Scott Foresman Reading Street

For alternate Leveled Reader lesson plans that teach

Author’s Purpose, Summarize, and
Lesson Vocabulary, see pp. LR10–LR18.

Pushing Up the Sky
Group Time

Leveled Reader
Pictures in the Sky

BEFORE READING Have students
create word webs with the word
Constellations in the center. This
book tells about different
constellations and how they were
named. As you read, add ideas to
your web about constellations and
how they were named.

DURING READING Have students follow along as you read pp. 3–7. Then let them complete the book on their own. Remind students to add ideas to their webs as they read.

AFTER READING Have students compare the ideas on their webs. Point out that thinking about constellations will help them as they read tomorrow’s selection, Pushing Up the Sky.

Build Background

DEVELOP VOCABULARY Write the word
entertainment and ask students to define it in their
own words. (something that interests or amuses
people) What are some examples of entertainment?
(watching TV and movies, reading, playing games,
listening to music, watching sports) Repeat this activity with the word constellations and other words from the Leveled Reader Pictures in the Sky. Use the Concept Vocabulary routine on p. DI•1 as needed.

Independent Extension Activity

NOW TRY THIS Assign “Now Try This” on pp. 22–23
of Star Tracks for students to work on throughout
the week.

Leveled Reader
Star Tracks

BEFORE READING Recall the
Read Aloud “Greek Mythology.”
How did ancient Greeks explain
the sun’s rising in the sky?
(The sun god was riding his
chariot through the sky.) Today
you will read about stars other
than the sun and how people
have studied and used the
stars throughout history.

CREATIVE THINKING/CRITICAL THINKING Have students read the Leveled Reader independently. Encourage them to think creatively and critically. For example, ask:

What shapes do you see in some of the constellations? What names would you
give them?
How did each astronomer’s discovery or
invention build on the work of astronomers
before him?

AFTER READING Meet with students to discuss
the selection. Then have them review the selection
to find five unfamiliar words and determine their
meanings using context clues, the glossary, or a
dictionary. Have students make a “vocabulary
star”—a five-pointed star with a word at each point and the meanings of the words written inside the star along the lines leading to the points.