The Southern Lights or Aurora Australis have been lighting up the skies above New Zealand with beautiful green and pink colors. Many people have been staying up all night to see it and take pictures. Richard Zheng, who is new to this, camped out at Brighton Beach in Dunedin and took some amazing pictures. He said that the lights were stronger and bigger than last year. The Southern Lights are caused when charged particles hit the Earth’s magnetic field and create light in the upper atmosphere. They are also called Aurora Australis. The lights usually appear between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September, and can last for up to three hours. Scientists suggest that the best way to see them is to find a dark place with a view southwards, like a hill or a beach.
Original news source: Unusually vivid Southern Lights glow over New Zealand (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. AURORA AUSTRALIS DRAWING
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a sheet of paper and ask them to draw what they imagine the Southern Lights look like. After a few minutes, have each pair present their drawing to the class and explain what they included in their drawing.
2. TALK ABOUT NEW ZEALAND
Instructions: Ask the students if they have ever heard of New Zealand. If not, give a brief introduction to the country. Then, ask them what they know about the Southern Lights. If they don’t know anything, read the article aloud and discuss what they learned. Finally, ask them if they would like to visit New Zealand to see the Southern Lights.
3. SOUTHERN LIGHTS TIMELINE
Instructions: Draw a table on the whiteboard with the months of the year across the top and the times of day down the side. Fill in the months of March and September with the times that the Southern Lights usually appear (22:00-02:00). Ask the students to fill in the rest of the table with things they do at different times of the year. For example, in December they might write “celebrate Christmas” in the evening slot.
4. CAMPING TRIP ROLEPLAY
Instructions: Divide the class into groups of three. Assign one person to be the camper, one person to be the photographer, and one person to be the guide. The guide should explain to the camper and photographer how to set up camp and where to go to see the Southern Lights. The photographer should take pictures of the camper with the Southern Lights in the background.
5. AURORA AUSTRALIS ACROSTIC POEM
Instructions: Write the words “Aurora Australis” vertically down the whiteboard. Ask the students to write a word or phrase that begins with each letter to describe the Southern Lights. For example, “A” could be “amazing colors” and “S” could be “starry night”. Then, have each student share their poem with the class.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What are the Southern Lights?
2. What colors do the Southern Lights have?
3. Why are many people staying up all night to see the Southern Lights?
4. Where did Richard Zheng take his pictures of the Southern Lights?
5. Were the Southern Lights stronger and bigger than last year according to Richard Zheng?
6. What causes the Southern Lights?
7. When do the Southern Lights usually appear?
8. What is the best way to see the Southern Lights according to scientists?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The Southern Lights or Aurora Australis have been (1)________ up the skies above New Zealand with beautiful green and pink colors. Many people have been staying up all (2)_______ to see it and take pictures. Richard Zheng, who is new to this, camped out at Brighton Beach in Dunedin and took some amazing (3)________. He said that the lights were stronger and bigger than last year. The Southern Lights are caused when charged (4)________ hit the Earth’s magnetic field and create light in the upper atmosphere. They are also called Aurora Australis. The lights usually appear between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September, and can last for up to three hours. Scientists suggest that the best way to see them is to find a dark (5)________ with a view southwards, like a hill or a beach.
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Have you ever seen the Southern Lights?
2. What colors can you see in the Southern Lights?
3. Do you like staying up all night to see beautiful things?
4. Have you ever camped at a beach before?
5. What do you think of Richard Zheng’s pictures?
6. Do you know what causes the Southern Lights?
7. Why are they also called Aurora Australis?
8. When do the Southern Lights usually appear?
9. How long can the Southern Lights last?
10. Do you like science?
11. What do scientists suggest is the best way to see the Southern Lights?
12. Do you live in a place where you can see the Southern Lights?
13. What is your favorite thing to see in the sky?
14. Do you like taking pictures of beautiful things?
15. Where is your favorite place to go stargazing?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Southern Lights
2. Aurora Australis
3. New Zealand
4. magnetic field
5. charged particles
6. upper atmosphere
7. darkness
8. hill
Meanings:
A) A natural event that lights up the sky with green and pink colors
B) A country where the Southern Lights can be seen
C) A place without light
D) A force that surrounds the Earth which attracts and repels objects
E) Tiny things with electricity that cause the Southern Lights
F) The layer of air around the Earth above where planes fly
G) A high place with a good view of southwards
H) Another name for the Southern Lights.
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What are the Southern Lights also called?
