Two astronauts, Butch and Sunita, went to space on June 5. They were supposed to come back home soon after. But their spaceship had problems, so they are still in space. The spaceship had leaks and other issues. Now, they might stay in space for a long time.

NASA is thinking of different ways to bring them back. They might use another spaceship called Crew Dragon. If they do, Butch and Sunita could come back in February 2025. This means they will stay in space for many months. They are happy to be in space, even if it’s longer than planned.

Original news source: They went to space for eight days – and could be stuck until 2025 (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out words or phrases related to space and astronauts without speaking. The rest of the class guesses what they are acting out. Words can include “astronaut,” “spaceship,” “leak,” “NASA,” and “Crew Dragon.”

– WORD ASSOCIATION
Instructions: One student says a word related to the article (e.g., “space”). The next student must quickly say a word that relates to the previous word (e.g., “rocket”). This continues around the class, encouraging quick thinking and vocabulary recall.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group receives a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each group draws a word on the board while their teammates guess what it is. Words can include “astronaut,” “space,” “problems,” and “February.”

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question to the class, such as “How do you think Butch and Sunita feel about staying in space longer than planned?” Students think about their answer, share it with a partner, and then a few pairs share their thoughts with the class.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Ask students to predict what will happen next for Butch and Sunita. Each student shares their prediction about when they think the astronauts might return or what they might do in space. This encourages creativity and use of future tense structures.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the two astronauts in the story?
2. When did Butch and Sunita go to space?
3. What happened to their spaceship?
4. What is NASA thinking about to help bring them back?
5. What is the name of the other spaceship NASA might use?
6. When could Butch and Sunita come back to Earth?
7. How do Butch and Sunita feel about being in space?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Two (1)______, Butch and Sunita, went to space on June 5. They were supposed to come back home soon after. But their (2)______ had problems, so they are still in space. The spaceship had leaks and other (3)______. Now, they might stay in space for a long (4)______.

NASA is thinking of different ways to bring them back. They might use another spaceship (5)______ Crew Dragon. If they do, Butch and Sunita could (6)______ back in (7)______ 2025. This means they will stay in space for (8)______ months. They are happy to be in space, even if it’s longer than planned.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is space to you?
2. Do you like the idea of going to space? Why?
3. How would you feel if you had to stay in space for a long time?
4. Do you think astronauts are brave? Why or why not?
5. What is your favorite thing about the stars?
6. Do you like watching rockets? Why?
7. How do you think Butch and Sunita feel in space?
8. Do you think space is a fun place? Why or why not?
9. What would you do if you were in space?
10. Do you think it is easy to fix problems in space? Why?
11. How would you feel if you saw Earth from space?
12. Do you think more people should go to space? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. astronauts
2. spaceship
3. problems
4. leaks
5. issues
6. NASA
7. different
8. Crew Dragon
9. February
10. planned

Meanings:
(A) A vehicle that flies in space
(B) Not the same
(C) A special space vehicle
(D) Something you thought about before doing it
(E) People who travel to space
(F) The second month of the year
(G) Things that need fixing
(H) Holes where something can escape
(I) Things that go wrong
(J) The group that sends people to space
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who went to space?
(a) Tom and Jerry
(b) Bob and Alice
(c) Butch and Sunita
(d) Sam and Kate

2. When did Butch and Sunita go to space?
(a) June 5
(b) July 5
(c) May 5
(d) August 5

3. What happened to their spaceship?
(a) It was very fast
(b) It had problems
(c) It was very big
(d) It was very small

4. What is NASA thinking about?
(a) How to bring them back
(b) How to make a cake
(c) How to play a game
(d) How to build a house

5. What is the name of the other spaceship?
(a) Space Eagle
(b) Starship
(c) Crew Dragon
(d) Moon Rover

6. When might Butch and Sunita come back?
(a) March 2024
(b) December 2023
(c) January 2026
(d) February 2025

7. How do Butch and Sunita feel about being in space?
(a) They are sad
(b) They are scared
(c) They are tired
(d) They are happy

8. How long might they stay in space?
(a) A few days
(b) Many months
(c) One week
(d) One hour

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They are happy to be in space.
2. Butch and Sunita are not astronauts.
3. They might use a spaceship called Crew Dragon.
4. Their spaceship is in good condition.
5. They did not go to space on June 5.
6. Butch and Sunita could not come back in February 2025.
7. NASA is trying to help them come back.
8. They have to stay in space longer than they thought.
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. Who are the two astronauts in the story?
2. When did Butch and Sunita go to space?
3. Why can’t Butch and Sunita come back home right away?
4. What is the name of the other spaceship NASA might use?
5. How do Butch and Sunita feel about staying in space?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the two astronauts in the story?
Butch and Sunita.

2. When did Butch and Sunita go to space?
They went to space on June 5.

3. What happened to their spaceship?
Their spaceship had problems and leaks.

4. What is NASA thinking about to help bring them back?
NASA is thinking of different ways to bring them back.

5. What is the name of the other spaceship NASA might use?
The other spaceship is called Crew Dragon.

6. When could Butch and Sunita come back to Earth?
They could come back in February 2025.

7. How do Butch and Sunita feel about being in space?
They are happy to be in space.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) astronauts
(2) spaceship
(3) issues
(4) time
(5) called
(6) come
(7) February
(8) many
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. astronauts
Answer: (E) People who travel to space

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

3. problems
Answer: (I) Things that go wrong

4. leaks
Answer: (H) Holes where something can escape

5. issues
Answer: (G) Things that need fixing

6. NASA
Answer: (J) The group that sends people to space

7. different
Answer: (B) Not the same

8. Crew Dragon
Answer: (C) A special space vehicle

9. February
Answer: (F) The second month of the year

10. planned
Answer: (D) Something you thought about before doing it
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who went to space?
Answer: (c) Butch and Sunita

2. When did Butch and Sunita go to space?
Answer: (a) June 5

3. What happened to their spaceship?
Answer: (b) It had problems

4. What is NASA thinking about?
Answer: (a) How to bring them back

5. What is the name of the other spaceship?
Answer: (c) Crew Dragon

6. When might Butch and Sunita come back?
Answer: (d) February 2025

7. How do Butch and Sunita feel about being in space?
Answer: (d) They are happy

8. How long might they stay in space?
Answer: (b) Many months
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They are happy to be in space. (Answer: True)
2. Butch and Sunita are not astronauts. (Answer: False)
3. They might use a spaceship called Crew Dragon. (Answer: True)
4. Their spaceship is in good condition. (Answer: False)
5. They did not go to space on June 5. (Answer: False)
6. Butch and Sunita could not come back in February 2025. (Answer: False)
7. NASA is trying to help them come back. (Answer: True)
8. They have to stay in space longer than they thought. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