Unit 4 Astronomy the science of the stars
Period 5 Integrating skills
Step I. Revision
Retell the reading passage.
Step II. Listening and discussing (P30)
Look at the pictures and the exercises and guess what the listening is about. Listen to parts 1 and 2 for the fist time to choose the best summary of the listening text.
The text is about how the idea of gravity has developed over a long period of the universe.
Listen again to finish the chart in exercise 3:
Isaac Newton Idea Large bodies have a force which pulls things towards them Develop-ment The bigger the object the stronger the gravity In space large objects make space and time bend; the larger the object, the further space and time bends Time goes slower in very strong gravity. Albert Einstein Stephen Hawking Black holes have a very large mass and pull things towards them towards their edge. If you go over the edge, you cannot get out; but if you do not, you may be able to escape.
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Step III. Reading (P30)
This reading uses information from the listening text above. It is a science fiction story which imagines what it might be like if an astronaut visited the Moon.
Read the passage carefully and then describe the three ways in which gravity changed for Li Yanping and how his weight changed. Suggested sentences:
1. The pull of gravity became very strong as he left the earth’s atmosphere.
His weight is normal.
2. It disappeared when he was in space. He is weightless.
3. It was very light when he was on the moon. He weighs less than on the earth. 4. Step IV. Reading Task (P66)
Remind the students of the knowledge of “black holes”.
Read the passage to discover the new ideas about “black holes”. Old ideas about “black holes” Was this what we found? Black holes cannot be seen Yes You can only “see” it by watching the movements of the objects caught by its gravity. Gravity pulls objects towards them. Objects go round outside the edge of the “black hole”. All objects must go into the “black hole” when they are No They can be thrown far from the “black hole” by its energy. Yes Yes New ideas about “black holes” 2
caught by its gravity Step V. Writing task (P67)
The purpose of this writing task is for the students to use the information they have gathered on astronomy and their question to each other to write an interesting and lively newspaper article.
Analyze the sample writing on page 67 with the students . Leave a writing task as homework.
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