Grade 3 Core Knowledge Language Arts® • Skills Strand

Unit 7 Reader
Universe?
What’s in Our
What’s in Our Universe?
Unit 7 Reader
Skills Strand
Grade 3
Core Knowledge Language Arts®
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 Table of Contents
What’s in Our Universe?
Unit 7 Reader
Chapter 1: The Sun, Earth, and Our Solar System . . . . . . . . 6

Chapter 2: The Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter 3: The Planets Closest to the Sun:

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 4: The Outer Planets:

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune . . . . . . . . . 32

Chapter 5: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Chapter 6: Galaxies and Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Chapter 7: Constellations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Chapter 8: Exploring Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Chapter 9: A Walk on the Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Chapter 10: What’s it Like in Space? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Chapter 11: The Space Shuttle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Chapter 12: The International Space Station . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Pausing Point (Additional Chapters for Enrichment)

Chapter 13: Dr. Mae Jemison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Chapter 14: Nicolaus Copernicus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Chapter 15: The Big Bang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Glossary for What’s in Our Universe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

 Chapter
The Sun,

1 Earth, and
Our Solar System
Look up in the sky at noon. What do you see? If it
is not cloudy, you will see the sun shining brightly in
the sky.

The sun provides energy—both light and heat

energy. The sun’s light and heat give life to plants and
animals. Without the sun, Earth would be freezing
cold. Have you ever wondered what the sun is made
of or why it gives off so much light and heat?

6 What’s in Our Universe?

The sun gives us light and heat energy.

What’s in Our Universe? 7

 You may be surprised to know that the sun is a
star. It is in fact the closest star to Earth. It is made
up of different, hot gases. How hot? A hot summer
day on Earth is 100 degrees. On the sun, it is 10,000
degrees! The sun stays that hot all the time! The sun’s
gases create the light and heat energy it gives off.
Long ago, people believed that the sun moved
around Earth. This seemed to make sense. Each
morning at the start of the day, the sun rose in the
east. At the end of the day, the sun set in the
west—exactly opposite from where it had came up. To
explain this change, people said the sun moved around
Earth. But now we know that this is not what really
happens. The sun does not move around Earth. It is
Earth that moves around the sun!

8 What’s in Our Universe?

A close-up of the sun

What’s in Our Universe? 9

 The sun is in the center of a group of eight
planets. All of these planets, including Earth, circle,
or orbit, around the sun. The sun, planets, and
other objects in space that orbit the sun are called the
solar system. The word solar has the Latin root word
sol, which means “the sun.” Everything in the solar
system relates to the sun.

10 What’s in Our Universe?

Planets orbiting the sun

What’s in Our Universe? 11

 Our planet, Earth, moves in two ways. We have
just learned that Earth circles around the sun. It takes
about 365 days, which is one year, for Earth to orbit
the sun.

Earth also moves by spinning, or rotating, on its

axis. It is this spinning that makes day and night on
Earth and the motion of the sun across the sky from
sunrise to sunset. It takes one day for Earth to make
one complete rotation on its axis. As Earth rotates
and spins, different parts of it face the sun. When
the part facing the sun gets sunlight, it is daytime
on that side of Earth. The part that faces away from
the sun gets no sunlight. So, on that side of Earth, it
is nighttime. Did you know that when it is daytime
where we live, it is nighttime on the other side of
Earth?

12 What’s in Our Universe?

 Day
Night

Earth spins on its axis. On the side of Earth facing the sun, it is daytime. On the
side facing away from the sun, it is nighttime.

What’s in Our Universe? 13

 When Earth rotates on its axis, it is tilted. At
certain times of the year, one part of Earth is tilted
toward the sun. The sunlight is more direct and it
feels hotter. For people living on this part of Earth,
it is summer. For people living on the part of Earth
tilted away from the sun, there is less sunlight and
it is winter. So, when it is summertime for us, there
are people living on other parts of Earth where it is
winter! So, the fact that Earth is tilted on its axis is
what creates the seasons of the year.

14 What’s in Our Universe?

 Summer

Winter

When Earth is tilted on its axis towards the sun, it is spring and summer. When
Earth is tilted on its axis away from the sun, it is fall and winter.

What’s in Our Universe? 15

 Chapter

2 The Moon
Look up in the sky at night. What do you see? If it
is not cloudy, you may be able to see the moon.

When you see the moon at night, it might look

white. It might look gray or silver. Sometimes, it
seems to shine and glow. But the moon does not give
off light the way the sun does. The moon is a ball
of rock that gives off no light of its own. It simply
reflects light from the sun. That means light from the
sun hits the moon and bounces off.

16 What’s in Our Universe?

Our moon is easily visible on most clear nights.

What’s in Our Universe? 17

 You already know that Earth orbits around the
sun. But did you know that the moon orbits around
Earth? It takes just about one month for the moon to
completely circle Earth. If you look up at the night
sky each night of the month, you may think that the
size and shape of the moon is changing. However, the
size and shape are not really changing. The moon is
still a round ball. It looks different at different times
of the month because of the way the light from the
sun is reflected and how much of the moon we can see
from Earth.

18 What’s in Our Universe?

This chart shows the phases of the moon. It shows what you might see if you looked
at the moon each night for a month. You can read the chart just like you would
read a book. Start at the top and go from left to right. When you finish reading
the first row, go on to the next one. You can see how the moon seems to change
during the month.

What’s in Our Universe? 19

 The way that Earth, the moon, and the sun move
can also make other interesting things to look at in
the sky. When Earth, the moon, and the sun all move
together in a direct line, something called an eclipse
can take place.

We can see two kinds of eclipses from Earth. One

kind happens when the moon gets in between the sun
and Earth. When that happens, we can’t see the sun
for a while. At least, we can’t see part of it. We call this
a solar eclipse or an eclipse of the sun.

20 What’s in Our Universe?

During an eclipse of the sun, the moon moves between Earth and sun and blocks
out the sun.

What’s in Our Universe? 21

 The other kind of eclipse, called a lunar eclipse,
also involves the sun, the moon, and Earth. It takes
place when the moon passes behind Earth and into its
shadow. In the image on the next page, you can see
that a shadow covers part of the moon. It is Earth’s
shadow that you see. Earth has blocked out the sun
and left part of the moon in darkness.

Eclipses do not happen often because the sun,

Earth, and the moon all have to line up just right.
Solar eclipses can only be seen from a narrow strip
of Earth at a time. While they happen once or twice
a year, it is very, very rare to see one. Eclipses of the
moon happen more often, several times each year.
They can be seen from half of Earth at a time, so are
more often visible.

