month 8 – space · 2020. 12. 15. · this unique spacecraft developed by nasa (national...

The Essential Guide to Grade 3 Writing: Month 8 | ©2013 Empowering Writers

Month 8 – sPAce


Alien story

SP1

Name:

This story is about _____________________________________________. cHaracTer and seTTing

The problem, adventure, or experience was___________________________

_____________________________________________________________. main evenT

The problem was solved, adventure/experience concluded when__________

_____________________________________________________________. cOnclUsiOn

The part I enjoyed most was when _________________________________.

It reminded me of the time when __________________________________.

The most exciting scene was______________________________________.

The funniest part was when _______________________________________.

Your class read a narrative story about aliens. Write the title and author below:

Alien Story: _________________________________________

By: _________________________________________

Think about this story. Fill in the summarizing framework. Then explain what you liked best about the story. Use the sentence starters to help you.


elaborative Detail

SP2

Name:

Remember: • When you elaborate, you stop the action and observe.

• Use the five senses!

• Your description should make the reader feel as though he or she is right there with the main character.

• Use specific rather than general details

• Remember that sentence variety is important

Write an ELABORATIVE SEGMENT describing the character, below. Tell specifically what she/he looked like (clothing, features, size) and how he/she behaved. Do NOT write a grocery list. Use interesting words and make it entertaining! Use another paper to continue your description.

Before you write! Can you think of at least 3 other ways to refer to an alien?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

The space alien stepped out of the flying saucer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

space Alien

(continued)


Main event or Main idea?

SP3

Name:

Narrative and expository/informative writing each have specific purposes. One is written to entertain and one is written to inform. One genre has main ideas and the other has a main event. Think about what you know about narrative and expository/informative writing and answer the questions that follow. Be sure to use complete sentences!

1) In what kind of writing would you find a main idea?

You would find a main idea__________________________________________

2) How many main ideas could you have in an expository/informative piece?

in an expository/informative piece of writing ____________________________

3) In a narrative story, where does the author spend the most time writing?

in a narrative story ________________________________________________

4) What questions does an author ask when they are creating a main event?

When creating a main event, the author _______________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

5) What are the sentences called that support the main idea?

(start by restating the question) ______________________________________

________________________________________________________________

6) What are two questions you ask yourself to expand sentences that support the

main idea? (start by restating the question) _____________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________


SP4

Main event or Main idea?

Read the passage below:

Have you ever seen a rocket launched into space? If you have, it

might have been the space shuttle. The space shuttle is different from a

typical rocket because rockets don’t return to earth. This unique spacecraft

developed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was

designed for human spaceflight missions. In order to get the space shuttle

out of the earth’s atmosphere, it was launched just like a rocket but then it

acted more like a plane orbiting the earth and returning when the mission

was complete.

Do you think this passage is part of a narrative story or an expository/

informative piece?

This passage is part of __________________________________________

Does it include a main event or a main idea? _________________________


Name:

SP5

Alien Main event

Remember: The main event is the most important part of a narrative story! The main event should be the largest portion of the story. The main event should occur as though in slow motion – with every small detail told.

Read the summary of the main event below. Imagine what is happening.

Then, in order to elaborate on the main event, answer the questions that follow:

What did you do? (action) What did you see, hear, feel? (description)

What did you wonder/worry? (thoughts/feelings)

What did you say? (dialogue/exclamation)

SOUND EFFECT?

The alien took me aboard the spacecraft and let me help pilot the ship back to earth.

(continue on another paper)


What Does it look like? Why is it important?

SP6

Name:

Remember – when authors use facts in a piece of expository/informative writing, they elaborate by using the questions ‘What does it look like? Why is it important?’

Below is a list of facts about spacesuits. The first set of sentences answer the question “What does it look like?” The second set of sentences answer the question “Why is it important?” Match the “What does it look like?” to the “Why is it important?” to create a fully elaborated detail sentence. Write the corresponding number of “Why is it important?” on the line.

What does it look like?

1.) Originally, spacesuits were made of a shiny silver fabric. __________________

2.) Rocket powered backpacks can be attached to some spacesuits. ____________

3.) The spacesuits get that puffy look from all the air that is pumped into them.___

4.) Today’s astronauts wear orange suits during take off and landing. __________

5.) In fact, a spacesuit is a very complex machine, with air conditioning, heating, air to breathe, and water to drink. It even has a built in toilet! ______________

Why is it important?

1.) The suit is orange so that if the astronaut needed to parachute out of the spacecraft in an emergency, they will be easier for rescue crews to spot.

2.) All these features help create a safe, self-contained living environment.

3.) Scientists thought the bright color would help reflect the dangerous rays of the sun.

4.) Since there is no air in space it is one of the basic needs that the suit provides for survival sake.

5.) This addition allows the astronauts to fly around in space and safely perform tasks outside the space shuttle.


Why Astronauts Wear spacesuits

SP7

Now, finish the paragraph using the “What does it look like?” and “Why is it Important?”

sentences that you created on the previous page. You may simply group these partner

sentences one after the other, or try combining some using a conjunction.

When we think of an astronaut, often times we think of them

dressed in puffy white suits and a large round helmet that makes

the space traveler look like some kind of alien! But these odd-

looking suits are necessary for the astronaut to survive the harsh

environment of space.

