A long time ago, a man named Don Walsh went on a big underwater adventure. He was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean, in a place called the Mariana Trench. He used a special underwater boat called the Trieste to go down really deep. It took him five hours to get there, and it was a very important trip that helped people learn more about the ocean.

After his trip, Don Walsh kept working to help the ocean. He taught people about the ocean and helped them stay safe when they went to explore it. He warned about a dangerous event with another underwater boat and was happy when others made similar trips. He was even proud when his own son went to the Mariana Trench.

Don Walsh’s trip to the bottom of the ocean was very special. It helped people know more about the deep sea. Now, with better tools, we can learn even more about the ocean and how it helps our planet. Don Walsh will be remembered for helping us understand the deep, dark parts of the sea.

Original news source: Don Walsh: The man who made the deepest ever dive (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students pair up. One student takes on the role of a news reporter, and the other is Don Walsh. The reporter asks questions about Walsh’s experience in the Mariana Trench, and Walsh (the student) answers using information from the article. They should cover topics such as the journey, the Trieste, and the significance of the expedition.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper (e.g., adventure, underwater, ocean, Mariana Trench, Trieste, explore). Students take turns drawing the words for their team to guess without speaking or writing any part of the word.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Have students draw a scene from the article, such as Don Walsh in the Trieste descending into the Mariana Trench. After they finish, they should show their partner and explain what is happening in the drawing, using vocabulary from the article.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “Why do you think exploring the ocean is important?” Students first think about their answer individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally, share their ideas with the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to imagine what underwater exploration might look like in the future based on what they learned from the article about Don Walsh and the Trieste. They can write down their predictions and then share with a partner or the class, using phrases like “I think that…”, “It’s possible that…”, or “In the future, we might…”.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean?
2. What is the name of the special underwater boat Don Walsh used?
3. How long did it take Don Walsh to reach the bottom of the ocean?
4. What did Don Walsh do after his big underwater adventure?
5. What did Don Walsh teach people about?
6. Why was Don Walsh’s trip to the bottom of the ocean important?
7. What can we learn more about now with better tools, according to the article?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A long time ago, a man named Don Walsh went on a big (1)______ adventure. He was the first person to go to the very bottom of the (2)______, in a place called the Mariana Trench. He used a special underwater boat called the (3)______ to go down really deep. It took him five hours to get there, and it was a very important trip that helped people (4)______ more about the ocean.

After his trip, Don (5)______ kept (6)______ to help the ocean. He taught people about the ocean and helped them stay safe when they (7)______ to explore it. He warned about a dangerous event with another underwater (8)______ and was happy when others made similar (9)______. He was even proud when his own son went to the Mariana Trench.

Don Walsh’s trip to the bottom of the ocean was very special. It (10)______ people know more about the (11)______ sea. Now, with better tools, we can learn even more about the ocean and how it helps our planet. Don Walsh will be remembered for helping us understand the deep, (12)______ parts of the sea.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is an adventure you have been on?
2. How would you feel if you went to the bottom of the ocean?
3. Do you like to swim in the ocean? Why or why not?
4. What do you think you would see at the bottom of the sea?
5. Have you ever been on a boat? What was it like?
6. Why do you think it is important to learn about the ocean?
7. What is a special trip you would like to go on?
8. Would you like to explore deep places like Don Walsh? Why or why not?
9. How do you think Don Walsh felt when his son went to the Mariana Trench?
10. What is something new you would like to learn about our planet?
11. Do you think underwater boats are scary? Why or why not?
12. If you could help the ocean, what would you do?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. underwater
2. adventure
3. ocean
4. bottom
5. special
6. tools
7. understand
8. parts

Meanings:
(a) Things we use to help us do a job or task
(b) The big body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth
(c) A fun and exciting experience
(d) Under the water, like in a swimming pool
(e) The very lowest part of something, like the floor
(f) To know or comprehend something
(g) Something that is different and important
(h) Pieces or sections of something
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean?
(a) John Smith
(b) Don Walsh
(c) Mary Johnson
(d) Sarah Thompson

2. What was the name of the underwater boat that Don Walsh used?
(a) Atlantis
(b) Neptune
(c) Poseidon
(d) Trieste

3. How long did it take Don Walsh to reach the bottom of the ocean?
(a) Ten hours
(b) Five hours
(c) Two days
(d) One week

4. What did Don Walsh do after his trip to the bottom of the ocean?
(a) He taught people about the ocean
(b) He became a doctor
(c) He started a restaurant
(d) He became a pilot