Whether or not you can see an eclipse depends on

where you are on Earth. You must never look directly
at a solar eclipse. The sun is very bright and could
burn your eyes. But, it is safe to look at an eclipse of
the moon. If an eclipse is predicted, it is usually big
news, so you will likely hear about it.

22 What’s in Our Universe?

The moon during a lunar eclipse

What’s in Our Universe? 23

 The Planets
Chapter
Closest to the Sun:
3 Mercury, Venus, Earth,
and Mars
Our planet Earth is one of eight planets in our
solar system that orbit around the sun. The other
planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and Neptune. People have been looking
at the planets for thousands of years. People from
Mesopotamia, the Greeks, Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs
were all interested in the planets. They used just
their naked eye to study the planets. Now, we have
telescopes and other tools that help us get a better
look at the planets.

24 What’s in Our Universe?

A telescope

What’s in Our Universe? 25

 The four planets closest to the sun—Mercury,
Venus, Earth, and Mars—are small planets. These
planets have a rocky, or solid, surface.

Mercury and Venus are closer to the sun than

Earth. The other planets are farther away.
Earth needs 365 days to make one orbit around
the sun. That is the length of one year on Earth.

The closer a planet is to the sun, the less time it

needs to make an orbit around the sun. Mercury is the
closest planet to the sun. It needs just 88 days to make
one orbit. Venus is the next closest to the sun. It needs
just 225 days to make an orbit. The planets that are
farther away take much longer. It takes Neptune 165
years to orbit the sun!

26 What’s in Our Universe?

The sun and planets

What’s in Our Universe? 27

 Besides being closest to the sun, Mercury is the
smallest of all the planets. The English name for the
planet comes from the Romans. They named the
planet after the Roman god Mercury. The Greek name
for this same god is Hermes.

Venus is the second planet from the sun and is

closest to Earth. This planet was named after the
Roman goddess of love. For a long time, scientists
thought that Venus might be a lot like Earth. After all,
it is close to Earth. It is about the same size as Earth
and it is covered with clouds, like Earth. But this
idea turned out to be wrong, too. We know now that
Venus and Earth are different in lots of ways.

Scientists had to change their ideas to fit the new

facts. They have now concluded that Venus is much
hotter than Earth. It would not be a good place for us
to live or even visit.

28 What’s in Our Universe?

Mercury (top) and Venus

What’s in Our Universe? 29

 Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. It is named
after the Roman god of war. When you look at Mars
in the night sky, it looks quite red. This is because the
rocks on Mars contain rust.

Many space probes and robots have landed on

Mars. They have taken photographs and also dug up
rocks.

One probe that went to Mars not long ago found

some ice. That was big news. Ice is frozen water. If
there is water on Mars, there might be life. Some
experts argue that nothing could live on Mars. They
say it is too cold and too dry. Others think there
might be life on Mars. They think there might be
something alive down under the rocks. Still others
think there might have been life on Mars at one time
but there isn’t any now.

30 What’s in Our Universe?

Mars

What’s in Our Universe? 31

 Chapter
The Outer Planets:
4 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
Neptune
Do you remember the names of the four planets
closest to the sun? If you said, “Mercury, Venus, Earth,
and Mars,” you are right! There are four more planets
called the outer planets. So there are eight planets in
all.

Jupiter is the very next planet after Mars. After

Jupiter come Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in that
order. Neptune is the planet that is farthest from the
sun. Uranus is difficult to see with the naked eye and
Neptune is impossible to see without help. Neptune is
only visible using a telescope.

32 What’s in Our Universe?

 











    

  

Our solar system: the sun and eight planets 


What’s in Our Universe?  33
 The outer planets are very large and are mostly
made of gas. Scientists often call these planets gas
giants. Of all the planets, Jupiter is the largest: 1,300
Earths could fit inside Jupiter! It is made mostly of
hydrogen gas, the most common gas in the universe.

The gases on Jupiter seem to be blowing around.

In the image of Jupiter on the next page, you can see
the giant, red spot. It looks like an eye! Experts think
it is a big wind storm, like a huge hurricane.

Jupiter also has 63 known moons that orbit it.

Some of these moons are very large, even larger than
Earth’s moon.

34 What’s in Our Universe?

Jupiter and some of its moons

What’s in Our Universe? 35

 Saturn is known for its many large rings that orbit
the planet. These rings are made of ice and dust. The
ice reflects light and makes the rings glow. Saturn also
has many moons that orbit it.

36 What’s in Our Universe?

Saturn and its rings

What’s in Our Universe? 37

 The last two planets are Uranus and Neptune.
These planets are the farthest from the sun so they are
very cold. Uranus and Neptune also have rings, but
they aren’t easily seen like Saturn’s. Both planets also
have moons.

So now you know the names of all eight planets.

Try asking the adults in your family how many
planets there are. They may tell you that there are
nine planets. When the adults in your family were
in school, people said that there was a ninth planet
called Pluto. But in 2006, scientists decided that Pluto
did not have all of the characteristics needed to be
classified as a planet. They removed Pluto’s name from
the list of planets, so now there are only eight planets.

38 What’s in Our Universe?

This is Neptune as it might look if seen from one of its moons. The shadow of
another moon makes a dark spot on the planet’s surface.

What’s in Our Universe? 39

 Chapter

5 Asteroids, Comets,
and Meteors
There are other objects that orbit the sun in the
solar system besides the planets. Millions of space
rocks called asteroids also orbit the sun. Asteroids
are made of rock, metal, and sometimes ice. Many
asteroids are found orbiting the sun between the
planets Mars and Jupiter. They cluster together in a
shape like a belt as they orbit the sun. This part of the
solar system is called the asteroid belt.

40 What’s in Our Universe?

Top: An artist’s image of an asteroid belt around a star
Bottom: An up-close image of an asteroid from our solar system

What’s in Our Universe? 41

 Comets also orbit the sun. Comets are made
mostly of ice and dust. When a comet gets close to
the sun, the sun’s heat causes some of the comet to
change into a gas. This gas streams off the end of the
comet like a tail.

The most famous comet is Halley’s Comet. It is

named for the British scientist Edmund Halley who
first discovered it. Halley’s Comet is visible from
Earth with the naked eye every 76 years. It was last
seen in 1986. Can you figure out when it will be seen
again?

