A young boy from Canada, Max, who is 13 years old, made his own video game for the PlayStation 5. Max is really good at school, but he decided to stop going for one year to work on his game. His game is called Astrolander and it’s an adventure where you can play with friends. People will be able to play it on the PlayStation 5 in 2024.

Max showed his game at a big event where lots of people came to see new games. The people who make the PlayStation liked his game a lot. They said Max could make his game for the PlayStation 5. His game, Astrolander, is about going on adventures and working together with other players, and it will come out in 2024.

Max really loves making games, and that’s why he’s not going to school for a year. He’s only 13, but he’s already done something amazing by making a game for the PlayStation 5. The PlayStation people are helping him, and when 2024 comes, everyone will get to play Max’s game, Astrolander.

Original news source: Meet the 13-year-old with his own PlayStation 5 game (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Split the class into pairs. One student is a news reporter, and the other is Max, the boy who created the game. The news reporter should ask questions about Max’s experience, how he made the game, and what his future plans are. Encourage the students to use past and future tenses, as well as vocabulary related to gaming and education.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Place a line of tape down the center of the classroom to represent an opinion spectrum. One end is ‘strongly agree,’ and the other end is ‘strongly disagree.’ Pose statements related to the article, such as “Kids should focus on school rather than other projects,” or “Video games are a good way to learn important skills.” Have students stand along the spectrum according to their opinion and discuss their reasoning with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down vocabulary words related to the article, such as “adventure,” “collaborate,” “event,” “console,” and “develop.” Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will draw the word while their team tries to guess it. This will help students remember key vocabulary from the reading.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to create their own newspaper headlines that could accompany the article about Max and his game. Encourage creativity and accuracy in summarizing the article’s main points. Afterward, students can share their headlines with the class and discuss which ones capture the essence of the story best.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Engage students in a discussion about the future of gaming and education. Ask them to make predictions about how young people like Max might change the industry or how schools might integrate gaming into learning. Students can write their predictions down and then share with a partner or the class, using future tense constructions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How old is Max, the boy who made his own video game?
2. What is the name of Max’s video game?
3. What did Max decide to do for one year instead of going to school?
4. When will people be able to play Max’s game on the PlayStation 5?
5. What kind of game is Astrolander?
6. Where did Max show his game to other people?
7. Why is Max not going to school for a year?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A young boy from Canada, Max, who is 13 years old, (1)______ his own video (2)______ for the PlayStation 5. Max is really good at school, but he decided to stop (3)______ for one year to work on his game. His game is called Astrolander and it’s an adventure where you can play with (4)______. People will be able to play it on the PlayStation 5 in 2024.

Max (5)______ his game at a big event where lots of people came to see new games. The people who (6)______ the PlayStation liked his game a lot. They said Max could make his game for the PlayStation 5. His game, Astrolander, is about going on adventures and working together with other players, and it will (7)______ out in 2024.

Max really (8)______ making (9)______, and that’s why he’s not going to school for a (10)______. He’s only 13, but he’s already done something amazing by making a game for the (11)______ 5. The PlayStation people are helping him, and when 2024 comes, everyone will get to play Max’s game, (12)______.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite video game to play?
2. How would you feel if you made your own video game?
3. Do you like to do things with friends, like playing games together?
4. Do you think it’s a good idea to stop going to school to work on a big project? Why or why not?
5. Have you ever been to a big event where people show new things they made? What was it like?
6. If you could make a game for the PlayStation, what kind of game would it be?
7. What is an adventure you would like to go on in a video game?
8. How do you work together with others when playing games?
9. Would you like to make something that other people can enjoy, like a game or a story? What would it be?
10. Do you think it’s important to be really good at school to do amazing things? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever taken a break from school for something important? What was it?
12. Do you think Max’s game, Astrolander, sounds fun to play? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Canada
2. Max
3. PlayStation 5
4. game
5. adventure
6. friends
7. event
8. amazing

Meanings:
(a) Something you play on the console
(b) A fun and exciting experience
(c) The name of the game console
(d) A big gathering where people come to see something
(e) The country where Max is from
(f) Something that is very impressive and surprising
(g) The name of the young boy who made the game
(h) People you enjoy spending time with
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How old is Max?
(a) 10
(b) 16
(c) 20
(d) 13