(a) Northern Lights
(b) Aurora Australis
(c) Green and Pink Lights
(d) New Zealand Lights
2. What causes the Southern Lights?
(a) Rain
(b) Sunlight
(c) Charged particles hitting Earth’s magnetic field
(d) Earth’s rotation
3. When do the Southern Lights usually appear?
(a) Between 10:00 and 14:00 in March and September
(b) Between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September
(c) Between 06:00 and 10:00 in March and September
(d) Between 18:00 and 22:00 in March and September
4. Where did Richard Zheng take pictures of the Southern Lights?
(a) Brighton Beach in Dunedin
(b) Auckland City Center
(c) Wellington Harbor
(d) Christchurch Botanic Gardens
5. How long can the Southern Lights last for?
(a) Up to 30 minutes
(b) Up to 1 hour
(c) Up to 2 hours
(d) Up to 3 hours
6. What is the best way to see the Southern Lights?
(a) In a brightly lit city
(b) In a crowded shopping mall
(c) In a dark place with a view southwards, like a hill or a beach
(d) In a museum
7. Why do people stay up all night to see the Southern Lights?
(a) To take pictures
(b) To watch a movie
(c) To play video games
(d) To eat pizza
8. How did Richard Zheng feel about seeing the Southern Lights for the first time?
(a) He was bored
(b) He was disappointed
(c) He was amazed
(d) He was scared
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True or False Questions:
1. The Northern Lights have been lighting up the skies above New Zealand.
2. Many people are staying up all night to see the Southern Lights.
3. Richard Zheng took pictures of the Southern Lights at Brighton Beach.
4. The Southern Lights are caused by the sun hitting the Earth’s magnetic field.
5. The Southern Lights are also called Aurora Australis.
6. The lights usually appear between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September.
7. Scientists suggest that the best way to see the lights is to find a dark place with a view southwards.
8. The Southern Lights can last for up to eight hours.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What are the Southern Lights?
2. What colors do the Southern Lights make?
3. What time of year can you see the Southern Lights?
4. What do scientists suggest to see the Southern Lights?
5. Who took some amazing pictures of the Southern Lights at Brighton Beach?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What are the Southern Lights?
– The Southern Lights are colorful lights in the sky that can be seen in New Zealand.
2. What colors do the Southern Lights have?
– The Southern Lights have green and pink colors.
3. Why are many people staying up all night to see the Southern Lights?
– Many people are staying up all night to see the Southern Lights because they are very beautiful.
4. Where did Richard Zheng take his pictures of the Southern Lights?
– Richard Zheng took his pictures of the Southern Lights at Brighton Beach in Dunedin.
5. Were the Southern Lights stronger and bigger than last year according to Richard Zheng?
– Yes, the Southern Lights were stronger and bigger than last year according to Richard Zheng.
6. What causes the Southern Lights?
– The Southern Lights are caused when charged particles hit the Earth’s magnetic field and create light in the upper atmosphere.
7. When do the Southern Lights usually appear?
– The Southern Lights usually appear between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September.
8. What is the best way to see the Southern Lights according to scientists?
– The best way to see the Southern Lights according to scientists is to find a dark place with a view southwards, like a hill or a beach.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. lighting
2. night
3. pictures
4. particles
5. place
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Southern Lights
Answer: A) A natural event that lights up the sky with green and pink colors
2. Aurora Australis
Answer: H) Another name for the Southern Lights.
3. New Zealand
Answer: B) A country where the Southern Lights can be seen
4. magnetic field
Answer: D) A force that surrounds the Earth which attracts and repels objects
5. charged particles
Answer: E) Tiny things with electricity that cause the Southern Lights
6. upper atmosphere
Answer: F) The layer of air around the Earth above where planes fly
7. darkness
Answer: C) A place without light
8. hill
Answer: G) A high place with a good view of southwards
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What are the Southern Lights also called?
Answer: (b) Aurora Australis
2. What causes the Southern Lights?
Answer: (c) Charged particles hitting Earth’s magnetic field
3. When do the Southern Lights usually appear?
Answer: (b) Between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September
4. Where did Richard Zheng take pictures of the Southern Lights?
Answer: (a) Brighton Beach in Dunedin
5. How long can the Southern Lights last for?
Answer: (d) Up to 3 hours
6. What is the best way to see the Southern Lights?
Answer: (c) In a dark place with a view southwards, like a hill or a beach
7. Why do people stay up all night to see the Southern Lights?
Answer: (a) To take pictures
8. How did Richard Zheng feel about seeing the Southern Lights for the first time?
Answer: (c) He was amazed
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The Northern Lights have been lighting up the skies above New Zealand.
Answer: False
2. Many people are staying up all night to see the Southern Lights.
Answer: True
3. Richard Zheng took pictures of the Southern Lights at Brighton Beach.
Answer: True
4. The Southern Lights are caused by the sun hitting the Earth’s magnetic field.
Answer: False
5. The Southern Lights are also called Aurora Australis.
Answer: True
6. The lights usually appear between 22:00 and 02:00 in March and September.
Answer: True
7. Scientists suggest that the best way to see the lights is to find a dark place with a view southwards.
Answer: True
8. The Southern Lights can last for up to eight hours.
Answer: False
Go back to questions ⇧
