LESSON 4 TEACHER’S GUIDE Saving Planet Earth · PDF fileLESSON 4 TEACHER’S GUIDE Saving Planet Earth by ... Derek and Dennis as they try to save planet Earth. Grade 6 2 ... Thinking

Number of Words: 1,603

L E S S O N 4 T E A C H E R ’ S G U I D E

Saving Planet Earthby Jack Spencer

Fountas-Pinnell Level SScience FictionSelection SummaryIn the year 3030 only a few humans live on planet Earth. Derek is a scientist stationed on planet Earth. He tries to fi nd signs of life to save the planet. His son Dennis discovers butterfl ies. His discovery saves planet Earth.

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

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Characteristics of the Text Genre • Science fi ction

Text Structure • Third-person narrative with detailed episodes • Includes a prologue to give background information

Content • Environmental disaster • Importance of air, plants, and insects to Earth• Scientifi c research

Themes and Ideas • It is important to preserve history.• Scientifi c discoveries help the earth in many ways.• Persistence leads to success.

Language and Literary Features

• Long stretches of descriptive language important to understanding the setting and the characters of the story.

• Multiple characters revealed by what they say, think, and do as well as what other characters say and think about them

• Setting is distant in time and space from students’ experiencesSentence Complexity • Longer complex sentence structures that include dialogue as well as embedded clauses

and phrases• Questions in dialogue

Vocabulary • Vocabulary words that readers must derive from context: monitor, wrist communicator, void

Words • Many multisyllable words: permanently, stubbornly, possibilityIllustrations • Colorful illustrations with captions support the text.

Book and Print Features • Easy-to-read chapter headings • Captions under illustrations provide important information for understanding the story

© 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H.

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Target Vocabulary

accustomed – used to something, p. 13

clamor – a loud, uninterrupted noise

clustered – a group of the same kind of items that are found together, p. 8

coaxed – persuaded through the use of words or gestures, p. 4

doleful – a look that is mournful and sorrowful

swiveled – rotated around a point of attachment, p. 5

torrent – something that fl ows or pours out rapidly in an uncontrolled manner

transmissions – messages sent as electric signals

urgent – something that requires immediate attention or action, p. 4

void – an empty space or feeling, p. 3

Saving Planet Earth by Jack Spencer

Build BackgroundHelp students use their knowledge of life on Earth to visualize the story. Build interest by asking a question such as the following: What do you think Earth will be like in a thousand years? Read the title and author and talk about the cover illustration. Tell students that this story is science fi ction, so the story is a fantasy and the plot depends on scientifi c ideas.

Introduce the TextGuide students through the text, noting important ideas, and helping with unfamiliar language and vocabulary so they can read the text successfully. Here are some suggestions:

Page 2: Point out the Prologue and have students look at the illustration and read the caption: Scientists working for Project Alpha monitor Earth for signs of life. Suggested language: The Prologue explains that Earth has been abandoned because its resources have been used up. Humans have relocated to Planet Beta. What resources would humans need to live on Planet Beta?

Page 3: Read the chapter head. Tell students that this is a story about Derek and his son Dennis, who live at Sturbridge Station. Their work involves checking Earth for signs of life. Read the third sentence: “He checked the station’s computers, which were linked to sensors.” Ask: What do sensors do? Find the highlighted word. What is a void? What’s another way of saying Earth was void of all life?

Page 4: Notice the highlighted terms. Dennis is trying to coax his father outside for a walk, but the text says a red light is fl ashing and an alarm sounding inside Sturbridge Station because someone on Planet Beta was sending an urgent message. What is another word for urgent?

Page 8: Point out the illustration and read the caption. Look at the mound near the cluster of trees. What might you expect to fi nd inside a mound on the ground?

Now turn back to the beginning of the story and read to fi nd out what happens to Derek and Dennis as they try to save planet Earth.

2 Lesson 4: Saving Planet EarthGrade 6© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

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ReadHave students read silently while you listen to individual students read aloud. Support their understanding of the text as needed.

Remind students to use the Monitor/Clarify Strategy and to notice when something doesn’t make sense and fi nd ways to fi gure out the confusing parts.

Discuss and Revisit the TextPersonal ResponseInvite students to share their personal responses to the story. Suggested language: What details in the story did you fi nd to be most disturbing, or scary?

Ways of ThinkingAs you discuss the text, help students understand these points:

Thinking Within the Text Thinking Beyond the Text Thinking About the Text

• Derek and his son live on Earth. Derek wants to save Earth to preserve the history.

• Dr. Sturbridge tells them they must come back to Planet Beta because Earth is not safe.

• Dennis discovers mysterious mounds and insects that prove living things can survive on Earth. Dennis’ discovery saves the planet.

• It is important to preserve history.

• Scientifi c discoveries help the earth in many ways.

• Persistence leads to success.

• The chapter heads help the reader predict what will happen in the chapter.

• The language sounds very realistic, the way a boy and his father as well as scientists would talk.

• The author includes many details about the setting and the characters to help the reader visualize the story.

© 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H.

Choices for Further Support• Fluency Invite students to choose a scene from the story to act out for a readers’

theater. Remind them to pay attention to punctuation, and to stress certain words to sound as if the characters are actually speaking.

• Comprehension Based on your observations of the students’ reading and discussion, revisit parts of the text to clarify or extend comprehension. Remind students to go back to the text to support their ideas.

• Phonics/Word Work Provide practice as needed with multisyllable words. Remind students that when they come to an unfamiliar word with many syllables they should pronounce each syllable and then blend the syllables together to read the word. For example, permanently on page 3.


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Writing about ReadingCritical ThinkingHave students complete the Critical Thinking questions on BLM 4.7.

RespondingHave students complete the activities at the back of the book, using their Reader’s Notebook. Use the instruction below as needed to reinforce or extend understanding of the comprehension skill.

