A spaceship named Hera is going to visit a space rock called Dimorphos. This rock was pushed by NASA to see if we can stop it from hitting Earth. Hera will take a long trip and get there in December 2026. The rock is very far away, about seven million miles. Scientists want to learn how to stop space rocks from hitting us.

When Hera gets to Dimorphos, it will look at the hole made by the push and see what the rock is made of. Scientists want to know more about these space rocks to keep Earth safe. They think big rocks hitting Earth is not likely, but smaller ones could still be a problem. By learning more, they hope to stop any danger from space rocks. This mission helps us get ready for any space rock that might come our way.

Original news source: Spacecraft launches towards knocked-off-course asteroid (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Choose key words from the article (e.g., spaceship, space rock, NASA, Hera, Dimorphos) and act them out without speaking. Have the rest of the class guess the word being acted out. This will help reinforce vocabulary and comprehension skills.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select 5-10 words from the article (e.g., spaceship, rock, NASA, scientists) and have students draw the word on the board while the rest of the class guesses what it is. This will help with vocabulary retention and artistic expression.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Pick important keywords from the article and play a round of hangman with the class. Have students guess letters to uncover the word. This will help with spelling, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student describes an element from the article (e.g., Hera, space rock) to their partner who has to sketch it. This will improve communication skills, listening comprehension, and vocabulary usage.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about how they would feel if they knew a space rock might hit the Earth. Then, have them pair up and share their thoughts with a partner. Finally, open the discussion to the whole class to practice expressing opinions and engaging in conversations.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the spaceship that is going to visit a space rock?
2. Why did NASA push the space rock called Dimorphos?
3. When will the spaceship Hera get to Dimorphos?
4. How far away is Dimorphos from Earth?
5. Why do scientists want to learn more about space rocks?
6. What will Hera look at when it gets to Dimorphos?
7. Why do scientists want to be ready for any space rocks that might come to Earth?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A (1)______ named Hera is going to visit a space rock called Dimorphos. This rock was pushed by NASA to see if we can stop it from (2)______ Earth. Hera will take a long trip and get there in December 2026. The (3)______ is very far away, about seven million miles. Scientists want to learn how to stop space rocks from hitting us.

When Hera gets to Dimorphos, it will (4)______ at the hole made by the push and see what the rock is made of. Scientists (5)______ to know more about these space rocks to keep Earth safe. They (6)______ big rocks hitting Earth is not likely, but smaller ones could still be a problem. By learning more, they hope to stop any danger from space rocks. This mission (7)______ us get (8)______ for any space rock that might come our way.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think a spaceship is?
2. How would you feel if a big rock from space was coming towards Earth?
3. Do you like learning about space rocks?
4. Why do you think scientists want to stop space rocks from hitting Earth?
5. What do you think scientists will find out about the space rock Dimorphos?
6. How do you think Hera will travel to get to Dimorphos?
7. Do you think it’s important to study space rocks? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the mission of spaceship Hera is?
9. Why do you think scientists are studying the hole made by the push on Dimorphos?
10. How would you feel if you were on a spaceship going to visit a space rock?
11. Do you think space rocks hitting Earth is a big problem? Why or why not?
12. What do you think we can learn from studying space rocks?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. spaceship
2. visit
3. rock
4. pushed
5. trip
6. scientists
7. learn
8. hole
9. danger
10. mission

Meanings:
(A) An empty space or gap
(B) To find out new things
(C) To go and see someone or something
(D) People who study and know a lot about science
(E) A hard thing you find on the ground
(F) A vehicle that flies in space
(G) Something that can hurt you
(H) Moved something with force
(I) A special job or task to do
(J) A journey from one place to another
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the spaceship going to visit the space rock Dimorphos?
(a) Apollo
(b) Zeus
(c) Hera
(d) Athena

2. When is Hera expected to reach Dimorphos?
(a) January 2025
(b) March 2027
(c) December 2026
(d) November 2028

3. How far away is Dimorphos from Earth?
(a) About seven million miles
(b) About one million miles
(c) About ten thousand miles
(d) About five hundred miles

4. What do scientists want to learn about space rocks like Dimorphos?
(a) How to make them hit Earth
(b) How to stop them from hitting Earth
(c) How to paint them different colors
(d) How to make them bigger

