Mapping the Universe by Paul Mason is an engaging and informative non-fiction text that introduces readers to the work of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and its ambitious project to photograph the southern sky. Through clear explanations, photographs, diagrams, and comparisons with familiar experiences, the text explores how a powerful telescope and camera can help scientists observe changes in space. Readers encounter exploding stars, asteroids, the possibility of an undiscovered planet, and the connections between an international observatory and astronomers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

By combining scientific information with the story of astronomer Vera Rubin, the text supports students to develop curiosity about the universe and consider the importance of perseverance and opportunity in science. It encourages learners to think about how repeated observations, new technology, and cooperation help people investigate unanswered questions, making it a rich text for integrated literacy and science learning.

This pack contains wide range of response activities including:

• A guided reading plan exploring key literacy elements including inference and deduction, language use, making connection and text organisation, along with key questioning to promote emotional intelligence, metacognition and compassionate inquiry. 
• An independent learning contract complete with explainer videos for activity clarity
  
• A wide range of response activities to support developing and embedding key literacy skills including sentence and word work, spelling, and cloze activities. 

Curriculum Phase: Phase 2

Year Level: Year 4

English: reading for meaning, locating and synthesising information, making inferences, identifying key ideas and supporting detail, understanding headings and explanatory text, interpreting diagrams, exploring technical vocabulary, and distinguishing possibilities from established information

Science – Planet Earth and Beyond: the solar system, galaxies and the universe, stars and supernovas, planets and asteroids, astronomical observations, and technologies used to investigate space

Science – Nature of Science: curiosity and investigation, gathering and comparing evidence, observing change over time, scientific collaboration, and the contributions of scientists

Text type: Non-fiction, informational article, scientific explanation, biographical information

Key words include: asteroids, astronomers, astronomy, cameras, discoveries, galaxies, Milky Way, Mount John, observatories, planets, reflecting telescopes, science, solar system, southern sky, space, stars, supernovas, technology, universe, Vera Rubin