Before After Reading Activities Level N Word Count 3,295 Words 100th word skydiving page 4 Before Reading Building Academic Vocabulary and Background Knowledge Before reading a book it is important to tap into what your child or students already know about the topic This will help them develop their vocabulary increase their reading comprehension and make connections across the curriculum be about in the book’s chapters 1 Look at the cover of the book What will this book 2 What do you already know about the topic 3 Let’s study the Table of Contents What will you learn about 4 What would you like to learn about this topic Do you think 5 Use a reading journal to write about your knowledge of this 6 Read the book 7 8 After reading the book complete the activities below In your reading journal record what you learned about the topic and your response to the book you might learn about it from this book Why or why not topic Record what you already know about the topic and what you hope to learn about the topic Content Area Vocabulary Read the list What do these words mean acrobatics altimeter altitude antenna canopy descent freefall paratroopers rectangular rigger right-of-way ripcord synchronized tracking After Reading Comprehension and Extension Activity After reading the book work on the following questions with your child or students in order to check their level of reading comprehension and content mastery or faster Visualize 1 How does the parachute design affect the skydiver Asking questions 2 Explain how the de-arch position and head-down position work with air to make a diver go slower 3 What are the similarities and differences between a parachute and a wingsuit Summarize 4 How do divers steer their body when falling Summarize 5 Would you go skydiving Explain Text to self connection Extension Activity Skydivers rely heavily on their parachutes A diver needs a chute that creates resistance and allows a slow fall to the ground Design a parachute by using a plastic bag scissors string and a small object to act as the diver such as an action figure or plastic army man Cut out a large square from the plastic bag Trim the square into a design you think would work best Cut a small hole near the edge of each side and thread the string through the holes Attach the string to the object you chose as the diver Using a chair or another high spot drop your parachute Did it fall quickly or slowly Did it tangle Remember you want it to fall slowly Make adjustments to your parachute as needed and test again
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTO THE SKY 4 GETTING STARTED 6 SPORTS SKILLS 14 GEAR UP 26 THE STARS 34 BACK TO EARTH 42 GLOSSARY 46 INDEX 47 SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW 47 WEBSITES TO VISIT 47 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 48
INTO THE SKY 4 Nancy Koreen felt a little nervous No wonder she was about to jump out of a plane Nancy had skydived many times but this time was special She was part of a team of women preparing to do a group skydive There were 63 of them all together in three different planes In a few moments the doors of the planes would open and the women would jump Then they would try to join hands as they dove down at 160 miles 257 5 kilometers per hour If they did it they would set a world record in skydiving To succeed everyone had to be perfectly synchronized at the same time They had less than a minute to get it right The door opened and the howling wind hit Nancy’s body It was loud and cold She didn’t care though The clock was ticking It was time to make history She took a deep breath and jumped into the sky
