Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify and engage with the key themes in 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'.
Key learning points
- Since the text’s publication, the Curiosity rover has continued to explore Mars’ surface.
- Innovation is a key theme within the text - the team at NASA had to think creatively and come up with solutions.
- Revisiting a text can allow readers to discuss questions that focus on themes.
- The Curiosity rover mission answered many questions, while posing new ones simultaneously.
Keywords
Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
Convey - to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly
Innovation - the process of bringing about new ideas, methods, products or solutions that have a significant positive impact and value
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to think of themes.
During Task B, discuss common themes and model thinking out loud some suggestions (e.g. collaboration, determination).
Teacher tip
The text is a great example of how pupils might get engaged with STEM subjects. You may wish to have additional non-fiction texts about space in the class book area or set a home-learning project for pupils to deepen their understanding and fascination.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2023 Walker Studio edition of ‘Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover’ written and illustrated by Markus Motum, for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a suitable definition of a theme?
Q2.True or False? Mars is a smaller planet than Earth.
Q3.How many wheels did the Curiosity rover use to navigate the Martian surface?
Q4.What is the name of the publisher of the text, 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover'?
Q5.Match the following words with their definitions.
amazement or curiosity about something unknown
desire to learn or know something
not giving up, staying focused on goals
Q6.What is the name of the astronomy expert who was consulted on the text?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly
bringing about new ideas, methods, products or solutions
Q2.True or false? ‘Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover’ answers all the questions it raises.
Q3.What was the name of the new rover that the team at NASA launched in 2020?
Q4.Which of the following is true about the Mars Perseverance rover?
Q5.Match the theme to how it is conveyed in the text.
the Curiosity rover found evidence of past water, including lake beds
Curiosity has a nuclear-powered battery, which powered the rover
the rover has captured stunning images of the Martian landscape
Q6.Which of the following themes may be drawn from ‘Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover’?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Exploring and engaging with themes in 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.