Blue lights called LEDs are changing how we light up things. A school in Michigan used blue LEDs to make a cool light show at a football game. People didn’t like blue LEDs at first, but now they are better and stronger. Scientists are trying to make LEDs even better with something called perovskite crystals. Blue LEDs can be used for many things like outside lights and special glasses for games.

LEDs are also used to make buildings and landmarks look special. In America, towns are using LEDs to make water towers look cool. A place in Las Vegas uses lots of LEDs to change how it looks. Scientists in Japan made a blue LED that works with just one small battery. Companies are making very small LEDs that can be used in special glasses for games.

Original news source: The incredible power of blue LEDs (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a list of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. LEDs, blue light, football game, perovskite crystals). One person from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word without speaking. The team members must guess the word within a time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, have students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep it brief. After each summary, the partner can ask any questions for clarification. Switch roles and repeat with a different partner.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you like blue LEDs? Why or why not?” Have students go around the class and ask their classmates the question. They should record their classmates’ responses. Afterward, gather the class together and have a discussion about their findings. Encourage them to use complete sentences and give reasons for their opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. LEDs, perovskite crystals, landmarks). One person from each group will take turns drawing one of the words on the board, while their group members try to guess the word. The group with the most correct guesses wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Give each student a few minutes to think about the following question: “How do you think blue LEDs will be used in the future?” Then, have students pair up and share their ideas with each other. Afterward, bring the class back together and have a few students share their partner’s ideas with the whole class. Encourage them to use complete sentences and explain their reasoning.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are blue lights called?
2. What did a school in Michigan use blue LEDs for?
3. Did people like blue LEDs at first?
4. What are scientists trying to make LEDs better with?
5. What are some things that blue LEDs can be used for?
6. How are LEDs used to make buildings and landmarks look special?
7. What are companies making with very small LEDs?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Blue lights called LEDs are changing how we light up things. A school in Michigan used blue LEDs to make a cool light (1)______ at a football game. People didn’t (2)______ blue LEDs at first, but now they are better and stronger. Scientists are trying to make LEDs even better with something called (3)______ crystals. Blue LEDs can be used for (4)______ things like outside lights and special glasses for (5)______.

LEDs are also used to make buildings and landmarks look special. In (6)______, towns are using LEDs to make water towers look cool. A place in Las Vegas uses lots of LEDs to (7)______ how it (8)______. Scientists in Japan made a blue LED that works with just one small battery. Companies are making very small LEDs that can be used in special glasses for games.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a blue LED?
2. How would you feel if you saw a cool light show at a football game?
3. Do you like blue LEDs? Why or why not?
4. What are some things that blue LEDs can be used for?
5. How do LEDs make buildings and landmarks look special?
6. Have you ever seen a water tower that looks cool because of LEDs?
7. What do you think about using LEDs to change how a place looks?
8. How do you think scientists in Japan made a blue LED work with just one small battery?
9. Do you think small LEDs in special glasses for games would be fun to use? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever worn special glasses for games? How did they make you feel?
11. What do you think about companies making very small LEDs?
12. How do you think perovskite crystals can make LEDs even better?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. blue
2. LEDs
3. light
4. show
5. better
6. crystals
7. buildings
8. glasses

Meanings:
(a) The color of the sky
(b) A performance with lights and music
(c) Something that helps us see in the dark
(d) Things we wear on our face to see better
(e) Special rocks that make lights brighter
(f) Small lights that are blue
(g) Big structures where people live or work
(h) Improving or getting more good
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are blue lights called?
(a) bulbs
(b) LEDs
(c) candles
(d) lamps

2. What did a school in Michigan use blue LEDs for?
(a) to light up the classrooms
(b) to decorate the school cafeteria
(c) to play games during recess
(d) to make a light show at a football game

3. How did people feel about blue LEDs at first?
(a) They loved them.
(b) They didn’t like them.
(c) They were scared of them.
(d) They didn’t know what they were.