2. What did Max make?
(a) A movie
(b) A book
(c) A video game
(d) A painting

3. What is the name of Max’s game?
(a) Astrolander
(b) Adventureland
(c) Playland
(d) Gameland

4. When will people be able to play Max’s game?
(a) 2022
(b) 2020
(c) 2024
(d) 2026

5. Where did Max show his game?
(a) At his school
(b) At a big event
(c) At his house
(d) At a park

6. Who liked Max’s game?
(a) Max’s friends
(b) Max’s parents
(c) Max’s teacher
(d) The people who make the PlayStation

7. Why did Max stop going to school for a year?
(a) To go on vacation
(b) To work on his game
(c) To play video games
(d) To visit his friends

8. What will happen in 2024?
(a) Max’s game will come out
(b) Max will turn 14
(c) Max will go back to school
(d) Max will start a new game

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. When 2024 arrives, only a few people will have the chance to play Max’s game, Astrolander.
2. Max showcased his game at a small event where few people came to see new games.
3. People will be able to play Astrolander on the PlayStation 5 in 2024.
4. Max’s game is called Astrolander and it’s an adventure game that can be played with friends.
5. Astrolander is all about going on adventures and working alone without other players.
6. The PlayStation team did not like Max’s game and refused to help him make it for the PlayStation 5.
7. Max decided to take a break from school for one year to focus on making his game.
8. A 13-year-old boy named Max created his own video game for the PlayStation 5.
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. How old is Max, the boy who made his own video game?
2. What is the name of the game Max created?
3. What did Max decide to do for one year instead of going to school?
4. When will people be able to play Max’s game on the PlayStation 5?
5. What is special about Max’s game, Astrolander?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How old is Max, the boy who made his own video game?
Max is 13 years old.

2. What is the name of Max’s video game?
The name of Max’s video game is Astrolander.

3. What did Max decide to do for one year instead of going to school?
Max decided to stop going to school for one year to work on his video game.

4. When will people be able to play Max’s game on the PlayStation 5?
People will be able to play Max’s game on the PlayStation 5 in 2024.

5. What kind of game is Astrolander?
Astrolander is an adventure game where you can play with friends.

6. Where did Max show his game to other people?
Max showed his game at a big event where lots of people came to see new games.

7. Why is Max not going to school for a year?
Max is not going to school for a year because he loves making games and wants to work on his game, Astrolander.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) made
(2) game
(3) going
(4) friends
(5) showed
(6) make
(7) come
(8) loves
(9) games
(10) year
(11) PlayStation
(12) Astrolander
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Canada
Answer: (e) The country where Max is from

2. Max
Answer: (g) The name of the young boy who made the game

3. PlayStation 5
Answer: (c) The name of the game console

4. game
Answer: (a) Something you play on the console

5. adventure
Answer: (b) A fun and exciting experience

6. friends
Answer: (h) People you enjoy spending time with

7. event
Answer: (d) A big gathering where people come to see something

8. amazing
Answer: (f) Something that is very impressive and surprising
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How old is Max?
Answer: (d) 13

2. What did Max make?
Answer: (c) A video game

3. What is the name of Max’s game?
Answer: (a) Astrolander

4. When will people be able to play Max’s game?
Answer: (c) 2024

5. Where did Max show his game?
Answer: (b) At a big event

6. Who liked Max’s game?
Answer: (d) The people who make the PlayStation

7. Why did Max stop going to school for a year?
Answer: (b) To work on his game

8. What will happen in 2024?
Answer: (a) Max’s game will come out
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. When 2024 arrives, only a few people will have the chance to play Max’s game, Astrolander. (Answer: False)
2. Max showcased his game at a small event where few people came to see new games. (Answer: False)
3. People will be able to play Astrolander on the PlayStation 5 in 2024. (Answer: True)
4. Max’s game is called Astrolander and it’s an adventure game that can be played with friends. (Answer: True)
5. Astrolander is all about going on adventures and working alone without other players. (Answer: False)
6. The PlayStation team did not like Max’s game and refused to help him make it for the PlayStation 5. (Answer: False)
7. Max decided to take a break from school for one year to focus on making his game. (Answer: True)
8. A 13-year-old boy named Max created his own video game for the PlayStation 5. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