Transcript Space Probes to the Planets

Space Probes
to the Planets
Genre: Expository Nonfiction
Author’s Purpose: Inform
Skill: Text Structure
By: Fay Robinson
Compiled by Terry Sams, Piedmont
Summary
Have you eve wondered what other
planets are like? It is very difficult for
people to visit the planets in our solar
system: the planets are very far away,
and people need special protection to
live outside Earth's atmosphere. But
space probes - spacecraft with no
people on them - can visit other planets
and find out lots of interesting
information.
Genre: Expository Nonfiction

An expository writing is meant to inform
the reader.
It gives factual information about the real
world and explains the nature of
something.

These are examples of expository writing:

Tell what happened when . . .
Write a report on . . .
Explain how to . . .
Describe how to for . . .
Explain how to . . .
Comprehension Skill:
Text Structure
Knowing how a piece of text is organized
helps the reader to make better sense of
the information. It can be organized by
patterns such as sequencing, cause and
effect, fact and opinion, compare and
contrast, and main ideas and details.
Nonfiction can also be written in
chronological order, in order of
importance, and by problem and solution.
Can you tell how this week’s story is
written?
Comprehension Skill Review –
Graphic Sources
 Authors sometimes include graphic
sources to explain the information
included in their writing.
 Examples of graphic sources can
be maps, photographs, tables, and
captions for the photographs.
 What are some of the graphic
sources in the story this week?
Vocabulary Skill Review :
Unfamiliar Words
When you read, you may come
across a word you do not know.
To figure out the meaning of the
unfamiliar word, look for clues in the
sentences or paragraph around it.
A clue might be found in specific
details or examples given near the
unknown word.
You can also use a dictionary to
clarify word meanings.
Research Skill – Take
Notes/Record Findings
 Note
taking helps in understanding
and remembering information.
 We summarize and organize
information using notes.
 Include only important details. Use
key words, phrases, or short
sentences in your own words.
 Read over your notes immediately
after writing them to make sure you
understand them.
Weekly Fluency Check Read with Appropriate Phrasing
 Students should read with appropriate
phrasing, for example, taking breaths at
appropriate times during long sentences.
 When reading long sentences, readers
should remember to take a breath or
pause when they come to a comma, dash,
colon, or semicolon.
 It makes reading easier and smoother.
Go to pages 540-541, beginning at the top of the page.
Review Pages 534-541
1. How
have we explored
faraway planets? Why is
it unsafe?
2. How is the text of this
story organized?
3. Where have space
probes visited?
Review Pages 534-541
4. What information have
scientists learned about
Mercury?
5. What did scientists have to do
in order to learn about
Mercury?
6. What evidence supports the
theory that life has existed on
Mars?
Review Pages 541-549
1. Why is Jupiter so unusual?
2. What information have
scientists discovered about
Uranus?
3. Why do scientists call a
cloud on Neptune Scooter?
Review Pages 541-549
4. Why is so little
information known about
Pluto?
5. What happens to the
space probes when
scientists are finished with
them?
Writing Assignment
Choose one the following and write
about it:
Write an article to announce that a space
probe has found an amazing thing on
Venus. Don’t forget to answer the 5 Ws and
H: who, what, where, when, why, and how.
 Write a paragraph that tells at least three
ways Earth is different from Mars. Draw an
illustration to support your ideas.

Fun Stuff
ABC Order
 Vocabulary Quiz
 Reading Comprehension Science
Sheets
 Reading Test

More Fun Stuff
Non-fiction Writing
 Great “Stuff” on Expository Writing
 Views of the Solar System
 Giggle Potz Space
 Magic School Bus Space
 Ask an Astronomer for Kids
 Scott Foresman on Planets
 Space Mission to Mars

Say It!
craters
incredible
probes
spacecraft
atmosphere
More Words to
Know
asteroids
hazy
meteoroids
meteorites
solar system
spacecraft

a vehicle used
for flight in
outer space
atmosphere
the
air that
surrounds
the earth
probes
spacecraft
carrying
scientific recording
instruments
incredible

amazing
craters

holes in the
ground shaped
like bowls
asteroids
•any of the thousands
of small planetary
bodies that revolve
around the sun
hazy
 unclear; clouded
meteorites
masses
of
stone or metal
that have
reached the
earth from
outer space
meteoroids
fallen
meteors
solar system
 the sun and all
the planets and
comets that
revolve around it
The craters were
formed when
meteorites
crashed into the
planet.
The craters were
formed when
meteorites
crashed into the
planet.
Astronauts cannot
breathe on other
planets because there is
no oxygen in the
atmosphere.
Astronauts cannot
breathe on other
planets because there is
no oxygen in the
atmosphere.
The sky looks
hazy because of
all the pollution in
the atmosphere.
The sky looks
hazy because of
all the pollution in
the atmosphere.
No humans go
into space on
space probes.
No humans go
into space on
space probes.
Scientists
brought back
incredible
information from
the moon.
Scientists
brought back
incredible
information from
the moon.
The Magellan
spacecraft probe
landed on Venus
in 1989.
The Magellan
spacecraft probe
landed on Venus
in 1989
Rocky objects
called meteoroids
and asteroids
circle the sun
between the
planets.
Rocky objects
called meteoroids
and asteroids
circle the sun
between the
planets.
Thousands of
asteroids and
meteoroids
revolve around
the sun.
Thousands of
asteroids and
meteoroids
revolve around
the sun.
The earth is the
third planet from
the sun in our
solar system.
The earth is the
third planet from
the sun in our
solar system.
Meteorites are
made of stone
or metal.
Meteorites are
made of stone
or metal.
Spelling Words
Using Just Enough Letters
feelings
lazy
hotel
washed
crazy
eleven
ugly
missed
a lot
hamster
Spelling Words
Using Just Enough Letters
father
want
upon
didn’t
during
until
almost
always
wasn’t
coming
Word Wall Words

Click and add your own word wall
words.
Let’s review our words.
Watch carefully because
they will flash on the screen
for just a moment. We will
clap as we spell the word.
feelings
lazy
crazy
eleven
missed
hotel
washed
ugly
a lot
hamster
father
want
during
coming
until
wasn’t
upon
didn’t
almost
always
GREAT JOB!