Alexandra DeFrance, Kelsey Linke, Kristin GarrettREAD 436

Text Set

SOL 4.7 The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system. Key concepts includea) the planets in the solar system;b) the order of the planets in the solar system; andc) the relative sizes of the planets.

1. Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney

This book teaches planets of the solar system while still being very kid-friendly and relatable to students. This book tells the story of a young girl who sees the moon from her bedroom window, and then begins wondering about the planets that also exist in the solar system. Since the story is told through the perspective of a young girl, it would be very relatable to young students. The book will also catch student’s attention through its interesting and colorful pictures. In addition to being fun and interesting for students, the book also teaches students information. The book teaches students about each individual planet. The book is also useful because, at the back of the book, a list of vocabulary words related to the solar system are given to help students as they read.

The ARI level of this book is 3.9. Because this book is almost at a fourth grade level, we thought that it would be good to use in the classroom as a read-aloud. The book might be too difficult for struggling readers in fourth grade, but would be great for them to listen to. The students listening to the book would learn information, and would also enjoy looking at the pictures. However, this book could also be used for independent reading for students with higher reading levels. Many students in a fourth-grade classroom will be capable of reading books higher than a 3.9. Therefore, the students could read these books in the classroom during independent reading time and still both understand and enjoy the book.

Sweeney, J. (1998). Me and my place in space. New York, NY: Crown Publishers, Inc.

2. My Tourist Guide to the Solar System and Beyond by Lewis Dartnell

This book is a very informative book about the solar system. Facts about each planet are featured on their own page. This book has facts that are written in different formats and are written under different headings within the book. The book contains detailed information, including some statistics. It also contains many pictures with labeling. Although this book has lots of information, it still works well for kids. Complex concepts are explained in simple ways that children will understand. The facts given are exciting and relatable to children, such as how lava looks like pepperoni.

The ARI level of this book is 5.9. Because this book is highly above a fourth grade reading level, this book would not be good for an independent book for fourth grade students. However, this book would be good to be used by teachers to read information to students. We thought that, if teaching students a unit on the solar system, that different pages could be used during read-alouds during different lessons. For example, on the day that students learn about Mercury, the teacher could read the students the pages that focus on Mercury. Or, this book could be used as a reference for children to use during research and projects. This would be very useful during a lesson because students would get a lot of information as they listen to it.

Dartnell, L. (2012). My tourist guide to the solar system and beyond. New York, NY: DK Publishing.

3. Enchanted Learning Website

This website contains many forms of information that students can use to learn about the solar system. The website contains pictures, graphs, fun facts, and other information about each planet. One feature we particularly liked about this website was the mini-book about the planets that students can read and study. Each page of the mini-book contains just a few short sentences about each planet and also shows a picture.

Because of the versatility of this website, we thought that this would be a great website for students to use to explore information independently. The ARI level of the mini-book that students can read is 3.4. Because of this readability level below fourth grade, we thought that this mini-book is something that most students would be capable of reading on their own either during a lesson or at home in order to explore information for themselves.

Planet for Kids (2013). Planets for kids: Free astronomy network for kids. Retrieved from www.planetsforkids.org.

4. There’s No Place Like Space by Tish Rabe

This book introduces students to information about the solar system while still being extremely kid-friendly. A great feature of the book that will maintain students’ interest in the book is all of the colorful and fun pictures on every page. The book also rhymes which we thought would be exciting for students to read. In addition to being kid-friendly, this book also introduces basic facts about the planets in the solar system. The book tells about information such as some physical characteristics about the planets and how they all travel around the sun. In addition to this, a great feature of the book was the glossary at the end of the book. This book contains important words and definitions about the solar system that students can refer to while reading the book and can also be used to reinforce main ideas that they learned about.

The ARI level of this book is 2.2. Because of the lower readability level of this book, we thought that this book would be great for students to read independently at home or during school. This level works for independent reading because it will not frustrate the students, and will help the students focus on the information about planets presented in the book. This book can also be read by struggling readers, because it is below grade level. Classrooms will have a variety of readers within it, so having this book to offer to lower-level students is important and will be beneficial for these struggling students.

