Exploring Mars: Spirit and Opportunity

Lesson 5
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ELA

Alternate Unit 4

5th Grade

Lesson 5 of 33

Objective


Explain what the team did to prepare Spirit for the trip and why they were worried.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch  pp. 20 – 23

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Read the quote from page 22. 

“We had done our best to prepare her for the dangers she would face, but had we done enough?” 

Explain what the team did to prepare Spirit for the trip. Make sure to include how the team used the engineering and design process. Despite their preparations, why were they worried? 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Key Questions

  • Why were the rovers named "Spirit" and "Opportunity?"

  • The author uses a strategy of asking questions. Identify a place in the text where the author asks questions. Explain the effect it has on a reader. Why would the author use this strategy? 

  • Why did Steve refer to the six months of flight as the “scariest stages of a mission”? What evidence does the author include to support this statement?

Exit Ticket

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Vocabulary


transmitter

n.

(p. 21)

an object that sends out radio or television signals

fare

v.

(p. 22)

to do something well or badly

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.5.3 — Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

Supporting Standards

L.5.4
RF.5.3
RF.5.4
RI.5.1
RI.5.4
RI.5.6
RI.5.10
SL.5.1
W.5.10

Next

Explain the steps necessary for Spirit’s landing and why each step was important. 

Lesson 6
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Lesson Map

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