Star Secrets Writing Prompt
Science Reading • Page 1 of 2 Grade 3
Name:
Date:
What is a Star and How Does It Work?
Read the article below to discover exciting facts about our Sun and the stars!
1 Glowing Balls of Burning Gas
When you look at the night sky, the dots of light you see are stars! They are millions of miles away. Billions of stars exist in the universe, but many are too far away from Earth to see, even with a telescope.
Stars are huge balls of burning gases, most of which are made of hydrogen. As the hydrogen gas in a star is squeezed due to gravity, it produces huge amounts of energy, which make it glow.
Blue Stars Hottest Stars
Yellow Stars (Our Sun) In-Between Heat
Red Stars Cooler Stars
2 Sizes and Distances from Earth
Stars are really far away from Earth. With a strong telescope, we can see stars that are millions of light-years away. A light-year is how far light can travel in one year. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, so it takes 8 minutes for light from the Sun to reach Earth.
Proxima Centauri The next closest star to Earth. It is 4 light-years away (250,000 times farther than our Sun).
Sirius The brightest star in the night sky. It is 20 times brighter than the Sun, but 500,000 times farther away!
3 Our Sun is an Average Star
Our star, the Sun, is average in size and brightness. However, our star is extraordinarily important! Earth is the perfect distance from the Sun in the habitable zone. We get heat and light to support life without vaporizing our water.
Size Check: If the Sun were the size of a basketball, the Earth would be the size of a tiny pencil point!
4 Stars That Are Farther Away Look Smaller and Dimmer
Because the Sun is so much closer than other stars, it looks much bigger and brighter. Objects that are closer seem larger than objects far away.
The Candle Demonstration: If you light two candles, hold one near you, and have a friend hold the other on the far side of the room, your candle looks bigger and brighter. The same is true of stars!
Turn to Page 2 for your writing prompt and brainstorming sheet. Page 1 • Reading Text
Writing Prompt • Page 2 of 2 Grade 3
Name:
Date:
Star Secrets: My Writing Plan
Read the question below and brainstorm your ideas before you write!
3rd Grade Writing Question
Why does our Sun look so big and bright when it is actually just an average star?
Use facts from the article to explain your answer. Be sure to tell what stars are made of and how the candle trick shows why distance matters!
Things to Think About:
1. What is a star? What gas is it made of, and why does it glow?
2. Distance Matters Why does something close look bigger than something far away?
3. The Candle Trick How did the two candles show what happens with stars?
My Brainstorming & Planning Space
Draw pictures, sketch an idea web, or write down notes and key words below!
Use your brainstorming notes when writing your final draft! Page 2 • Brainstorming Sheet
