Top Hat Graphic Organizer Differences

Name Date Top Hat Graphic Organizer Differences

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Similarities

2. Name: Date: The Fungus Among Us Have you ever eaten a fungus? You might have and not even known it! Fungi are living organisms that are all around us. While some can be dangerous, many types of fungi have extraordinary abilities that we can use to produce our favorite foods and even life-saving medicines. If you love pizza, then you have fungi to thank. Bread and cheese are both made with fungi. Yeast, the fungus used to make bread, helps dough rise to make it fluffy. Penicillium roqueforti is one of the many types of fungi that is used to make cheese. Portobello mushrooms are another popular type of edible fungi. Fungi has also been used in medicine. In fact, the most commonly used antibiotic is made from a fungus called Penicillium. It was discovered by mistake when a scientist named Alexander Fleming left an experiment out in his lab while he was away on vacation. When he returned, he found a blue fungus growing on his petri dishes. The fungus, Penicillium, had stopped the bacteria in the petri dishes from growing. Now it is used all over the world to save lives. But fungus is not just useful to people. For billions of years, fungi has had an important job in nature. It breaks down dead plant material and turns it into soil. Without fungi, most dead matter wouldn’t be able to biodegrade, or break down, and we would be walking around in a big mess of leaves and other discarded plant material. Fungi is all around us and has many important jobs. In nature, it helps break down dead plants. We also use it to make food and medicine. Next time you take a bite of pizza, remember that fungi helped make it!

Compare! How do people use fungi? What makes a fungus useful in nature? Nature People

Use a dictionary to find the meaning of these key terms from the article: antibiotic

biodegrade

Both of the key terms above have the same root word, bio. What does bio mean?

Directions: Using two informational texts on the same topic, complete the graphic organizer.

Text 1: Have you ever taken a risk? A risk is something that could be dangerous. It could cause harm or loss. Harriet Tubman took many risks for herself, her family, and other slaves.

Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland around 1820. In 1849, she escaped to Pennsylvania, which was a free state, meaning slavery was not legal there. Te following year, she returned home in secret to help family members escape slavery. By 1857, she had rescued her mother, her father and one of her brothers. After that, she helped as many as 70 slaves escape to free states, risking her own life to save others. In 1863, she led a raid that freed 750 South Carolina slaves.

Te Underground Railroad was a network, or group, of people who worked together to bring slaves to freedom. It was not an actual railroad that you could see. Instead, it was a secret route, or path, that slaves could follow. Tey would have safe houses and places to stay as they traveled. Te people who guided the slaves from place to place were called “conductors.” Harriet Tubman was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.

Text 2: Harriet Tubman was born as a slave on a plantation in Maryland around 1820. No one, not even Harriet, knew what day she was born – slave families often weren’t allowed to celebrate birthdays. She worked in her owner’s house and in their felds for her entire childhood. When she was older, she married a man named John Tubman.

A few years later, she heard news that the slaves on the plantation she lived on were going to be sold. She did not want to go to another owner, so she decided to run away. Running away was dangerous for slaves in the 1800s. If a runaway slave was found, their owners would often hurt them and punish them.

Once she escaped, she met a friendly woman who helped her hide. At night, she went north, toward states where slaves could be free. She made it all the way to Philadelphia, where she was able to fnd work. Once she had saved up some money, she went back to Maryland to help her family and friends escape, too. Pretty soon, she was taking slaves of all kinds through the Underground Railroad.

Te Underground Railroad was a network of houses owned by people who did not agree with slavery and had promised to hide slaves and keep them safe as they tried to escape north. Slaves traveling on the railroad hid during the day and traveled to the next house at night, until they reached a free state.

By 1860, she had made 19 trips from the South to the North and had helped over 70 slaves and their families escape slavery. Soon afterward, she worked for the Union Army as a cook, a nurse, and even a spy. When the war was over, she spoke about injustice toward African-Americans and opened a home for elderly people. She cared for others her entire life.

Comparing Two Nonfiction Texts: A Female Freedom Fighter

ext 1 Similarities ext 2ces T ces Tferen ces eren Di eren2 Diff DiffStory

Topic What topic is being explored in these two texts? How are the topics diferent?

Main Idea What is the main idea or main focus of each of the texts?

Supporting Details List at least two details that the texts have in common. List at least two details that are diferent in the texts.

Written Response: Which text would be better to fnd information about Harriet Tubman’s escape? How do you know?

A. B. C. Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Stories: Extinct Birds

The Dodo Bird: A Symbol of Extinction

The dodo bird lived on the island of Mauritius, off the southeast coast of Africa. Because the bird went extinct in the 17th century, there are no photos available. Drawings, paintings, written accounts, and a handful of specimens give us a rough understanding of its appearance and be- havior. What we do know about the dodo bird is that it stood more than three feet tall, weighed about 40 lbs., and was flightless. It most likely lost this trait because it didn’t need to fly: There were no predators on the island, and fruit and seeds provided abundant food sources.