42 What’s in Our Universe?

A comet in the night sky

What’s in Our Universe? 43

 Other kinds of space rocks called meteoroids
are also found throughout the solar system. When
a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, we call it a
meteor. Small pieces of the meteor burn brightly and
look like a white trail across the sky when viewed from
Earth. Sometimes people call this a “shooting star.”
Have you ever seen one? A meteor “shower” is when
many meteors can be seen falling in the sky on the
same night. Sometimes they last over several nights.
It’s an amazing space show!

If a meteor doesn’t fully burn up in the

atmosphere, it falls to Earth and can make a large
hole called a crater. Pieces of a meteor found on the
ground are meteorites.

44 What’s in Our Universe?

An artist’s drawing of a meteor shower at night

Meteor Crater in Arizona formed when a meteorite hit Earth. Notice the road
and buildings to the left of the crater. This crater is very big!

What’s in Our Universe? 45

 Chapter

6 Galaxies and Stars

Look up in the sky at night. What do you see
besides the moon? If it is not cloudy, you may be able
to see lots of stars glittering in the sky.

Remember that the sun is also a star. The stars in

the night sky do not look like the sun. They do not
look as big or as bright. But they are, in fact, very
much alike. The stars in the night sky are big balls of
hot gas, just like the sun.

So why don’t they look the same? The night stars

are much, much farther away from Earth than the
sun. That is why they look like tiny specks of light. If
we could get close to the stars, they would look bigger,
brighter, and more like the sun. But the stars we see at
night are so far away that no one from Earth has ever
been able to get close to them.

46 What’s in Our Universe?

Stars in the night sky

What’s in Our Universe? 47

 Scientists who study the stars and outer space
are called astronomers. The Greek root word astron
means star. The prefix astro is used in many other
English words.

All stars are big balls of hot gas, but astronomers

have discovered that stars differ in many ways. Stars
can be different sizes and colors. Some stars are closer
to Earth than others and some stars are hotter than
others. Stars that are the hottest and closest to Earth
appear brighter than other stars.

48 What’s in Our Universe?

All stars are made of gases, but they can differ in size, color, and brightness.

What’s in Our Universe? 49

 Astronomers also discovered that stars cluster
together in large groups. A large group of stars that
cluster together in one area is called a galaxy. There
are billions and billions of stars in one galaxy. That’s
a lot of stars!

The galaxy to which our sun and solar system

belong is called the Milky Way Galaxy. It has a spiral
shape when viewed from space. From Earth, it looks
like a “milky” band of white light.

50 What’s in Our Universe?

The Milky Way as it appears in the night sky

What’s in Our Universe? 51

 The nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way Galaxy
is called the Andromeda Galaxy. It is billions and
billions of miles from the Milky Way Galaxy. There’s
that number billions again. You have probably heard
of a million before. A million is a huge number. So
what’s a billion? It’s one thousand million! It is safe to
say that the Andromeda Galaxy is a long, long, long
way away! Even so, it is sometimes possible to see the
Andromeda Galaxy at night.

Scientists think there are billions of galaxies in

the universe. There’s that number billions again.
There are billions of stars in each galaxy and billions
of galaxies in the universe—that is almost more than
you can think about!

52 What’s in Our Universe?

Andromeda Galaxy

What’s in Our Universe? 53

 Chapter

7 Constellations
Go outside one night and look at the stars. Of
the billions of stars in our galaxy, it is possible to see
only 2,000 with the naked eye. When you first look at
them, you might not see much. They might look like
just a bunch of tiny dots.

Look a little closer. You will see that some stars

shine more brightly than others. Focus on the bright
stars. Which ones really jump out at you?

Then, focus on the spaces in between the bright

stars. Ask yourself, “What would it look like if I drew
lines from one bright star to the next? What would
it look like if I were to connect the dots? Would I see
any shapes? Would I see any patterns?”

Since ancient times, people have been studying the

stars. When ancient people looked at the stars, some
seemed to be closer together and formed patterns.

54 What’s in Our Universe?

On a clear night away from city lights, you can see the stars that fill the night sky.

What’s in Our Universe? 55

 One of the first people to describe these star
patterns, called constellations, was a man named
Ptolemy [TO-lə-mee]. He picked out the brightest
stars and traced lines from one star to the next. He
saw all types of shapes and patterns. One looked like
a bull. He saw another that looked like a crab. A third
looked like a bear. In all, he found 48 constellations.
Much later, 40 more constellations were added to
Ptolemy’s list. Today, astronomers say there are 88
constellations that can be seen in the night sky.

On the next page is a drawing of a constellation

that Ptolemy described. It is called Ursa Major or Big
Bear. The white dots or circles stand for the stars in
the constellation. The dotted lines connect the stars
and trace the pattern so you can see the shape. Do you
see a Big Bear in the pattern? It does not look exactly
like a real bear. So, you may need to imagine that it
looks like a bear. Hint: its head is to the left with its
nose being the star that is on the far left.

56 What’s in Our Universe?

Ursa Major

What’s in Our Universe? 57

 Within Ursa Major, there are seven very bright
stars that form another small group of stars called the
Big Dipper. Look at the image at the top of the next
page. Can you see why it is called the Big Dipper?
When you trace a line from star to star, the shape
looks like a dipper. A dipper is like a ladle you can use
to scoop something into a bowl. The stars on the left
look like the handle. The stars on the right look like
the scoop.

Ptolemy also described another constellation

called Ursa Minor or Little Bear. This constellation
is also made up of seven stars. In the image on the
bottom of the next page, the seven dots stand for the
stars. An artist has added a drawing of a bear to help
you better imagine how the star pattern looks like a
bear.

58 What’s in Our Universe?

The Big Dipper

Ursa Minor

What’s in Our Universe? 59

 Ursa Minor is also called the Little Dipper. The
brightest star at the end of the handle is called Polaris.
Can you see it? Polaris stays in the same place in
the night sky all year long. (Other stars are found in
different places in the sky at different times of the
year.) Polaris’s place in the sky is almost directly over
the North Pole of Earth. By finding Polaris, also
called the North Star, you can find the direction north
and the other directions. In ancient times, sailors and
explorers used this star to find their way when they
traveled.

Try to find Polaris the next time you look at the

night sky. Start by first looking for the Big Dipper
because it is easier to find. Then, find the two
“pointer” stars at the edge of the Big Dipper’s scoop.
Then, pretend there is a long arrow pointing the same
way as the pointer stars. The first star you will see at
the end of the arrow is Polaris.

