Lesson Plan - The Problem With Space Waste 

Watch the Video
Watch the video “Newsie’s Challenge: Exploring Our Solar System” and answer the game show-style questions as a class. Afterward, discuss: Which facts about the solar system did you find most surprising? Why?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• satellite
• atmosphere

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about some reasons space junk might be dangerous.

1. Based on the article, what are some ways that satellites help us?
Sample response: Satellites help us by taking photos of our solar system and monitoring the weather.
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2. Why do some scientists say that even small pieces of space junk can cause serious damage?
Scientists say that even small pieces of space junk can cause serious damage because the pieces of junk are traveling at superfast speeds. In the article, Charity Weeden of NASA says, “It’s like a really, really fast car that can bump into anything. You can’t control it.”
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3. Describe two ways people are trying to tackle the problem of space waste.
One way people are trying to tackle the problem of space waste is by tracking trash as it travels around Earth. That way, they can move a satellite out of the way if a piece of junk gets too close. Another is by making robotic arms that can collect trash from space.
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FEATURED SKILL: Text Features
Guide students to notice the text features: headline, subheadings, sidebars, diagrams, photos, and boldfaced words. Share the skill builder “Use Text Features” to explore how such features help readers understand the article.
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