Solar System Unit Bundle: Sun, Moon & Planets Reading Passages, Activities

These differentiated solar system reading passages are a must have for working on reading informational text with your students! They cover everything students need to know about the planets, the sun, and the moon! The Solar System Cooperative Learning project is similar to literature circles in that each student has a "job" or role they have to complete for their planet. You will have your students so engaged in reading and learning about our Solar System that they will not even realize how much hard work their brains are doing!

Check out the links to each of the 4 individual products below to get a clear preview of each!

1. Solar System (Planets) Differentiated Reading Passages:

24 Differentiated Reading Passages (3 levels per planet)

"All About Mercury"

"All About Venus"

"All About Earth"

"All About Mars"

"All About Jupiter"

"All About Saturn"

"All About Uranus"

"All About Neptune"

Student Materials for Each Passage:

• Vocabulary Preview Charts: Included are 2 options with vocabulary terms only or a chart with the image & definition filled-in.

• Finding Text Evidence: 2 Options: 1.) Students color code text evidence in the passage and then write a written response in their own words, or 2.) complete a written response only to questions.

• Using Text Features: Students sort the text feature from the passage onto a graphic organizer and explain its purpose and how it is helpful to the reader.

• Vocabulary Crossword

• Interactive Graphic Organizer Simple cut & glue activity for students to sort information from the passage into a visual graphic organizer.

• Planets Venn Diagrams (4) : Students compare and contrast every 2 planets.

Solar System Cumulative Activities include:

• Planets Table/ Chart Interpretations

• Planets Timeline Interpretations

• Planets Sorts (3: Inner Planets, Outer Planets, All Planets)

• "Soaring through the Planets" Planets Picture Dictionary

• "Soaring through the Planets" Vocabulary Crosswords (with and without word bank)

• "Soaring through the Planets" Comprehension Crossword

• Blank Copies of each Activity: Provides flexible use (Vocabulary Charts, Text Features, Venn Diagram)

• Answer Keys: Included for all "Finding Text Evidence" Short Answers and Crossword Puzzles.

2. Sun and Moon Differentiated Reading Passages:

6 Differentiated Reading Passages (3 levels each)

• "All About the Sun" Differentiated Reading Passages (3 levels of a 2-page reading passage) Grade Level Equivalents: 2.5-5.5

• "All About the Moon" Differentiated Reading Passages (3 levels of a 2-page reading passage) Grade Level Equivalents: 3-5.5

Student Materials for Each Passage:

• Vocabulary Preview Charts: Included are 2 options with vocabulary terms only or a chart with the image & definition filled-in.

• Finding Text Evidence: 2 Options: 1.) Students color code text evidence in the passage and then write a written response in their own words, or 2.) complete a written response only to questions.

• Using Text Features: Students sort the text feature from the passage onto a graphic organizer and explain its purpose and how it is helpful to the reader.

• Interactive Graphic Organizer Simple cut & glue activity for students to sort information from the passage into a visual graphic organizer.

• Vocabulary Crossword

• Venn Diagram : Students compare and contrast the sun and the moon.

• Sun & Moon Sort

• Sun & Moon Chart Interpretation

• Answer Keys (for Finding Text Evidence & Crosswords)

3. Solar System Cooperative Learning Project:

What's included for each of the 7 Jobs:

• Job Description Page (with examples)

• Student Work Organizers & Templates

• Job Nametag

Also includes:

• CCSS Aligned Rubric for Grades 3-5

• Research Record (if you would like student to cite sources)

• Whole Class & Small Group Assignments Organization Pages

Job Titles:

• Planet Photographer

• Meteorologist

• Fashion Designer

• Automotive Designer

• Cartographer

• News Reporter

• Travel Agent

Solar System Word Wall:

*53 Terms* Include all vocabulary from each of the reading passages, plus even more solar system terms. *2 Color Options* included with black or white vocabulary word heading background.

Terms included are:

crater

revolution

rotation

atmosphere

terrestrial

dense

toxic

water vapor

sphere

poles

meteoroid

satellite

meteorite

asteroid

canyon

rover

gas

solid

liquid

diameter

ringlet

pressure

telescope

probe

axis

astronomer

observatory

celestial body

gravity

climate

solar

star

photosphere

sunspot

solar flare

phases of the moon

highland

impact basin

launch

unmanned

comet

meteor

orbit

constellation

galaxy

full moon

crescent moon

gibbous moon

quarter moon

new moon

universe

astronomy

planet

Individual Product Links:

1. Planets Differentiated Reading Passages, Comprehension & Vocabulary Common Core

2. Sun and Moon Differentiated Reading Passages, Comprehension, Vocabulary & Compare Contrast

3. Solar System Cooperative Learning Research Project

4. Solar System Word Wall

This product (except for the research project) is also part of the Science & ELA Integration Bundle, which is enough differentiated reading passages for the entire year!