Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

Author: Brian Floca

Copyright: 2009

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Floca, Brian. Moonshot: the flight of Apollo 11. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009. Print.

Reading Level: 4-6.

Lexile Measure: 990L

Genre: Informational

Description: Thrilling, realistic, informational, inspirational, poetic.

Delivery Suggestion: Read aloud.

Summary: This informational, poetic, narrative that is listed as a 2010 Children’s Choice, brings the reader back to 1969 when something was done that has never been accomplished before. The reader receives an inside look to what it was like to be in those astronauts shoes.

Electronic Resources:

Mission to the Moon Adventure This webpage provides facts for kids regarding space travel and the flight of Apollo 11.

Moon Exploration This national geographic resource provides students with the opportunity to explore the moon by viewing real photographs. Students can get a realistic view of what it was like for the crew of the Apollo 11.

Vocabulary: Apollo, Astronaut, Columbia, Eagle, Saturn V, valves, ignites, orbit. 

Teaching Suggestions:

-Use this book as a supplement or initiation to a science unit regarding space travel and moon exploration.

-Use this book to discuss biographies and historical figures, such as Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.

-If conducting a read-aloud, allow this to be an opportunity to model accurate and fluent reading. This informational text provides a poetic flow that can keep the audience engaged when delivered strongly.

-Use this book as a supplement to a history lesson on the flight of Apollo 11.

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Have students create a KWL chart on Apollo 11, filling in what they already know about the journey. Next, have students indicate what they are interested in learning about the flight.

During Reading: Instruct student to add new vocabulary and terminology to their word walls. Students can go back and refer to a dictionary to determine the meanings of any unknown words.

After: Students can fill in the learned section of their KWL chart. They can then compare with their classmates, in small groups, the different things that were unknown to them prior to reading this book. Encourage students to take note of anything they may have missed along the way about the flight. They can learn this information from their classmates and add it their chart.

Writing Activity:

While using their word wall, instruct students to write a short narrative piece of their own personal journey to space.