Our Mars Colony--Settlers Profile

This year I modified my Settlers unit to incorporate what we learned in science.  Instead of creating a historical colony, we studied the plans for a colony on Mars.  We created a class bulletin board with characters and the setting for our colony.  This became a jumping off point for several writing projects.

To download a graphic organizer to create a settler for any colony, click here.

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka

I found Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor on the new books shelf at the local library.  I am so glad I did.  Frank lives with his grandfather Al Einstein. (No, not that one.)  He invents a robot in the garage which initially doesn't work, but in an accident develops artificial intelligence and recreates itself.  Klink and his less intelligent counterpart Klank help Frank with his inventions and his science competition with T. Edison.

I completely enjoyed the characters and plot.  The best part for me was the references to classic Sci-fi and famous scientists.  I'm excited to track down book two.

Here are printable directions to make a three-dimensional scene. This activity is suitable for any book.

 
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Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass

I was looking for new resources for Pi Day March 14 when I found Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass.  I am more familiar with her Willow Falls series.  Because I have loved everything she has written so far, I thought I would give it a try.
 Joss, the seventh son of the Supreme Overlord, loses his best friend Kal when Earth is ripped from the space-time continuum.  Annika, an earthling, appears in his place.  Can Joss restore Earth to its proper place?

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Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke



I have to confess that Zita the Spacegirl was not my favorite, but my classroom copy has been passed around my students so much, that its worth mentioning.  Zita's friend is taken to another planet and so begins her journey through an alien universe.  My students love it.

It's a graphic novel and I allow some of this genre for independent reading.  I don't allow it to become a steady diet.  I talk about different types of books like different foods.  Just like your body needs a mix of foods to be healthy, your mind needs a mix of ideas and formats to grow.  I want them to have a balanced diet physically and mentally.

Here is a blank story board form where students can create their own graphic novels.

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Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast Series by Clete Smith

"Was talking to girls always this tricky, or only when you were hiding visitors from outer space?"

This quote by the main character sums up the series.  Imagine the stress of adolescence compounded by helping your grandmother run an Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast.  David is supposed to help the aliens visiting Earth blend in so they won't become someone's research project.  This is exactly as difficult as it sounds.

Here is a free printable form for students to create their own alien trading cards.

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Favorite Read Aloud #1 -- The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

Imagine if your students could create a machine that would use the internet to do their homework for them.  In this book, one student does just that, and a group of students use it to complete these assignments daily. 

I use this book to talk about moral dilemmas.  Students, and many teachers, don't like homework.  Is it okay to let a machine do it? 

If you are studying this book in class either as a read aloud or as a whole group, it would be a good book to collect evidence from the text to support a statement.  Students could state their opinions about having a homework machine and find reasons and events from the book that support their idea.

Update November 2015: Click here to download a graphic organizer for students to collect evidence from the book and other texts supporting their opinion of a homework machine.

I often read this book at the beginning of the year to establish teacher/student roles.

This post is a part of my series: Four Reasons Why I Read Aloud.

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