 7]

T: Do you know the two space shuttles?

S: One is called Columbia, and the other is called Challenger.

T: By the way, do you know what the number 19,7,10, and 7 mean?

S: (various answers are possible)

T: Let me tell you: 19 means Columbia was launched into space 19 times, and 7 means the 7 astronauts in the space shuttle. Now can you guess what about 10 and 7?

S: I try! 10 means Challenger was launched into space 10 times, and 7 means 7 spacemen travelled by Challenge.

T: Do you know what happened to the two shuttles?

S: I know, they exploded when they were on their way back to the earth, and all the astronauts in the shuttles lost their lives.

T: Good. So you know, it’s very challenging and dangerous to be an astronaut. They are very brave. That’s why the shuttle was given the name of Challenge. Do you think so?

S: Yes.

T: Do you think Yang Liwei is very great as he risked his life travelling in space?

S: Yes.

T: what about this one?

[Pictures of Dongfanghong, launch tower, space station]

S: Dongfanghong. I know it’s China’s first satellite.

T: Yes. It is an artificial satellite. ‘Artificial’ means ‘man-made’. And a satellite orbits a planet, just like the moon orbits the earth. By the way, do you know how an artificial satellite is launched? Let’s look at the following picture. Can you tell me the name of each part?

S: They are the launch tower, launch pad, and the rocket.

T: Good. And there is one more thing in space. What is that?

S: That’s a space station, a base in outer space where astronauts do their research.

Step C Confirmation & Check

T: Now we’ve learnt many words. Please read them again and try to remember them as quickly as possible, and then we will do a test.

astronaut/spaceman/spacesuit/space walk/spaceship/space shuttle/space exploration/space station/outer space/launch/orbit/unmanned spaceship/rocket

T: Are you ready for the test? Please do the exercise on page 7.

( Check answers and read the article )

Step D Understand the speech

T: By the way, do you know other events in history of space exploration? If you are not clear, read the speech and fill the form below:

Time Events

In 1957 Space exploration started with the launch of the first artificial satellite

Since 1959 Unmanned spaceships have been launched into space

By 1961 People were orbiting the earth.

T: Good. This is Yuri Gagarin.

T: What country does he come from?

S: The former Soviet Union.

T: Do you think it is a very powerful country in space exploration?

S: Yes.

T: Do you know another powerful country in this field?

S: The USA.

T: Let’s share some information of their achievements.

( Brief history of space exploration of USA and former Soviet Union )

T: Do you know anything about China?

(Achievements of China in space exploration)

Step E Space

T: Do you know China’s next step?

S1: Take a space walk.

S2: Set foot on the moon.

[Pictures of moon, earth, sun, nine planets]

T: What’s moon?

S: Satellite of the earth.

T: And the earth?

S: Planet of the sun.

T: What’s their relationship?

S: The moon orbits the earth, and the earth is in orbit round the earth.

T: Do you know names of the nine planets?

S: Let me have a try: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.

T: Great. What do we call the nine planets and the sun?

S: The Solar System.

T: Good. How much else do you know about the solar system? Let us do a match game.

The closest is …

The farthest is…

The smallest is…

The biggest is…

The one with the most satellites is…

The one with much water is…

Morning star/ Evening star is…

T: Do you think the Solar system is as big as space?

S1: No, the Solar system is a very tiny part in space. It is part of the Milky Way.

S2: And even the Milky Way is a very tiny part in space. It is one of the millions of millions of galaxies in space.

T: Great. So do you think the space exploration will come to an end one day?

S: No. Space exploration will always continue.

Step F Summary and homework

T: If you have a chance to travel to space, what would you do? Where would you go?

Please write a short article of it. Is that clear?

S: Yes.

T: Thanks for you attendance! Class is over.

Activities and research:

Vocabulary

1. Teacher and Students’ activities. Accordin to the picture given to the students, discuss some new words about new words and space exploration.

2. Students’ activities. Read and remember the new words the teacher gives, and do some exercises for consolidation.