Language and Grammar: Define and Explain

Role-Play With a group, act out a classroom visit by astronauts from the International Space Station. Some of you ask questions. The astronauts answer by defining and explaining their experiences in space. Use prepositions and prepositional phrases to add details to your questions and answers. Trade roles.

Does noise on the space shuttle keep you awake?

Before bed, I put earplugs in my ears. Earplugs really help muffle the sound.

Writing and Grammar: Write About an Adventure

Study the Models When you write, you can use words and phrases to add descriptive details and information to your sentences. Some phrases add meaning to your writing by showing location, direction, time, and origin.

Ok

There is no gravity in space. Astronauts and objects float if they are not anchored. Some astronauts strap themselves down so that they do not float. Some astronauts use straps to secure their food packets when they eat.

This writer needs to add details and information to the paragraph.

Better

There is no gravity in space. Astronauts and objects float around a space station if they are not anchored. Before going to sleep, some astronauts strap themselves into special sleeping bags so that they do not float around the cabin during sleep. During mealtimes, some astronauts use straps on the tabletop to secure their food packets.

This writer uses prepositional phrases to add descriptive details and information to the paragraph.

Illustration of the pen icon WRITE ON YOUR OWN Write about an adventure you’d like to take. Use descriptive words and phrases in your writing to add detailed information.

Remember

  • • A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition.

  • • A prepositional phrase ends with a noun or a pronoun.

Prepositions

Show locationabove, at, behind, below, beside, in, in back of, in front of, next to, on, on top of, over, under
Show directionacross, down, into, through, to, up
Show timeafter, before, during, until
Show originfrom