Blue LED lights, invented in the 1990s, are now used in many different ways. The University of Michigan used them to make a cool light show at a football game. At first, people didn’t think these lights were very good. But now, they are much better and scientists are trying to make them even better with something called perovskite crystals. These lights can be used for many things, like outdoor lights and even in virtual reality games.
LED lights are also used to make buildings and landmarks look special. In America, towns are using LED lights to make water towers and other places look really cool. A place in Las Vegas uses millions of these lights to change how it looks on the outside. In Japan, scientists made a blue LED light that only needs one AA battery to work. Companies are also making tiny LED lights that could be used in virtual reality games.
In conclusion, blue LED lights have changed how we use lights and how things look. They are powerful and efficient, which makes them very popular. Scientists are still trying to make them even better.
Original news source: The incredible power of blue LEDs (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of index cards with different actions or objects related to the article (e.g. “turning on a LED light”, “playing a virtual reality game”). One student from each group will choose a card and act out the action or object without speaking, while the rest of the group tries to guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, have students take turns summarizing the article. Each student has one minute to give a summary of the main points of the article to their partner. After both students have had a turn, they can discuss any differences or similarities in their summaries.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have students work individually to come up with three questions related to the article that they would like to ask their classmates. Once everyone has their questions, they can go around the classroom and ask their classmates for their opinions. After collecting the data, students can present their findings to the class.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down 5-10 vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and pick a word. They must then draw a picture to represent the word while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, have students discuss and make predictions about how LED lights will continue to change in the future. They should consider advancements in technology, potential new uses, and any drawbacks or limitations. After discussing, each pair can share their predictions with the class.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What did the University of Michigan use blue LED lights for?
2. Why didn’t people think blue LED lights were very good at first?
3. What are scientists using to make blue LED lights even better?
4. Name two things that LED lights are used for.
5. What is a place in Las Vegas using millions of LED lights for?
6. How many batteries does the blue LED light made in Japan need to work?
7. Why are blue LED lights popular?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Blue LED lights, (1)______ in the 1990s, are now used in many different ways. The University of (2)______ used them to make a cool light (3)______ at a football game. At first, people didn’t think these lights were very good. But now, they are much better and scientists are trying to make them even better with something called perovskite crystals. These (4)______ can be used for many things, like outdoor lights and even in virtual reality (5)______.
LED lights are also used to make (6)______ and landmarks look special. In America, towns are using LED lights to (7)______ water towers and other places look really (8)______. A place in Las Vegas uses (9)______ of these lights to change how it looks on the outside. In Japan, scientists made a blue LED light that only needs one AA battery to work. Companies are also making tiny LED lights that could be used in virtual reality games.
In conclusion, blue LED lights have changed how we use lights and how (10)______ look. They are powerful and efficient, which (11)______ them very popular. Scientists are still (12)______ to make them even better.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What are blue LED lights used for?
2. How do blue LED lights make buildings and landmarks look special?
3. Do you think blue LED lights are better now than they were in the past? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of using blue LED lights in virtual reality games?
5. How would you feel if your town used blue LED lights to make the water tower look really cool?
6. What is a perovskite crystal and why are scientists trying to use it to make blue LED lights better?
7. Do you like the idea of using blue LED lights to change how things look on the outside of buildings? Why or why not?
8. How do you think blue LED lights have changed how we use lights?
9. Do you think blue LED lights are popular? Why or why not?
10. What do you think scientists could do to make blue LED lights even better?
11. How would you feel if you could use tiny LED lights in virtual reality games?
12. Have you ever seen blue LED lights? If so, where did you see them and what did you think?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. LED
2. crystals
3. buildings
4. landmarks
5. efficient
6. popular
7. powerful
8. scientists
Meanings:
(a) Liked by many people
(b) Having a lot of strength or ability
(c) A type of light that is very bright
(d) Famous places that people visit
(e) Shiny rocks that can make lights better
(f) People who study and discover new things
(g) Using less energy to do something
(h) Big structures that people live or work in
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. When were blue LED lights invented?
