The White House wants NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon. They call it Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). Time goes by a little faster on the Moon than on Earth. This is because the Moon and Earth have different pulls of gravity. They think having a Moon time zone will help spaceships work better together.

Other places, like the European Space Agency, are also trying to make a Moon time. But all countries need to agree on how to do it. Right now, a special group helps keep time the same all over Earth. It’s important that all the spaceships going to the Moon can talk to each other without problems. They want to have this new time ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Moon.

Original news source: White House wants Moon to have its own time zone (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. “Moon”, “time zone”, “spaceship”). One student from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, while the other students in the group try to guess what it is.

– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article aloud to the class, or provide a simplified version. In pairs, students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries short and concise.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. “time zone”, “gravity”, “spaceships”). Divide the class into teams. One student from each team comes up to the board and draws a picture to represent one of the words. The other students in the team must guess what word it represents.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Write a simple summary of the article on the board (e.g. “The White House wants NASA to create a new time zone for the Moon called Coordinated Lunar Time. They think it will help spaceships work better together.”). In pairs, students take turns reading the summary aloud as quickly as possible. Encourage them to speak clearly and at a fast pace.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of creating a new time zone for the Moon. Encourage them to think critically and consider different perspectives. After the discussion, each group can share their thoughts with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What does the White House want NASA to make?
2. Why do they want to make a new time zone for the Moon?
3. Why does time go by faster on the Moon than on Earth?
4. Who else is trying to make a Moon time?
5. Why do all countries need to agree on how to make a Moon time?
6. Who helps keep time the same all over Earth?
7. When do they want to have the new Moon time ready?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The White (1)______ (2)______ NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon. They call it Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). Time goes by a little faster on the Moon than on Earth. This is because the Moon and (3)______ have (4)______ pulls of gravity. They think having a Moon time zone will help spaceships work better together.

Other places, like the European Space (5)______, are also (6)______ to make a Moon time. But all countries need to agree on how to do it. Right now, a special group helps keep time the same all over Earth. It’s important that all the spaceships (7)______ to the Moon can talk to each other without problems. They want to have this new (8)______ ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Moon.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a time zone?
2. How would you feel if there was a different time on the Moon?
3. Do you think it’s important for spaceships to be able to talk to each other? Why or why not?
4. What do you think will happen if all countries can’t agree on the Moon time?
5. Do you like the idea of a Moon time zone? Why or why not?
6. How do you think having a Moon time zone will help spaceships work better together?
7. What do you think will happen if spaceships can’t communicate with each other?
8. How do you think the Moon and Earth having different pulls of gravity affects time?
9. Do you think it’s a good idea to have a special group to help keep time the same all over Earth? Why or why not?
10. What do you think will happen if the new Moon time is not ready by 2026?
11. How do you think having a Moon time zone will affect people’s daily lives?
12. What do you think will happen if there is no Moon time zone?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Coordinated
2. Lunar
3. Gravity
4. Spaceships
5. Countries
6. Special
7. Earth
8. Problems
9. Agree
10. Trip

Meanings:
(A) Going from one place to another place
(B) Big machines that fly in space
(C) The world where all of us live
(D) Things that make it hard to do something
(E) About the Moon
(F) Working together in a smart way
(G) The pull that makes things fall down
(H) Very important or different in a good way
(I) To say “yes” together
(J) Places where people live and have their own rules
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why does the White House want NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon?
(a) Because time goes by slower on the Moon than on Earth
(b) Because time goes by faster on the Moon than on Earth
(c) Because the Moon and Earth have the same gravity
(d) Because spaceships don’t need to work together

2. What is the new Moon time zone called?
(a) Moon Standard Time (MST)
(b) Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)
(c) Lunar Zone Time (LZT)
(d) Space Time Zone (STZ)

3. Why is it important to have a Moon time zone?
(a) So that spaceships going to the Moon can communicate easily
(b) So that people on Earth can keep track of time on the Moon
(c) So that the Moon and Earth have the same gravity
(d) So that the Moon can have its own time zone

4. Who else is trying to make a Moon time zone?
(a) The United Nations
(b) The White House
(c) NASA
(d) The European Space Agency

