Literary Sparks were created to address the needs of students to read both literary and informational texts, and to assist subject area teachers by providing ideas for standards-driven, cost-effective classroom activities.
Each grade level from K-12 has its own resource page that includes the standards addressed, text pairings, book discussion questions, and lesson plans for a classroom activity.
Standards Met
LANGUAGE ARTS FLORIDA STANDARDS:
LAFS.1.RI.2.4 Ask & answer questions to help determine/clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
LAFS.1.RI.3.9 Identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic.
LAFS.1.SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about Grade One topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions
Build on others’ talk in conversations by responding to the comments of others through multiple exchanges.
Ask questions to clear up any confusion about the topics and texts under discussion.
SCIENCE STANDARDS:
SC.1.E.5.1 Observe and discuss that there are more stars in the sky than anyone can easily count and that they are not scattered evenly in the sky.
SC.1.E.5.3: Investigate how magnifiers make things appear bigger and help people see things they could not see without them.
Big Idea:Earth in Space and Time - Humans continue to explore Earth's place in space. Gravity and energy influence the formation of galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy, stars, the Solar System, and Earth. Humankind's need to explore continues to lead to the development of knowledge and understanding of our Solar System.
Book Pairing
Fiction
The Lost Stars by Hannah Cumming
Ask questions during and after reading:
On pp. 1-2, is it daytime or nighttime? How can you tell?
On pp. 2-4, look in the windows of the buildings. What are people doing? (answers will vary, but adults are working on phones & computers, at the school, kids are on laptops, in apartment, people are using tablets, watching movies, on phones, watching TV, etc.)
On p. 6, why can’t the little boy see anything?
Why do the stars take a break? Do you agree with them? Why or why not?
Why do you think it was hard for the people to find the stars?
Will you forget the stars or take time to go look at them in the sky at night?
Non-Fiction
Our Stars by Anne Rockwell
Ask questions during and after reading:
On pp. 1-3, point out that there are billions of stars in the sky, too many to count! Show what stars are made of and that our sun is a star. Does the sun look like the stars in The Lost Star? Why/why not?
On. p. 4, the boy and his dad are using a telescope to see the stars that are far away. What does the telescope do to help?
On p. 20, point out that there is a big telescope to see the stars, and that the universe is so big that we’ll always have things to study and learn. How long do you think stars will be in the sky?
Investigative Inquiry
Experimenting with Magnifiers and Making a Telescope
Materials Needed:
Magnifiers
Small items, like dried peas, tiny flowers, coins, etc.
Paper & pencils
For Telescope
Paper towel tubes (one per student)
Cardstock (one 8.5" x 11" sheet per student)
Washi Tape
Assorted stickers (planets, stars, etc.)
Markers
Distribute magnifiers. We are going to use our magnifiers to observe how they make small things bigger.
First, look at the item with just your eyes. Write down what you see (describe what it looks like).
Look at the item with the magnifier. Now, what do you see? Write down the description.
Then, write down the differences between seeing the item with your eyes and seeing it with the magnifier. The magnifier allows us to see things we could not see with just your eyes!
Telescopes work like magnifiers. They make things that are far away look closer, so we can see them better. Our telescopes will not make things bigger, because they do not have a magnifying lens in them, but, they will allow you to focus on one object.
To make our telescopes:
First we will decorate the piece of cardstock with stickers and markers.
Then we will loosely tape the cardstock around the paper towel tube with washi tape.
Pull on the tube to make the telescope longer. Look through your telescope and see how it narrows down what you can see. Look around the room and pick out things to view with your telescope.
Questions for Feedback and Reflection
What did we learn about magnifiers? That they make small things appear larger
What did we learn about telescopes? That they make far away things appear closer
Do stars really have five points? What are they made of? No. Stars are made up of fiery gas that gives of brilliant light that we can see “shining” in the night sky.
Can we count all the stars in the sky? Are they in one big group or scattered all over the sky? There are too many stars to count! They are scattered all over.
What does all the light in our everyday world do to the night sky? Is it easier or harder to see the stars? When there are lots of lights on at night (like in a city), it’s harder to see the stars. When we go places where there isn’t a lot of light at night (like the country), it’s much easier to see the stars.
What do you look for when you look at the night sky? (planets, moon, stars, meteor showers, etc.)?