_________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Name:


Research! Using search engines

SP8

Name: Have you ever looked for information on the Web? Interested in finding the perfect puppy, looking for information on the best vacations for kids? That is where search engines come in. The problem with doing research on the web is that you find way too much information!

Some of the more popular search engines are google, bing and yahoo. Understanding how to use search engines will help you narrow your search, so that you can find exactly what you are looking for. These are just a few techniques to help you get started.

1.) Be SpecificThe more specific you are, the more information you’ll find. Use key words that tell the

search engine exactly what you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for the solar system, enter solar system, but if you know that you want information on the planets enter planets instead. If you want to learn about a specific planet enter that name, Saturn. Each time you revise the entry and focus your key word, you narrowed your search.

2.) The + SymbolTo ensure the search finds pages with all the words you’re looking for, put the + symbol in

front of each word. For example, you want information on both the astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, put the “plus” sign in front of their names. +neil armstrong+buzz aldrin. Only documents that have both their names will be found in the search.

3.) Using Quotation MarksWhen you put your search terms in quotation marks, it’s called a “phrase search.” The search

engine will give you pages that have the terms in the exact order of the words in quotations. For example, if you’re looking specifically for information on “Apollo 11 landing on the moon” enter it just like that and you will only get the documents that have those words in that order.

4.) Notice the Results!Finally, notice that when you narrow the search, the number of results or “hits” changes.

This information is usually found at the top of the page and indicates how many documents were found containing the key words you searched. For example, when Apollo 11 was entered, 8,160,000 documents were found but when “Apollo 11 landing on the moon” was entered, 69,000 documents were found.

(continued)


Research it!

SP9

Name:

Read this short expository/informative passage below, and answer the questions that follow. You will need to do some research!

How has the Space Program Improved our Lives?

Have you ever heard of NASA (National Aeronautics and

Space Administration)? This is the United States government

organization that oversees our space program. It researches

outer space, sends astronauts to the moon, and searches for

life on other planets. But did you know that we benefit on a daily basis

from NASA’s research and technologies? In fact, NASA publishes a list,

each year, of products called “spin-offs” that are a direct result of either

technology that NASA uses or the knowledge that they have gained through

their research. Who would have thought that our study of outer space would

greatly improve our everyday lives on earth?

1.) After reading this passage what do you want to know?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2.) Can that information be found in this passage? ____________________

3.) What is a “spin-off”? _________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________


SP10

Research it!

4.) Which key words are the most effective for a search on products that

NASA developed?

Circle the one you think is best:

Products we use everyday________ “NASA Products”________

“NASA Spin-offs”________ NASA products________ Spin-offs________

5.) Now try it! Go on-line and enter the key words, keeping in mind the

information you want to gather. As you enter each phrase in your

search engine, see how many results or “hits” you get.

Write that number next to each key word.

Which one best narrows your search? ____________________________

(continued)


Products invented by NAsA

SP11

Name:

Using a search engine, find products that NASA

invented. On the lines below, list the top five that

interest you the most. Be sure to write what the

product is and how it is used in our everyday lives.

1) __________________________________________________________

2) __________________________________________________________

3) __________________________________________________________

4) __________________________________________________________

5) __________________________________________________________

Which of the products listed above do you think is the most important?

On another paper, write an opinion statement about the product of your

choice. Be sure to provide reasons why you think it is most important.

Here are some helpful sentence starters.

To state your opinion:

In my opinion, ___________________ I think that _________________

For me, the most important _________ I like ______________________


SP12

Products invented by NAsA

To support your opinion:

I believe this because ______________ The reason I think ____________

It is obvious because ______________ On account of _______________

your opinion statement:

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

(continued)


Name:

SP13

Fix each Fragment!

Anna is writing a report about Mars. Here are some details she wants to include. Read each detail. If it is a fragment, put a check beside it and make it a complete sentence. REMEMBER: Sentences have 2 parts – a SUBJECT (WHO/WHAT part) and a PREDICATE (DOING/DESCRIBING part).

The seventh largest planet. Called Red Planet.

_____________________________ _____________________________

This planet has two moons and an Oceans and rivers. inactive volcano.

_____________________________ _____________________________

Sometimes dust storms cover the Scientists continue to explore Mars planet for six months at a time. in hope that someday people can live there.

_____________________________ _____________________________

Can see it with your eye in the Cold temperature. night sky.

_____________________________ _____________________________

There are many pictures that the Mars is the fourth planet from Hubble Space Telescope has taken. the sun.

_____________________________ _____________________________


Fix each Fragment!

SP14

Anna is planning to write 3 paragraphs in the body of her expository/

informative piece. The first will tell the appearance of Mars. The second will

explain its climate. The third highlights interesting facts about Mars. Look

at the summarizing framework:

Topic: Mars

Main Idea #1: Appearance

Main Idea #2: Climate

Main Idea #3: Interesting Facts

Now go back and sort the details, on the previous page.

If the detail is about Appearance, put an “A” next to it.

If the detail is about Climate, put a “C” next to it.

If the detail is about Interesting Facts, put an “F” next to it.

month 8 – space · 2020. 12. 15. · this unique spacecraft developed by nasa (national...

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