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TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

JAN 20 – FEB 12, 2016

NEWMARK THEATRE
1111 SW BROADWAY
Inside this guide:
About: The Show, and Playwright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Activity: Super Steller Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Build vocabulary by creating giant word illustrations
The Big Ideas, Reading List, Questions for Discussion . . 3 decorated or colored to hint at their meaning.
Activity: Space-Tacular Solar Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Online Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Introduce or review the solar system and the planets by
creating maps of the solar system. Reflection: After the Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Activity: Extra, Extra! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Use the included worksheet to review the 5Ws and draft
a news article about an expedition into outer space.

Field Trip Info Questions?

Length: 60 minutes Learn more at octc.org/schoolservices
Teacher Preview: Friday, January 15
 Email: [email protected]
Call: 503-228-9571
S
 ign Interpreted Performance: Thursday,
January 28, 11:45 Follow us on Facebook! Oregon Children’s Theatre
posts videos, behind-the-scenes photos, and other
great multimedia connected to your field trip.
 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

About
The Show The Playwright: John Maclay
Mild-mannered reporter Geronimo Stilton is awoken in John Maclay is a playwright (as well as actor and
the middle of the night by burglars attempting to break director) who has spent the past 16 years working in
into his house! Deeply shaken, he decides to have a Milwaukee and Chicago. In addition to a busy schedule
Safe Squeak anti-theft alarm system installed – their as playwright and adaptor of literature for the stage,
billboards have been popping up all over New Mouse Mr. Maclay proudly serves as Associate Artistic Director
City, so they must work. Geronimo hands over all his and Director of the Young Company at First Stage in
passwords so that Suzy Slyrat can get to work on the Milwaukee Wisconsin, one of the America’s largest
installation. Pleased with the fast service and his new and most respected theatres for young audiences.
array of high-tech infrared sensors, detectors, cameras, In addition to Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space, he
security doors, and ear-splitting alarms, Geronimo is the co-author of Anatole (with James Valcq and
writes an article for The Rodent Gazette warning Lee Becker) based on the beloved book series by
residents of the attempted burglary and advising them Eve Titus, and Nancy Drew and the Biggest Case Ever
to take the same precautions. (with Jeff Frank).

But little does our hero know that Safe Squeak is

actually a nefarious plan – by handing over their pass-
words and personal information, residents have ceded Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space. Based on an original idea by
control of New Mouse City’s communications systems, Elisabetta Dami. © 2015 Atlantyca Entertainment S.p.A. All rights
reserved. Adapted by John Maclay. Directed by Stan Foote.
surveillance cameras, and media to the power-mad Dr.
Wicked Whiskers! From his satellite base, the villain
demands an impossibly gigantic ransom.

Geronimo and his companions are launched into space

on a top-secret mission to foil Dr. Whiskers’ evil plan
and save the day! Will Geronimo be able to conquer his
fears to become space-ready – in just two days? Will the
team be able to complete their mission? Based on the
wildly popular book series featuring Geronimo and his
pals Thea, Trap, and Benjamin, this story will “rocket”
your students to another world.

www.octc.org
 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

The Big Ideas Questions for Discussion

• Teamwork can help us do great and heroic 1. Do you think Geronimo is brave? Why or why not?
things.
2. What qualities make someone a hero?
• Doing good deeds and helping your community
should be its own reward. 3. Why is Geronimo Stilton reluctant to give his
• Be a critical thinker and educate yourself about personal information and passwords to Suzy Slyrat?
new technology. Do you think he made the right choice?

• Advertising is not the same as news. 4. Why do you think the Safe Squeak ads begin
• Scientists must always search for the truth, popping up all over New Mouse City?
whatever and wherever it might be.
5. Can you think of an example where an ad made you
want to buy something? How did it make you feel?
Reading List Name one strategy used by the advertiser to make
their product appealing to you.
Go to www.tinyurl.com/MouseinSpace to access a
Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space book list provided
by Multnomah County Library SchoolCorps. Includes
related nonfiction titles great for Common Core
connections! “But then again, being
afraid never stopped
you before.”
Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space is
a  Ticket to Read  title. Ticket to Read is a
new program linking literacy to live theater 6. Which do you think is more important, privacy or
by providing students from low-income safety? Why?
schools with a free theater ticket and a companion book to take home
and keep. This program is supported in part by KPMG, the Community 7. Would you ever want to travel into space? Why or
Foundation of SW Washington, and the Portland Timbers. Learn more. why not?

