1. Genre: Expository Nonfiction Author’s Purpose: Inform
Space Probes
to the Planets
Genre: Expository Nonfiction
Author’s Purpose: Inform
Skill: Text Structure
By: Fay Robinson
Compiled by Terry Sams, Piedmont

2. 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. 
   

3. 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 . . .

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 , beginning at the top of the page.

9. 2. How is the text of this story organized?
Review Pages
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?

10. Review Pages
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?

11. Review Pages
1. Why is Jupiter so unusual?
2. What information have scientists discovered about Uranus?
3. Why do scientists call a cloud on Neptune Scooter?

12. Review Pages
4. Why is so little information known about Pluto?
5. What happens to the space probes when scientists are finished with them?

13. Choose one the following and write about it:
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.

14. Fun Stuff ABC Order Vocabulary Quiz
Reading Comprehension Science Sheets
Reading Test

15. 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

16. Say It!
craters
incredible
probes
spacecraft
atmosphere

17. More Words to Know
asteroids
hazy
meteoroids
meteorites
solar system

18. a vehicle used for flight in outer space
spacecraft
a vehicle used for flight in outer space

19. the air that surrounds the earth
atmosphere
the air that surrounds the earth

20. spacecraft carrying scientific recording instruments
probes
spacecraft carrying scientific recording instruments

21. incredible
amazing

22. holes in the ground shaped like bowls
craters
holes in the ground shaped like bowls

23. asteroids
any of the thousands of small planetary bodies that revolve around the sun

24. hazy
unclear; clouded

25. masses of stone or metal that have reached the earth from outer space
meteorites
masses of stone or metal that have reached the earth from
outer space

26. meteoroids
fallen
meteors

27. the sun and all the planets and comets that revolve around it
solar system
the sun and all the planets and comets that revolve around it

28. The craters were formed when meteorites crashed into the planet.

29. The craters were formed when meteorites crashed into the planet.

30. Astronauts cannot breathe on other planets because there is no oxygen in the atmosphere.

31. Astronauts cannot breathe on other planets because there is no oxygen in the atmosphere.

32. The sky looks hazy because of all the pollution in the atmosphere.

33. The sky looks hazy because of all the pollution in the atmosphere.

34. No humans go into space on space probes.

35. No humans go into space on space probes.

36. Scientists brought back incredible information from the moon.

37. Scientists brought back incredible information from the moon.

38. The Magellan spacecraft probe landed on Venus in 1989.

39. The Magellan spacecraft probe landed on Venus in 1989

40. Rocky objects called meteoroids and asteroids circle the sun between the planets.

41. Rocky objects called meteoroids and asteroids circle the sun between the planets.

42. Thousands of asteroids and meteoroids revolve around the sun.

43. Thousands of asteroids and meteoroids revolve around the sun.

44. The earth is the
third planet from the sun in our solar system.

45. The earth is the
third planet from the sun in our solar system.

46. Meteorites are made of stone or metal.

47. Meteorites are made of stone or metal.

48. Spelling Words Using Just Enough Letters
feelings
lazy
crazy
eleven
missed
hotel
washed
ugly
a lot
hamster

49. Spelling Words Using Just Enough Letters
upon
didn’t
almost
always
coming
father
want
during
until
wasn’t

50. Word Wall Words
Click and add your own word wall words.

51. 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.

52. feelings

53. lazy

54. crazy

55. eleven

56. missed

57. hotel

58. washed

59. ugly

60. a lot

61. hamster

62. father

63. want

64. during

65. coming

66. until

67. wasn’t

68. upon

69. didn’t

70. almost

71. always

72. GREAT JOB!