Cassini Solstice Mission: Cassini K-4 Literacy Program: Grades 3 & 4 Lessons

Cassini - Solstice Mission

Cassini K-4 Literacy Program: Grades 3 & 4 Lessons

Cassini K-4 Literacy Program: Grades 3 & 4 Lessons

Download the entire twelve-lesson set (PDF, 13.9 MB) or browse the lesson list below.

Overview: Reading, Writing, and Rings Teacher Introduction

Information on Reading, Writing, and Rings, using science notebooks throughout the lessons, student assessment, student growth indicators, and a wealth of invaluable information to make your journey more exciting.

0-Foreword_3-4

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1. What Do I See When I Picture Saturn?

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Writing - Illustrations with Text
Science Focus: Pre-Assessing Students - Scientific Ideas and Understandings

Lesson_01-3-4p3

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2. The Mysteries of Saturn and Cassini

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Writing - Descriptive Writing
Science Focus: Observing and Wondering - Essential Tools for Science

Lesson_02_3-4_p2

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3. Wondering About Saturn: A Short History

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Comprehension - Visualization
Science Focus: Reading to Support Inquiry-Based Thinking

Lesson_03_RWR_grades_3-4

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4. How Far Away Is Saturn?

Language Arts Focus: Descriptive and Compare/Contrast Paragraphs
Science Focus: Understanding Size and Distance through Sun/Earth/Saturn Models

Lesson_04-3-4-p3

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5. Discovering Saturn, the Real "Lord of the Rings"

Language Arts Focus: Reading Saturn 'Mini Books' and Writing Descriptive Paragraphs

Booklet One - Introducing Saturn (PDF, 4.28 MB)
Booklet Two - Saturn - From the Outside In (PDF, 959 KB) - From the Outside In
Booklet Three - Those Amazing Rings (PDF, 2.59 MB)
Booklet Four - Saturn's Moons (PDF, 900 KB)
Booklet One (In Spanish) - Presentando a Saturno (PDF, 5.61 MB) ("Introducing Saturn" in Spanish)
Booklet Two (In Spanish) - Saturno - Desde afuera hacia adentro (PDF, 949 KB) ("Saturn - From the Outside In" in Spanish)
Booklet Three (In Spanish) - Esos asombrosos anillos (PDF, 2.62 MB) ("Those Amazing Rings" in Spanish)
Booklet Four (In Spanish) - Las lunas de Saturno (PDF, 895 KB) ("Saturn's Moons" in Spanish)

Science Focus: Build 2-D and 3-D Models of Saturn

Lesson_05_RWR_grades_3-4_2007

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6. My Spacecraft to Saturn

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Reading and Writing as Problem-Solving Tools
Science Focus: Problem-Solving Spacecraft Design

Lesson_06_RWR_grades_3-4

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7. My Spacecraft and Cassini

Language Arts Focus: Compare and Contrast
Science Focus: An Eye for Comparison

Lesson_07_3-4_p3

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8. All About Titan and the Huygens Probe

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Writing Practice
Science Focus: Building Mission Background Knowledge

Lesson_08_3-4_p3

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9. Drop Zone!

Language Arts Focus: Writing to Plan, Problem-Solve, and Analyze
Science Focus: Designing and Testing a Parachuting Probe

Lesson_09_3-4-p2

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10. What Do I See Now When I Picture Saturn?

Language Arts Focus: Illustrations with Text; Compare and Contrast
Science Focus: Post-Assessment of Scientific Ideas and Understanding

Lesson_10_3-4_p2

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11. Putting It All Together

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Writing Practice - Descriptive; Compare and Contrast
Science Focus: Synthesis of Information and Reflection

Lesson_11_3-4_p2

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12. Celebrating Saturn and Cassini

Language Arts Focus: Nonfiction Writing Practice - Descriptive; Compare and Contrast
Science Focus: Sharing New Knowledge with Peers

Lesson_12_3-4_p2

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