Teaching With Text Sets in Grade 4: Space the Final Frontier

Text Set 1: Exploring the Universe - From Stardust

from How to Make a Planet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building the Earth.

Shared Reading

1. Forbes, Scott. (2014). How to Make a Planet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building the Earth. Illustrated by Jean Camden. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press. (1070L)

2. Hodgkins, Fran. (2014). The Secret Galaxy. Photographs by Mike Taylor. Thomaston, ME: Tilbury House.

3. Katrien. (4.49.4009).  Learn’d Astronomer. Video. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=namVUer-bk8.  

from You Are Stardust

4. Kelsey, Elin. (2012). You Are Stardust. Illustrated by Soyeon Kim.  Toronto, ON: Owl Kids Books. (770L)

5. KidsEduc. (2014). Lunar Cycle, Why The Moon Change Shapes, 8 Phases Of The Moon, Learning Videos For Children.  Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCweccNOaqo 

6. Schlickenmeyer, Max. (3.2.2012). The Most Astounding Fact - Neil deGrasse Tyson. Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D05ej8u-gU 

from Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space.

7. Walliman, Dominic. (2013). Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space. Illustrated by Ben Newman. London UK: Flying Eye Books.

Exploring the Universe: From Stardust - Independent and Small Group Reading Texts:

1. Arguilar, David. (2011). 13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. (1120L)
2. Aldrin, Buzz. (2009). Look to the Stars. Paintings by Wendell Minor. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
3. Bailey, Jacqui. (2004). Sun Up, Sun Down: The Story of Day and Night. North Mankato, MN: Picture Window Books. (800L)
4. Branley, Franklyn Mansfield.  (1987). The Moon Seems to Change.  New York: HarperCollins.  (470L)
5. Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. (1998). Floating in Space. New York: HarperCollins. (690L)
6. Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. (1999). The Moon Seems to Change. New York: HarperCollins. (470L)
7. Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. (2000). The International Space Station. New York: HarperCollins. (720L)
8. Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. (2002). Mission to Mars. New York: HarperCollins. (720L)
9. Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. (2000). The Sun Our Nearest Neighbor. New York: HarperCollins. (570L)
10. Carney, Elizabeth. (2012). National Geographic Readers: Planets. Washington, D.C. National Geographic Children's Books. (660L)
11. Carney, Elizabeth. (2014). National Geographic Readers: Mars. Washington, D.C. National Geographic Children's Books. (840L)
12. Crelin, Bob. (2009). Faces of the Moon. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (950L)
13. Gibbons, Gail. (1998). The Moon Book. New York: Holiday House. (740L)
14. Gibbons, Gail. (1999). Stargazers. New York: Holiday House
15. Gibbons, Gail.  (2008). Galaxies, Galaxies! New York: Holiday House. (880L)
16. Gibbons, Gail. (2008). The Planets.  New York: Holiday House. (6600L)
17. Harrison, James. (2012 ). Kingfisher Readers L5: Space.  Kingfisher. (910L)
18. Simon, Seymour. (1991). Galaxies. New York: HarperCollins. (1010L)
19. Simon, Seymour. (2003). The Moon. New York: HarperCollins. (730L)
20. Simon, Seymour. (2006).  Destination: Space. New York: HarperCollins.
21. Simon, Seymour. (2006).  Stars. New York: HarperCollins.
22. Simon, Seymour. (2007). Our Solar System (revised edition). New York: HarperCollins. (1020L)
23. Stewart, Melissa. (2015).  National Geographic Readers: Meteors. Washington, D.C. National Geographic Children's Books. 
24. Stone, Tanya Lee. (2009). Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. (980L)
25. Tomacek, Steve. (2006). Jump Into Science: Stars. Washington D.C.:  National Geographic Children's Books. (700L)
26. Tomacek, Steve. (2006). Jump Into Science: Sun. Washington D.C.:  National Geographic Children's Books. (770L)
27. Tomacek, Steve. (2008). Jump Into Science: Moon. Washington D.C.:  National Geographic Children's Books. (810L)
28. Wittenstein,  Vicki Oransky. (2010). Planet Hunter: Geoff Marcy and the Search for Other Earths. Honesdale, PA: Bods Mills Press.  (1080L)

Text Set 2: Moon Landing, July 1969 

From Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space.

Shared Reading

1. Aldrin, Buzz. (2008). Reaching for the Moon. Paintings by Wendell Minor. New York: HarperCollins. (860L)

2. Armstrong, Neil.  (1969). Video: First Steps on the Moon. Retrieved 6.24.15 from 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4

3. 60 Minutes Interview. (2002). Interview with Neil Armstrong. Retrieved 6.27.15 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3h1V3nzn0A

4. Collins, Michael. (1994). Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut’s Story.  New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (1170L)

5. Floca, Brian. (2009). Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. New York: Richard Jackson Books. (990L)

6. Granath, Bob. (2015). “Former Astronauts Recall Historic First Moon Landing. ” NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Retrieved from http://www.nasa.gov/content/former-astronauts-recall-historic-first-moon-landing 

7. Kennedy, John F. (1962). We Chose to Go to the Moon. Video. “Retrieved 7.1.15 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25G1M4EXrQ

8. Walliman, Dominic. (2013). Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space. Illustrated by Ben Newman. London UK: Flying Eye Books.

