Standards Correlations

R.1, R.2, R.3, R.4, R.6, R.7, W.3, SL.1, L.4, L.6

Learning Objective

Students will read and summarize a text about space tourism.

Key Skills

summarizing, text features, vocabulary, author’s craft, cause and effect, inference, critical thinking, narrative writing

Complexity Factors

Purpose: The text explains what space tourism might be like and how some companies are working toward it. 

Structure: The article begins by describing an imaginary space vacation and goes on to discuss how it could one day happen. It includes narrative and informational passages. 

Language: The language is mainly conversational but includes rhetorical questions and some space-related terms.

Knowledge Demands: Some knowledge of the International Space Station is useful but not required.

Levels

Lexile: 600L-700L 

Guided Reading Level: Q 

DRA Level: 40

Lesson Plan: Your Vacation in Space

Essential Questions

  • Why do some people find the idea of space travel so exciting? 
  • How might learning about outer space improve life on Earth?

Literature Connection

  • Novel: Zeroboxer by Fonda Lee

1. Preparing to Read 

Build Background Knowledge (5 minutes)

The article mentions the International Space Station, a structure in outer space where people live and work. To help students imagine life on the ISS, have them view our video “At Home in Space.” Then ask, “Do you think you’d enjoy living on the International Space Station? Why or why not?”

Preview Text Features (15 minutes)

Guide students to locate the article. Then preview the text features by asking the following questions:

  • Find the large image that looks a bit like a Ferris wheel and read its caption. What is it a picture of? The image’s caption states that it’s what a “future space hotel” could look like. 
  • Find the image of the International Space Station. What does its caption tell you? The caption says that the ISS circles Earth and that six people live and work there.

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

  • Point out the vocabulary box. Read the words (atmosphere, gravity, technology, spacecraft, orbit) aloud and discuss their definitions.
  • Play the Vocabulary Slideshow.

Make a Plan for Reading 

Before students start to read, walk them through a reading plan:

  • Set a purpose for reading: Tell students that by reading the article, they’ll learn how and when vacations in space might become a reality.    
  • Point out the Pause and Think boxes. Tell students they can check their understanding of what they’ve read by answering these questions.
  • Point out the activity at the end of the article, and tell students they will complete it after reading. Tell them to briefly scan the questions in the activity and to keep them in mind as they read.

2. Reading and Unpacking the Text

Guide students to read the article. Once they understand it well, discuss the following close-reading and critical-thinking questions.

Close-Reading Questions (15 minutes)

  • Why do you think the author includes information about the International Space Station (ISS)? (author’s craft) The author includes information about the ISS to show that it’s possible for people to live in space. If people can live and work on the ISS, people can vacation in space too.
  • Based on the article, what are some challenges of life in microgravity? (cause and effect) The article says that people who aren’t used to microgravity can end up with bumps and bruises from banging into walls. It also says that floating in the air can make some people feel sick.
  • According to  the article, many people who have seen Earth from space say it changed their lives. Why might this be? (inference) Seeing Earth in a new way might make you think about life in a new way. The article says that when you see Earth from space, you don’t see the borders between countries. That might make it easier to think of Earth as one big shared home. 

Critical-Thinking Questions (5 minutes)

  • Based on what you learned about space travel, why do you think some people might be excited about it? Why might some people not be interested in space travel? Use details from the article in your answer. (critical thinking) Based on the article, space travel could be exciting for some people because they would get to experience new things that they couldn’t experience on Earth: microgravity, seeing the Earth from up above, being able to jump super high, etc. It would be a truly unique experience. But some people might not like the idea of space travel, since floating in the air may result in bumps, bruises, and motion sickness. The trip would also cost a fortune. 

3. Skill Building and Writing (30 minutes)

  • Have students work in pairs to complete the Spotlight Skill activity at the end of the article.
  • Use our Summarizing Skill Builder, available in higher- and lower-level versions. (Click here to view all your Skill Builders for this article.)
  • Writing prompt: Imagine that you’re on a vacation in space and you want to send a postcard to a friend. Write a few sentences describing your hotel, how you got there, and what you’re enjoying (or not enjoying) about the trip. Include details from the article as well as your own ideas.

Learn Anywhere Activity

An enrichment activity to extend the learning journey at home or in the classroom

Make a Video

Use what you’ve learned to help others! In just a few years, space tourists might be getting ready for an out-of-this-world vacation. Make a quick video with tips on what to pack for an amazing trip.

  • Gather a little more info: Take a look at our fun infographic “So You Want to Go to Space?” 
  • Then, based on the article and the infographic, list a few important things a person should pack for a vacation in space.
  • Finally, make your video! You can simply name the items you suggest people pack, or you can go further and actually show yourself putting the items into a suitcase. Don’t forget to explain why each item is important. Have fun!

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