5. What did Don Walsh warn people about?
(a) A big storm on land
(b) A new movie release
(c) A dangerous event with another underwater boat
(d) A new type of fish

6. How did Don Walsh feel when others made similar trips to the Mariana Trench?
(a) Happy
(b) Sad
(c) Angry
(d) Scared

7. Who else went to the Mariana Trench after Don Walsh?
(a) His best friend
(b) His neighbor
(c) His teacher
(d) His own son

8. What did Don Walsh’s trip help people learn more about?
(a) The sky
(b) The desert
(c) The deep sea
(d) The forest

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Don Walsh was disappointed when his son also went to the Mariana Trench.
2. Don Walsh was the first person to reach the bottom of the ocean in the Mariana Trench.
3. Don Walsh’s trip hindered people from learning more about the deep sea.
4. With better tools now, we can learn even more about the ocean and its importance for our planet.
5. Don Walsh misled people about the ocean and how to stay safe when exploring it.
6. It took Don Walsh five hours to reach the bottom of the ocean.
7. He used an ordinary underwater boat called the Trieste to go really deep.
8. He warned others about a dangerous event with another underwater boat.
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 was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean?
2. What was the name of the special boat Don Walsh used for his underwater adventure?
3. How long did it take Don Walsh to reach the bottom of the ocean?
4. What did Don Walsh do after his big trip to the bottom of the sea?
5. Why was Don Walsh’s trip to the bottom of the ocean important for people?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean?
Don Walsh was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean.

2. What is the name of the special underwater boat Don Walsh used?
The special underwater boat Don Walsh used is called the Trieste.

3. How long did it take Don Walsh to reach the bottom of the ocean?
It took Don Walsh five hours to reach the bottom of the ocean.

4. What did Don Walsh do after his big underwater adventure?
After his big underwater adventure, Don Walsh taught people about the ocean and helped them to be safe when exploring it.

5. What did Don Walsh teach people about?
Don Walsh taught people about the ocean.

6. Why was Don Walsh’s trip to the bottom of the ocean important?
Don Walsh’s trip to the bottom of the ocean was important because it helped people learn more about the deep sea.

7. What can we learn more about now with better tools, according to the article?
With better tools, we can now learn even more about the ocean and how it helps our planet.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) underwater
(2) ocean
(3) Trieste
(4) learn
(5) Walsh
(6) working
(7) went
(8) boat
(9) trips
(10) helped
(11) deep
(12) dark
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. underwater
Answer: (d) Under the water, like in a swimming pool

2. adventure
Answer: (c) A fun and exciting experience

3. ocean
Answer: (b) The big body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth

4. bottom
Answer: (e) The very lowest part of something, like the floor

5. special
Answer: (g) Something that is different and important

6. tools
Answer: (a) Things we use to help us do a job or task

7. understand
Answer: (f) To know or comprehend something

8. parts
Answer: (h) Pieces or sections of something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who was the first person to go to the very bottom of the ocean?
Answer: (b) Don Walsh

2. What was the name of the underwater boat that Don Walsh used?
Answer: (d) Trieste

3. How long did it take Don Walsh to reach the bottom of the ocean?
Answer: (b) Five hours

4. What did Don Walsh do after his trip to the bottom of the ocean?
Answer: (a) He taught people about the ocean

5. What did Don Walsh warn people about?
Answer: (c) A dangerous event with another underwater boat

6. How did Don Walsh feel when others made similar trips to the Mariana Trench?
Answer: (a) Happy

7. Who else went to the Mariana Trench after Don Walsh?
Answer: (d) His own son

8. What did Don Walsh’s trip help people learn more about?
Answer: (c) The deep sea
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Don Walsh was disappointed when his son also went to the Mariana Trench. (Answer: False)
2. Don Walsh was the first person to reach the bottom of the ocean in the Mariana Trench. (Answer: True)
3. Don Walsh’s trip hindered people from learning more about the deep sea. (Answer: False)
4. With better tools now, we can learn even more about the ocean and its importance for our planet. (Answer: True)
5. Don Walsh misled people about the ocean and how to stay safe when exploring it. (Answer: False)
6. It took Don Walsh five hours to reach the bottom of the ocean. (Answer: True)
7. He used an ordinary underwater boat called the Trieste to go really deep. (Answer: False)
8. He warned others about a dangerous event with another underwater boat. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