Non‐fiction: ObjectsinSpace
Objects in Space
Space Traffic
What objects are circling Earth?
So much traffic is zipping around Earth’s orbit. An orbit is a path a space
object travels around another object. Scientists have to keep an eye on all
that traffic to make sure it flows smoothly.
So Many Satellites
Donald E. Carroll/Getty Images
People have sent hundreds of satellites into Earth’s orbit. A satellite is an
object that orbits a planet. Some travel as close as 100 miles above Earth.
Others are thousands of miles away. The satellites have different jobs. Some
track the weather. Others send signals to radios, televisions, cell phones,
and computers.
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Non‐fiction: ObjectsinSpace
Hubble Space Telescope
Friedrich Saurer/Alamy
The Hubble Space Telescope is a well-known satellite. It was launched into
space in 1990. It is in orbit 380 miles above Earth. Hubble takes photos of
our solar system and faraway galaxies. A galaxy is a huge group of stars,
dust, and gas. Over the years, Hubble has taught scientists a lot about
space.
International Space Station
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Non‐fiction: ObjectsinSpace
NASA/Handout/CNP/Corbis
The International Space Station is a special type of satellite. It is a giant
research lab in space where astronauts live and work. The station is in orbit
220 miles above Earth. Work on the space station began in 1998. It was
finished in 2011. At that time, it will be about the size of a five-bedroom
house.
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Name: ____________________________
Questions: Objects in Space
Date: ________________
Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information
in the passage.
1. What are the different jobs of satellites?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. Describe what the Hubble Space Telescope does.
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. According to the article, why is the International Space Station a
special type of satellite?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What is this passage mostly about?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Questions: Objects in Space
Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or
phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided
for you.
In 1990, scientists launched the Hubble Space Telescope into space.
Who? scientists
5. (did) What?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. When?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
7. Where?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Questions: Objects in Space
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that
best completes the sentence.
Some satellites are within 100 miles of Earth, _______ others are
thousands of miles away.
A but
B because
C so
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer
questions 9 and 10.
Vocabulary Word: orbit (or · bit): a circular path.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word orbit.
a. The satellite’s orbit was a path around the planet Mars.
b. The orbit of the satellite was a path in the shape of a circle.
c. After being launched into space, the spacecraft started orbiting the
Earth, so it was following a path around Earth.
d. To learn more about Saturn, scientists had a satellite orbit the planet
to study its rings.
e. Jupiter has more than 60 moons orbiting it!
10. Which of the following orbits the earth?
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Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Objects in Space
Teacher Guide and Answer Key
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 630
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a
concept or topic
Passage Summary: The passage describes objects that orbit Earth, including the
Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.
To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show
the passage on a whiteboard or give each student a copy of the passage so they can
follow along].
Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to
ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage.
Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can
use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary].
1. What are the different jobs of satellites? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: Jobs of satellites include tracking the weather and sending
signals to radios, televisions, cell phones, and computers. [paragraph 2]
2. Describe what the Hubble Space Telescope does. [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: The Hubble Space Telescope is a satellite that takes
photographs of our solar system and faraway galaxies. It has taught scientists a
lot about outer space. [paragraph 3]
3. According to the article, why is the International Space Station a special type of
satellite? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: The International Space Station is a special type of satellite
because it is a giant research lab in space where astronauts live and work. The
station is about the size of a five-bedroom house. [paragraph 4]
4. What is this passage mostly about? [Main Idea]
Suggested answer: The article is focused on satellites orbiting Earth, particularly
the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.
1
© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Objects in Space
Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best
answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you.
In 1990, scientists launched the Hubble Space Telescope into space.
Who? scientists
5. (did) What? launched the Hubble Space Telescope
6. When? in 1990
7. Where? into space
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Some satellites are within 100 miles of Earth, _______ others are thousands of
miles away.
A but
B because
C so
To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the
whole class out loud using the four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: orbit (or · bit): a circular path.
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (or · bit)
b. Teacher says: “This word is orbit. What is the word?” [All students reply together
out loud: “Orbit.”]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “An orbit is a circular path.”
b. Teacher says: “The word orbit is used when talking about a path one object takes
around another. It is often used when talking about how a space object travels
around another object. In this passage, the author discusses how some satellites
orbit Earth. So they take a circular path around Earth.”
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Objects in Space
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “Orbit.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the
first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to
the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish
reading the sentence out loud to your students.
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9
and 10.
Vocabulary Word: orbit (or · bit): a circular path.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word orbit.
a. The satellite’s orbit was a path around the planet Mars.
b. The orbit of the satellite was a path in the shape of a circle.
c. After being launched into space, the spacecraft started orbiting the Earth, so it
was following a path around Earth.
d. To learn more about Saturn, scientists had a satellite orbit the planet to study its
rings.
e. Jupiter has more than 60 moons orbiting it!
Step 4: Check for student understanding
To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an
independent practice.
10. Which of the following orbits the earth?
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: satellite, space, scientists, telescope
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