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Grades level iconsGrades 5–6
Session time icon1 Session: 2 Hours
Genre information iconFantasy/SciFi, Informational, Narrative
Resource type iconLessons

Your Intergalactic National Park

Jayne Kennedy, 826LA
Gather students around the metaphorical campfire to craft a brochure for a Nature Preserve on another planet, complete with wild critters, plant life, unique geological formations, and park history
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Lesson instructions 1 Lesson slideshow
What Your Students Will Learn

Students will write and illustrate an informational field guide to a National Park on another planet, complete with flora and fauna, history, and trail maps.

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1 Common Core Standards Icon
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4 Common Core Standards Icon
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10 Common Core Standards Icon
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1 Common Core Standards Icon
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.4 Common Core Standards Icon
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.10 Common Core Standards Icon
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Introduction :

We have many amazing and diverse National Parks here on Earth, but what might parks be like on planets where the conditions and terrain are wildly different? Students will explore this question, imagining the great unknown to write and illustrate an informational field guide to a National Park on another planet.

A note on volunteer and additional support:

In the original workshop, artists and musicians volunteered to support the development of the brochure. You may consider reaching out to volunteers, student families, and friends to enlist support for your students, or perhaps teachers from art and music departments could join in. Classes could also be combined to benefit from a workshop that combines writing, drawing, and music.

Alternatively, if students have shown a particular interest in art or music, they may be asked to help lead their small groups.

Session 1: Your Intergalactic State Park

Students explore the great unknown to create an informational field guide to an Intergalactic Park.

You Will Need
  • National Park books, articles, and brochures
  • Simple art and writing supplies
  •  S’more ingredients—marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, tinfoil and the toaster oven to make them in. (Optional)
  • Fake campfire, tents, and flags or pendants to mark out the various group tables.
  • Lyrics to tradition campfire songs such as “On Top of Old Smokey,” “My Darling Clementine,” “Home on the Range” and similar songs
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