CIST 571: Big Idea Text Set by Mark Haussermann

Three Essential Questions

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 00:49:25 UTC

Why do humans have a natural curiosity to explore the unknown?
How has the exploration of the unknown shaped our understanding of the natural world and the universe?
What are the psychological and emotional challenges that individuals and groups face when venturing into the unknown?

What's the Big Idea?

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 00:53:46 UTC

Exploring The Unknown

Activity 1: Past, Present, Future Reading Response Journal On Exploration

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 01:24:22 UTC

Students will have to write three journal entries and a reflection connecting one of their exploration journals to a text in the set. Students will not be allowed to write about their house/apartment for any of their journal entries. The first journal will be about a place they've already explored. Possibe options could be a relatives house, a place they've been to on vacation, a memorable store they've been to, etc. The second journal entry will be a reflection about a walk they will have to take around their own neighborhood. On this walk, they will have to have to indentify 5 examples of scenery and/or nature that applies to the senses then reflect on which example was the most vivid and which was their favorite.The third journal will be an entry about a place they would like to explore in the future. This journal entry can be a different town from their own, a vacation spot, a different country, the sea, or the stars. For the final reflection, students will have to make a text-to-self connection connecting a character from one of the exploration books to one of their journal entries. For example, if a student visions herself as an astronaut and driving a rover on Mars, they will write about connecting to the story "Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover."

Activity 2: Bloom's Cube Book Report

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 01:48:56 UTC

Students get to collaborate on this assignment in groups of three or four. Each group will be given a piece of oak tag paper with a six equal squares drawn on it in the shape of the cross. Students will complete six different activities, one for each level of Bloom's Taxonomy. This activity is good because you can make it as in depth or as basic you want depending on the student's age/levels. For the "Remember" square, students will have to list important things they remember about the text; eg. the protagonist's name, where they explore, and/or even what one should look for while they're exploring. The "Understand" square would be a passage or image from the text that they would glue to the square and then explain the siginifcance. The "Apply" square could have the students role playing in the voice of one of the characters. They would ask and answer interview questions in the voice of the protagonist or person on the exploration journey in the text. For the "Analyze" square students will choose another person in the story besides the protagonist and they will characterize a few character traits of that character. If there is no character, because they read an exploration guide, they can analyze the character traits of explorers in general. The "Evaluate" square can have student's write a reflection paragraph appraising whether or not the explores where ready to explore when that began their exploration. For exploration guide readers they can write a paragraph appraising what makes a person ready to explore. The "Create" square would be the same for everyone, each group would write a poem about exploring. Each person in the group would write a stanza. The criteria of the poem can be based on different levels, so this is an aspect of the assignment that could be highly differentiated.

Activity 3: Brown Bag Book Report

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 13:57:31 UTC

After reading the book, students will write a summary on the front of the bag. On the other side of the bag, they will illustrate a scene or a symbol from the book. You could have them explain the significance of that image in their own words for older students. On one of the sides, they will rate the book (think 4/5 stars) with a blurb (or paragraph for older students) explaining their rating. On the remaining side they will identify a character or element from the book they liked the most. Inside the bag, the students will place a minimum of three items or illustrations that represent something from the book. Due to the nature of the assignment, you could suggest things like a leaf, a feather, a car, a toy boat, a rocket, etc. This assignment offers a lot of student choice and can be differentiated in many ways, making it an awesome alternative to a traditional book report.

Book 1: "A House That Once Was" by: Julie Fogliano

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 14:36:05 UTC

This book is not your typical story of exploring the unknown, there are no mountains, caves, oceans, or outer space. Yet, it has all the elements of a good exploration book: a boy, a girl, and a setting that sets their curiosity and imagination on fire. These children find an abandoned house and decide to explore, imagining who may have lived there based on the artifacts they find. Between the vivid painting-like illustrations and the lyrical narration, this award winning book is an excellent way to engage the minds of students.