60 What’s in Our Universe?

The ‘pointer’ stars of the Big Dipper pointing to Polaris, the North Star

What’s in Our Universe? 61

 Chapter

8 Exploring Space
As you have learned in the last chapters, people
have been interested in studying space since ancient
times. It was possible to see only some stars and
planets with the naked eye. Since they were far, far
away, it was impossible to see anything in very much
detail.
In 1609, an astronomer named Galileo [ga-li-lae-
oe] created a telescope that he used to observe the
night sky. Galileo’s telescope made things appear three
times larger. Using his telescope, he discovered four of
the many moons that orbit the planet Jupiter. He also
observed the planet Saturn and the Milky Way.

62 What’s in Our Universe?

A portrait of Galileo holding a telescope

What’s in Our Universe? 63

 Since Galileo’s time, scientists have created more
and more powerful telescopes. Some telescopes are
housed in large observatories on Earth. Often, these
observatories are on the top of mountains, far away
from any cities or lights. This allows astronomers to
clearly see the stars and planets.

64 What’s in Our Universe?

Building an observatory on top of a mountain helps to get a better view of the
sky.

What’s in Our Universe? 65

 Other telescopes are launched into space using
rockets. They travel far above Earth and have a better
view of the universe than telescopes on Earth. One
of these telescopes is the Hubble Telescope. It was
launched in 1990 by NASA, the American group
of scientists who study outer space. The Hubble
Telescope is still in space today, orbiting Earth. Since
its launch, it has sent back thousands of photos
to NASA. Hubble’s photos have led to many new
discoveries about the universe. For example, using
photos from Hubble, scientists now think that the
universe is about 13 to 14 billion years old!

66 What’s in Our Universe?

The Hubble Telescope orbits Earth above its atmosphere.

What’s in Our Universe? 67

 Besides sending telescopes into space, NASA
has also launched rocket ships into space. Scientists
believed it was too dangerous for humans to ride the
first rocket ships into space. They did not know what
effects space travel might have on humans. So, NASA
first sent apes into space on rocket ships. “Why apes?”
you might ask. Think back to what you learned in a
previous reader about animals. Apes are mammals and
belong to the same group of animals, called primates,
as humans. By studying the apes, scientists hoped to
learn how space travel might affect humans. In 1961,
NASA sent the first American astronaut into space on
a rocket ship. His name was Alan Shepard. He stayed
in space for only 15 minutes.

68 What’s in Our Universe?

Top image: Ham, one of the first apes launched into space
Bottom image: Alan Shepard was the first American astronaut in space.

What’s in Our Universe? 69

 After 1961, NASA sent more manned flights into
space. These flights orbited Earth but did not stop or
land anywhere in space. Then, in 1969, the United
States sent a rocket ship to the moon. The rocket ship
was called Apollo 11.

70 What’s in Our Universe?

Apollo 11 fires its rockets during lift-off.

What’s in Our Universe? 71

 Have you ever tried to throw a ball up in the air?
The ball goes up at first. Then, it comes back down.
No matter how hard you throw it, it comes back down
because of gravity. Gravity is a force of attraction
that pulls things toward one another. Earth’s gravity
pulls the ball back down to Earth.
Earth’s gravity is a challenge for rocket ships like
Apollo 11. In order to fly off into outer space, the
rocket ship has to push up with a lot of force. It has to
push up with so much force that gravity cannot pull
it back down.

Apollo 11 fired a lot of strong rockets. It lifted

off and went up slowly at first. Then, it got faster and
faster. This is what it looked like after a few seconds.
After just a few seconds more, it shot up out of Earth’s
atmosphere and into outer space.

72 What’s in Our Universe?

Apollo 11 shooting up into space

What’s in Our Universe? 73

 Chapter

9 A Walk
on the Moon
Once Apollo 11 was up in space, the astronauts
had to steer it to the moon. There were three
astronauts on Apollo 11. You can see them in the
image on the next page. Each had a job to do. One
of them was in charge of flying the spaceship, called
Columbia. The other two had to get into a landing
craft called the Eagle. Then, they had to steer it down
and land it on the moon.

74 What’s in Our Universe?

The Apollo 11 astronauts

What’s in Our Universe? 75

 The astronaut who had to steer the Eagle was
named Neil Armstrong. He had to find a good, flat
spot to land. He also had to set the Eagle down gently.

Lots of people tuned in to watch Armstrong and

the Eagle on live TV. At first, Armstrong had a hard
time getting the Eagle to go where he wanted it to go.
But, in the end, he landed it just fine.

Armstrong sent a message back by radio: “The

Eagle has landed!”

The crowds watching it on TV went wild. They

danced and sang. They shouted and waved the United
States flag. For the first time ever, humans had landed
on the moon!

What happened next was even more amazing. The

astronauts went for a walk on the moon!

76 What’s in Our Universe?

Here is one of the Apollo 11 astronauts walking on the moon. Can you see his
footprints?

What’s in Our Universe? 77

 There is no air for breathing on the moon. It is
also very cold. So, the astronauts could not just walk
out in shorts and a T-shirt. They had to put on space
suits like the one in the image on the next page. They
had to wear masks. They had to carry tanks full of air
for breathing.
Armstrong went out first. He went down the steps
of the Eagle until he was on the last one. Then, he
made a little hop. He landed on the moon and kicked
up a little moon dust. Then, he said, “That’s one small
step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Another
astronaut joined Armstrong on the moon. His name
was Buzz Aldrin.

Once again, people watching it on TV cheered.

They were proud that the United States had put a
man on the moon!

78 What’s in Our Universe?

Buzz Aldrin plants the U.S. flag on the moon.

What’s in Our Universe? 79

 While Armstrong and Aldrin were on the moon,
pilot Michael Collins stayed on a part of the spaceship
that was still orbiting the moon. Armstrong and
Aldrin spent more than 21 hours on the moon. They
found that it was easy to move about on the moon,
which has less gravity than Earth. They could jump
up high and seemed to float down slowly. They used
different tools to explore the moon. They knew the
scientists back on Earth were hoping to learn new
information about the moon. They dug up samples of
moon rocks to take back to Earth.

After exploring the moon, Aldrin and Armstrong

got back in the Eagle. They lifted off. They met up
with Michael Collins on board the other part of the
spaceship. Then, all three of them flew back to Earth.
The spaceship came speeding back from space and
splashed down into the sea. A Navy ship came to pick
up the astronauts and take them back to NASA.

