Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars

1
Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars

• Lesson Ideas
• 3rd grade -- Mini Research -- Science
• TEKS -- SCI 3.112.5.11.C/D (Identify the planets
  in our solar system and their position in
  relation to the sun AND describe the
  characteristics of the Sun.)
• Read poems, then divide students into 9 tables
  (Sun planets) each table is responsible for
  finding characteristics of their solar body and
  listing them on a piece of butcher paper in order
  from the Sun to Pluto(?)
• 4th grade -- Mini Research -- Science
• TEKS -- SCI.4.112.6.6.A (Identify patterns of
  change such as in weather, metamorphosis,and
  objects in the sky.)
• Read poems, then discuss any ideas on patterns of
  change. Divide students into 9 tables (Sun
  planets) and search for weather or patterns for
  each. Place information on small chart paper and
  decorate with drawings.
• 5th grade -- Mini Research -- Science
• TEKS -- SCI.5.112.7.12.C/D (Identify the physical
  characteristics of the Earth and compare them to
  the physical characteristics of the moon AND
  identify gravity as the force that keeps planets
  in orbit around the Sun and the moon in orbit
  around the Earth.)
• Read poems, then discuss gravity and orbits.
  Divide students into three groups
  characteristics of the Earth, characteristics of
  the moon, planet moon orbits. The two
  characteristics groups will create a double
  bubble or Venn diagram to show their information.
  The orbit group will make a tree chart to show
  the orbits of the planets with the Sun.

2
Crossing Bok Chitto

• Lesson Ideas
• 3rd grade -- Culture -- Social Studies
• TEKS -- SOC.3.113.5.14.A/B (Identify selected
  individual writers and artists and their
  stories.AND explain the significance of selected
  individual writers and artists and their
  stories.and other examples of cultural heritage
  to communities around the world.)
• Read story and discuss the two communities within
  the story. Create a double bubble or Venn diagram
  to compare and contrast the two communities and
  how they helped each other.
• 4th grade -- Native Americans -- Social Studies
• TEKS -- SOC.4.113.6.15.A (Compare how selected
  Native-American groups governed themselves.)
• Read story and discuss the Native American tale.
  Create a Thinking Map to describe the traditional
  parts of the story and how it is similar to other
  Native stories read.
• 5th grade -- Culture -- Social Studies
• TEKS -- SOC.5.113.7.23.A/C (Identify the
  similarities and differences within and among
  selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups in
  the United States AND summarize the contributions
  of people of selected racial, ethnic, and
  religious groups to our national identity.)
• Read the story and discuss the connection to
  slavery and Native American history as it
  pertains to 5th grade Social Studies. Students
  will create Thinking Maps to make connections.

3
Marvelous MattieHow Margaret E. Knight Became An
Inventor

• Lesson Ideas
• 3rd grade -- Paper Sack booklet --
  Citizenship/Technology
• TEKS -- SOC.3.113.5.11.A/B (Give examples of
  community changes that result from individual or
  group decisions AND I dentify examples of actions
  individuals and groups can take to improve the
  community) SOC.3.113.5.15A (Identify scientists
  and inventorswho have created or invented new
  technology.)
• Read story of Mattie, discuss how she changed
  society and what she invented. Have students
  create a papersack booklet with drawings and the
  facts from the story they think are the most
  important. (Extended -- higher level students
  could research other inventors and make their
  booklets about those inventors they
  investigated.)
• 4th grade -- Paper Sack Journal -- Writing
• TEKS -- LA.4.110.6.15.A (Write to express,
  discover, record, develop, reflect on ideas, and
  to problem solve.)
• Read story of Mattie, discuss her invention and
  how it changed society. Students will brainstorm
  about possible inventions they might create to
  make their lives better. Students will create a
  paper sack journal to write out a descriptive
  narrative about their possible invention.
• 5th grade -- Not a Paper Sack Project -- Social
  Studies
• TEKS -- Various Social Studies TEKS depending on
  teacher needs or time of year lesson taught
• Read the story of Mattie, discuss her
  determination and initiative. Students will
  create a project from their paper sacks that show
  something they have learned from history about
  determination and initiative (explorers,
  colonists, Native Americans, revolutionaries,
  slaves, etc.)

4
One Potato, Two Potato

• Lesson Ideas
• 3rd grade -- Discussion/Thinking Map -- Language
  Arts
• TEKS -- Various Language Arts TEKS based on
  teacher needs.
• After reading the story, students will be asked
  to help create a list of things in their home
  that would benefit them if it were doubled. Then
  they will discuss why the doubled item would be
  helpful and make their lives better.
• 4th grade -- Discussion/Thinking Map/Journal
  Entry -- Language Arts
• TEKS -- Various Language Arts TEKS based on
  teacher needs.
• After reading the story, students will be asked
  to help create a list of things in their home
  that would benefit them if it were doubled. Then
  they will discuss why the doubled item would be
  helpful and make their lives better. Teachers
  Choice -- students can write about their Thinking
  Map/Group Discussion.
• 5th grade -- Discussion/Thinking Map/Journal
  Entry -- Language Arts
• TEKS -- Various Language Arts TEKS based on
  teacher needs.
• After reading the story, students will be asked
  to help create a list of things in their home
  that would benefit them if it were doubled. Then
  they will discuss why the doubled item would be
  helpful and make their lives better. Teachers
  Choice -- students can write about their Thinking
  Map/Group Discussion.

5
This Just to SayPoems of Apology and Forgiveness

• Lesson Ideas
• 3rd grade -- Writing -- Poetry
• TEKS -- Various LA TAKS depending on discussion
  and writing needs of students.
• Read a selection of the poems, then create
  Thinking Map of various things they could
  apologize for as a class and to whom they would
  write the poem. Create a class poem of apology
  on chart paper.
• 4th grade -- Writing -- Poetry
• TEKS -- Various LA TAKS depending on discussion
  and writing needs of students.
• Read a selection of the poems, then discuss Texas
  historians who might need to write an apology.
  Divide class into two groups and create two class
  poems from famous Texans or Texas History.
• 5th grade -- Writing -- Poetry
• TEKS -- Various LA TAKS depending on discussion
  and writing needs of students.
• Read a selection of the poems, students will use
  Thinking Maps to create their own list of
  apologies and then choose one to write an
  apology poem.

6
Read-Aloud Options for Novels

• Instead of a lesson, the following Bluebonnet
  novels can be introduced through a short
  read-aloud/book talk to the class. Teachers may
  then check out the book to finish with the class
  or classes may return to the library for more
  story-time to complete the novel.