Things started to change for the dodo bird in 1505 when the Portuguese arrived on the island. After that, the bird, which weighed about 50 lbs, became a welcome source of food for sailors. Along with humans came pigs, monkeys and rats, which made meals of the dodo bird eggs. Since the species had never seen humans before, none of the dodo birds on the island were afraid of humans, yet another reason they became such easy prey.

The last reported sighting of a dodo bird was in 1688, in the hunting records of Isaac Johannes Lamotius, who was the governor of Mauritius. All that remains of the dodo bird today are a dried head and foot at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and skeletal remains. In recent decades, sev- eral excavations on the island have allowed scientists to as- semble complete skeletons of the dodo bird.

Because it took so little time after human contact for this animal to go extinct, the dodo bird has become a symbol of the role of humans in protecting endan- Illustration of a Dodo bird by Louis Figuier from 1873 gered animals.

The Last of the Great Auks

The Great Auk is an extinct species of bird that covered a large range of the North Atlantic coast, from Iceland to northern Spain. Though it was flightless, it was a powerful swimmer and used its skills in the water to hunt crustaceans, one of the staples of its diet. It stood a little under 3 feet tall and weighed about 11 pounds. It nested along the coast in colonies consisting of thousands of birds. The colonies were so dense that sailors reported being able to spot the shore based on the sight of the black and white birds. The Great Auk was hunted by sailors and fisherman for more than 100,000 years. Because they were flightless and rather clumsy on land, they were easy to catch. The bird’s eggs and feathers were also in high demand in Europe, further reducing the bird’s population. By the early-1800’s, the population of Gr eat Auk colonies had dwindled significantly. Iceland was the home of the last known colony of Auks, who were killed for their skins in 1835. One of the very last birds was caught on St. Kilda island in Scotland in 1844 by three sailors. A large storm passed through the area and the men killed the Great Auk, believing it was a witch who caused the storm. The cultural significance of the bird has been discovered in recent history. Cave paintings featuring Great Auks were found in France dating back 20,000 years. The Great Auk was also an important symbol for Native Americans. A person buried in Newfoundland around 2000 BC was found surrounded by more than 200 Great Auk beaks, believed to be part of a cere monial burial. About 80 specimens of the Great Auk exist today, found in museums around the world. There is only one illustration drawn from life, by Ole Worm, dating from 1655. 2

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Read & Write Biographies

Never limit yourself because Bessie of others' limited imagination; Coleman “ never limit others because of your own limited imagination.

Mae ” I made my mind up Jemison to try. I tried and was “ successful. ” Comparing Two People Read these biographies of Bessie Coleman and Mae Jemison, then answer the questions on the following page. Bessie Coleman Before there was Amelia Earhart, there was Bessie Coleman. Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to get a pilot’s license. She was a pioneering female aviator who became famous for her daring air show stunts in the 1920s. Bessie Coleman was born on January 26, 1892 in Atlanta, Texas. Bessie grew up in Texas, then moved to Chicago with her family at age 23. She worked as a manicurist in a barbershop. While working in the shop, she overheard stories told by men who had flown planes in World War I. She wanted to try flying for herself. She applied to flight schools, but no one would teach her because she was both a woman and African American. She decided to go to Paris to find a school that would teach her. After getting her license, Bessie wanted to start a flying school just for African Americans. To raise money to start the school, she began working as a stunt pilot. People would come out to watch her fly planes in all kinds of crazy directions: Figure eights, loop-de-loops, and steep drops. Bessie soon became known as “Queen Bess,” and within five years she was a popular air show performer.

Mae Jemison Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to go to space. Mae was born on October 17, 1956, the first of three children. Growing up, Mae loved science. She studied medicine in college and started her career as a doctor, going around the world to care for those in need. In 1983, Mae applied to NASA. Mae was inspired by Sally Ride’s first flight a few years before, and also by the character of Uhura from Star Trek (the character was an African American translator on a spaceship). Mae’s first application was denied, but she didn’t give up! She applied a second time and in 1987, she was hired. Five years later, she flew on the STS-47 mission to study life in space. She even brought a picture of Bessie Coleman with her to inspire her on the flight. Mae retired from NASA in 1993. She went on to start scientic research companies, and she even got to be on an episode of her favorite TV show, Star Trek. She accomplished a first there too — the first real astronaut to ever be on the show. Name Date

Read & Write Biographies

Venn Diagram Comparing Two Famous People One way to compare two people is by using a Venn diagram. A Venn diagram uses circles to represent sets of information. These circles overlap. The overlapping area is used to record things that are the same about the two sets, while the outside areas are used to record things that are dierent. Reread the text about Bessie Coleman and Mae Jemison and complete the Venn diagram below. Bessie Coleman Mae Jemison

Both African American women. Both flew into the sky. Name Date The Star, Mae Jemison

“It’s part of the imagination. All of science, all of space exploration - everything we do in the world is about imagination and using your creativity to expand beyond your normal boundaries.” - Mae Jemison

Introduction Have you ever used your imagination to make something happen? Like, y down the stairs to the dinner table, or wave a magic wand to clean your room? Well, you’re not alone in using your imagination. Doctor Mae Jemison imagined herself in space as a child, and she is now famous for making that dream come true.

