102 Year Old Skydiver
WORKSHEET
Vocabulary
Parachute
A large cloth that helps people fall slowly from the sky.Jump
To push yourself into the air.Record
The best or highest achievement in something.Scared
Feeling afraid.Nervous
Worried or afraid about something.Adventure
An exciting or dangerous activity.Fast
Moving quickly.Idea
A thought or plan.View
What you can see from a place.Excited
Feeling very happy about something.
Grammar Points
Present Simple
Used for facts and general truths (e.g., "Manette is 102 years old").Present Continuous
Used for actions happening now (e.g., "She is going to jump out of a plane").Past Simple
Used for completed past actions (e.g., "When she was 100, she drove a fast car").Going to (future plans)
Used to talk about planned future actions (e.g., "Manette is going to break a world record").Will (future predictions)
Used to predict the future (e.g., "She will be the oldest person in Britain to do a parachute jump").Comparatives
Used to compare things (e.g., "Getting to 80 and 90 is not as bad as you think").
Activities
Activity 1
True or False
Instructions
Write True or False for each sentence. If false, correct the sentence.
Manette is going to a party for her birthday.
When she was 90, she drove a fast car.
Her family felt nervous and excited.
Activity 2
Speaking & Role-Play
Instructions
In pairs, one student is Manette and the other is a reporter. The reporter asks Manette questions about her skydiving experience.
Example Questions:
How did you feel before the jump?
Why did you want to skydive?
What was the best part of the experience?
Would you do it again?
After practicing, switch roles!
Activity 3
Word Association
Instructions
Write the word "adventure" in the middle of your paper. Around it, write five words that you think are connected to adventure.
Questions
How old is Manette on the day of the jump?
What world record is she going to break?
What advice does Manette give to people about getting older?
TRANSCRIPT
102 Year Old Skydiver
NARRATOR:
Manette is 102 years old today, and it is a very special birthday for her. She is not going to a party. She is going to jump out of a plane! Manette is going to break a world record. She will be the oldest person in Britain to do a parachute jump. Is she scared?
SOUNDBITE - Manette Baillie:
“No, I'm not nervous. It's no good being nervous. No good being frightened either.”
UPSOUND:
“How are you feeling? You ready to go?”
NARRATOR:
Manette is sitting with her parachute partner. The plane door is open… her feet are over the edge. Then, she’s off! She flies through the sky.
This is not Manette’s first adventure. When she was 100, she drove a fast car around a race track. She got the idea for this jump when her friend’s father did the same thing at 82 years old.
SOUNDBITE - Manette Baillie:
“Wonderful.”
NARRATOR:
Manette lands safely on the ground. But sometimes, even the bravest people feel nervous.
SOUNDBITE - Manette Baillie:
“Well, I began to get nervous a little bit, I have to admit. At the last minute I shut my eyes. I looked at the view once I was floating around.”
NARRATOR:
Her family and friends are watching. They feel excited and nervous too.
SOUNDBITE - Isabelle Robinson:
“I was so nervous when she went up, but seeing her do that is just so inspirational.”
NARRATOR:
Manette is a great example for everyone. She gives good advice to anyone who likes adventure.
SOUNDBITE - Manette Baillie:
Getting to 80 and 90, it's not as bad as you think. But fight it all the way, don't give in, it's worth it.