The International Space Station

The International Space Station

Written by Franklyn M. Branley

Illustrated by True Kelley

Appropriate for grades 3-5

Informational

Have you ever wondered how learn about space since it is so far away? Have you ever wondered what astronauts do while on a space mission? Read this book to discover the hard work astronauts put in so people on Earth can discover the wonders of space.

The book begins with a short letter to the readers from the astronaut Scott Carpenter about how technology has developed at the International Space Station over the past decades. The book explains the purpose of the space station paired with visual representations so children can identify the parts with their purpose. The book explains why the suits and footholds are necessary for astronauts. It explains how the Space Station works. As the book continues students learn what life is like in space for astronauts and how the simplest tasks on Earth such as showering or eating are much more complicated on a space shuttle. The book closes by giving children the idea that one day they could be one of those astronauts. 

Franklyn M. Branley does a great job of explaining the importance of the International Space Station as well as explaining the tools used by astronauts to discover more about what is happening in space. The book provides insight into the work put in by astronauts and the difficulties they face when working in space. The book also has beautifully detailed illustrations to accompany the words on the page. The book is full of colors, and the pictures are labeled so students can better understand the material in the book.

            I feel as though this book would be a great resource in the classroom to teach students about how we know so much about space. It is written in a way that is very detailed, but also understandable to children. I believe the labels and details of the pictures aid in the understanding of this topic. I also love how it compares life on space to life on Earth. My favorite aspect of the book is at the end when it makes the idea of growing up to become an astronaut tangible to students. The book also encourages this idea by giving students an activity to do at home that relates to the work astronauts are doing at NASA.

            The International Space Station could be used in class to get students excited about the discoveries made in space. It also suggests the importance of technology and its development in order to continue learning about our solar system. Although NASA has recently closed I believe it is still important to encourage students to pursue a career as an astronaut if they are interested. If there are students interested explain to them that although the United States no longer has a program, countries outside the United States have programs they can work to get into in order to fulfill their dreams.            

The International Space Station is a great book to get students excited about our solar system. The book is organized in a pleasing way, and uses information on each page to scaffold further learning. The author provides the details and images that would excite a student about the processes completed by astronauts in outer space. The author and illustrator also used humor in a few of the pictures that astronauts were featured. In one the illustration of the astronaut in the shuttle shower, it shows him singing and there is a rubber ducky floating around him.

Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

RI3.4. Determine the meaning of general academic and domain specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.

RI4.7. Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.

RI5.8. Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).