This book fits all of the essential questions. It explores the children's natural curiosity to explore the unknown. The story has two children trying to figure out their world by trying to solve the mystery of who lived in the house. It even delves into the mindset of the children across their journey as they're exploring.

Book 2: "Lights On Wonder Rock" By David Litchfield

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 15:01:36 UTC

This book is about wanting to go to space and meet aliens. Eventually Heather does so and is amazed, but when she sees her lonely family, she returns home. As her life passes she tries again and again to contact the aliens only to succeed again as a senior citizen. Her eagerness to explore the unknown always brings her back to Wonder Rock. This book really fits into my second and third essential question. Heather doesn't really understand what is really important in her world until she leaves the planet for a second time as a senior citizen. It fits the third essential question because of the emotional challenges Heather faces when she ventures into space.

Book 3: "Sam & Dave Dig A Hole" By Mac Barnett

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 21:55:11 UTC

Many exploration books are about searching for treasure, but there's usually a pirate ship or a map involved. This book is about looking for treasure, but in true childlike innocence, they just decide to dig somewhere randomly. The hilarious illustrations will keep readers on their feet. Sam and Dave dig so far, they realize the journey is the real treasure. This book uses the illustrations as much as the text to complete the essential questions, because their emotions are shown on their faces, especially their eyes. The text does project their curiosity and their satisfaction to the reader. Especially the challenges they face as they fail to find physical treasure.

Book 4: "Exploring The Deep, Dark Sea" By Gail Gibbons

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 22:31:50 UTC

This realistic fiction will remind you of the Magic School Bus, except there is no magic. Fictitious oceanographers explore the sea to learn more about the bottom of the ocean. In some ways this book is as much a textbook as it is a narrative, but the emotional characteristics of someone going on a journey to explore the unknown are made clear through the simple narration. This text is perfect for focusing on the second essential question as it teaches the reader about our world, but can answer the first essential question if you preface a discussion about the answer to that question with, “Mankind knows more about the surface of the moon than the bottom of the ocean…” You can also answer the third essential question, but you would have to teach inferencing/reading in between the lines in order to depict the emotions as it may be a bit harder for younger readers.

Book 5: "Dear Yeti" By James Kwan

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 22:51:07 UTC

This book is mostly written as letters. In the letters, the reader gets to learn the emotions the two hikers go through as they search for Yeti as food runs low, the weather changes, and they get chased by a bear. It also is a view into the natural world with early elementary innocence woven into the story. You could even have younger readers describe how the two protagonists are curious and how their curiosity is rewarded.

Book 6: "Off and Away" By Cale Atkinson

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-04 22:58:36 UTC

Book 7: "Go For the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, And the First Moon Landing" By Chris Gall

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:23:13 UTC

This book is about a young boy who is completely captivated by the Apollo 11 moon mission. As the narrator explains the science of the rocket and the journey to the moon, he mirrors what is going with a minirocket and explains the science of that rocket as well. This book brings the story of the unknown, of the magnanimous science of going to the moon and brings it down to a scale that can be understood by young explorers. This shift in the story of the rocket to the moon to the backyard rocket is a physical manifestation of bringing the unknown universe into the known universe. Along the way, the book explores the boy’s excitement of venturing into the unknown, all the while outlining the physical hardships that must be overcome on the way to the moon.

Book 8: "Lift Your Light A Little Higher: the Sotry of Stephen Bishop: Slave-Exporer" By Heather Henson

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:31:04 UTC

This book is about Stephen Bishop, a.k.a. Guide, he leads slaves through part of the underground railroad that is literally underground. He guides slaves to where they could be free even though he himself was not free, but was owned by a person who supported the fight of the African American slave. Stepehen’s main goal was to be remembered for doing good. This book explores the quest to search for freedom. In this case, the understanding of the natural world is known, but seems like an unattainable goal. It greatly explores the emotional challenges of the enslaved, especially the slave who is trying to help other slaves get free. The book ends with an unknown mystery that encapsulates a slave's journey into the unknown.