(a) 1990s
(b) 1980s
(c) 2000s
(d) 1970s
2. What are scientists using to make blue LED lights even better?
(a) solar panels
(b) fluorescent bulbs
(c) halogen bulbs
(d) perovskite crystals
3. How are LED lights being used to make buildings and landmarks look special?
(a) by using fluorescent bulbs
(b) by using halogen bulbs
(c) by using millions of LED lights
(d) by using solar panels
4. Where did the University of Michigan use blue LED lights to make a light show?
(a) at a basketball game
(b) at a football game
(c) at a baseball game
(d) at a soccer game
5. What are some uses for blue LED lights?
(a) indoor lights and video games
(b) street lights and board games
(c) car lights and computer games
(d) outdoor lights and virtual reality games
6. Why were blue LED lights not very popular at first?
(a) they were too expensive
(b) people didn’t think they were good
(c) they were too bright
(d) they didn’t last long
7. How are LED lights being used in Japan?
(a) to make a blue LED light that only needs one AA battery
(b) to make water towers look cool
(c) to make virtual reality games
(d) to make buildings and landmarks look special
8. What are scientists still trying to do with blue LED lights?
(a) make them cheaper
(b) make them smaller
(c) make them even better
(d) make them brighter
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. At first, people didn’t think blue LED lights were very good, but now they are much better.
2. LED lights are not used to make buildings and landmarks look special, like water towers and other places in America.
3. Blue LED lights can be used for outdoor lights and even in virtual reality games.
4. Scientists are trying to improve blue LED lights even more by using something called perovskite crystals.
5. Blue LED lights were not invented in the 1990s and are not used in many different ways.
6. Scientists in Japan have not made a blue LED light that only needs one AA battery to work.
7. In Las Vegas, millions of blue LED lights are used to change the appearance of a place.
8. The University of Michigan did not use blue LED lights to create a cool light show at a football game.
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 are blue LED lights used for?
2. How did people feel about blue LED lights when they were first invented?
3. What are scientists using to make blue LED lights even better?
4. How are LED lights used to make buildings and landmarks look special?
5. What are some examples of how LED lights are used in different countries?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. The University of Michigan used blue LED lights to make a cool light show at a football game.
2. People didn’t think blue LED lights were very good at first because they were not as bright and efficient as they are now.
3. Scientists are using something called perovskite crystals to make blue LED lights even better.
4. LED lights are used to make buildings and landmarks look special, and they can also be used in virtual reality games.
5. A place in Las Vegas is using millions of LED lights to change how it looks on the outside.
6. The blue LED light made in Japan only needs one AA battery to work.
7. Blue LED lights are popular because they are powerful and efficient.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) invented
(2) Michigan
(3) show
(4) lights
(5) games
(6) buildings
(7) make
(8) cool
(9) millions
(10) things
(11) makes
(12) trying
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. LED
Answer: (c) A type of light that is very bright
2. crystals
Answer: (e) Shiny rocks that can make lights better
3. buildings
Answer: (h) Big structures that people live or work in
4. landmarks
Answer: (d) Famous places that people visit
5. efficient
Answer: (g) Using less energy to do something
6. popular
Answer: (a) Liked by many people
7. powerful
Answer: (b) Having a lot of strength or ability
8. scientists
Answer: (f) People who study and discover new things
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. When were blue LED lights invented?
Answer: (a) 1990s
2. What are scientists using to make blue LED lights even better?
Answer: (d) perovskite crystals
3. How are LED lights being used to make buildings and landmarks look special?
Answer: (c) by using millions of LED lights
4. Where did the University of Michigan use blue LED lights to make a light show?
Answer: (b) at a football game
5. What are some uses for blue LED lights?
Answer: (d) outdoor lights and virtual reality games
6. Why were blue LED lights not very popular at first?
Answer: (b) people didn’t think they were good
7. How are LED lights being used in Japan?
Answer: (a) to make a blue LED light that only needs one AA battery
8. What are scientists still trying to do with blue LED lights?
Answer: (c) make them even better
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. At first, people didn’t think blue LED lights were very good, but now they are much better. (Answer: True)
2. LED lights are not used to make buildings and landmarks look special, like water towers and other places in America. (Answer: False)
3. Blue LED lights can be used for outdoor lights and even in virtual reality games. (Answer: True)
4. Scientists are trying to improve blue LED lights even more by using something called perovskite crystals. (Answer: True)
5. Blue LED lights were not invented in the 1990s and are not used in many different ways. (Answer: False)
6. Scientists in Japan have not made a blue LED light that only needs one AA battery to work. (Answer: False)
7. In Las Vegas, millions of blue LED lights are used to change the appearance of a place. (Answer: True)
8. The University of Michigan did not use blue LED lights to create a cool light show at a football game. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
