Scott Foresman Reading Street

Unit 5

Theme Launch

Discuss the Big Idea

As a class, discuss the Big Idea question, What makes an adventure?

Explain that adventures are exciting
or unusual experiences that may
involve dangers and risks. People
with adventurous spirits are often
thrilled with the idea of being the
first to accomplish or discover something.

Ask students to think of adventures that they or others have experienced.

A good example of an adventure was the first manned flight to the moon. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans to walk on the moon.

Theme and Concept Connections

Weekly lesson concepts help
students connect the reading
selections and the unit theme.
Theme-related activities throughout the week provide opportunities to explore the relationships among the selections, the lesson concepts, and the unit theme.

Unit Inquiry Project

Great Adventures in History

In the unit inquiry project, students choose an adventure from history and conduct research to learn more about it. Students may use print or online resources as available.

The project assessment rubric can be found on p. 635. Discuss the rubric's expectations before students begin the project. Rubric

PROJECT TIMETABLE

WEEK ACTIVITY/SKILL CONNECTION
1		IDENTIFY QUESTIONS Each student chooses a historical adventure and browses a few Web sites or print reference materials to develop inquiry questions about it.
2		NAVIGATE/SEARCH Students conduct effective information searches and look for text and images that can help them answer their questions.
3		ANALYZE Students explore Web sites or print materials. They analyze the information they have found to determine whether or not it will be useful to them. Students print or take notes on valid information.
4		SYNTHESIZE Students combine relevant information they've collected from different sources to develop answers to their inquiry questions from Week 1.
5		COMMUNICATE Each student writes three or more journal entries describing the adventure firsthand. Students may also create a list of useful resources for others who want to know more about the historical adventures they researched.

Historical Fiction

A family makes its
home aboard a ship.

Sailing Home:
A Story of a
Childhood at Sea

Narrative Nonfiction

An explorer discovers
a lost city in Peru.

Lost City:
The Discovery of
Machu Picchu

Historical Fiction

Two famous women
travel to new heights.

Amelia and Eleanor
Go for a Ride

Journal

A woman braves the
cold in Antarctica.

Antarctic Journal

Science Fiction

Two brothers go for a
walk on the moon.

Moonwalk


	Use the following selections to explore different types of adventures and reasons why people are willing to take risks to experience these adventures. Sailing Home Have students compare life at sea with life on land and the potential each has for adventure. They can also speculate what it would be like to travel the oceans aboard a modern ship.
	Antarctic Journal Have students discuss why the author traveled to Antarctica. They can also name places they would or would not want to explore and tell why.