Grade: Grade 4 Subject: English Language Arts Created by: Lindsey Barbara Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Keywords/Tags: Reading, writing, imagination, critical thinking Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson is to give students an example of the life of an astronaut in space. The students will use their acquired reading and writing skills to analyze the astronaut's diary by focusing on different discussion questions, as well as using their imaginative skills to create their own astronaut diary.
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.4.8: Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2b: Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to 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.W.4.3b: Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
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.L.4.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
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
"We would be a collaborative team." What does the word "collaborative" mean in this sentence?
A. independently
B. working together *
C. solitary
D. soccer
Which of the sentences uses the word "collaborative" incorrectly?
A. We are working together on a collaborative research project.
B. Your individual project should be a collaborative effort. *
C. Lucy wrote a collaborative song with her group in music class.
D. Football and soccer are collaborative sports.
Word/Phrase: Relieved | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q2
In the sentence, "We were relieved. We could stop worrying now." What does the word relieved mean?
A. scared
B. nervous/worried
C. glad/happy *
D. discouraged
In which sentence was the word "relieved" NOT used correctly?
A. I was relieved to hear that the test was postponed because I didn't study at all.
B. He was so relieved to hear that the guy who robbed his house was arrested.
C. When my dad went to the hospital after his car accident, I was so relieved. *
D. The students were relieved when the class hamster was found in a desk.
Word/Phrase: Fatigued | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3
In the sentence, "I felt fatigued. I had been working for 20 hours." from the story, what does the word "fatigued" mean?
A. old
B. excited/happy
C. full of energy
D. tired/ exhausted *
In which sentence was the word "fatigued" used correctly?
A. I was so fatigued when I got invited to Sarah's birthday party!
B. He was so fatigued after his night shift at the hospital. *
C. She wore those clothes that were so fatigued.
D. When I opened up all of my birthday presents and saw that I got Disney tickets, I was so fatigued!
Word/Phrase: Duty | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4
In the sentence, "But I knew it was my duty, so I sighed and said, "see you in the morning." What does the word "duty" mean?
A. irresponsibilty
B. advantage
C. obligation/job *
D. hobby
In the sentences below, which one uses the word "duty" incorrectly?
A. It was my duty to go to work on time.
B. The volunteer carnival duty was mandatory. *
C. I was assigned car duty at the end of the day.
D. Since the car was under his care, it was his duty to keep it in great condition.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.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
Why do the astronauts feel less pressure?
When reaching the space station, the astronaut stated that they felt "less pressure". What do you think that means? Why do you think they felt that way? Use examples from the story to explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 8, 2017 by: Lindsey Barbara
0
Better space station
In the diary, the astronaut listed many reasons why this space station was better than their other one. Give some examples listed in the diary as to why this one is better. Why do you think the astronauts were happier here?
Sent on: Oct 8, 2017 by: Lindsey Barbara
0
Worried astronauts
Why were the astronauts worried? What was wrong with their fellow astronaut? How did they feel after hearing the news? Use quotes from the diary to support your explainations.
Sent on: Oct 8, 2017 by: Lindsey Barbara
0
Fatigued astronaut
What does the word "fatigued" mean in this context? Why does the astronaut feel this way? Use examples from the diary to explain your answer.
Sent on: Oct 8, 2017 by: Lindsey Barbara
0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.8, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2b,
Task 3: Writing Activity
(30 points)
Instructions: For your writing assignment, pretend that you are an astronaut in space. Use your imaginatation and create your own diary entry in a minimum of 250 words based on your "experiences". Make sure to explain how you're feeling throughout your diary and give at least 3 different senarios of things that you encounter on your mission in space. Be as creative as you want. Submit your diary entry below.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.4,