As an astronaut for NASA, she became the rst African American female to y into space. While on the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992, she was a mission specialist who studied how living things react to being in space. She is also a doctor, researcher, teacher, and a businesswoman.

Early Life and Education Mae was born in Decatur, Alabama on October 17, 1956, but grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was an elementary school teacher, and her father was a carpenter. She has two older siblings, a sister and a brother.

When Mae was younger, she liked to dance and she liked science. In her mind, her love for dance supported her love of science. With the encouragement of her uncle, it was in Chicago that her love for science grew. She learned more about science, specically astronomy, by helping her brother and sister with their science projects and reading many books at the public library. She wanted to go to space, and never had any doubt that she would get there.

Mae won a scholarship to Stanford University in California. She was only 16 years old, but she thrived both in her studies in science and in the arts. She double majored in chemical engineering and Afro-

American studies, where she learned to speak Swahili. While on campus, she planned and performed in dance productions. Torn between her love for dancing and science, she eventually chose science as a career path. After graduating from Stanford in 1977, she continued her education at Cornell University Medical College in New York. In 1981, Mae became a doctor.

During summer breaks, Mae went to Cuba and Kenya to learn about medical care in other countries. In 1983, at the age of 27, she served in the Peace Corps for two and a half years. She wanted to use her medical degree to help others. During her time as a medical o cer in the Peace Corps, she was able to use her knowledge of Swahili while working in West Africa. Not only does Mae speak English and Swahili, but she speaks Russian and Japanese, as well.

Launching Her Way into the History Books Over the years, Mae continued to think about her dream to go to space, so she applied to be an astronaut for NASA. Even though Mae’s rst application was denied because NASA stopped accepting new astronauts at the time, she didn’t give up! She applied a second time, and in 1987, she was one of fteen people chosen to become an NASA is an acronym for National astronaut out of 2,000 applicants. Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Five years later, she worked on the STS-47 mission to study life in space, ying in the space shuttle Endeavour. NASA had a joint mission with Japan for this ight, so the rst Japanese national to y in space, Mamoru Mahri, was on Endeavour as the payload specialist. Mae studied in space for seven days, twenty-two hours, thirty minutes, and thirty-three seconds. Her experience of being in space was so impactful that she wanted to encourage more space travel.

Continuing Her Scienti c Work After leaving NASA, Mae started her own businesses. One business was a camp called The Earth We Share. It started through the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, named after Mae’s mother in honor of her work as an educator. The camp helps kids learn more about science. Kids go to the camp from around the world. At the camp, young scientists get to use their imagination and share their ideas about future missions.

Dr. Jemison currently lives in Houston, Texas. There she is leading the 100 Year Starship (100YSS) initiative through the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The goal of this DARPA program is to make sure human space travel to another solar system is possible within the next 100 years. Mae’s team won a grant in 2012 to continue research on how to travel to other stars.

Education Advocate for Arts and Science Mae also has an artistic side. She is trained as a dancer, choreographer, and actor. Using her training, she has appeared on television over the years. When she was younger, she looked up to Uhura, a female o cer in the television show Star Trek. Her real life blurred with her childhood imagination as she guest starred in the television show Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mae jumped at the opportunity to play Lt. Palmer in one episode. This was yet another example of a childhood dream coming true, and another experience that cemented the importance of the arts in expanding her imagination.

In her TED talk in 2002, Mae said, “We need to revitalize the arts and sciences right now in 2002.” She advocates for teaching the arts and science together, and not valuing one over the other. She even goes as far as to say that understanding the arts can help young learners understand science better. Her advocacy for science and the arts in education is important in this era where schools are cutting back on music and art classes. She ended her TED talk by saying, “I like to think of ideas as potential energy. They’re really wonderful, but nothing will happen until we risk putting them into action.”

There is no doubt that Mae used her imagination and worked hard to go beyond her normal boundaries. She is still trying to go beyond her earthly boundaries. The world, and maybe even a new star, is her oyster.

Directions: Answer the questions using evidence from the text.

1. What are some things Mae Jemison liked to do?

2. Why is Mae Jemison famous?

3. What is a challenge Mae Jemison had in her life?

4. What does Mae Jemison mean when she says, “I like to think of ideas as potential energy. They’re really wonderful, but nothing will happen until we risk putting them into action.” Use information from the text to support your answer.

5. Reread the last section of the biography. Do you think teachers should teach arts and science together? Why or why not? Do outside research to support your answer.

6. In all of the journeys in her life, whether they were on earth or outer space, Mae Jemison used her scienti c knowledge to help others. Write about a career you would like to try that can help people, too.