Book 9: "Curiosity: The Story of the Mars Rover" By: Markus Motum

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:33:29 UTC

The book is the perfect vehicle to introduce the Mars rover, Curiosity, to children. As seen on the cover, it cleverly uses art to make the robot seem alive, through the use of its eye. The text itself has a familiar font and setting to mimic that of the opening crawl in the Star Wars franchise. All of this to keep the reader curious about exploring the unknown. This book contains several facts to help young children understand parts of the universe that were previously unknown. Some of the facts are used to set up that humans cannot realistically make the trip or survive on Mars, hence the need for Curiosity. Therefore feeding into a child’s thirst for exploring the unknown. The text also discusses the fear that went into the beginning of Curiosity’s journey, because no one knew for sure if all the calculations were correct.

Book 10: "Journey Around The Sun: The Story Of Hallet's Comet" By: James Gladstone

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:36:21 UTC

For thousands of years, mankind looked up to the stars and noticed that around every 75 years one star shot across the sky, with a tail and all. For centuries it fed the natural curiosity of man and kept them looking towards the stars. His book discusses how part of the universe moved from the unknown into the known, at least as far as comets are concerned. The book discusses facts about comets, specifically Halley’s, but also captures the curiosity and challenges humans faced through its illustrations. The narration leaves the reader wondering exactly what do comets experience on their way around the sun!

Book 11: "The Little Pioneer" By: Adam Hancher

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:38:38 UTC

This story is about a young girl who decides to head out West with her family when her father passes away. The text shares her adventure as she discovers the challenges, excitement and danger of America's frontier. This tale shows the courage of four early pioneers in search for their own version of the American Dream. Facing many dangers, this story shows the bravery required for such a journey. The psychological and emotional challenges to cross the country plagued the heroine of the story, especially when she was alone. What she discovers is that the wonderment of the wilderness calls to her. It gives her a greater understanding of the world as she reunites with her remaining family and settles in the West.

Book 12: "Little People: Big Dreams: Vanessa Nakate" By: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:42:07 UTC

This biography is a modern take of venturing off into the unknown. As part of the massive Little People, Big Dreams series, this story is about a young woman who leaves her home in Uganda after graduating from college to fight for climate change in order to protect her home land. The twist of this book about venturing into the unknown, is that unlike other books about venturing into the unknown, Nakate goes to teach, not just to learn. However, this book does capture her emotional plight. as no one takes Nakate seriously at first as she struggles to become one of the most avid advocates for climate change. Nakate’s venture into the unknown may just be what the world needs to heal itself. Nakate’s thirst for curiosity may be for the betterment of all humanity.

Book 13: "Oh, The Lavas That Flow!: All About Volcanoes" By: Todd Tarpley

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:44:48 UTC

This book obviously has fictitious characters, the Cat in Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2; but explores parts of the world using real facts about different volcanoes, both on world and off. It is one of the many books in the Cat in the Hat Learning Library series. It does this all the while written in verse as is the tradition of Dr. Suess and the Cat in the Hat. In order to utilize this book appropriately, one can build off the question posed at the end of the book asking students which volcano is their favorite and why. After using that as a jumping off point, one can ask students what about the volcanoes makes them curious and how would they feel if they went on a journey to explore any of these volcanoes. Especially any of the volcanoes that could be found in space. Finally, one can ask the students what they have learned from the book to help them prepare for their journey.

Book 14: "Leif The Lucky" By: Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:47:55 UTC

This book is a father and son journey of exploration. It’s a children’s tale of one of the world’s most famous explorers. Leif accidentally discovers a new land and finds his way back home earning him his nickname. After returning home, Leif goes out exploring yet again. It discusses commerce, lumber farming, war, and the emotions that go with each. It even discusses what happens when the weather intervenes and keeps people from exploring. It’s unique insofar as it discusses both the rise and fall of man’s curiosity to explore the unknown. It is also unique as it discusses the challenges of the explorers, while acknowledging the challenges of the natives that were discovered. This story is definitely a narrative, but its tone also rings that of a history book for children.

