The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers

The Way Back Home

By Oliver Jeffers

Summary: This book tells the story of a boy who finds himself stuck on the moon. Not only does he find himself stuck on the moon by also that he is not alone. The story begins with a boy flying his plane higher and higher into the sky when suddenly he runs out of fuel and lands on the moon. Meanwhile another part of the moon a martian crashes his space ship. Eventually as their eyes adjust to the darkness they find one another. The book details their adventures together and their journey back home. The book is creative and filled with vivid illustrations.

SC Science Standard: 4-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the properties, movements, and locations of objects in the solar system. (Earth Science)

Indicator: 4-3.2 Compare the properties (including the type of surface and atmosphere) and the location of Earth to the Sun, which is a star, and the Moon.

SC ELA Standard: 4-5 The student will write for a variety of purposes and audiences

Indicator: 4-5.2 Create narratives containing details and a sequence of events that develop a plot.

Lesson/Activity: The teacher will use this text towards the end of the Astronomy unit to assess what the students have learned while allowing the students to exercise their creativeness. The teacher will read aloud the text up to the point where the martian and the boy bump into one another on the moon. The teacher will instruct the students to write their own version of the boy and Martians adventures and illustrate their story. The students must use accurate facts and illustration about the solar system that they have studied throughout the unit. The students will share with their stories with the class.

Objectives:

• The student will recall the different properties and objects in our solar system.
• The student will rewrite the end of the book The Way Back Home.

Materials:

• The Way Back Home
• Paper
• Markers

Procedures:

1. The teacher will review important facts that the class has covered during the Astronomy unit.
2. The teacher will read the story The Way Back Home up to the point where the Martian and Boy meet on the moon.
3. The students will then complete their own version of the story with illustrations. The students must use accurate facts that they have learned during the Astronomy unit.
4. The students will share their stories with the class
5. The teacher will finish reading the story after all students have finished their stories.
6. The teacher will review the facts that the students used in their writings.