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.