The White House wants NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). Time goes by a tiny bit faster on the Moon than on Earth, which can make it hard for spaceships to work together. The US government thinks having a special Moon time will help different groups work better together when they go to the Moon. Other countries and companies who want to go to the Moon will need to agree on this new time.

The European Space Agency is also trying to make a new time system for the Moon. But to do this, all the countries have to agree and decide how to manage this new time. Right now, there’s a group that takes care of time on Earth. It’s important to figure out how this new Moon time will work so that spaceships and missions don’t have trouble talking to each other or sending information.

The US wants to have this new Moon time ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Moon called Artemis-3. This will be the first time people go back to the Moon since 1972, and they plan to land at a special place called the lunar south pole. Being very careful with time is important so the spaceship goes to the right place. Making sure all the space missions can talk and share information easily is a big reason for having a Moon time.

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:

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs. Give each pair a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Explain that they will have 5 minutes to sketch a representation of the concept of “Moon time” based on the article. Encourage them to be creative and use their imagination. After the 5 minutes, have each pair share their sketches with the class and briefly explain what they drew.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the students into small groups. Give each group a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and work together to create a 1-2 minute news summary of the article. Encourage them to include the most important information and key details. After they have prepared their news summaries, have each group take turns presenting their summaries to the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. time zone, coordinated, lunar, mission, spaceship). Divide the students into pairs. One student from each pair will choose a word from the list without showing it to their partner. They will then have 1 minute to draw a picture that represents the word while their partner tries to guess what word they are drawing. After the minute is up, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the activity with a new word.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students sit in a circle. Read aloud a statement related to the article (e.g. “Having a special time zone for the Moon will help space missions run more smoothly.”). Give the students a moment to think about the statement, and then have them turn to a partner and discuss their thoughts for 1-2 minutes. After the discussion, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the whole class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the students into small groups. Instruct each group to discuss and make predictions about what they think the future of space exploration will look like. Encourage them to consider how the concept of “Moon time” and other advancements might impact future missions and discoveries. After they have discussed their predictions, have each group share their ideas with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why does the White House want NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon?
2. What is the problem with time on the Moon?
3. Who else is trying to make a new time system for the Moon?
4. Why is it important for all the countries to agree on the new Moon time?
5. When does the US want to have the new Moon time ready?
6. Why is it important to be very careful with time for the big trip to the Moon?
7. What is one big reason for having a Moon time?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The White House wants NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon (1)______ Coordinated Lunar (2)______ (LTC). Time goes by a tiny bit faster on the Moon than on (3)______, which can make it hard for spaceships to work together. The US government thinks having a special Moon time will help different groups work better together when they go to the (4)______. Other countries and companies who want to go to the Moon will need to agree on this new (5)______.

The (6)______ Space Agency is also trying to make a new time system for the Moon. But to do this, all the countries have to agree and decide how to manage this new time. Right now, there’s a group that takes care of time on Earth. It’s important to figure out how this new Moon time will work so that (7)______ and missions don’t have trouble talking to each other or sending information.

The US (8)______ to have this new Moon time ready by 2026 for a big trip to the Moon called (9)______. This will be the first time people go back to the Moon since 1972, and they plan to land at a special (10)______ called the lunar south (11)______. Being very careful with time is important so the spaceship goes to the right place. (12)______ sure all the space missions can talk and share information easily is a big reason for having a Moon time.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)?
2. How would you feel if you had to follow a different time zone on the Moon?
3. Do you think it’s important for spaceships to work together? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of having a special Moon time?
5. How do you think having a new Moon time will help different groups work better together?
6. Do you like the idea of going back to the Moon? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the reason for making a new time system for the Moon?
8. How do you think the new Moon time will help spaceships and missions communicate with each other?
9. Why is it important to be very careful with time when going to the Moon?
10. Do you think it’s a good idea to have a group that takes care of time on Earth? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the new Moon time will be managed by all the countries?
12. What do you think will happen if spaceships and missions have trouble talking to each other or sending information?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Coordinated
2. Lunar
3. Spaceships
4. Missions
5. Agree
6. Manage
7. Earth
8. Information
9. Artemis-3
10. Lunar south pole
11. Careful
12. Share

Meanings:
(A) To be in charge of or control something
(B) Working together in an organized way
(C) Related to the Moon
(D) Paying close attention to make sure everything is right
(E) Special tasks or journeys, often to learn something new
(F) To give or use something with others
(G) To have the same opinion or decision about something
(H) Facts or details about something
(I) Big vehicles that fly in space
(J) The name of a big trip to the Moon planned by the US
(K) The planet we live on
(L) A specific place on the Moon that is very far down
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why does the White House want NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon?
(a) The Moon doesn’t have a time zone yet.
(b) The US government wants to control the time on the Moon.
(c) Other countries and companies want to go to the Moon.
(d) Time goes by faster on the Moon than on Earth, which can make it hard for spaceships to work together.

2. Who else is trying to make a new time system for the Moon?
(a) The European Space Agency
(b) NASA
(c) The US government
(d) The White House

3. What is the main reason for having a Moon time?
(a) To make sure the spaceship goes to the right place.
(b) To help spaceships and missions communicate and share information easily.
(c) To control time on the Moon.
(d) To make the Moon more organized.

