Exploring the story 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'

English

Understanding the context of 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'

Building comprehension of 'Curiosity' through rich discussion

Reading around the text 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'

Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'

In 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover: reading’, pupils read, discussed and explored a non-fiction picturebook narrative. In ’Shackleton's Journey: reading’, pupils will read, discuss and explore another non-fiction picturebook narrative based on real-life events.

In 'Escape from Pompeii: reading’, pupils explored and engaged with a historical fiction picturebook narrative. In ’Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover: reading’, pupils will read, discuss and explore a non-fiction picturebook narrative based on space exploration.

In this unit, pupils read and explore the narrative non-fiction text, 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'. They explore the context of Mars and the rover mission and answer a range of comprehension questions. Finally, pupils identify and engage with the key themes in the text.

'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover': reading

a genre of text which presents real events, information, or knowledge

initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading

What did the rover team not want the Curiosity to take with it to Mars?

clean and free from any germs or contaminants

something that is used up or consumed and cannot be reused

the path that an object takes around another object

Match the words that are found in the text to their definitions.

Which route did the rover take on its flight to the Kennedy Space Centre?

the rocket clears the Earth’s atmosphere. It is now in space

Sequence the following events in the rocket’s launch in chronological order.

True or False? Timing of the launch was not important.

What is the name of the rover that this book is focused on?

Mars is also known as the __________ planet? 

True or False? Scientists believe that Mars once had lakes and rivers.

Which of the following does a rover need to function on Mars?

everything is just right for something to happen

What is a suitable definition for the word **inhospitable**?

Exploring the story 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'

Lesson outcome