5. What will Hera look at on Dimorphos?
(a) The clouds in the sky
(b) The animals living on it
(c) The trees growing on it
(d) The hole made by the push

6. Why do scientists want to learn more about space rocks?
(a) To make them hit Earth
(b) To build houses on them
(c) To make them smaller
(d) To keep Earth safe

7. What do scientists think is not likely to hit Earth?
(a) Small rocks
(b) Big rocks
(c) Trees
(d) Cars

8. What do scientists hope to do by learning more about space rocks?
(a) Stop any danger from them
(b) Make them hit Earth faster
(c) Bring them closer to Earth
(d) Make them invisible

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Scientists want to learn how to stop space rocks from hitting Earth.
2. Dimorphos is very far away, about seven million miles.
3. A spaceship named Hera is not going to visit a space rock called Dimorphos.
4. Hera will get to Dimorphos in December 2026.
5. Scientists do not want to know what Dimorphos is made of.
6. NASA does not want to see if they can stop Dimorphos from hitting Earth.
7. Hera will look at the hole made by the push on Dimorphos.
8. This mission does not help us prepare for any space rocks that might come to Earth.
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 name of the spaceship going to visit a space rock?
2. Why did NASA push the space rock called Dimorphos?
3. When will Hera get to Dimorphos?
4. What do scientists want to learn about space rocks?
5. Why is it important for scientists to study space rocks?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the spaceship that is going to visit a space rock?
– The spaceship is named Hera.

2. Why did NASA push the space rock called Dimorphos?
– NASA pushed Dimorphos to see if we can stop it from hitting Earth.

3. When will the spaceship Hera get to Dimorphos?
– Hera will get to Dimorphos in December 2026.

4. How far away is Dimorphos from Earth?
– Dimorphos is about seven million miles away from Earth.

5. Why do scientists want to learn more about space rocks?
– Scientists want to learn more to keep Earth safe from any danger from space rocks.

6. What will Hera look at when it gets to Dimorphos?
– Hera will look at the hole made by the push and see what the rock is made of.

7. Why do scientists want to be ready for any space rocks that might come to Earth?
– Scientists want to be ready in case any space rocks come our way to keep us safe.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) spaceship
(2) hitting
(3) rock
(4) look
(5) want
(6) think
(7) helps
(8) ready
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. spaceship
Answer: (F) A vehicle that flies in space

2. visit
Answer: (C) To go and see someone or something

3. rock
Answer: (E) A hard thing you find on the ground

4. pushed
Answer: (H) Moved something with force

5. trip
Answer: (J) A journey from one place to another

6. scientists
Answer: (D) People who study and know a lot about science

7. learn
Answer: (B) To find out new things

8. hole
Answer: (A) An empty space or gap

9. danger
Answer: (G) Something that can hurt you

10. mission
Answer: (I) A special job or task to do
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the spaceship going to visit the space rock Dimorphos?
Answer: (c) Hera

2. When is Hera expected to reach Dimorphos?
Answer: (c) December 2026

3. How far away is Dimorphos from Earth?
Answer: (a) About seven million miles

4. What do scientists want to learn about space rocks like Dimorphos?
Answer: (b) How to stop them from hitting Earth

5. What will Hera look at on Dimorphos?
Answer: (d) The hole made by the push

6. Why do scientists want to learn more about space rocks?
Answer: (d) To keep Earth safe

7. What do scientists think is not likely to hit Earth?
Answer: (b) Big rocks

8. What do scientists hope to do by learning more about space rocks?
Answer: (a) Stop any danger from them
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Scientists want to learn how to stop space rocks from hitting Earth. (Answer: True)
2. Dimorphos is very far away, about seven million miles. (Answer: True)
3. A spaceship named Hera is not going to visit a space rock called Dimorphos. (Answer: False)
4. Hera will get to Dimorphos in December 2026. (Answer: True)
5. Scientists do not want to know what Dimorphos is made of. (Answer: False)
6. NASA does not want to see if they can stop Dimorphos from hitting Earth. (Answer: False)
7. Hera will look at the hole made by the push on Dimorphos. (Answer: True)
8. This mission does not help us prepare for any space rocks that might come to Earth. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