Book 15: Beowulf By: Michael Morpurgo

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:51:47 UTC

The author, Michael Morpurgo, is known for his famous work, Warhorse, but he is also famous for taking classics like Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and revising them so they can be enjoyed by a contemporary audience. This version of the classic has easy reading prose of the famous Scandinavian warrior who explores the known world to fight three monsters, ultimately meeting his ultimate test in his final battle against the death-dragon. The battles Beowulf faces definitely help shape the natural world as he saves it from destruction. The book also goes in Beowulf’s internal conflict perhaps better than the original version so students can track psychological and emotional challenges he faces as he journeys to and through each battle, making this an excellent novel to analyze exploring the unknown from the point of view of someone on a quest to not only explore the world, but to save it.

Book 16: "Max Goes To Jupiter: A Science Adventure With Max The Dog" By: Jeffrey Bennet, Erica Ellingson, & Nick Schneider

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:54:54 UTC

This book is set in the future about a space exploring dog named Max. It is one of the books in the Science Adventures with Max the Dog series. It follows not only Max, but his human family as they watch him from Earth. This book contains many scientific facts, such as facts about Jupiter; and much science fiction, such as the space elevator; all surrounded by Max’s narrative. The characters feel several emotions ranging from curiosity to anger to fear, and what is not read in the prose, can be seen in the hyper-realistic faces of each of the characters. Each illustration is almost impressionistic, except for when the faces are done in stark contrast. This text not only fits the text set because of the emotional experiences the characters face as they explore Jupiter and its moons, but because of how the book raises the possibility that Jupiter’s moons may be colonizable by future explorers. It raises the curiosity of the reader by increasing the reader’s knowledge of the known universe. If one were to explore another planet, who would not want to do so with their trusty dog.

Book 17: "The Sinking Of The Vasa: A Shipwreck f Titanic Proportions" By: Russell Freedman

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-26 23:57:16 UTC

The Vasa is a story to be told of three separate groups of people ready to explore. King Gustav of Sweden originally commissioned the Vasa as the most elaborate warship to explore and conquer the seas, especially in Sweden's war against Prussia. With thousands of sailors ready to take on this voyage, the Vasa sank less than a mile from port due to the fact that it was so top heavy. Many people were rescued, but there were still hundreds that died in front of their families and friends. Three hundred years later, the Vasa was the treasure to be found at the bottom of Stockholm’s harbor by Andres Fanzen and Per Edvin Falting, who found the Vasa and saw that it was raised from the bottom of the sea. The book also entices current explorers looking to explore the past by inviting people to Sweden to see the renovated Vasa in person. Although King Gustav had belligerent motivations, the text still points out the curiosity created by the idea of the Vasa across all three time periods. Furthermore, this book helps answer the essential questions because it outlined the psychological and emotional challenges of the Swedes after the sinking of the Vasa as well as the emotional challenges of the explorers who made it their mission to raise the warship. Finally, the Vasa taught lessons of what not to do when constructing a massive ship, therefore increasing the reader's understanding of the natural world.

Book 18: Outside: A Guide To Discovering Nature By: Maria Ana Peixe Dias & Ines Teixeira do Rosario

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:00:15 UTC

This nonfiction text reads more like a textbook, but if you look at its cover you will see the silhouettes of two curious children analyzing a snail. It’s designed to push kids to go outside and explore their surroundings. It contains explanations of several plants, animals, space entities, weather phenomena and more. Its limitations are that it does not convey the curiosities of any characters, but it can help raise curiosity in students. A teacher can assign this text to the class and have them go on a scavenger hunt to explore their street or neighborhood. In doing so you are increasing the students' knowledge of their known world. You can also ask them to write in their reflection journals and in doing so they can record any challenges they have faced on their journey.

