Grade: Grade 4 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Leila Keradman Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Keywords/Tags: Reading, Vocabulary, Discussion, Space, Astronaut Lesson Description: In this lesson, students will read, re-read, and answer questions relevant to the story, “The Astronaut’s Diary”. The goal of the lesson is to provide students with an opportunity to utilize the reading and writing thinking skills they have been developing over the entire school year. Students are asked to answer vocabulary questions, followed by a class discussion leading to the final writing assignment.
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.RL.4.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
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.W.4.1b: Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
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.
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: Fatigued | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1
In the passage, the author says, "I felt fatigued. I had been awake and working for 20 hours." What does the word "fatigued" mean?
A. Happy or excited
B. Sad or disappointed
C. Very tired or exhausted *
D. Bored or Annoyed
Which sentence below correctly uses the word "fatigued"?
A. I was fatigued when I found out our family trip was cancelled.
B. After running around in my soccer game, I felt fatigued. *
C. I am fatigued to visit my grandparents this weekend!
D. My dog made me fatigued when he wouldn't stop barking.
Word/Phrase: Relieved | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2
What does the word "relieved" mean in the passage?
A. Confused
B. Tired
C. Upset
D. Happy *
Which option correctly uses "relieved" in a sentence?
A. I was too relieved to go to the playground.
B. When I passed my exam, I was relieved. *
C. My mom was relieved to see my messy room.
D. I was relieved when I fell off my bike.
Word/Phrase: Collaborative | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3
When the author says that he will be on a "collaborative team", what did he mean by "collaborative"?
A. The team would split up
B. The team would take a vacation
C. The team would stop working
D. The team would work together *
Which sentence below uses "collaborative" the way it's used in the passage?
A. I was being collaborative in my group project, so I did all the work.
B. My sister and I were too collaborative, so my mom took away our toys.
C. We were collaborative at soccer practice and helped each other practice our plays. *
D. My classmates were being so collaborative, we had to have quiet time.
Word/Phrase: Destination | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4
In the story the author says, "Finally, we got to our destination." What does the word destination mean?
A. The place they were traveling to *
B. The name of their spaceship
C. Their beds
D. The place for lunch
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "destination" correctly?
A. My destination for school is to get all As.
B. It was always my destination to become a pop star.
C. After a long flight, we finally reached our destination in New York. *
D. I love the destination of watching TV.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.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. Use examples from the text to support your answers.
Topic Title
Replies
The author says "When we..."
The author says "When we moved into the space station, I felt great." Why do you think moving into the space station made the astronauts feel better?
Sent on: Feb 20, 2022 by: Leila Keradman
0
The author says "There was..."
The author says "There was so much work to do." What kind of work do you think astronauts have to do on the ship?
Sent on: Feb 20, 2022 by: Leila Keradman
0
The author says he "became an..."
The authour says he "became an astronaut so that I could travel in space." What are some of the reasons you may or may not want to become an astronaut?
Sent on: Feb 20, 2022 by: Leila Keradman
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1b,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(30 points)
Instructions: After reading and re-reading the passage, describe what you think it would be like to travel through space. What would your daily tasks be? What would be the challanges? How would it be a rewarding experience? Answer this question in a 250 word paragraph. Be sure to use examples from the passage.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3,
