Is That A Spaceship? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will get answers from a meteorologist about clouds and weather.

 

Science Focus:

clouds, weather

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

water vapor, meteorologist, cumulus clouds, lenticular clouds, cirrus clouds, mammatus clouds

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level:

M

 

Lexile level:

480L

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Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on clouds.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "All About Clouds." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • Which kind of cloud do you like best?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are water vapor, meteorologist, cumulus clouds, lenticular clouds, cirrus clouds, and mammatus clouds.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue and discuss the cover. If children were to see a cloud like that, what type of weather would they think was coming?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about what clouds can tell you about the weather.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • The “Check Out These Clouds!” game assesses comprehension as children answer questions written in the clouds.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words water vapor, meteorologist, cumulus clouds, lenticular clouds, cirrus clouds, and mammatus clouds..

Editor’s Pick: Cloud Poems (15 min.)

  • The Cloud Poetry skill sheet invites children to write poems about clouds. It’s a fun way to extend the lesson and helps you celebrate National Poetry Month!

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • The Cloud Connection skill sheet has children fill in a chart by writing the name of each cloud they learned about and drawing a picture of what it looks like.

 Here are past issues you can use to extend your lesson on weather:

  • “Nonstop Lightning!” March 2021. This issue teaches kids about the place that gets the most lightning on Earth.
  • “The Day It Rained Fish!” March 2019. This issue introduces children to a weather phenomenon— waterspouts!

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 580L
  • Lower Lexile level: 430L