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

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.

2. How is the text of this story organized? 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?

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.

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

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

the air that surrounds the earth atmosphere the air that surrounds the earth

spacecraft carrying scientific recording instruments probes spacecraft carrying scientific recording instruments

incredible amazing

holes in the ground shaped like bowls 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

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

meteoroids fallen meteors

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

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 crazy eleven missed hotel washed ugly a lot hamster

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

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!