80 What’s in Our Universe?

Splashdown of Apollo 11

What’s in Our Universe? 81

 Chapter

10 What’s it Like
in Space?
Since Apollo 11, many more astronauts have
traveled in space. Scientists have learned that there are
many differences between Earth and space. One of the
biggest differences has to do with gravity. Remember
that gravity is a force of attraction that pulls things
toward one another. The force of gravity on Earth is
pretty strong. Even the best jumpers can only jump a
few feet off the ground. (Try it and see!)

82 What’s in Our Universe?

Want to jump high? You will have to fight against gravity.

What’s in Our Universe? 83

 Remember that on the moon, astronauts Aldrin
and Armstrong were easily able to jump up high. They
didn’t come down quickly either. Instead, they seemed
to float down slowly. That was because the force of
gravity on the moon is not as strong as on Earth. The
moon is not as big as Earth. So the force of gravity is
not as strong on the moon.

If you think that is cool, wait until you read what

happens out in space, away from the moon or planets.
Out in space, astronauts do not feel the effects of
gravity. They and their spaceship are moving freely in
space. Since the astronaut and spaceship are moving
freely together, the astronauts look and feel as if they
are floating!

84 What’s in Our Universe?

This astronaut is inside a spaceship in space, where the force of gravity is less.

What’s in Our Universe? 85

 Up in space, lots of things are different. You can do
a flip and not worry about whether you will make it
all the way around before you come down!

86 What’s in Our Universe?

When you are free of the effects of gravity, it is easier to do flips and cartwheels.

What’s in Our Universe? 87

 Eating is different in space, too. I’ll bet when you
eat lunch at school, your food stays where you put it.
If you set it on a table, it stays there until you pick
it up. The force of gravity holds it down. But if you
were up in space, you and your food would be moving
freely together. If you let go of it, your food might
drift away!

88 What’s in Our Universe?

Look, no hands! These astronauts’ lunches appear to be floating!

What’s in Our Universe? 89

 There are other differences in space besides less
gravity. Do you remember that the astronauts on the
moon had to carry tanks of air for breathing? Another
way outer space is different from Earth is that there
is no air or oxygen at all in outer space. Look again
at the image on page 87 of the astronauts inside the
spaceship. The astronauts are not carrying tanks of
air. That’s because oxygen is being pumped inside the
spaceship.

Since there is no air in space, you also do not hear

sounds in outer space. It is also very cold in space. The
astronauts must train many months before going into
space so they know what to expect. Do you think you
would like to go into space some day?

90 What’s in Our Universe?

This is what Earth looks like from the moon. Can you name some ways that being
in space is different from being on Earth?

What’s in Our Universe? 91

 Chapter

11 The Space Shuttle

Interest in manned space exploration soared after
Apollo 11. Other astronauts went to the moon. But
scientists were also interested in exploring other parts
of space beyond the moon. It was very expensive
and took a lot of time to build and send spaceships
into space. Do you remember that when Apollo
11 returned from space, it landed in the sea? It was
not able to land safely on the ground, so this type
of spacecraft always had to land in the sea. Once it
landed in the sea, this kind of spacecraft could not be
used again.

In 1981, a reusable spacecraft, called a space

shuttle, was built. It was able to fly up into space and
then zoom back down to Earth. When it returned to
Earth, the pilot was able to land the spacecraft on a
runway almost like an airplane. It glided down from
space and landed on a runway, but it had to be a very
long runway.

92 What’s in Our Universe?

A space shuttle lifts off

What’s in Our Universe? 93

 The space shuttle was flown back into space again
and again. It shuttled back and forth between Earth
and space. That is why it was called the space shuttle.

The image on the previous page shows the launch

of a space shuttle. The space shuttle itself is the
white part that looks like a jet plane. The other parts
are booster rockets. The booster rockets helped
the space shuttle get off the ground. They helped
the space shuttle overcome Earth’s gravity. Once
the space shuttle was up into space, it dropped the
booster rockets because it no longer needed them.

94 What’s in Our Universe?

A space shuttle in orbit above Earth

What’s in Our Universe? 95

 In the thirty years between 1981 and 2011,
different space shuttles carried astronauts up into
space on many missions. The space shuttle was also
used to bring research equipment and tools into
space. The astronauts did many experiments to find
out more about space. Scientists were especially
interested in learning about what effect the lack
of gravity would have on humans and other living
things.

The space shuttle was also used to help build an

amazing space station. Astronauts could live at the
space station for months at a time. Often, the space
shuttle carried supplies back and forth from Earth
to the space station. It also provided a ride home to
Earth when it was time for the astronauts to return.

The last space shuttle mission took place in July

2011. NASA scientists and Americans were proud of
everything the astronauts had accomplished in thirty
years. With the end of the space shuttle missions,
NASA is planning other ways to explore space. Those
plans include launching unmanned probes and
satellites. NASA scientists hope to learn more about
the moon’s gravity and are even talking about trying to
explore asteroids!

96 What’s in Our Universe?

A space shuttle comes in for a landing.

What’s in Our Universe? 97

 Chapter

12 The International
Space Station
Would you like to have a bedroom in outer space?
Some astronauts do!

The United States and other countries use the

space shuttle to send astronauts to an international
space station. The space station orbits Earth. Three
astronauts can live there at one time. They stay for six
months at a time. This image shows the space station.

98 What’s in Our Universe?

The space station orbits Earth.

What’s in Our Universe? 99

 The space station orbits far above Earth. So the
astronauts in the space station don’t feel the effects
of gravity like we do on Earth. When we lift our
arms and legs here on Earth, we have to work against
gravity. That is good for us. It helps us stay in shape.
But astronauts in space don’t have the effects of gravity
to work against. They do not get much of a workout
from drifting around. They have to run at least once
a day to stay in good shape. In this image, you can see
an astronaut jogging in space.

100 What’s in Our Universe?

Astronauts have to jog in space to stay in shape.

What’s in Our Universe? 101

 These two men are sleeping in space. They don’t
feel the effects of gravity so they are moving freely
within the spaceship. This means they can sleep right
side up or upside down. It is all the same. Do you
think you would like sleeping this way?

102 What’s in Our Universe?

These two astronauts are taking a nap in space.

What’s in Our Universe? 103

 Taking a shower in space is tricky. On Earth,
the water comes out of the spout. It falls down and
splashes on your body. Then, it runs off. But this is
not what happens in space! In space, you have to rub
the water on your skin. Also, it does not just drip off.
You have to scrape it off. You have to shower in a little
pod. The pod keeps the water you scrape off your skin
from drifting off in the air. If it drifted off, it might
cause problems. It might mess up the computers and
equipment inside the space station.

