Julie K. Lundgren - Earth: The Living Planet

Use glossary words in a sentence. atmosphere
axis
energy
mantle
orbit
solar system Before reading a book, it is important to set the stage for your child or student by using pre-reading strategies. This will help them develop their vocabulary, increase their reading comprehension, and make connections across the curriculum.

	Read the title and look at the cover. Lets make predictions about what this book will be about.
	Take a picture walk by talking about the pictures/photographs in the book. Implant the vocabulary as you take the picture walk. Be sure to talk about the text features such as headings, Table of Contents, glossary, bolded words, captions, charts/diagrams, or Index.
	Have students read the first page of text with you then have students read the remaining text.
	Strategy Talk use to assist students while reading. - Get your mouth ready - Look at the picture - Thinkdoes it make sense - Thinkdoes it look right - Thinkdoes it sound right - Chunk it by looking for a part you know
	Read it again.

After reading the book, work on the following questions with your child or students in order to check their level of reading comprehension and content mastery.

	How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun? (Summarize)
	Explain what causes the four seasons. (Summarize)
	What are the essential things you need to live? (Text to self connection)
	How would you describe Earth? (Visualize)

Create your own diagram of the Earths layers.

	How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun? (Summarize)
	Explain what causes the four seasons. (Summarize)
	What are the essential things you need to live? (Text to self connection)
	How would you describe Earth? (Visualize)

Create your own diagram of the Earths layers.

Using various supplies create a diagram that represents the four layers of Earth: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Be sure to visually represent each layer through the use of colors, words, or other materials. Julie K. Lundgren

In the deep, inky blackness of space turns a bright blue planet we call home. Earth is 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the Sun, the star in the center of our solar system. Earth is one of eight planets in our solar system. Earth is one of eight planets in our solar system.

Earth has layers. At the center, a hot outer core surrounds a super hot inner core. Solid metals make up the inner core. Melted metals form the outer core. Earths LayersInner core 800 miles (1,290 kilometers) thickOuter core 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) thickMantle 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) thickCrust 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 kilometers) thickcrustmantleouter coreinner coreThe temperature of each layer goes up as we go closer to Earths center. The mantle is the thickest layer. It consists of gooey, melted rock.

We live on Earths crust, the outside layer. The crust moves and floats on top of the mantle. crustmantleMagma, melted rock below Earths crust, flows to Earths surface from volcanoes as red-hot lava.

In space, Earth does not float still like a statue. It moves. Earth spins on an invisible axis like a basketball on the tip of your finger. It takes 24 hours to make one full turn.

As Earth turns, we see sunrise and sunset, day and night. axisAs long as Earth spins at the same speed, we cannot tell we are moving. We would know if Earths speed changed suddenly, like when a car you are riding in slows down. All the planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system orbit the Sun. Earth and its Moon orbit the Sun. It takes one year to go around completely. MoonSunEarthOur Sun is one of the more than 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Many galaxies surround us. The tilt of Earths axis makes certain areas on Earth nearer or farther to the Sun at different times of the year. This causes the four seasons. AutumnWinterSummerSpringUnited StatesEquatorThe United States lies above an imaginary line called the equator. In winter, the tilt puts the U.S. at its farthestpoint from the Sun. at its closest.

The Sun gives our solar system its energy. at its closest. The Sun gives our solar system its energy.

Just the right amount of the Suns heat and light falls on Earth to support life. No other planet is yet known to have life. Our lives depend on the relationship between the Sun and our planet. Earths atmosphere keeps Earth at the right temperature for air, water, and life.