5. When does the White House want the new Moon time zone to be ready?
(a) By 2030
(b) By 2050
(c) By 2100
(d) By 2026

6. Why does time go by faster on the Moon than on Earth?
(a) Because the Moon and Earth have the same pulls of gravity
(b) Because the Moon is closer to the Sun than Earth
(c) Because the Moon and Earth have different pulls of gravity
(d) Because the Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth

7. What is the special group that helps keep time the same all over Earth?
(a) The Timekeepers
(b) The Time Travelers
(c) Unknown
(d) The Time Zone Group

8. What is the main reason for making a Moon time zone?
(a) To help spaceships work better together
(b) To have a different time zone for the Moon
(c) To make time go by slower on the Moon
(d) To make time go by faster on Earth

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. All countries need to agree on how to create the Moon time.
2. Other space agencies, like the European Space Agency, are not trying to create a Moon time.
3. The new time zone is called Coordinated Solar Time (LTC).
4. The White House wants NASA to create a new time zone for the Moon.
5. Time goes by slower on the Moon than on Earth because of different pulls of gravity.
6. The new Sun time is expected to be ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Sun.
7. It’s important for spaceships going to the Moon to be able to communicate with each other easily.
8. A special group helps keep time the same all over 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 White House asking NASA to do?
2. Why does time go by faster on the Moon than on Earth?
3. Why is it important for spaceships going to the Moon to have the same time?
4. Who else is trying to make a Moon time?
5. When do they want to have the new Moon time ready?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does the White House want NASA to make?
The White House wants NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon.

2. Why do they want to make a new time zone for the Moon?
They want to make a new time zone for the Moon so that spaceships can work better together.

3. Why does time go by faster on the Moon than on Earth?
Time goes by faster on the Moon because the Moon and Earth have different pulls of gravity.

4. Who else is trying to make a Moon time?
Other places, like the European Space Agency, are also trying to make a Moon time.

5. Why do all countries need to agree on how to make a Moon time?
All countries need to agree on how to make a Moon time so that all the spaceships going to the Moon can talk to each other without problems.

6. Who helps keep time the same all over Earth?
A special group helps keep time the same all over Earth.

7. When do they want to have the new Moon time ready?
They want to have the new Moon time ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Moon.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) House
(2) wants
(3) Earth
(4) different
(5) Agency
(6) trying
(7) going
(8) time
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Coordinated
Answer: (F) Working together in a smart way

2. Lunar
Answer: (E) About the Moon

3. Gravity
Answer: (G) The pull that makes things fall down

4. Spaceships
Answer: (B) Big machines that fly in space

5. Countries
Answer: (J) Places where people live and have their own rules

6. Special
Answer: (H) Very important or different in a good way

7. Earth
Answer: (C) The world where all of us live

8. Problems
Answer: (D) Things that make it hard to do something

9. Agree
Answer: (I) To say “yes” together

10. Trip
Answer: (A) Going from one place to another place
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why does the White House want NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon?
Answer: (b) Because time goes by faster on the Moon than on Earth

2. What is the new Moon time zone called?
Answer: (b) Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)

3. Why is it important to have a Moon time zone?
Answer: (a) So that spaceships going to the Moon can communicate easily

4. Who else is trying to make a Moon time zone?
Answer: (d) The European Space Agency

5. When does the White House want the new Moon time zone to be ready?
Answer: (d) By 2026

6. Why does time go by faster on the Moon than on Earth?
Answer: (c) Because the Moon and Earth have different pulls of gravity

7. What is the special group that helps keep time the same all over Earth?
Answer: (c) Unknown

8. What is the main reason for making a Moon time zone?
Answer: (a) To help spaceships work better together
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. All countries need to agree on how to create the Moon time. (Answer: True)
2. Other space agencies, like the European Space Agency, are not trying to create a Moon time. (Answer: False)
3. The new time zone is called Coordinated Solar Time (LTC). (Answer: False)
4. The White House wants NASA to create a new time zone for the Moon. (Answer: True)
5. Time goes by slower on the Moon than on Earth because of different pulls of gravity. (Answer: False)
6. The new Sun time is expected to be ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Sun. (Answer: False)
7. It’s important for spaceships going to the Moon to be able to communicate with each other easily. (Answer: True)
8. A special group helps keep time the same all over Earth. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