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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: Hayley Koplin
Lesson Length: 2 hours
Keywords/Tags: space, vocabulary, discussion, astronaut, creative writing
Lesson Description: Students will read a short diary entry of an astronaut. Then they will examine key vocabulary terms, answer and discuss higher-order thinking questions with classmates, and then answer a 500 word writing activity using domain-specific vocabular and their creativity.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • 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.4.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4c: Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1b: Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2d: Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1b: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4a: Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
 
     
     
 
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 (40 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: Collaborative | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1 The astronaut in his diary says "We would be on a collaborative team." What does the word "collaborative" mean in this sentence?
A. Alone
B. Hard-working
C. Work with others *
D. Silent
Which one of these sentences below use the word "collaborative" correctly?
A. When we work collaboratively, I get to work in groups. *
B. Only my mom made the collaborative decision to ground me.
C. I am very collaborative; I love to come to solutions on my own.
D. Look, he is by himself working collaboratively!
Word/Phrase: Destination | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 The astronaut in his diary says "Finally, we got to our destination." What does the word "destination" mean in this sentence?
A. Pit stop
B. End location *
C. He left earth
D. On his way to space
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "destination" correctly?
A. We are leaving for Washington, which is our destination in one week. *
B. I have to finish my school work, or else my parents won't give me a destination.
C. My destination is to be a teacher.
D. When my family stopped for gas on our road trip, I knew we arrived at our destination.
Word/Phrase: Shifts | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3 The astronaut in his diary says "We slept in shifts." What does the word "shifts" mean in this sentence?
A. Move from one place to another
B. A slight change in position
C. A change in direction, such as the wind
D. A worker's hours to take turns with other workers *
Which one of the sentences below use the word "shift" correctly?
A. My dad works the night shift, so he sleeps during the day. *
B. The wind has shifted north of us.
C. I shifted in my chair because I was uncomfortable.
D. We had to shift work locations because of flooding.
Word/Phrase: Space Station | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 The astronaut in his diary says "That first night on the space station was great." What does the phrase "space station" mean in this sentence?
A. His rocket to get to space.
B. The building on earth that he left to get to space.
C. The bed he sleeps in.
D. The earth-orbiting living facility in space. *
Which one of the sentence below uses the phrase "space station" correctly?
A. The space station is where astronauts live in space. *
B. My friend claims he has been to the space station in Florida.
C. There are multiple space stations across the world.
D. I look through a space station to see far away objects in the sky.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4c, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4a,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (25 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 is the astronaut so exhausted?
In the astronaut's diary, he claims to be "exhausted" and "fatigued." What do you think has made the astronaut feel this way?
Sent on: Sep 22, 2021 by: Hayley Koplin		 0
Message Why is there less work on the space station?
List three reasons and explain why there is less work for the astronaut on the space station rather than his own ship.
Sent on: Sep 22, 2021 by: Hayley Koplin		 0
Message Why does an astronaut have to be awake at all times?
The astronaut says "One of us had to be awake all the time." Why do you think that is?
Sent on: Sep 22, 2021 by: Hayley Koplin		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1b,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (35 points)
Instructions: You are to write and post here a 500 word essay on a possible day in the life of our astronaut. Make sure to provide specific examples, use vocabulary words from Task 1, and similar vocaulary specific to an astronaut's life. 
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2d, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3,
 
     

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