A special airplane flew across the ocean from London using new, cleaner fuel. This is a big deal because it shows that flying without hurting the earth is possible. But finding enough of this clean fuel is hard for airplane companies.

This flight is important because it helps the earth by making less pollution. The airplane used fuel that is better for the environment. This shows that flying can be cleaner, but we need to make more of this fuel and have places to get it for many airplanes to use it.

Even though this flight is a big step, there are still problems to fix. There isn’t enough of the clean fuel for all airplanes to use it. Airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to work together. They need to make more clean fuel so more airplanes can fly in a way that is good for the earth.

Original news source: Moment transatlantic flight using 100% green fuels takes off from Heathrow (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Ask the groups to read the article and then summarize it in 2-3 sentences.
4. After a few minutes, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into teams.
3. One student from each team comes up to the front and selects a card without showing it to their team.
4. The student must draw a picture to represent the word, while their team tries to guess what it is.
5. The team that guesses correctly earns a point.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Ask the students to think about the following question: “What are some ways we can make flying cleaner for the environment?”
2. Have the students pair up and discuss their ideas.
3. After a few minutes, have each pair share their ideas with the class.
4. Lead a whole-class discussion, encouraging students to explain and expand on their ideas.

– Charades
Instructions:
1. Write down key words or phrases from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into teams.
3. One student from each team comes up to the front and selects a card without showing it to their team.
4. The student must act out the word or phrase, while their team tries to guess what it is.
5. The team that guesses correctly earns a point.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Ask the students to think about the future of flying and the environment.
2. Have the students write down three predictions about how flying will become cleaner in the future.
3. After a few minutes, have each student share their predictions with a partner.
4. Encourage students to discuss and debate their predictions, providing reasons for their opinions.
5. Ask a few pairs to share their predictions with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is special about the airplane that flew from London?
2. Why is it important that the airplane used cleaner fuel?
3. What does this flight show about flying?
4. What is the problem with having enough of the clean fuel for all airplanes?
5. Who needs to work together to solve this problem?
6. What do airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to do?
7. Why is it important for more airplanes to use clean fuel?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A special airplane flew across the (1)______ from London using new, (2)______ fuel. This is a big deal because it (3)______ that flying without hurting the earth is possible. But finding enough of this clean fuel is hard for airplane (4)______.

This flight is (5)______ because it helps the earth by making less pollution. The airplane used fuel that is better for the (6)______. This shows that flying can be cleaner, but we need to make more of this fuel and have (7)______ to get it for many (8)______ to use it.

Even though this flight is a big step, there are still problems to fix. There isn’t enough of the (9)______ fuel for all airplanes to use it. (10)______ companies, people who make laws, and (11)______ (12)______ need to work together. They need to make more clean fuel so more airplanes can fly in a way that is good for the earth.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is special about the airplane that flew from London?
2. How do you think flying without hurting the earth is possible?
3. Do you think it is important to make less pollution? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if all airplanes used clean fuel?
5. What do airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to do together?
6. Why is it a big step that the airplane used clean fuel?
7. Do you think there is enough clean fuel for all airplanes to use? Why or why not?
8. How can airplane companies make more clean fuel?
9. Why is it important for more airplanes to fly in a way that is good for the earth?
10. What problems do you think need to be fixed?
11. How can we make sure there is enough clean fuel for all airplanes?
12. Do you think flying can be cleaner in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. airplane
2. fuel
3. cleaner
4. pollution
5. environment
6. step
7. problems
8. together

Meanings:
(a) Dirty stuff that hurts the air and water
(b) A vehicle that flies in the sky
(c) Not as dirty or bad for the earth
(d) A substance that makes things go
(e) The world around us, including nature
(f) Difficulties or things that need fixing
(g) Working with others to solve a problem
(h) A small move in the right direction
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is the special airplane flight important?
(a) It proves that airplanes can fly faster than cars.
(b) It demonstrates that airplanes are the best way to travel.
(c) It reveals that airplanes are harmful to the environment.
(d) It shows that flying without hurting the earth is possible.

2. What kind of fuel did the airplane use?
(a) Cleaner fuel that is better for the environment.
(b) Regular fuel that causes pollution.
(c) Fuel made from plants.
(d) Fuel made from plastic bottles.

3. What is the main problem with the clean fuel?
(a) It is too expensive for airplane companies.
(b) There isn’t enough of it for all airplanes to use.
(c) It is difficult to find places to get the fuel.
(d) It is not as powerful as regular fuel.

4. Who needs to work together to solve the problem?
(a) Airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers.
(b) Only airplane companies.
(c) Only people who make laws.
(d) Only fuel makers.

