Illustration of our solar system
Sarah leighton (nosey costume); Shutterstock.com (All other Images)
Background Builder,

Life in Space

You are going to read an article about alien spaceships. Some people think they have seen them! Here are four facts to know first. 

From the October/November 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will build background knowledge about space to prepare for the Big Read-Aloud.

Featured Skill: Vocabulary, Main Idea,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Features of print RF.1.3 Decoding RI.1.1 Key details RI.1.3 Connecting information RI.1.4 Vocabulary RI.1.5 Text features RI.1.6 Distinguish between information from words and images RI.1.7 Use visuals SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (12) Organisms and environments. The student knows that the environment is composed of relationships between living organisms and nonliving components. The student is expected to: (A) classify living and nonliving things based upon whether they have basic needs and produce young.

Magazine View
See Student View

1. We live on Earth.

That is our planet. It is our home sweet home. 

2. There is life on Earth.

We live here, after all. So do plants and animals.

3. Other planets may have life too.

There are billions of planets in space. Is there life on any of them? Scientists think there might be.

4. People say they have seen UFOs.

Some people think they have seen a UFO. UFO stands for unidentified flying object. Unidentified means we don’t know what it is.

Slideshows (1)
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (2) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

More About the Article

English Language Arts Focus

Key details

Science Focus

Earth and space

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Whole group

Pairings and Text Connections

  • In this issue: “Big Read-Aloud: Alien Mystery”
  • Suggested books: Fly Guy Presents: Space by Tedd Arnold 

Before-Reading Resources

  • Vocabulary slideshow (5 minutes) alien, planet, UFO, unidentified

Suggested Reading Focus

Build background knowledge (20 minutes)

  • Activate children’s background knowledge by asking them what they know about outer space. Write their ideas on chart paper or the whiteboard.
  • Preview the article by pointing out the nonfiction text features. Ask them what they notice about the pictures.
  • Read the article. Stop to check for comprehension with each of the bolded vocabulary words.
  • Ask students to recall something they learned from the words or pictures in the article. Summarize their learning through discussion or on chart paper.

After-Reading Skills Practice

Skills: Practice researching/key details; Comprehension/knowledge (15 minutes)

Text-to-Speech