Space story unit · KS1 (Reception to Year 2)
The Moon-Pup’s Way Home
Learning objective: Describe a journey to the Moon, using space words in the right order.
Suggested story settings: Genre: Science Fiction · Length: 2 chapters · Time: 10–15 minutes · Story world: Starlight Rocket
Talk questions
- What did our hero see on the way to the Moon?
- What would you pack for a trip to the Moon? Why?
Writing task
Draw the rocket landing on the Moon. Write one sentence: 'On the Moon I can see ___.'
Word bank
- astronaut
- a person trained to travel in space
- planet
- a large, round world that travels around a star
- crater
- a round hollow in the ground made by a rock from space
- telescope
- a tool that makes faraway things look closer
- orbit
- the curved path one thing takes around another in space
Success criteria (adventure story)
Reception to Year 2: I can write a beginning, a middle and an end. I can use describing words. I can use capital letters and full stops.
National Curriculum statements
- “recognising and joining in with predictable phrases” (Year 1, Reading – comprehension (statutory))
- “sequencing sentences to form short narratives” (Year 1, Writing – composition (statutory))
- “expanded noun phrases to describe and specify [for example, the blue butterfly]” (Year 2, Writing – vocabulary, grammar and punctuation (statutory))
- “the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements” (Key stage 1, History (statutory))
Sample opening (written for litsee.com, to read aloud)
Something silver was curled up on the windowsill. It had floppy ears and a waggy tail, and it glowed softly, like the Moon.
“A moon-pup!” said Captain Ada, who lived next door and was a real astronaut. “It must have fallen asleep and floated down. We need to take it home.”
So they climbed into the little rocket in Captain Ada’s garden. They put on their helmets and did up their belts.
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off!”
The rocket shook and roared and zoomed up into the sky. Soon the houses looked like toys. Then the clouds were far below. Then everything was black and full of stars.
The moon-pup pressed its nose to the window and wagged its tail.
Notes
Space story unit · KS2 (Years 3 to 6)
The Long Way Round
Learning objective: Describe the movement of the Earth, the Moon and the planets, using accurate scientific vocabulary.
Suggested story settings: Genre: Science Fiction · Length: 2 chapters · Time: 10–15 minutes · Story world: Starlight Rocket
Talk questions
- Which planet would you most like to visit, and why?
- How did the crew use what they knew about orbits to get home?
Writing task
Write the ship’s log for one day of the voyage, recording where you are, what you observe and one fact about the planet you pass.
Word bank
- orbit
- the curved path one thing takes around another in space
- planet
- a large, round world that travels around a star
- gravity
- the pull that keeps our feet on the ground
- solar system
- the Sun and everything that travels around it
- telescope
- a tool that makes faraway things look closer
Success criteria (diary entry)
Years 3 and 4: I can write in the first person and past tense. I can use time words. I can share thoughts and feelings.
Years 5 and 6: I can reflect on events, not just list them. I can keep a personal voice. I can keep my tense consistent.
National Curriculum statements
- “retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction” (Years 5 and 6, Reading – comprehension (statutory))
- “noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary” (Years 5 and 6, Writing – composition (statutory))
- “ensuring the consistent and correct use of tense throughout a piece of writing” (Years 5 and 6, Writing – composition (statutory))
- “describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun in the solar system” (Year 5, Science (statutory))
- “describe the movement of the Moon relative to the Earth” (Year 5, Science (statutory))
Sample opening (written for litsee.com, to read aloud)
“Small problem,” said Commander Okoro, tapping the map on the screen. “Someone has loaded the route backwards.”
Our hero looked at the moon-pup, curled up asleep on a cushion in the corner of the cabin, then out of the window. The Moon was there, a bright silver disc, but it was getting smaller.
“Can’t we just turn round?” they asked.
Commander Okoro smiled. “In space, you can’t just turn round. We’re moving very fast, and the Sun’s gravity is pulling on us. The quickest way back is to swing round the planets and let gravity bring us home.” She tapped the map again. “It’s the long way round, but it’s the best way.”
Out of the window, a small grey world was growing larger: Mercury, closest to the Sun, its surface covered in craters.
Our hero opened the ship’s log and began to write.
Notes