8. Write about a time when you had to act bravely,

even though you didn’t feel brave at the time.

9. How does Geronimo Stilton feel about space travel?

10. How does Dr. Wicked Whiskers use fear to manipu-

late the citizens of New Mouse City?

11. What advice would you give to Geronimo before he

launches into space on his mission?

12. What do you think Geronimo learns after returning

to Earth? Has he changed at all?

www.octc.org
 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Activity: Space-tacular Solar Systems

Overview
Introduce or review the solar system and the planets by creating maps of the solar system.

Common Core State Standards Vocabulary Materials

Science: Earth Science and Concepts • Planets sheet (page 5)
1-ESS1, 2-ESS1: solar system sun • Blank drawing paper
Earth’s Place in the Universe planet orbit • Scissors
moon
• Glue sticks
Grade Level: 1-2 • Colored pencils, crayons,
or markers
Length: 30 minutes

Activity Instructions

Print class set of Planets sheet. Prepare above supplies. If students are unfamiliar with the planets in the
solar system, have a visual or other reference they can use.

Review or introduce what makes up our solar system with students – the sun, the planets, etc. Explain to
students that they’ll be creating their own maps of the solar system.

Instruct students to draw a large sun in the center of their drawing paper. Do they know how big the sun
is in relation to the planets on their activity sheet? Instruct students to color the planets on their Planets
sheet, cut them out, and place them around the sun in order of nearest to farthest. Attach planets with
glue sticks. If there’s time, have students draw each planet’s orbit around the sun. Finish by having
students label each planet on their map.

Variation for Older Students: After students have finished labeling the planets, have them draw
small circles around each planet to represent the respective planet’s moons. Do all planets in the
solar system have moons?

Ask students to write down one question they have about one of the planets in the solar system. At home
or during computer lab time, instruct students to do some independent research to see if they can find
the answer to their question, and write down the answer. Gather these facts to create a class ‘fact map’
of the solar system, with student facts posted around each planet on a bulletin board.

www.octc.org
 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Activity: Extra, Extra!

Overview
Use the included worksheet to review the 5Ws and draft a news article about an expedition into outer space.

Common Core State Standards Grade Level: 2-4 Materials

Language Arts: Writing: Text Types • Extra, Extra worksheet
and Purposes
Length: 30 minutes (page 7)
Anchor Standard 2 • Examples of newspaper
2.W.2, 3.W.2, 4.W.2 headlines/front pages
Language Arts: Writing: Text Types
and Purposes
Anchor Standard 3
2.W.3, 3.W.3, 4.W.3

Activity Instructions
Make copies of Extra, Extra worksheet (class
“Brave? A hero?
set). Display newspaper samples where
students can see or review them.
I was terrified. I almost
fainted … I’m really
If students are already familiar with the
Geronimo Stilton books, remind them of his a scaredy mouse.”
occupation as a newspaper reporter. How do
reporters get their information? What informa-
tion do they include in their articles? Ask
students to imagine that they are reporters writing an article on a NASA exploration into space.
What information would they need to include in an article?

Distribute Extra, Extra worksheets. If students are not familiar with the 5Ws, review (who, what, when,
where, why). Allow time for students to complete worksheets independently. Point out the blank space
at the top where students should write a headline for their article.

Ask students to read over their Extra, Extra worksheets. Ask them to underline or point to one fact they
share in their outline. Are there any opinions in their outline? Discuss or journal about the difference
between facts and opinions. Do students think reporters should be able to include opinions in their
articles?

www.octc.org
 Edition Date : _ ________________

The Daily Galaxy Reporter’s Name : ____________________________________________

Who is going on this mission to space?

What kind of spacecraft are they travelling in? What does it look like?

When is the expedition leaving? How long will they be gone?

Where is the expedition going?

Why is this expedition important? What will be learned?