Book 19: Snared: Escape to the Above By: Adam Jay Epstein

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:02:29 UTC

This children’s novel is book one of the fantasy series of the explorer Wily Snare. Wily Snare builds underground traps in order to keep people like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft from finding the treasures of the ancient world. That is until one day a group of treasure hunters defeat his traps and introduce Wily Snare to the sun where he decides to join them and go on his own adventures. This book discusses Snare’s curiosity to venture into the unknown; the physical, psychological, and emotional challenges he faces as he encounters multiple dangers; and how Wily’s understanding of the world changes immensely. Due to the fact that this book is a fantasy it does not challenge a student’s perception of Earth, but it does teach them how to deal with the emotional aspect of recognizing those changes. In doing so in a fantasy setting, it helps them ease into such transitions when they do recognize them in the real world.

Book 20: The Explorers: The Door in the Alley By: Adrienne Kress

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:04:06 UTC

This children’s novel is book one of the The Explorers series. It’s an adventure book surrounded by mysteries. The aptly named text is about a group of explorers that discover a secret door that leads them to a secret society. Their ensuing adventure leads them all around. This fictitious series greatly shows the curiosity of the characters and delves into why they are so curious. Similar to the Snared series, it does not challenge a student’s perception of Earth, but it does teach them how to deal with the emotional aspect of recognizing those changes as they discover new things about their world. It also shows students how to deal with the emotions and challenges when venturing into the unknown.

Book 21: The Adventures of henry Whiskers By: Gigi Priebe

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:05:53 UTC

This book is a children’s novel that depicts Henry Whiskers on an adventure to find his missing sister, Isabella. This book is the premier, self titled book in The Adventures of Henry Whiskers series. Henry Whiskers must face his fears and rescue his sister from Rat Alley to bring her back to their home in Windsor Castle. Not only does this book explore Henry’s curiosity as he ventures from his safe home, but shows Henry’s internal struggle as he fights against his own gullibility while questioning his understanding of the world. This is a great novel to help young readers reinforce the importance of family all the while analyzing Henry’s challenges as he shows bravery for the first time and venture’s into the unknown.

Book 22: "The Nature Journal: A Backyard Adventure" By Savannah Allen

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:07:44 UTC

Sometimes the world is not enough to foster our curiosity, sometimes those who make us curious are the people who are with us the most. In the case of Tim, it is his dad that makes him want to explore the outside world and record his adventures for prosperity. One day, Tim has to wait too long for his dad, so he begins to read his father’s old journals where he falls asleep. This book keeps the reader curious during the dream sequence with its lack of narration and vivid imagery. When Tim wakes up the narration returns. This book is perfect for young readers because you can have them tell you the story in their own words. They can make up the unknown from their own imagination with the imagery as a guide. You can ask them what Tim was thinking at certain times, how Tim was feeling, or even what the temperature was like under the sea or in the rainforest. You can truly have students answer all the essential questions from their imagination.

Book 23: "The Not-So Great Outdoors" By: Madeline Kloepper

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:09:38 UTC

If your students are urban students like mine are, they may share the same sentiment as the narrator of this text who does not like the fact she has to go camping with her family. From the start, the protagonist’s curiosity is a secondary feeling to her feelings of contempt for the great outdoors as she does not know how to handle life away from the city. This may be the perfect book to help your student build connections. It’s not until the protagonist slows down and notices the songs of the birds that she notices other things that the outdoors has to offer her and her family. A young reader can actually track what the protagonist learns while camping with her family as it is very straightforward and does not require much inference; making this text a great choice for younger students. Students can also track the narrator’s dynamic shift in tone from the beginning of the book to the end as she learns that she actually enjoys the outdoors.