Target Comprehension SkillStory Structure

Target Comprehension Skill Remind students to examine the characters, the setting,

and the plot of the story to help understand the story. Model how to add details to the Graphic Organizer, using a “Think Aloud” like the one below:

Think Aloud

Dennis is a character in the story. Write that under characters. His lives at Sturbridge Station on Earth. That is where the story takes place. Write that under setting. Dennis discovers a mound of butterfl ies. That is one thing that happens during the story. List that under plot.

Practice the SkillHave students share other examples of story structure from the story.

Writing Prompt: Thinking Beyond the TextHave students write a response to the prompt on page 6: Remind them that when they think beyond the text, they use their personal knowledge to reach new understandings.

Assessment Prompts• What caused humans to relocate to Planet Beta?

• What is the meaning of the word coax on page 4?

• What are two sentences on page 7 that support the idea that Derek feels strongly about saving planet Earth?


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Critical ThinkingRead and answer the questions.

1. Think within the text Why have most humans abandoned Earth in

the story?

2. Think within the text What are Derek and his son doing on Earth?

3. Think beyond the text Do you think it’s possible that Earth’s air might

become toxic to humans in the future? Why or why not?

4. Think about the text Do you think Dennis deserves attention and

appreciation for saving the planet? Why or why not?

Making Connections This is a science fiction story about what Earth

might be like in the year 3030. What do you think Earth will be like in

1,000 years? What do you think might be the same or different?

Write your answer in your Reader’s Notebook.

Saving Planet EarthCritical Thinking

Lesson 4B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 4 . 7

Critical Thinking© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Grade 6, Unit 1: Finding Your Voice

Name Date

9

The air is toxic after 12 hours.

They are looking for signs of life.

Yes, because if we don’t take care of our planet and its natural

resources, it could become very polluted. This story takes place a

long time into the future, so it’s possible that great changes could

come in that amount of time.

Yes. Even though he discovered something accidentally, he is

responsible for the discovery. Without him, the planet might have

been doomed.

Possible responses shown.

04.07_6_246260RNLEAN_Crtl Thk.in9 9 6/12/09 7:24:15 PM

English Language DevelopmentReading Support Give English learners a “preview” of the text by holding a brief small-group discussion with them before reading the text with the entire group.

Idioms The story includes many idioms that might be unfamiliar. Explain the meaning of expressions such as Oh, the usual (page 3).

Oral Language DevelopmentCheck student comprehension, using a dialogue that best matches your students’ English profi ciency. Speaker 1 is the teacher, Speaker 2 is the student.

Beginning/Early Intermediate Intermediate Early Advanced/ Advanced

Speaker 1: Who lives at Sturbridge Station?

Speaker 2: Derek and his son Dennis

Speaker 1: Derek and Dennis live on which planet?

Speaker 2: Earth

Speaker 1: What does Dennis discover?

Speaker 2: butterfl ies

Speaker 1: Why are Derek and his son on Earth?

Speaker 2: Derek is a scientist looking for life on Earth.

Speaker 1: Why are the butterfl ies important?

Speaker 2: They prove life exists on Earth.

Speaker 1: How does Dennis save Earth?

Speaker 2: He makes a discovery that proves life can exist on Earth.


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Name Date

Saving Planet Earth Thinking Beyond the Text

Think about the questions below. Then write your answer in one or two paragraphs.

Remember that when you think beyond the text, you use your personal knowledge to reach new understandings.

On page 7, Derek says “Earth is our home. Think of the history, the land, the wonders of this world that will be lost!” Why does he say this? What kinds of history, land, and wonders do you think he is he talking about? Write a letter to a friend who has never been to Earth. In your letter, explain what things about life on Earth you think are most important and worthy of saving.



Critical ThinkingRead and answer the questions.

1. Think within the text Why have most humans abandoned Earth in

the story?

2. Think within the text What are Derek and his son doing on Earth?

3. Think beyond the text Do you think it’s possible that Earth’s air might

become toxic to humans in the future? Why or why not?

4. Think about the text Do you think Dennis deserves attention and

appreciation for saving the planet? Why or why not?

Making Connections This is a science fiction story about what Earth

might be like in the year 3030. What do you think Earth will be like in

1,000 years? What do you think might be the same or different?

Write your answer in your Reader’s Notebook.


Saving Planet EarthCritical Thinking

Lesson 4B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 4 . 7

Name Date


1414

444

Student Date

Saving Planet EarthRunning Record Form

Lesson 4B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 4 . 1 1

Saving Planet Earth • LEVEL S

Behavior Code Error

Read word correctly ✓cat 0

Repeated word, sentence, or phrase

®cat

0

Omission —cat 1

Behavior Code Error

Substitution cutcat 1

Self-corrects cut sccat 0

Insertion the

ˆcat 1

Word told Tcat 1

page Selection Text Errors Self-Corrections

11 After several seconds of silence, his wrist communicator

crackled. He heard Dennis’s excited voice screech, “Dad! Dad!

You’ve gotta see this!”

Derek turned and saw Dennis sprinting toward him. When he

got closer to his father, Dennis cried out, “Dad, look!” He lifted

both fists into the air then opened his hands. Out flew nearly a

dozen brightly-colored butterflies.

Gasping in disbelief, Derek forgot about the mounds, the

evacuation, and even the possibility of Earth’s destruction. He

stared, unable to believe his own eyes.

Comments: Accuracy Rate (# words read

correctly/85 × 100)

%

Total Self- Corrections



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LESSON 4 TEACHER’S GUIDE Saving Planet Earth · PDF fileLESSON 4 TEACHER’S GUIDE Saving Planet Earth by ... Derek and Dennis as they try to save planet Earth. Grade 6 2 ... Thinking