Rabe, T. (1999). There’s no place like space: All about our solar system. New York, NY: Random House Books for Young Readers.

5. Space: For Kids Who Really Love Space by Roger Priddy

This is a children’s book with a 3.1 readability level. The book provides an exploration of the solar system in a kid friendly format. The fonts, pictures, and page structures not only appeal to children but are presented in a way that makes the content accessible and understandable. The book includes short paragraphs of information as well as key facts in bulleted form. The text is accompanied by a wide range of images that are detailed, accurate, and engaging, further enhancing and supporting student learning through this piece of literature.

In regard to SOL 4.7, this book includes a visual diagram of the solar system as well as multiple pages devoted to the planets. Each planet has its own page or two which details specific information to that planet such as size, make up, relative location, or key features. This book extends students knowledge on the planets in the solar system by incorporating stars, the moon, universe, milky way, astronauts, space exploration, a space timeline, and a glossary of terms.

Because the readability level of this text is a 3.1, it is suggested for beginning third grade readers. Thus, in fourth grade, we thought this book could be used in the classroom as an independent reading level book among most on grade level students. Most students would be prepared for the content and word/sentence structures. Thus, we could make this book available to students in the classroom book corner, shelves, or unit display. Students would have the opportunity to select this text during independent reading time or to include in their individual book baggies to read at home. Additionally, this book could be used in small groups for lower level readers or as a read aloud. This would allow students who are not as prepared to read this book independently hear and listen to the information.

Priddy, R. (2012). Space: For kids who really love space. New York, NY: Priddy Books.

6. Planets: A Solar System Sticker Book by Ellen Hasbrouck

This is a children’s book with a 4.8 readability level. The book highlights the planets in the solar system in a unique and creative way that would be particularly intriguing and engaging to students. The text is presented in a flap-like format with each planet on a different flap. There is not an over abundance of pictures or visuals but the ones included are detailed and visually pleasing. A valuable aspect of the text is the rhyming words and poem like structure. In fact, the back of the book includes an example of the entire poem that spans the flap-like pages. Additionally, re-usable planet stickers are included that can enhance learning and be fun for students.

In regard to SOL 4.7, this book discusses the planets in the solar system, their order, and size. Each page includes information specific to each planet to support student understanding of the content. Because the nature of the text focuses solely on the planets, the information presented is highly relevant to the Standards.

Because the readability level of this book is a 4.8, it is best suited for upper grade level students. Thus, it is likely that most students in the classroom would be unable to read the text independently. Knowing this, we would use this book in the classroom as a read aloud. The poem format would engage the students as they listen to and absorb the content. This text could also be incorporated into a literacy unit on poetry. Though the readability level nears the higher end of fourth grade, we would recommend this book for classroom use because it presents information on the planets from a new, creative perspective. Furthermore, the stickers from the back could be used to extend learning of the content by placing them on the board or allowing students to explore independently with them.

Hasbrouck, E. (2001). Planets: A solar system sticker book. New York, NY: Little Simon

7. Star Child Website

This website on the solar system is from the organization StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers within the Astrophysics Science Division at NASA. The site itself is primarily fact-based and includes links to related solar system activities or games that can be completed online or in the classroom. A valuable aspect of the website is that it incorporates Level 1 and Level 2 versions of the content, varying by age appropriateness. There are not many pictures but the interactive hyperlinks can be engaging and useful to students. This also allows student to focus on the written information rather than form conclusions based on pictures.

In regard to SOL 4.7, this website addresses the solar system and all of the planets. The site has a link for all planets, loading an individual page for each. Each page includes information about that planet, its size, relative location, important features, and a picture. It also includes an essential question specific to that planet that can be intriguing and fun for students. The website extends student learning beyond the planets by also incorporating links for the sun, moon, meteoroids, comets, and the asteroid belt.

Because the readability level of this website is a 4.4, it is suggested for mid grade level students. Thus, it should probably not be encouraged for independent or at home use. We thought this would be a good website to use in the classroom by the teacher or in pairs. The teacher could project the information from the website for all students to see or match students according to readability levels and allow them to explore together. Because the website includes Level 1 and Level 2 versions of the content, room for differentiation is available. This can support the learning of lower level students as well as extend and enrich the learning of more advanced students.