Moon Landing, July 1969: Independent and Small Group Reading Texts:

1. Brown, Don. (2001). One Giant Leap. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers . 
2. Burleigh, Robert. (2014). One Giant Leap. Illustrated by Mike Wimmer. New York: Philomel. (470L)
3. Chaikin, Andrew. (2009). Mission  Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon. New York: Viking Press. (1150). 
4. Chaikin, Andrew. (2009). Voices from the Moon: Apollo Astronauts Describe Their Lunar Experiences. New York: Studio.
5. Donnelly, Judy. (1989). Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon. New York: Random House. (550L)
6. Hollingsworth, Tamara. (2010). Neil Armstrong: Man on the Moon. Huntington Beach, CA: Teacher Created Materials. (430L)
7. McNulty, Faith. (2005). If You Decide To Go To The Moon. Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. New York: Scholastic. (690L)
8. Schyffert, Bea Uusma. (2003). The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (850L)
9. Siy, Alexandra. (2001). Footprints on the Moon. Waterbury, MA: Charlesbridge. (920L)
10. Thimmesh, Catherine. (2006). Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (1060L)
11. Wikinson, Philip. (2012). DK Readers L3: Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon. New York: DK Readers. 
12. Yomtov, Nel. (2014). The Apollo 11 Moon Landing: July 20, 1969.  Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. (840L)

Comparing First- and Second-Hand Accounts in Grade 4

Iconic image of Buzz Aldrin on the moon. 

Yesterday morning Rob read a small article to me about the what Americans believe.  According to the article, 7% of Americans believe that the July 1969 moon landing was a hoax.  Yes, a hoax. I was thinking about that a bit and was pleased at the new unit of study fourth graders will be engaged with this coming year as it focuses on the first moon landing.  In this unit, students spend some time reading and viewing first-hand accounts of the July1969 moon landing, and playing a simulation game. They also read a few second-hand accounts. (bibliography at end of post)

One of the culminating tasks students undertake is to compare and contrast a first-hand and second-hand accounts.  The task initially is:

1. Reread the text (Moonshot) again. 
2. Ask students to compare this second-hand account with the first-hand accounts by Collins and Aldrin they have read and the video-based first-hand account by Neil Armstrong. 
3. Ask them to write responses to these questions. Provide copies of Aldrin’s book so students can review it and the Collins’ chapter they already have, as well as access to the video:

• How are these accounts similar?  
• In what ways are the first-hand accounts different from Moonshot? 
• How does the author's participation in an event shape the focus and information presented in an account? 
• What is the value of reading both firsthand and secondhand accounts of the same event? (RI. 4.6)

After students have had sometime to gather and record some thoughts, it's time to talk. Using the Snowball Technique students discuss their views.

1. After students have completed their responses invite them to partner with a student and discuss the first two question:

How are the accounts similar? In what ways are the first-hand accounts different from Moonshot? 

1. After about 3 to 5 minutes of conversation, ask students to make groups of four (partners should remain together) and discuss the question.
2. Then provide the group of four with a third question:

How does the author's participation in an event shape the focus and information presented in an account?

1. Have the groups of four discuss this question for about 5 minutes and then have them join with another group of four and discuss both questions.
2. Have the groups of eight discuss the question for about 5 minutes.
3. Then invite the entire class to discuss the last question for about 6 to 8 minutes.

What is the value of reading both firsthand and secondhand accounts of the same event?

I've used Snowball frequently and have found that it really does help to open conversations at the whole class level.  If you try it, let me know what you find:)

Bibliography

1. Aldrin, Buzz. (2008). Reaching for the Moon. Paintings by Wendell Minor. New York: HarperCollins. (860L)
2. Armstrong, Neil.  (1969). Video: First Steps on the Moon. Retrieved 6.24.15 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4.
3. 60 Minutes Interview. (2002). Interview with Neil Armstrong. Retrieved 6.27.15 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3h1V3nzn0A . 
4. Collins, Michael. (1994). Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut’s Story.  New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux. (1170L)
5. Floca, Brian. (2009). Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. New York: Richard Jackson Books. (990L)
6. Granath, Bob. (2015). “Former Astronauts Recall Historic First Moon Landing. ” NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Retrieved 6.24.15 from http://www.nasa.gov/content/former-astronauts-recall-historic-first-moon-landing . 
7. Kennedy, John F. (1962). We Chose to Go to the Moon. Video. “Retrieved 7.1.15 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25G1M4EXrQ .
8. We Chose the Moon Interactive Site. John F. Kennedy Library. 
9. Walliman, Dominic. (2013). Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space. Illustrated by Ben Newman. London UK: Flying Eye Books.