1. The Mystery of… By Mr. Lofink

2. MARS The Roman God of War

3. The Planet Basic Facts: In Our Solar System Fourth Planet From the Sun “Red Planet” Terrestrial Planet Exploration: Three Orbiting Spacecrafts Two rovers and a Lander

4. What do you know about Mars? Partner Talk: How does Mars’s climate differ from Earth’s? Mars’s climate differs from Earth’s because __________________. Model, Choral Response, Echo

5. What do you know about Mars? Partner Talk: When you read “Galileo,” what were some of the important discoveries about the solar system? One important discovery about the solar system I remember from “Galileo” is _______________. Model, Choral Response, Echo

6. What do you know about Mars? Partner Talk: How does Mar’s climate differ from Earth’s? Partner Talk: How do you think this selection will relate to the theme of astronomy? I think this selection will relate to the theme of astronomy because ___________________. Model, Choral Response, Echo

7. Understanding the Selection Mars is a little over one-half the size of Earth. Mercury Neptune Earth Mars 7,920 miles 4,200 miles Diameter

8. Understanding the Selection FACT: Mars is 141 million miles away from the sun, 48 million miles farther than Earth is. QUESTION: How far away from the sun is the Earth? 141 ?

9. Understanding the Selection It takes 687 days for Mars to orbit the sun.

10. Understanding the Selection It takes 24 hours and 24 minutes for Mars to rotate on its axis.

11. Genre: Expository Text Purpose: To share information with or explain something to the reader. Facts about real people or events are often included. Information is usually presented in the order in which they occur. It may be organized by topics.

12. Genre: Expository Text It may include diagrams, photographs, maps, or illustrations to help the reader understand the subject better. The factual information can be checked my referring to other sources.