 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Activity: Super Steller Vocabulary

Overview
Geronimo Stilton books are sprinkled with words that are colorful, larger in size, or use fun and creative fonts to
emphasize their meaning or make them stand out – a great vocabulary-building tool! Use a Geronimo Stilton book as
an example and have students create their very own colorful, textured vocabulary word. Use your own vocabulary or
see below for a list from Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space!

Common Core State Standards Grade Level: 1-4 Materials

Language Arts: Language: Vocabulary • Blank paper
Acquisition and Use
Length: 45 minutes
• Colored pencils, crayons,
Anchor Standard 5 or markers
1.L.5, 2.L.5, 3.L.5, 4.L.5
• Vocabulary list (see
Language Arts: Language: Vocabulary below) or word wall
Acquisition and Use
Anchor Standard 6 • Copy of Geronimo
2.L.6, 3.L.6, 4.L.6 Stilton: Mouse in Space
Arts: Create, Present, and Perform or another book in
3rd Grade: AR.03.CP.02 the series

Mouse in Space Vocabulary

Younger Students
Star Space
Moon Squeak “Mr. Stilton, do you want
Planet Blast off
Earth Rocket your privacy or do you
Launch Robot
Solar Password want to be safe? If you
Orbit Brave
Timid Pilot want to be safe, you are
Older Students going to have to give up
Asteroid
Astronaut
Friction
Digital a few things.”
Artificial Voltage
Atmosphere Signal
Encrypted Deactivate
Satellite Morse code
Communication
Mission
Re-entry
Quasar
8

www.octc.org
 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Activity: Super Steller Vocabulary cont.

Activity Instructions
Prepare art supplies and drawing paper. Choose your vocabulary words from the list above or use words
from another unit. Prepare a class word wall or large list that students can see.

Read a chapter or a shorter section from Geronimo Stilton: Mouse in Space to your students. Ask stu-
dents what they notice about some of the words on each page. What are some ways that the illustrator
words stand out? Point out examples where words’ colors, designs, or size help emphasize their meaning.

Distribute paper and art materials to students. Assign a vocabulary word to each student, have them
draw a word at random, or select their own. Have students print their word in very large letters to fill
up their entire paper, and use colors and decorations to help convey the meaning of that word.

Hang students’ word artwork so the whole class can see. Discuss how different words make us imagine
certain colors, feelings, or images. How can the words we choose create more colorful stories?

www.octc.org
 MOUSE IN SPACE
TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Online Resources
Astronomy and Outer Space
http://www.space-exploratorium.com

Space Travel
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents
NASA’s online resource center for teachers and students.

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/dayinthelife
Experience a day in the life of an astronaut on the International Space Station! Videos and descriptions
of astronauts’ daily routines, work, meals, and recreation on board the ISS.

Geronimo Stilton
geronimostilton.com/portal/US/en/home
Official Geronimo Stilton website

www.teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/Geronimo
Scholastic site with teacher guides for Geronimo Stilton

www.teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/geronimo/newspaperhome.htm
Create your own classroom edition of the Rodent Gazette, complete with masthead!

www.scholastic.com/titles/geronimostilton/createyourown
Online Geronimo Stilton comic generator. Write your own dialogue in the panels and print your own!

10

www.octc.org
 MOUSE IN SPACE

Reflection: After the Play

After the Play: What did you see?
Download the After the Play worksheet on the “Scientists must always
next page and print a class set. Ask students to
complete the drawing and response portions of look for the truth,
the sheet either in class or at home.
whatever it may be.”
Write to Oregon Children’s Theatre
We love hearing student feedback and responses
to our shows! Please feel free to share any letters
from students with us:

Oregon Children’s Theatre

1939 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232

Letters can also be emailed to

[email protected].

11

www.octc.org
MOUSE IN SPACE
What did you see?
Name and date

What did you see on stage? Recall a scene you remember and draw it in the space above.
______________________

Include scenery, characters, and props.

What did you see? cont.
1. Describe what is happening in your drawing.

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2. List two or three things you liked about the play.

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3. If you were directing your own version of this play, what would you do differently?

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4. Write one question you had about the play that you’d like to ask Oregon Children’s Theatre.
Questions can be for actors, the director, a designer, etc.

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