You can see that lots of things are different when

you live in space. That is why leaving the space station
and coming back to Earth can be hard. It takes time
for the astronauts to get used to Earth again. After
months in space, they struggle with the gravity on
Earth. Their arms and legs feel heavy. They find it
hard to stand up. They feel off balance. But in a few
weeks, they begin to feel normal again. Sometimes
when they look up at the sky, they even feel a little
homesick for their home in outer space.

104 What’s in Our Universe?

An astronaut taking a space shower

What’s in Our Universe? 105

 Chapter

13 Dr. Mae Jemison

Do you know what a role model is? A role model
is someone who sets an example for others by the
way he or she lives. Many students admire people
who are famous athletes, movie stars, or singers and
use them as role models. They see them on TV, in
newspapers and in magazines, and decide they want
to be like them. But some of the best role models are
people that you probably would not see on TV or in
newspapers. They have jobs such as doctors, teachers,
or policemen. Some are scientists and astronauts. One
such person is Mae Jemison.

106 What’s in Our Universe?

Mae Jemison

What’s in Our Universe? 107

 Mae Jemison was born October 17, 1956, in
Decatur, Alabama. Her family moved to Chicago,
Illinois when she was young. Mae always took great
pride in her schoolwork. She was interested in science,
but was also interested in the arts. She finished
high school early at age 16! From there, she went
to Stanford University in California. Most college
students focus on only one topic of study because
college is so challenging. Mae focused and excelled
in two topics of study—chemical engineering and
African-American studies!

After Stanford, Mae entered medical school to

become a doctor. She wanted to use her medical
training to help people in Africa and countries where
people were poor. So, she joined the Peace Corps as
a volunteer. Health care in Africa was often not very
good. Mae treated patients and also helped train other
health care workers. She worked hard to help improve
health care in the countries where she worked.

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Stanford University, where Mae went to college

What’s in Our Universe? 109

 After the Peace Corps, Mae came back to the
United States. She set her sights on a different goal.
Her greatest dream was to become an astronaut and
travel into space. She decided to apply to NASA to
become an astronaut. But the first time she applied,
she was not accepted. Instead of giving up, she tried
again and NASA accepted her the second time! She
was one of only 15 people chosen from a group of
2,000 people who wanted to become astronauts!

Her training to become an astronaut was hard.

She had to get into great shape and train to get used
to being free of the effects of gravity in space. She also
had to study and pass many tests about space travel.
Mae Jemison succeeded in both.

110 What’s in Our Universe?

An experiment studying the effects of weightlessness

What’s in Our Universe? 111

 In 1992, Mae was chosen for a mission on the
Endeavour space shuttle. A rocket launched the
Endeavour into orbit around Earth. Mae became the
first African-American female astronaut in space!

The mission was to study the effects of

weightlessness on plants and animals. Mae conducted
experiments during the mission with fellow astronaut
Jan Davis. They collected information that the
scientists at NASA could study. The mission was a
great success.

After her successful mission, Mae retired from

NASA. She became a professor at Dartmouth College,
sharing her love of science and space with other
students. She also started her own company called
The Jemison Group, Inc. Mae’s company continues
to work with people in poor countries, searching for
ways that science can help improve these people’s
lives. Mae Jemison is truly a role model that we can all
admire!

112 What’s in Our Universe?

Mae Jemison achieves her goal of becoming an astronaut.

What’s in Our Universe? 113

 Chapter

14 Nicolaus
Copernicus
Do you remember in the very first chapter of this
reader you learned that long ago, people believed that
the sun moved around Earth? This seemed to make
sense. Each morning at the start of the day, the sun
rose in the east. At the end of the day, the sun set in
the west—exactly opposite from where it had come
up. To explain this change, people said the sun moved
around Earth. This is what the Greeks and other
ancient people believed. But you also learned in the
first chapter that this was not true.

About the same time that Christopher Columbus

arrived in America, a man named Nicolaus
Copernicus was studying math and astronomy at a
university in Poland. He later moved to Italy where he
also studied medicine and law.

114 What’s in Our Universe?

Young Copernicus studied math, astronomy, medicine, and law.

What’s in Our Universe? 115

 But Copernicus’ real love was astronomy. He knew
that since ancient times, people believed that the sun
moved around Earth. Copernicus began to carefully
observe and record the movement of the sun, planets,
and stars. After much research, Copernicus decided
that the belief that the sun moved around Earth
could not be true. Copernicus’ observations led him
to believe just the opposite! He realized that instead,
Earth was moving around the sun! He also believed
that as Earth orbited the sun, it also completed a full
rotation each day.

All of Copernicus’ ideas came from viewing space

without the help of a telescope. He wrote down what
he observed from a cathedral bell tower. He also used
math to help him prove his point. Finally, Copernicus
wrote a book explaining his new ideas about how the
universe worked. His fellow scientists went to work
trying to prove him wrong, but they couldn’t. Most
were amazed by his discovery!

116 What’s in Our Universe?

Copernicus spent hours observing the movement of the stars, planets, and sun.

What’s in Our Universe? 117

 However, Copernicus’ ideas were different from
what people had believed for thousands of years. They
believed that Earth and humans were the center of the
universe. Many of the teachings of the church at that
time were also based on this belief. Copernicus had
dared to suggest that Earth was not the center of the
universe. Instead, he said, the sun was at the center!
Many in the church disagreed with Copernicus’ ideas
and spoke out against them. So, his beliefs were not
widely accepted while he was alive.

In fact, even after Copernicus died, the church

continued to argue against the view that the sun
was at the center of the universe. Some scientists
agreed with Copernicus’ ideas. Galileo agreed with
Copernicus and was punished and put in jail for a
long time.

Today we know, of course, that Copernicus was

right. It took great courage to speak up and suggest
an idea that was so different from what people had
always believed. But that is how science works. Even
today, scientists continue to learn new things about
the universe, so our knowledge is always changing and
growing.

118 What’s in Our Universe?

Copernicus argued that the sun, not Earth, was at the center of the universe.

What’s in Our Universe? 119

 Chapter

15 The Big Bang

Have you ever wondered how the universe and our
solar system came to be? Astronomers have studied
the universe for thousands of years. During that time,
people suggested many different explanations of how
our solar system began.

