First Family on Mars & Space Station - Level 25-26

This paired text set blends futuristic fiction with factual space science to inspire curiosity and imagination. In The First Family on Mars, a family's hopes of pioneering life on another planet are tested when a fire at the training base forces them to adapt quickly. Through a first-person narrative and character dialogue, students explore themes of resilience, innovation, and teamwork. Space Station shifts to real-world science, providing an in-depth explanation of life aboard the International Space Station. Through labelled diagrams, photographs, and a well-structured glossary, this non-fiction text expands students' understanding of how astronauts live, work, and overcome daily challenges in zero gravity. Together, these titles offer a compelling look at human ambition and the scientific realities of space exploration.

Educational Benefits:

• Builds background knowledge of space science and technology.
• Enhances comprehension of factual content through fiction.
• Reinforces vocabulary related to space environments and equipment.
• Develops inferencing and problem-solving skills in narrative contexts.

Classroom Ideas:

• Design a living space for a Mars base, inspired by the family's challenge.
• Role-play an astronaut's daily routine based on information from Space Station.
• Write a news article about the fire incident from First Family on Mars.
• Explore gravity and space through simple science experiments.

Safety & Information:

• Ages: 8+
• Book size: 210mm x 148mm
• Softcover, child-safe materials
• No small parts or components