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A Lesson on The Astronaut\'s Diary Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on The Astronaut\'s Diary Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Mckenzie Pugh
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: astonaut
Lesson Description: Read the story carefully, answer the vocabulary questions, review and discuss the discussion activities, and finally answer the writing activity thoughtfully.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3a: Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c: Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1d: Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

The Astronaut's Diary

We were exhausted from all the work. We slept in shifts. One of us had to be awake all the time. There was so much work to do.

Finally, we got to our destination. We had reached the space station. There, we would do more work, but we would have less pressure. We had so much to do every day on our ship. Now there would be mo re people to help us. We would be on a collaborative team. We would be able to share the work.

When we moved into the space station, I felt great. There was so much more space. We would have real beds to sleep in. We would have better food. They had a garden on the space station. They grew vegetables.

The six astronauts on the space station were happy to see us. They said, “We have been waiting for you.” We were glad to see them, too. We had been worried. We heard that one of them had been sick.

We asked how she was feeling. She said she was better now. It had been a cold. We were relieved. We could stop worrying now.

That first night on the space station wa s great. We had good food. We had a good dinner. Then we were going to sleep. But one of the astronauts said, “We need to give you a job. Each person has to take turns staying awake. Here is the schedule.” So I had a shift again.

I saw I was first. I would have to stay awake tonight. I was disappointed. I felt fatigued. I had been awake and work ing for 20 hours. But I knew it was my duty. So I sighed and said, “See you in the morning.”

I became an astronaut so that I could travel in space. Now I’m here. It is hard work. It’s even more challenging than I expected.
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (20 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: Exhausted | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q1 The author in the story says "We were exhausted from all the work." What does the word "exhausted" mean in this sentence?
A. Tired *
B. Bored
C. Hungry
D. Sad
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "exhausted" correctly?
A. My dad was exhausted when we got him a boat.
B. Molly is exhausted because she slept for a long time.
C. After a full day of school and a baseball game after, David was exhausted. *
D. Ray exhausted himself by getting a massage.
Word/Phrase: Collaborative | Tier: 2 | Points: 5
Q2 The author in our story says "We would be on a collaborative team." What does the word "collaborative" mean in this sentence?
A. Isolated
B. Working together *
C. Funny
D. Smart
Which one of the sentences below uses the word"collaborative" correctly?
A. The teacher said that working in collaborative groups will help us understand the story better. *
B. Sally was not being collaborative when she included other kids in her group.
C. The collaborative building was red.
D. Jake wanted a collaborative dog.
Word/Phrase: Shift | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q3 The author in our story says "So I had a shift again". What does the word "shift"mean in this sentence?
A. A required time of presence. *
B. Movement
C. Food
D. Change
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "shift" correctly?
A. There was a shift in the weather
B. Paul took a shift to school.
C. I was scheduled for the morning shift at work. *
D. Shift the remote to me.
Word/Phrase: Destination | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q4 The author in our story says "Finally, we have reached our destination" What does the word "destination" mean in this sentence?
A. An arrival point *
B. A number
C. A time
D. A person
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "destination" correctly?
A. I had the destination that you would be there.
B. My family went on a cruise where the destination was the Bahamas. *
C. Tom started at the destination.
D. Ray's destination was yellow.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message Why did the astronaut not complain when he had to stay up for another shift?
The astronaut said "I had to stay awake tonight. I was disappointed. I felt fatigued". Why did he not go to bed? Explain why what he did was important.
Sent on: Feb 16, 2018 by: Mckenzie Pugh		 0
Message Why was the astronaut worried?
The astronaut said "we had been worried". What was the astronaut worried about and why would that be something to worry about?
Sent on: Feb 16, 2018 by: Mckenzie Pugh		 0
Message The story is written from the astronaut's perspective
The story is written from the astronaut's perspective. What is this type of writing called and when is it appropriate to use?

 

 

 


Sent on: Feb 16, 2018 by: Mckenzie Pugh		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1d,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (50 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here 500 words essay on what you think astronauts do in space. Why is their work so challenging? What is important about this job? Make sure to provide specific examples.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.4,
 
     

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