The sky bathed in neon lights with snow covered mountains and city lights below it
Nutexzles/Getty Images
You Be The Editor,

What Would You Name This Storm?

Spectacular light storms like this one are known as auroras. And now YOU can help name them.

From the February 2021 Issue
Featured Skill: Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, W.5, L.3

  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, W.6.5, L.6.3
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, W.7.5, L.7.3
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, W.8.5 , L.8.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    10b, 10c, 10d

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Directions

We love this story, but we need your help to edit it.

Directions:

1. Read the article below.

2. Click on the words and phrases in bold.

3. Follow the prompts that pop up to revise and polish the writing.

High in the night sky, streaks of brilliant greens and blues shimmer and shake. As you gaze upward, it seems as though the heavens are putting on a dazzling light show just for you.

This light show is a kind of storm called an aurora, and it’s one of the 1 prettiest sights on Earth. Each aurora is unique in shape and color, but they’ve never been given names in the way that hurricanes and other major weather events have—until now. A tourism company called Visit Arctic Europe has started naming the brightest auroras. And they want YOU to help.

Blazing Campfires

Nutexzles/Getty Images

Aurora is the Latin word for dawn. This photo shows the aurora borealis over the Lofoten Islands in Norway

For thousands of years, humans have gazed up at auroras in awe—and sometimes fear. Many cultures told stories to explain them. In Alaska, for example, the Inuit believed the lights were spirits playing a game. In New Zealand, the Maori interpreted them as the blazing campfires of their ancestors. According to one Viking myth, auroras were a bridge leading fallen warriors to the afterlife. My sister thinks they look like giant lightsabers. In Finland, the Sami thought the lights were a bad omen and that if you pointed at them, you’d be carried off into the sky. Today, scientists understand that auroras are caused by the sun. Here’s how it works: The sun is always spewing out tiny particles of energy, and sometimes these particles hit our atmosphere near the North and South Poles, and when the particles interact with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, the result is a spectacular light storm.

Submitting Your Idea

Auroras are best seen on clear, moonless nights. Near the North Pole, they are known as the aurora borealis. They are also known as the northern lights. Near the South Pole, they are called the aurora australis. They are also known as the southern lights. Many people travel great distances for the opportunity to see them.

In Europe, tourism connected to the northern lights runs from late August through April. There can be more than 100 auroras during this period. Last year, Visit Arctic Europe decided to start naming the most vibrant auroras to make them easier to talk about. For example, on social media, when people share photos and videos of an aurora, they can include a hashtag with its name.

Visit Arctic Europe is also inviting the public to submit ideas for names. So far, the names chosen have been Nordic, to reflect the cultures of Finland, Norway, and Sweden, where Visit Arctic Europe is based. One recent storm, for example, was named Thor, after the Norse god. But there is no rule that you must suggest a name rooted in Nordic history or culture. You could propose any name you want. Mandalorian, anyone?

This article was originally published in the February 2021 issue.

Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan
  • Suggested time: 1 day (based on using Scope during a 60-minute block per day)

READ THE PASSAGE

  • Have students read the passage in the magazine as a class or independently. For the first read, they should ignore the prompts in the circles.
  • Have students go back through the article and reread the boldface words and phrases and the prompts to which they correspond.

WRITE

  • Direct students to follow the prompts in the circles to develop and strengthen the writing in the passage. Have students share their revisions by reading their new and improved passages aloud. An entry form is available if students would like to enter their passages into the You Be the Editor contest.
Text-to-Speech