Book 24: What Was the Age of Exploration By: Catherine Daly

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:11:08 UTC

This non-fiction book is part of the massive 60+ titles Who Was… series. Many of them are bibliographies about a singular person, but this one differs due the fact that it is about an entire time period. This title explores the 200+ years from the late 1300’s to the early 1600’s and discusses European explorers as they began to look for different trade routes and paths to the New World. This text is good for children, but definitely geared towards upper- elementary/middle school. Young readers can answer all three essential questions as it pertains to one individual, albeit probably not at the same depth as one another, or if you want students to spend equal time on each question, you can have them focus on different explorers.

Book 25: The Age Of Exploration: Totally Getting Lost By: Ben Thompson and Erik Slader

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:12:14 UTC

This title is the fourth book of the Epic Fails series. It is written in the form of a novel, but it is geared towards younger students and designed to be a child’s first novel; so even though it has prose, it is filled with illustrations. This book is mainly focused on Christopher Columbus, but also discusses other explorers of the same period who made their most important discoveries by accident. After all, “fail” just means, “first attempt in learning” and when these explorers failed in looking for spices and gold, they learned new things about the natural world, like there was more of it than originally thought. Students can use this book to analyze Columbus’ curiosity, measure his psychological and emotional challenges as he sailed on his voyage as well as discuss how his contributions to history stemmed from his greatest failures.

References

mhaussermann1 — 2023-11-27 00:16:49 UTC

Allen, S. (2023). The Nature Journal: A Backyard Adventure.

Penguin Young Readers Group.

Atkinson, C. (2018). Off & Away. Disney-Hyperion.

Barnett, M. (2014). Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. Candlewick

Press.

Bennett, J., Ellingson, E., & Schneider, N. (2018). Max Goes

to Jupiter: A Science Adventure with Max the Dog. Big

Kid Science.

Daly, C., Murray, J., & Who HQ. (2021). What Was the Age of

Exploration? Penguin Young Readers Group.

D'Aulaire, I., & D'Aulaire, E. P. (2014). Leif the Lucky.

University of Minnesota Press.

Epstein, A. J. (2018). Snared: Escape to the Above. Imprint.

Fogliano, J. (2018). A House That Once Was. Roaring Brook

Press.

Freedman, R. (2018). The Sinking of the Vasa: A Shipwreck

of Titanic Proportions. Henry Holt and Company (BYR).

Gall, C. (2019). Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the

First Moon Landing. Roaring Brook Press.

Gibbons, G. (2020). Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea. Holiday

House.

Gladstone, J. (2021). Journey Around the Sun: The Story of

Halley's Comet. Owlkids.

Hancher, A. (2018). The Little Pioneer. Quarto Publishing

Group UK.

Henson, H. (2016). Lift Your Light a Little Higher: The Story

of Stephen Bishop: Slave-Explorer. Atheneum/Caitlyn

Dlouhy Books.

Kloepper, M. (2019). The Not-So Great Outdoors. Tundra.

Kress, A. (2017). The Explorers: The Door in the Alley.

Random House Children's Books.

Kwan, J. (2015). Dear Yeti. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).

Litchfield, D. (2020). Lights on Wonder Rock. HarperCollins

Publishers.

Morpurgo, M. (2015). Beowulf. Candlewick Press.

Motum, M. (2018). Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover.

Candlewick Press.

Peixe Dias, M. A., Teixeira Do Rosario, I., & Carvalho, B. P.

(2016). Outside: A Guide To Discovering Nature

(Illustrated ed.). Frances Lincoln Children's Books.

Priebe, G. (2017). The Adventures of Henry Whiskers.

Aladdin.

Sanchez Vegara, M. I. (2023). Little People: Big Dreams:

Vanessa Nakate. Frances Lincoln Children's Books.

Tarpley, T. (2021). Oh, the Lavas That Flow! All About

Volcanoes. Random House Children's Books.

Thompson, B., & Slader, E. (2019). The Age of Exploration:

Totally Getting Lost (Epic Fails #4). Roaring Brook Press.