Dejoie, J. & Truelove, E. (2012). The solar system. Retrieved from http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/solar_system.html

8. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, is a science fiction picture book about our solar system and more specifically, our planets. The book begins with the teacher Mrs. Frizzle, planning to take her class to the planetarium because they are learning about the solar system. The planetarium ends up being closed, so instead her trusty magic school bus turns into a space ship, allowing for the kids to take a fieldtrip into outer space instead! The kids take a tour of space and as they stop at each planet the quirky Mrs. Frizzle tells the students facts relating to the size and location of the planets, their relationship to one another, and their physical makeup and appearance. Although this book gives a lot of information, it is given in a fun way. Mrs. Frizzle and her pet iguana tell many jokes and the dialogue is in speech bubbles. Kids in your classroom would be able to relate to this book, because all students have been on fieldtrips. Each page of the book addresses a question one of Mrs. Frizzle’s students asked, also making the book very kid-relatable. The kids’ questions are questions that students in your classroom may also have (i.e. “Why are Venuses clouds yellow?” “Is there life on Mars?”).

This book is at a 4.2 ARI level, meaning that students in fourth grade would not be able to read this book individually because it would be too frustrating for them. However, your more advanced students would be able to read this book individually, because they could handle the big words and longer sentences. You could instead incorporate this book into your classroom, by reading it aloud to your students, when discussing the topic of planets and the solar system. Students often have higher comprehension levels when it comes to being read books aloud. In addition, this book contains some expository text to the sides, and therefore would also be good to offer in the classroom for students to look through individually. This book could be made into a cross curricular exercise where you have your students write a story about Mrs. Frizzles class, going on a fieldtrip relating to any subjects standard!

Cole, J. & Degen. (1992). The magic school bus: Lost in the solar system .New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

9. Astronomy: Out of this World by Dan Green

Astronomy: Out of this World by Dan Green, is a science fiction book that contains all the information your fourth grade students would need to know about the planets. This book is very factual in that it lists the actual size, year spin, axis, color, mass, etc. for each planet. Although the book gives many facts, it does it in an enjoyable way. Under the facts mentioned above, each planet is personified, and they introduce themselves in the same way you and I would do! For example, Earth says this; “I’m a true original. Dressed mostly in cool blue, I’m like no other planet in the solar system. Some say I’m just a big drip as I’m the only celestial body with surface water.” Mars says, “Hanging in the night sky like a bloodshot eye, I’m a rusty warhorse, named after the Roman god of war.” To the right of his introduction, Mars is dressed in war attire. The planets all refer to Pluto as the “distant outsider.” The planet personification in this book will make the content easier for the kids to understand, remember, and relate to.

This book is at a 4.0 ARI level, which means that students above grade-level would be able to take this book home and read it individually or use it as their good-fit book. If you have students below grade level, you wouldn’t want to send it home, as it wouldn’t be what we refer to in class as a “constructive struggle.” Instead, you could use it as a read aloud. Because the book contains a lot of personification and uses many adjectives, you could combine both science and literacy into one! You could have the students come up with their own personified introduction of a solar system celestial body.

Green, S. (2009). Astronomy: Out of this world! New York, NY: Kingfisher Publishing.

10. The Planets by Gail Gibbons

The Planets by Gail Gibbons is a non-fiction children’s book. The book begins by talking about the history of our planets and how they were discovered and who they were discovered by. It is very factual in that it gives the size, rotation, years, etc. of each planet (everything they would need to know for SOL 4.7). Kids will like this book because there are pictures that represent/explain every single fact, making it easy for students to grasp the concepts. There is also a huge picture of the entire solar system with labels, which allows the students to see the planets in relation to one another.

This book is at a 3.3 ARI level, meaning that your fourth grade students would be able to read it individually, without being frustrated with the sentence and word structure. You could have students read this book during class or as a book that they can take home to read. You could make it available to your students by putting it in display on in your classroom.

Gibbons, G. (2005). The planets. New York, NY: Holiday House Publisher.