With the help of telescopes, modern astronomers

noticed that all of the distant galaxies in the universe
seem to be moving outward. The more distant the
galaxies, the faster they are moving outward. Stars are
moving away from Earth and so are whole galaxies.
In 1929, a scientist named Edwin Hubble discovered
this distance versus speed that is now called “Hubble’s
Law.” (This is the same “Hubble” after whom the
Hubble Telescope is named!)

120 What’s in Our Universe?

Edwin Hubble discovered that all the distant galaxies in the universe seem to be
moving outward.

What’s in Our Universe? 121

 Hubble’s observation led scientists to offer
explanations of how the solar system started. There
are many explanations, or theories, about how the
universe came to be. One recent theory or idea is
known as the Big Bang Theory. A theory in science
tries to explain how something happened or how
something works.

Three astrophysicists proposed the Big Bang

Theory in the 1960s. Astrophysicists are scientists
who use math to study the universe. George Lemaitre,
Alexander Friedmann, and Edwin Hubble studied
the theories of another scientist by the name of
Albert Einstein. They used his ideas to develop their
explanation of how the universe first started.

122 What’s in Our Universe?

Many astrophysicists contributed to the development of the Big Bang Theory.

What’s in Our Universe? 123

 They suggested that long ago, the universe and
everything in it was once a tiny ball. All of the stuff
that makes the universe (called matter) was squeezed
together into one tiny space. Imagine if all the planets
and all the stars were squeezed together to fit in
your hand. That is how tight and tiny the ball was!
Scientists think that everything began expanding
outward about 14 billion years ago. All the matter in
the universe exploded out at once! That is why the
event is called the Big Bang.

When all the matter in the ball began moving out,

it was very hot. It was hotter than even the hottest
star. Everything was moving so fast as it expanded that
nothing could stick together. It was too hot and fast
for anything to be like what it is today. There were no
galaxies, no stars, no planets, and no people.

But over time the matter began to cool. As the

matter cooled and stopped moving so fast, gravity was
able to hold little bits of matter together in spheres.
These little spheres, with the help of gravity, came
together and became the first stars and galaxies. Over
billions of years of matter moving and growing, the
universe became the way it looks today. The sun and
planets in our solar system formed about four billion
years ago.
124 What’s in Our Universe?
All matter in the universe expanded out from one tiny point.

What’s in Our Universe? 125

 Scientists are continuing to look into space for
more clues about the Big Bang. There is still a lot to
learn about the early universe. Scientists sometimes
make minor changes to the Big Bang Theory to
match what they have learned. It is amazing to think
how old our solar system is and that scientists are still
trying to find out how it all started!

126 What’s in Our Universe?

This satellite helped scientists learn more about the early universe.

What’s in Our Universe? 127

128 What’s in Our Universe?
 Glossary for What’s in
Our Universe?
A
African-American studies—the study of the history,
culture, and politics of African-Americans, Americans
who have ancestors from Africa
Andromeda Galaxy—the spiral galaxy that is closest
to the Milky Way Galaxy
Apollo 11—a rocket ship that took three American
astronauts to the moon in 1969
asteroid—a space rock, smaller than a planet, that
orbits the sun (asteroids)
asteroid belt—an area between Mars and Jupiter
where thousands of asteroids orbit around the sun in a
shape like a belt
astronaut—a person who travels into outer space
astronomer—a scientist who studies stars, planets,
and outer space (astronomers)
astrophysicist—a scientist who studies the physical
characteristics of heavenly bodies (astrophysicists)

What’s in Our Universe? 129

 atmosphere—an invisible, protective blanket of air
around Earth and other heavenly bodies
attraction—when things are drawn to move closer
together
axis—an imaginary straight line through the middle
of an object, around which that object spins

B
Big Bang Theory—a scientific explanation of how
the universe began
billion—a very large number (billions)
booster rocket—one of two parts of a space shuttle
that helps launch it into space by overcoming gravity
(booster rockets)

C
chemical engineering—a field of study in which
scientists use their knowledge of chemistry and how
things in the natural world are made and interact
comet—a frozen ball of dust and ice that travels
through outer space (comets)

130 What’s in Our Universe?

 constellation—stars that form a pattern or shape that
looks like such things as a person, an object, or an
animal as seen from Earth (constellations)
courage—bravery

E
eclipse—the blocking of the light from the sun by
another heavenly body (eclipses)
Endeavour—a NASA space shuttle
especially—very much, particularly
exploration—the study of unknown places or things

G
galaxy—a very large cluster of billions of stars,
dust, and gas held together by gravity and separated
from other star systems by a large amount of space
(galaxies)
gas giant—one of the large outer planets, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, that is composed of
mainly hydrogen gas (gas giants)
gravity—a force that pulls things toward one another

What’s in Our Universe? 131

 H
Halley’s Comet—a famous comet named for British
scientist Edmund Halley that is visible from Earth
with the naked eye every 76 years
health care—the prevention or treatment of illnesses
by trained medical specialists
Hubble Telescope—a large telescope that collects
information in space; It was carried into space in 1990
and will be there until 2014.
hydrogen—the most common gas in the universe,
which is lighter than air and easily catches fire

I
imagine—to pretend
international—involving more than one country

L
launch—to send a rocket into outer space (launched)

132 What’s in Our Universe?

 M
manned—carrying and operated by people
matter—the stuff everything in the universe is made
of; anything that takes up space
meteor—a piece of rock that burns very brightly
when it enters Earth’s atmosphere from space, also
called a shooting star (meteors)
meteorite—a meteor that does not fully burn up in
Earth’s atmosphere and falls to Earth
meteoroid—a space rock, smaller than an asteroid,
that orbits the sun (meteoroids)
Milky Way Galaxy—the galaxy that contains Earth
and the solar system in which it lies

N
naked eye—your eye
NASA—National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; an organization in the United States
that directs space travel and research

What’s in Our Universe? 133

 O
observatory—a place used to observe the sun, moon,
stars, and outer space (observatories)
orbit—the curved path something in space takes
around another object in space; Planets move in an
orbit around the sun. (orbiting)

P
Peace Corps—a group of American volunteers who
carry out projects in other countries to help improve
the lives of people living there
planet—a round object in space that orbits a star
(planets)
Polaris—the North Star; the brightest star at the end
of the handle of the Ursa Minor/Little Dipper that
stays in the same place in the night sky all year long
probe—a tool used to explore something, such as
outer space (probes)

R
research—the kind of equipment used to collect
information through experiments

134 What’s in Our Universe?

 reusable—when something can be used more than
once
rotate—to turn about an axis or a center (rotating,
rotates, rotation)

S
satellite—a natural or man-made object that orbits a
planet or smaller object (satellites)
shuttle—to go back and forth from one place to the
next (shuttled)
solar system—the sun, other bodies like asteroids and
meteors, and the planets that orbit the sun
space shuttle—a manned spacecraft used for
exploration
space station—a manned satellite that is made to be
in outer space for a long period of time
sphere—an object shaped like a ball (spheres)

T
theory—a suggested explanation for why something
happens (theories)
tilted—slanted or tipped to one side

What’s in Our Universe? 135

 U
unmanned—not carrying people
Ursa Major—the constellation named by Ptolemy
that is also called Big Bear; It includes the Big Dipper.
Ursa Minor—the constellation made of seven stars
named by Ptolemy that is also called Little Bear; It is
the Little Dipper.

