• Lessons
    • ELA
    • Social Studies
    • Science
    • Current Events
    • Collections
    • Search Lessons
  • How It Works
    • Product Tour
    • Why Listening
    • Listening Assessment
    • Lexile & Listening
    • English Learners
  • Pricing
  • Support
    • Support Center
    • Blog
    • Webinars
See All Lessons

Image licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Cave of the Underground Astronauts

Evolution Prehistory Tumble

In 2013, a treasure trove of ancient remains was found hidden in a deep underground cave in South Africa. The bones belonged to a previously unknown human relative called Homo naledi that lived about 250,000 years ago. The fossils were found within the Rising Star cave system, inside the Dinaledi Chamber, which is very difficult to reach. Listen to hear from a team of archaeologists working at the site and learn how the recently discovered species is both similar to and different from modern humans.

?L LEXILE AUDIO MEASURE

Tweet Share on Facebook

Want to Listen?

TEACHERS: Access our daily current events podcasts for free!


To access our podcast library for ELA, Social Studies, and Science including all of our Premium features, choose the free Premium Trial (no credit card required!) option when you join.

Already a Member? Login Now

Story Length: 5:58

Listen to the Story:

Listening Comprehension Questions

  • In what ways did Andrew Carnegie’s libraries serve their communities?
  • How did Carnegie benefit from a library when he was growing up?
  • Which personality traits helped propel Carnegie from poverty to riches? Bring specific details from the story to support your ideas.
  • According to Carnegie, what should rich people do with their money and why? Why was Carnegie known as both generous and “brutal”?

Discussion Themes

  • In your opinion, what should really rich people do with their fortunes?
  • What does it take for a person to rise from “rags to riches”?

Socrative users can import these questions using the following code: SOC-1234

Listening Organizers

  • Fact, Question, Response

  • Language Identification Organizer

  • Deeper Meaning Chart

Related Lessons

Science

The Center of the Earth

There is no natural hole to the center of the planet Earth, so seeing what is in the center is difficult. Scientists haven’t ever drilled deeper than 2,000 feet into the Earth’s crust. Seismographs are used to measure earthquakes, which send waves of motion through the earth’s crust. Listen to hear about how scientists have tried to discover what is in the center of our planet.

Read More
Science

Otzi the Ice Man

In 1991, hikers discovered a corpse frozen in the Alps. Investigators discovered that the body was 5,300 years old and had been so well-preserved in the ice that it served as a time capsule from the early Copper Age. They named the natural mummy Otzi after the region where he was found. Scientists have examined Otzi’s body and his belongings, which were surprisingly intact, and learned a great deal about his origins, diet, health, and lifestyle. Listen to learn what scientists have discovered about Otzi and his life in the mountains thousands of years ago.

Read More
Science

The Rise of the Dinosaurs

Human beings have a long-standing fascination with dinosaurs that dates back to the discovery of the first fossils. To this day, people of all ages visit museums and fossil sites to study and learn more about these prehistoric creatures. This audio story features the answer to a seemingly simple question: how did the dinosaur age begin? Listen to hear what scientists know about the beginning of the age of dinosaurs. The story may contain a few surprises!

Read More
 

Lexile Audio Measure

The Lexile Audio Measure is an indicator of the complexity of an audio passage. It is based on a scientifically developed scale with a maximum score of 2000L.

How to Use Lexile Audio Measures

Find stories at the right level of complexity for your students, so that they will be challenged without being frustrated. The measures are categorized into low, medium, or high in order to aid teachers in story selection when they do not know students’ Lexile listening levels.

Listening Level Lexile Audio Measures
0L -1250L
1251L -1555L
1556L-2000L
Recommended Lexile Audio Measures by Grade Level

These recommended ranges are for instructional use of Listenwise audio content in combination with supports such as the interactive transcript, etc.

Grade Lexile Audio Measures (Recommended Ranges)
1 215L - 610L
2 490L - 855L
3 725L - 1060L
4 945L - 1250L
5 1045L - 1350L
6 1125L - 1430L
7 1190L - 1500L
8 1250L - 1555L
9 1300L - 1610L
10 1345L - 1655L
11/12 1385L - 1695L
  • listenwise white logo
  • LESSONS
  • ELA
  • Social Studies
  • Science
  • Current Events
  • HOW IT WORKS
  • Product Tour
  • School Solutions
  • English Learners
  • Listening Assessment
  • PRICING
  • ABOUT
  • Why Listening
  • Press
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • RESOURCE LIBRARY
  • Case Studies
  • Webinars
  • Support Center
  • Listen Wise Book
  • WAYS TO FOLLOW
  • Listenwise Blog
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Get our Newsletter
Terms & Privacy
© Copyright 2022 Listenwise. All Rights reserved.
Image Spp signatory rect sm
ACCEPT AND CLOSE

Listenwise uses cookies to provide the best experience possible. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our Privacy Policy

Join For Free

Welcome

Sign up for a free account.


I am an Educator
I am a Student

Welcome Back

Let's get you logged in.


I am an Educator
I am a Student