4. When does the US want to have the new Moon time ready?
(a) By 1972
(b) By 2026
(c) By 2030
(d) By 2050

5. When was the last time people went to the Moon before Artemis-3?
(a) 1972
(b) 2026
(c) 2030
(d) 2050

6. Where do they plan to land for the Artemis-3 mission?
(a) The lunar north pole
(b) The Moon’s equator
(c) The lunar south pole
(d) The Moon’s surface

7. Why is it important to figure out how the new Moon time will work?
(a) So the US government can control time on the Moon.
(b) So the Moon can have its own time zone.
(c) So other countries and companies can go to the Moon.
(d) So spaceships and missions don’t have trouble talking to each other or sending information.

8. Who needs to agree on the new Moon time?
(a) The European Space Agency
(b) NASA
(c) Other countries and companies who want to go to the Moon
(d) The US government

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Time progresses slightly slower on the Moon than on Earth, which can create issues for spaceships collaborating.
2. This will be the first time people have gone back to the Moon since 1972, and they plan to land at a special place called the lunar south pole.
3. The White House wants NASA to establish a new time zone for the Moon known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC).
4. There is a group that currently takes care of time on Earth, and it is important to figure out how the new Moon time will work so that spaceships and missions can communicate properly.
5. Other countries and companies that want to go to the Moon will need to agree on this new time.
6. The US government believes that having a special Moon time will help different groups cooperate better when they go to the Moon.
7. The European Space Agency is not attempting to design a new time system for the Moon, and not all the countries need to come to an agreement on its management.
8. The US intends to have the new Moon time prepared by 2026 for a significant journey to the Moon known as Artemis-3.
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. Why does the White House want NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon?
2. What is the problem with time on the Moon?
3. Who else is trying to make a new time system for the Moon?
4. Why is it important for all the countries to agree on the new Moon time?
5. When does the US want to have the new Moon time ready?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why does the White House want NASA to make a new time zone for the Moon?
The White House wants a new time zone for the Moon so that different groups can work together better when they go there.

2. What is the problem with time on the Moon?
Time goes by a little bit faster on the Moon than on Earth, which can make it difficult for spaceships to work together.

3. Who else is trying to make a new time system for the Moon?
The European Space Agency is also trying to make a new time system for the Moon.

4. Why is it important for all the countries to agree on the new Moon time?
It’s important for all the countries to agree on the new Moon time so that spaceships and missions from different countries can communicate and share information easily.

5. When does the US want to have the new Moon time ready?
The US wants to have the new Moon time ready by 2026 for a big trip called Artemis-3.

6. Why is it important to be very careful with time for the big trip to the Moon?
It’s important to be very careful with time for the big trip to the Moon so that the spaceship goes to the right place.

7. What is one big reason for having a Moon time?
One big reason for having a Moon time is to make sure all the space missions can talk and share information easily.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) Time
(3) Earth
(4) Moon
(5) time
(6) European
(7) spaceships
(8) wants
(9) Artemis-3
(10) place
(11) pole
(12) Making
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Coordinated
Answer: (B) Working together in an organized way

2. Lunar
Answer: (C) Related to the Moon

3. Spaceships
Answer: (I) Big vehicles that fly in space

4. Missions
Answer: (E) Special tasks or journeys, often to learn something new

5. Agree
Answer: (G) To have the same opinion or decision about something

6. Manage
Answer: (A) To be in charge of or control something

7. Earth
Answer: (K) The planet we live on

8. Information
Answer: (H) Facts or details about something

9. Artemis-3
Answer: (J) The name of a big trip to the Moon planned by the US

10. Lunar south pole
Answer: (L) A specific place on the Moon that is very far down

11. Careful
Answer: (D) Paying close attention to make sure everything is right

12. Share
Answer: (F) To give or use something with others
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: (d) Time goes by faster on the Moon than on Earth, which can make it hard for spaceships to work together.

2. Who else is trying to make a new time system for the Moon?
Answer: (a) The European Space Agency

3. What is the main reason for having a Moon time?
Answer: (b) To help spaceships and missions communicate and share information easily.

4. When does the US want to have the new Moon time ready?
Answer: (b) By 2026

5. When was the last time people went to the Moon before Artemis-3?
Answer: (a) 1972

6. Where do they plan to land for the Artemis-3 mission?
Answer: (c) The lunar south pole

7. Why is it important to figure out how the new Moon time will work?
Answer: (d) So spaceships and missions don’t have trouble talking to each other or sending information.

8. Who needs to agree on the new Moon time?
Answer: (c) Other countries and companies who want to go to the Moon
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Time progresses slightly slower on the Moon than on Earth, which can create issues for spaceships collaborating. (Answer: False)
2. This will be the first time people have gone back to the Moon since 1972, and they plan to land at a special place called the lunar south pole. (Answer: True)
3. The White House wants NASA to establish a new time zone for the Moon known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). (Answer: False)
4. There is a group that currently takes care of time on Earth, and it is important to figure out how the new Moon time will work so that spaceships and missions can communicate properly. (Answer: True)
5. Other countries and companies that want to go to the Moon will need to agree on this new time. (Answer: True)
6. The US government believes that having a special Moon time will help different groups cooperate better when they go to the Moon. (Answer: True)
7. The European Space Agency is not attempting to design a new time system for the Moon, and not all the countries need to come to an agreement on its management. (Answer: False)
8. The US intends to have the new Moon time prepared by 2026 for a significant journey to the Moon known as Artemis-3. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