5. What is the main message of the article?
(a) Airplanes are the best way to travel.
(b) The special airplane flight was a waste of time.
(c) Flying without hurting the earth is possible but there are still problems to solve.
(d) Clean fuel is not important for the environment.

6. What does the article say about the future of flying?
(a) Flying is always going to be harmful to the environment.
(b) More airplanes need to use clean fuel to help the earth.
(c) Airplanes should stop flying altogether.
(d) Clean fuel is not necessary for airplanes.

7. Why is it important to find more clean fuel?
(a) So that airplanes can fly faster.
(b) So that airplanes can carry more passengers.
(c) So that airplanes can fly longer distances.
(d) So that more airplanes can use it and help the earth.

8. What does the article say about the current availability of clean fuel?
(a) There is plenty of clean fuel for all airplanes.
(b) Clean fuel is only available in certain countries.
(c) There isn’t enough of it for all airplanes to use.
(d) Clean fuel is not necessary for airplanes.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. A regular airplane flew from London to show that flying without hurting the earth is impossible.
2. There is not enough of the clean fuel for all airplanes to use it.
3. This flight is important because it helps the earth by reducing pollution.
4. The airplane’s journey across the ocean is a big step towards a greener future.
5. The airplane used a dirtier fuel that is worse for the environment.
6. The flight shows that flying can be cleaner, but more of this fuel needs to be made.
7. Finding enough clean fuel for airplanes is not a challenge that needs to be addressed.
8. Airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to work separately to make more clean fuel.
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 is the big deal about the special airplane that flew from London?
2. Why is it important for airplanes to use cleaner fuel?
3. What is the problem with finding enough clean fuel for airplanes?
4. Who needs to work together to solve the problem of not having enough clean fuel?
5. Why is it important for more airplanes to use clean fuel?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is special about the airplane that flew from London?
The airplane that flew from London is special because it used new, cleaner fuel.

2. Why is it important that the airplane used cleaner fuel?
It is important because cleaner fuel helps to make less pollution and is better for the environment.

3. What does this flight show about flying?
This flight shows that flying can be cleaner and that it is possible to fly without hurting the earth.

4. What is the problem with having enough of the clean fuel for all airplanes?
The problem is that there isn’t enough of the clean fuel for all airplanes to use.

5. Who needs to work together to solve this problem?
Airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to work together to solve this problem.

6. What do airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to do?
They need to make more clean fuel and have places where airplanes can get it.

7. Why is it important for more airplanes to use clean fuel?
It is important because using clean fuel helps to protect the earth and make less pollution.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) ocean
(2) cleaner
(3) shows
(4) companies
(5) important
(6) environment
(7) places
(8) airplanes
(9) clean
(10) Airplane
(11) fuel
(12) makers
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. airplane
Answer: (b) A vehicle that flies in the sky

2. fuel
Answer: (d) A substance that makes things go

3. cleaner
Answer: (c) Not as dirty or bad for the earth

4. pollution
Answer: (a) Dirty stuff that hurts the air and water

5. environment
Answer: (e) The world around us, including nature

6. step
Answer: (h) A small move in the right direction

7. problems
Answer: (f) Difficulties or things that need fixing

8. together
Answer: (g) Working with others to solve a problem
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is the special airplane flight important?
Answer: (d) It shows that flying without hurting the earth is possible.

2. What kind of fuel did the airplane use?
Answer: (a) Cleaner fuel that is better for the environment.

3. What is the main problem with the clean fuel?
Answer: (b) There isn’t enough of it for all airplanes to use.

4. Who needs to work together to solve the problem?
Answer: (a) Airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers.

5. What is the main message of the article?
Answer: (c) Flying without hurting the earth is possible but there are still problems to solve.

6. What does the article say about the future of flying?
Answer: (b) More airplanes need to use clean fuel to help the earth.

7. Why is it important to find more clean fuel?
Answer: (d) So that more airplanes can use it and help the earth.

8. What does the article say about the current availability of clean fuel?
Answer: (c) There isn’t enough of it for all airplanes to use.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. A regular airplane flew from London to show that flying without hurting the earth is impossible. (Answer: False)
2. There is not enough of the clean fuel for all airplanes to use it. (Answer: True)
3. This flight is important because it helps the earth by reducing pollution. (Answer: True)
4. The airplane’s journey across the ocean is a big step towards a greener future. (Answer: True)
5. The airplane used a dirtier fuel that is worse for the environment. (Answer: False)
6. The flight shows that flying can be cleaner, but more of this fuel needs to be made. (Answer: True)
7. Finding enough clean fuel for airplanes is not a challenge that needs to be addressed. (Answer: False)
8. Airplane companies, people who make laws, and fuel makers need to work separately to make more clean fuel. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