Space, Structure, and Story integrates Earth and space science with science fiction and nonfiction texts, poetry, and art. This unit, developed by Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth, is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Students explore advanced science and ELA content through the lens of structure—its parts, purpose, and function.
Mobius strips, the hero's journey, dystopian fiction, black holes, Einstein's relativity, stars, and moons are just a few of the captivating in-depth topics explored through accelerated content, engaging activities, and differentiated tasks.
Ideal for gifted classrooms or gifted pull-out groups, the unit features poetry from Carl Sandburg, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and C. S. Lewis; art from M. C. Escher, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Salvador Dali; a novel study featuring A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle; short stories from Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury; speches from President John F. Kennedy and President Barack Obama; and informational texts about gravity, orbits, and black holes.
Learn more about the advanced curriculum units from Vanderbilt University.
Grades 4–6
Winner of the 2017 NAGC Curriculum Studies Award
Webinar About the Vanderbilt Units
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Reviews
Review by: Lewie Dunn, Georgia Military College - February 3, 2018
A great guide for educators that lack the experience of designing entire units of work, [it] could be used to help write other units as well. A work to be considered for placement in media centers to assist new educators in the production of good lesson plans and those ever popular rubrics.