Guided Reading Lesson:
Outer Space

Introduction/Background Knowledge

  • What do you know about outer space?
  • How do you get to outer space?
  • What would you do if you met an alien?

In this book, Ben and his pals-Ted, Sam, and Pam live in outer space. They meet an ugaba (an alien) that is a lot of fun, but also causes many problems for them. Let’s read to find out what happens.

Chapter 1

Key Vocabulary
planets, black pod, Mars

Comprehension Questions:

  • Where does Ben live?
  • Describe some of the planets Ben saw on the bus.
  • Where did Ben and his pals go?
  • What was the pod like?

Critical Thinking Questions

  • What do you think it would be like to be in outer space?
  • Do you think it was a good for Ben and his pals to go into a black pod?
  • Why didn’t Pam want to go into the pod?
  • Make a prediction why they yelled, “Ahhhhhhh,” in the pod?

Chapter 2

Key Vocabulary
Ugaba, rup, yelled

Comprehension Questions

  • Who did Ben, Ted, Sam, and Pam meet?
  • What does the ugaba look like?
  • What does he like to do?
  • What happened at the end of the chapter?

Critical Thinking Questions

  • Why do you think Pam finally decide to go into the pod?
  • Do you think it was a good idea for Ben to invite the ugaba over for a play date? Why or why not?
  • Why do you think the ugaba said, “I do not like to come out of my pod?”

Chapter 3

Key Vocabulary
again, Oooops,

Comprehension Questions

  • What is the setting?
  • What did the ugaba make fall down?
  • What was the problem in this chapter?
  • How did Ben and his pals solve the problem?
  • What does the ugaba like to eat?

Critical Thinking Questions

  • Would you want to invite an ugaba over for a playdate? Why or why not?
  • How do you think Ben’s mom felt about the ugaba being at her house?
  • Do you think the ugaba is going to cause any more problems for Ben?

Chapter 4

Key Vocabulary
school

Comprehension Questions

  • What is the setting?
  • What is the problem in this chapter?
  • How is the problem solved?
  • What does the ugaba make the class do?
  • Retell the events in this chapter.

Critical Thinking Questions

  • What would you do if an alien followed you to school?
  • Would you want an alien in your class? Why or why not?
  • How do you think Ben felt that the ugaba followed him to school?

Chapter 5

Key Vocabulary
go away, moon

Comprehension Questions

  • Where did the ugaba go when he left school?
  • What was the problem in this chapter?
  • How was the problem solved?
  • Why doesn’t the ugaba like to leave his pod?
  • Where do they decide to go at the end of the chapter?

Critical Thinking Questions

  • Do you think Ben and his pals are good problem solvers?
  • What is the ugaba like? (playful, moody, lonely)
  • What do you think they are going to do on the moon?

Chapter 6

Key Vocabulary
lag, bud ump, ‘it’-to be the tagger

Comprehension Questions

  • What is a lag?
  • Why are the lags lips yellow?
  • What game does Ben and his pals play with the lags?
  • What happens at the end of the chapter?

Critical Thinking Questions

  • Have you ever eaten something that turned your lips or tongue a different color?
  • Do you think the ugaba will like it on the moon? Why or why not?
  • Do you think Ben and his pals will come back to visit the ugaba?
  • How do you think life will be different for the ugaba on the moon than on Mars?

Book Extension Activities

  • Retell what happens in the book.
  • Write a book recommendation to a friend.
  • Would you want to live in outer space? Why or why not?
  • What was your favorite part of the book? Draw a picture to match.
  • Make up and name your own alien. Draw a picture to match.
  • Write a seventh chapter about the ugaba living on the moon.