4. What are scientists trying to make LEDs even better with?
(a) diamonds
(b) gold
(c) silver
(d) perovskite crystals

5. What can blue LEDs be used for?
(a) outside lights and special glasses for games
(b) cooking and cleaning
(c) reading and writing
(d) sleeping and eating

6. How are LEDs used to make buildings and landmarks look special?
(a) They use candles to light them up.
(b) They use lamps to make them brighter.
(c) They use lots of LEDs to change how they look.
(d) They use bulbs to make them colorful.

7. What are towns in America using LEDs for?
(a) to make cars go faster
(b) to make trees grow taller
(c) to make water towers look cool
(d) to make people laugh

8. What did scientists in Japan make a blue LED work with?
(a) just one small battery
(b) lots of big batteries
(c) solar power
(d) wind power

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Scientists in Japan made a blue LED that works with just one small battery.
2. Blue LEDs cannot be used for outside lights and special glasses for games.
3. In America, towns are using LEDs to make water towers look cool.
4. Blue lights called LEDs are not making things look different.
5. LEDs are not used to make buildings and landmarks look special.
6. Scientists are trying to make LEDs even better with something called perovskite crystals.
7. A school in Michigan used blue LEDs to make a fun light show at a football game.
8. At first, people liked blue LEDs, but now they are worse and weaker.
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 blue lights called?
2. What did a school in Michigan use blue LEDs for?
3. Why didn’t people like blue LEDs at first?
4. What are scientists trying to make LEDs better with?
5. What are some things that blue LEDs can be used for?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Blue lights are called LEDs.
2. A school in Michigan used blue LEDs to make a cool light show at a football game.
3. People didn’t like blue LEDs at first, but now they are better and stronger.
4. Scientists are trying to make LEDs better with something called perovskite crystals.
5. Blue LEDs can be used for many things like outside lights and special glasses for games.
6. LEDs are used to make buildings and landmarks look special by changing how they look with different colors and patterns.
7. Companies are making very small LEDs that can be used in special glasses for games.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) show
(2) like
(3) perovskite
(4) many
(5) games
(6) America
(7) change
(8) looks
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. blue
Answer: (a) The color of the sky

2. LEDs
Answer: (f) Small lights that are blue

3. light
Answer: (c) Something that helps us see in the dark

4. show
Answer: (b) A performance with lights and music

5. better
Answer: (h) Improving or getting more good

6. crystals
Answer: (e) Special rocks that make lights brighter

7. buildings
Answer: (g) Big structures where people live or work

8. glasses
Answer: (d) Things we wear on our face to see better
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are blue lights called?
Answer: (b) LEDs

2. What did a school in Michigan use blue LEDs for?
Answer: (d) to make a light show at a football game

3. How did people feel about blue LEDs at first?
Answer: (b) They didn’t like them.

4. What are scientists trying to make LEDs even better with?
Answer: (d) perovskite crystals

5. What can blue LEDs be used for?
Answer: (a) outside lights and special glasses for games

6. How are LEDs used to make buildings and landmarks look special?
Answer: (c) They use lots of LEDs to change how they look.

7. What are towns in America using LEDs for?
Answer: (c) to make water towers look cool

8. What did scientists in Japan make a blue LED work with?
Answer: (a) just one small battery
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Scientists in Japan made a blue LED that works with just one small battery. (Answer: True)
2. Blue LEDs cannot be used for outside lights and special glasses for games. (Answer: False)
3. In America, towns are using LEDs to make water towers look cool. (Answer: True)
4. Blue lights called LEDs are not making things look different. (Answer: False)
5. LEDs are not used to make buildings and landmarks look special. (Answer: False)
6. Scientists are trying to make LEDs even better with something called perovskite crystals. (Answer: True)
7. A school in Michigan used blue LEDs to make a fun light show at a football game. (Answer: True)
8. At first, people liked blue LEDs, but now they are worse and weaker. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