V
volunteer—a person who willingly performs a service
without getting paid

W
weightlessness—to have little or no weight

136 What’s in Our Universe?

 Core Knowledge Language Arts
Series Editor-in-Chief
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

President
Linda Bevilacqua

Editorial Staff Design and Graphics Staff

Carolyn Gosse, Senior Editor - Preschool Scott Ritchie, Creative Director
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Michael Donegan
Mick Anderson Liza Greene
Robin Blackshire Matt Leech
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Diane Auger Smith
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Acknowledgments
These materials are the result of the work, advice, and encouragement of numerous individuals over many years. Some of those singled out here already
know the depth of our gratitude; others may be surprised to find themselves thanked publicly for help they gave quietly and generously for the sake of
the enterprise alone. To helpers named and unnamed we are deeply grateful.

Contributors to Earlier Versions of these Materials

Susan B. Albaugh, Kazuko Ashizawa, Nancy Braier, Kathryn M. Cummings, Michelle De Groot, Diana Espinal, Mary E. Forbes, Michael L. Ford,
Ted Hirsch, Danielle Knecht, James K. Lee, Diane Henry Leipzig, Martha G. Mack, Liana Mahoney, Isabel McLean, Steve Morrison, Juliane K. Munson,
Elizabeth B. Rasmussen, Laura Tortorelli, Rachael L. Shaw, Sivan B. Sherman, Miriam E. Vidaver, Catherine S. Whittington, Jeannette A. Williams

We would like to extend special recognition to Program Directors Matthew Davis and Souzanne Wright who were instrumental to the early
development of this program.

Schools
We are truly grateful to the teachers, students, and administrators of the following schools for their willingness to field test these materials and for
their invaluable advice: Capitol View Elementary, Challenge Foundation Academy (IN), Community Academy Public Charter School, Lake Lure Classical
Academy, Lepanto Elementary School, New Holland Core Knowledge Academy, Paramount School of Excellence, Pioneer Challenge Foundation
Academy, New York City PS 26R (The Carteret School), PS 30X (Wilton School), PS 50X (Clara Barton School), PS 96Q, PS 102X (Joseph O. Loretan),
PS 104Q (The Bays Water), PS 214K (Michael Friedsam), PS 223Q (Lyndon B. Johnson School), PS 308K (Clara Cardwell), PS 333Q (Goldie Maple Academy),
Sequoyah Elementary School, South Shore Charter Public School, Spartanburg Charter School, Steed Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson Classical
Academy, Three Oaks Elementary, West Manor Elementary.

And a special thanks to the CKLA Pilot Coordinators Anita Henderson, Yasmin Lugo-Hernandez, and Susan Smith, whose suggestions and day-to-day
support to teachers using these materials in their classrooms was critical.
Credits
Every effort has been taken to trace and acknowledge copyrights. The editors tender their apologies for any accidental infringement where
copyright has proved untraceable. They would be pleased to insert the appropriate acknowledgment in any subsequent edition of this
publication. Trademarks and trade names are shown in this publication for illustrative purposes only and are the property of their respective
owners. The references to trademarks and trade names given herein do not affect their validity.

All photographs are used under license from Shutterstock, Inc. unless otherwise noted.

Expert Reviewer Illustrators and Image Sources

Charles Tolbert Cover: Shutterstock; Title Page: Shutterstock; 5: Shutterstock; 7:
Shutterstock; 9: Shutterstock; 11: Shutterstock; 13: Core Knowledge
Staff; 15: Core Knowledge Staff; 17: Shutterstock; 19: Shutterstock;
Writers 21: Shutterstock; 23: Shutterstock; 25: Shutterstock; 27: Shutterstock;
Core Knowledge Staff, Fritz Knapp 29 (top): Shutterstock; 29 (bottom): NASA, Galileo, Copyright Calvin
J. Hamilton; 31: Shutterstock; 33: Shutterstock; 35: Shutterstock; 37:
Shutterstock; 39: Shutterstock; 41 (top): NASA/JPL-Caltech; 41 (bottom):
Shutterstock; 43: Shutterstock; 45 : Shutterstock; 47: Shutterstock;
49: Shutterstock; 51: Shutterstock; 53: Shutterstock; 55: Shutterstock;
57: Shutterstock; 59: Shutterstock; 61: NASA, ESA, N. Evans (Harvard-
Smithsonian CfA), and H. Bond (STScI); 63: public domain; 65 (top):
Shutterstock; 65 (bottom): Shutterstock; 67: NASA; 69 (top): NASA; 69
(bottom): NASA; 71: NASA/NASA History Office/Kennedy Space Center;
73: NASA; 75: NASA; 77: NASA; 79: NASA; 81: NASA; 83: Shutterstock;
85: NASA; 87: NASA; 89: NASA/Johnson Space Center; 91: Shutterstock;
93: NASA; 95: ISS Expedition 28 Crew, NASA; 97: NASA; 99: NASA; 101:
NASA; 103: NASA; 105: NASA; 107: NASA; 109: BrokenSphere / Wikimedia
Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported,
[Link] / Modified
from Original; 111: NASA; 113: NASA/Johnson Space Center; 115: Jed
Henry; 117: Jed Henry; 119: Jed Henry; 121: Jed Henry; 123: Jed Henry;
125: Jed Henry; 127: NASA / WMAP Science Team

Regarding the Shutterstock items listed above, please note: No person

or entity shall falsely represent, expressly or by way of reasonable
implication, that the content herein was created by that person or
entity, or any person other than the copyright holder(s) of that content.
What’s in Our Universe?
Unit 7 Reader

Skills Strand
grade 3

The Core Knowledge Foundation

[Link]