Riddles of the Universe 6-pack Author: John Bonallack ISBN: 9780478124286 Copyright Date: 2000 Lesson Plan Blackline Master Grade Level: 6 Reading Level: Z Strategy/Skill: Asking questions, Information skills, Point of view, Prior knowledge, Vocabulary and word study Genre: Diary, Journal, and Log, Explanation, Report Theme/Topic: Earth Science, Exploration, Math, Space Classification: Nonfiction

Book Summary

On 23 July 1999, Commander Eileen Collins took the space shuttle Columbia into orbit.  Her mission: to launch the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will help scientists find answers to some of the riddles of the universe.

Features of the Book

• Fact files
• Technical language – dark matter, payload, sonic boom, supernova
• Dramatic NASA photographs
• Labeled diagrams
• Captioned photographs
• Website references for further research
• Procedural text
• The format of the countdown sequence

Purpose

Riddles of the Universe can be used to introduce and reinforce the following skills:

• drawing on students’ background knowledge
• exploring technical vocabulary
• locating relevant information to support claims
• writing questions that encourage further research
• presenting information in different formats
• rewriting text from a different point of view

For more information please see our Lesson Plan