MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................................................... 2 Connections to Standards ................................................................. 3 Writing about Magic Tree House® Space Mission .......................... 5 Looking Up: Words in Magic Tree House® Space Mission............. 7 A Magic Tree House® Space Mission Patch to Color .................... 11 Key Scientific Vocabulary .............................................................. 12 PLANETS, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599 © 2010 by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center 1 MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION INTRODUCTION orehead Planetarium and Sci- ence Center’s Magic Tree MHouse® Space Mission show is an immersive learning experience that involves students in looking, listening, contemplating and inquiring. Students travel with the brother-sister duo Jack and Annie in their Magic Tree House as they proceed to answer the questions left for them in a mysterious note signed “–M.” The show begins with narration by Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Tree House® book series (and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Students find themselves perched high in the trees as Jack and An- nie discover the note that asks them to answer a series of six questions about space. We hope you will find that Magic Tree House Space Mission activities introduce and rein- When Jack and Annie wish themselves to an force a range of science and non-science con- observatory where they meet an astronomer, tent you need to cover, while also addressing the students go with them. With the help of the the varied interests and learning styles of the R astronomer, the Internet, an astronaut, books, children in your classroom. and the writer of the mysterious note, Jack and Annie find answers to the questions on the note. Along with Jack and Annie, students travel to other planets and far out into the Universe on a journey of adventure and learning. You can build on this journey’s excitement by continu- ing with related activities in your classroom. In the following pages are examples of approach- es you can take to involve your students in their own research and writing projects. PLANETS, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599 © 2010 by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center 2 MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION CONNECTIONS TO STANDARDS he content in Magic Tree House Space Grade 1 Mission is appropriate for students in 1.08—Select resources from both within and Tgrades pre-kindergarten though three. outside the school for personal and information Specific North Carolina Standard Course of purposes. Study objectives discussed in the show include 1.09—Demonstrate awareness that resources the following Information Skills Objectives: convey meaning and exist in a variety of for- mats (Print, graphical, audio, visual, multime- Kindergarten dia, web-based) 1.08—Select resources from both within and 2.03—Recognize the diversity of ideas and outside the school for personal and information thoughts by exploring a variety of resources purposes. (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, graphical, audio, visual, multimedia, web- 1.09—Demostrate awareness that resources based). convey meaning and exist in a variety of for- 3.02—Collect information about diverse cul- mats (Print, graphical, audio, visual, mutime- ture, environments, and people. dia). 4.01—Identify information needs and formu- 2.04—Recognize the diversity of ideas and late questions about those needs. thoughts by exploring a variety of resources 4.02—Describe several research models. (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, 4.03—Develop a strategy which includes the graphical, audio, visual, multimedia). continous evaluation of the research process 3.02—Collect information about diverse cul- and the information gathered. tures, environments, and peoples. 4.05—Gather information. 4.07—Organize and use information. 4.01—Identify information needs and formu- 4.08—Credit sources of information. late questions about those needs. 5.03—Collaborate with others, both in person 4.02—Describe several research models. and through technologies, to identify informa- 4.03—Develop a strategy which includes the tion problems and to design, develop, and eval- continous evaluation of the research process uate information products and solutions. and the information gathered. Grade 2 4.05—Gather information. 1.08—Select resourcse from both within and 4.07—Organize and use information. outside the school for personal and information 4.08—Credit sources of information. purposes. 5.03—Collaborate with others, both in person 1.09—Demonstrate awareness that resources and through technologies, to identify informa- convey meaning and exist in a variety of for- tion problems and to design, develop, and eval- mats (print, graphical, audio, visual, multime- uate information products and solutions. dia, web-based). PLANETS, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599 © 2010 by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center 3 MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION 1.10—Identify characteristics and advantages 2.03—Recognize the diversity of ideas and of various media formats (print, graphical, au- thoughts by exploring a variety of resources deio, video, multimedia, web-based) for a spe- (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, cific task. web-based) 1.11—Explore primary and secondary sources. 2.05—Determine usefulness of information re- 2.03—Recognize the diversity of ideas and sources. thoughts by exploring a variety of resources 3.02—Collect information about diverse cul- (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, tures, environments, and people. web-based) 4.01—Identify information about diverse cul- 2.05—Determine usefulness of information re- tures, environments, and people. sources. 4.02—Describe several research models. 3.02—Collect information about diverse cul- 4.03—Develop a strategy which includes the tures, environments, and people. continuous evaluation of the research process 4.01—Identify information about diverse cul- and the information gathered. tures, environments, and people. 4.05—Gather information. 4.02—Describe several research models. 4.07—Organize and use information. 4.03—Develop a strategy which includes the 4.08—Credit sources of information. continuous evaluation of the research process and the information gathered. 5.03—Collaborate with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify informa- 4.05—Gather information. tion problems and to design, develop and eval- 4.07—Organize and use information. uate information products and solutions. 4.08—Credit sources of information. In addition to these Standard Course of Study 5.03—Collaborate with others, both in person objectives, this show covers the following ma- and through technologies, to identify informa- jor concepts: black holes, Earth, meteors, the tion problems and to design, develop and eval- Moon, space probes and the Sun. uate information products and solutions. THE COMMON CORE STATE STaNDARDS Grade 3 1.08—Select resourcse from both within and In addition to the familiar North Carolina Stan- outside the school for personal and information dard Course of Study, our state has recently ad- purposes. opted the new Common Core State Standards. 1.09—Demonstrate awareness that resources This guide contains materials to help teachers convey meaning and exist in a variety of for- begin to build lesson plans that connect with mats (print, graphical, audio, visual, multime- the themes of these standards. “Writing about dia, web-based). Magic Tree House Space Mission” and “Look- 1.10—Identify chracteristics and advantages ing Up: Words in Magic Tree House Space of various media formates (print, graphical, Mission” have been developed with the Eng- audeio, video, multimedia, web-based) for a lish Language Arts Common Core Standards in R specific task. mind. 1.11—Explore primary and secondary sources. PLANETS, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599 © 2010 by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center 4 MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION WRITING ABOUT MAGIC TREE HOUSE® SPACE MISSION he Magic Tree House Space Mission they need, but not know how to spell them. Or show provides your students with a rich they may need to learn new words in order to experience you can draw upon for writ- discuss and describe the new experience this T show represents for them. ing assignments. Such assignments will help them develop writing skills and knowledge of domain-specific words they will be able to call 1. Remembering. Ask your students to close upon throughout their school years. their eyes for a little while and remember all the things they saw when they were in the In the new Common Core, the English Lan- planetarium. guage Arts Writing Standards for Grades 2-5 ask students to recall information from experi- 2. Discussing. Ask them to open their eyes and ences (Standard 8) and to write narratives to say out loud some of the things they remem- develop real or imagined experiences or events ber. You can give every child the chance to (Standard 2). mention one thing she or he remembers. You can make a rule that they must mention things When giving any of the writing prompts de- that aren’t already on the