Northern lights WRITING
Content The Polar Lights are a beautiful spectacle above the Arctic and Antarctic regions. What causes this beautiful light show and other similar spectacular events? Learning Outcomes Read about the history and science behind the aurora borealis. Learn about meteors, meteoroids and meteorites. Discuss your own experience with natural light shows. www.english-maestro.mn 1
An aurora is a natural display of light seen in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world. They are caused by the entrance of charged particles into the atmosphere. They generally occur in an area known as the auroral zone. An aurora can best be seen at night, when the North or South Pole is directly between the Sun and the person seeking to view the aurora. This time is known as magnetic midnight. www.english-maestro.mn 2
In the northern hemisphere, the lights are referred to as either aurora borealis or the northern lights. The name aurora borealis was given to the lights in 1619 by Galileo Galilei. Aurora was the Roman goddess of dawn and Boreas was a Greek word for the north wind. In the southern hemisphere, there is the aurora australis, or southern lights. www.english-maestro.mn 3
Generally, an auroral display features a variety of red, green and blue lights, which fill the night sky. Sometimes they are bright enough to read a book! www.english-maestro.mn 4
1) aurora borealis 2) aurora australis 3) particles 4) atmosphere 5) magnetic midnight 6) northern lights 7) southern lights 8) North Pole 9) South Pole www.english-maestro.mn 5
Speaking Answer the following questions 1) What is an aurora? 2) Have you ever witnessed one yourself? 3) Try to describe the appearance of the northern lights. www.english-maestro.mn 6
A meteor shower is another spectacular, natural light show. During a meteor shower, a number of meteors appear to radiate from a single point in space. The best time to view a meteor shower is slightly before sunrise. Before entering the earth's atmosphere, a meteor is referred to as a meteoroid, which is generally a small chunk of rock or metal. Oftentimes, meteoroids are broken off from asteroids or comets. Interestingly, most meteoroids are actually smaller than a grain of salt, which is why meteors almost never hit the earth s surface. www.english-maestro.mn 7
When a single meteoroid enters the earth s atmosphere, it is often called a shooting star, as it leaves behind a single, bright, trail of light. www.english-maestro.mn 8
A meteor that is brighter than average is referred to as a fireball. When a fireball enters the earth s atmosphere only to pass out again, it is called an earth-grazing fireball. Some fireballs cause sonic booms and other sounds that can even be heard from earth. When a meteoroid makes it all the way through the earth's atmosphere and reaches the ground, it is referred to as a meteorite. Meteorites are known to leave craters in the ground upon impact. www.english-maestro.mn 9
meteor meteorite meteoroid shooting star fireball sonic boom meteor shower crater comet asteroid www.english-maestro.mn 10
Writing Write the main idea of each part of the text Part 1: Auroras Part 2: Meteors www.english-maestro.mn 11
Writing Answer the following questions 1) Have you ever seen a shooting star or a meteor shower? If so, describe the way it looked. 2) Do you believe shooting stars bring you good luck? www.english-maestro.mn 12
Text 1. aurora natural light display in regions of high latitude 2. meteoroid a chunk of rock or metal moving through the solar system 3. meteor a meteoroid that has entered the earth's atmosphere 4. meteorite a meteor that makes it all the way to the earth's surface The aurora borealis, aurora australis, shooting stars and meteor showers are spectacular displays of natural light mother nature's fireworks. www.english-maestro.mn 13
Speaking Match the vocabulary to its meaning. auroral zone crater sonic boom atmosphere particles tiny pieces of matter area in which an aurora generally occurs blanket of gas surrounding planet circular hole in the ground sound created when object travels faster than the speed of www.english-maestro.mn sound 14 the
Speaking Fill in the blank with the appropriate word meteor showers shooting stars fireballs meteors meteoroids meteorites asteroids comets 1) occurs when multiple appear to radiate from one point in space. 2) are meteors that are brighter than average. 3) Meteors that reach the earth's surface are referred to as. 4) are the result of passing through the earth's atmosphere. www.english-maestro.mn 15
Writing Explain the differences between the following Meteoroid Meteor Meteorite www.english-maestro.mn 16
Speaking True or False The best time to view a meteor shower is right before the sun sets. a) True b) False The aurora borealis was named by Galileo after the Greek god of night. a) True b) False The lights of the aurora are generally a mixture of red, green and blue. a) True b) False www.english-maestro.mn 17
Speaking Role Play You want to see the aurora, but it is never visible from where you live. Plan a trip to somewhere else in the world where you might be able to see the aurora borealis or the aurora australis. Who and what do you bring along? www.english-maestro.mn 18
Speaking Answer the following question What is the most spectacular thing you've ever seen in the night sky? www.english-maestro.mn 19
Speaking True or False 1. A meteorite is a small chunk of rock or metal. a) True b) False 2. The aurora borealis appears in the South Pole. a) True b) False 3. Magnetic midnight refers to the best time to view an aurora. a) True b) False www.english-maestro.mn 20
Writing Express your opinion by answering the question Do you prefer fireworks or natural light shows and why? www.english-maestro.mn 21