The Flaming Sky

Social studies: world history, United States history, geography
Science: engineering, environment

Text features, vocabulary, key details, author’s purpose, text evidence, drawing conclusions

minilesson info and link here

Watch a Video/Preview Text Features (25 minutes)

This story is accompanied by a Video Read-Aloud narrated by author Lauren Tarshis. Dramatic photos and footage help students imagine what it was like to be a passenger on the Hindenburg and experience the terrifying explosion and crash. The video can be used as a “first read” to preview the story for the class.

Look at pages 4-5 with the class. Direct students to the title, subhead, and illustrations. Ask: What do you think the story is about? What key words in the title and subhead helped you decide? How do the pictures and captions make you want to read the story?

Direct students to the map and caption on page 6. Have them use the compass rose to identify the direction of the Hindenburg’s flight path across the Atlantic Ocean. Point to New Jersey on a classroom map of the United States.

Look at the remaining images. Discuss the title and caption of each with the class. Ask: Which image would you like to learn more about? Why? 

Introduce Domain-Specific Vocabulary (15 minutes)

We have highlighted in bold six words that may be challenging and defined them on the page. Preview these words by projecting or distributing our vocabulary activity and completing it as a class. You can also play our Vocabulary Slideshow.

Highlighted words: spectacular, tragedy, gourmet, flammable, jerked, monstrous

Set a Purpose for Reading (5 minutes)

Read the Think and Read and Think and Write boxes on pages 4 and 9, which support the featured skill, cause and effect. Ask students to look for details as they read that help them identify the causes of the crash and how the disaster affected air travel.

Reading and Unpacking the Text

First read: Read the story as a class. At the end of each section, use the Pause and Think question to quickly check students’ comprehension.

Second read: Distribute the close-reading and critical-thinking questions to the class. Preview them together. Ask students to read the article again and answer the questions as a class or in small groups.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

• Read the first section. What details describe what the Hindenburg looked like? (key details) It was a zeppelin, which looked like a large airplane without wings. Why do you think Werner Franz felt “like the luckiest kid on Earth”? (inference) He was able to get a job washing dishes and cooking on the Hindenburg, which was considered the most amazing aircraft ever built. His father had lost his job, and the money Werner earned helped his family.
• Read “The Joy of Zeppelins.” What was it like to be a passenger on the Hindenburg? (drawing conclusions) Passengers had an exciting trip. They traveled across the ocean in just two-and-a-half days. They slept in beautiful rooms, ate fancy meals, and saw incredible sights from the glass windows.
• Read “A Scary Sign.” Why does the author end this section with just one word—Kaboom!? (author’s craft) She is describing the sound of the explosion inside the zeppelin. Why is this story called “The Flaming Sky”? (inference) The explosion inside the zeppelin caused a fire that lit up the sky.
• Read “Just 32 Seconds.” What do Werner’s actions during the explosion and fire show about his character? (character) He was quick-thinking and brave. He kicked open the small door and jumped out, not knowing how high up the Hindenburg was.
• Read “The End of Zeppelins.”  What was one effect of recording the Hindenburg disaster on film?  (cause and effect) Because it was filmed, people all over the world saw the fire and crash.
  
• How did Werner feel after he survived the Hindenburg disaster? (summarizing) Werner felt lucky to be alive. He was always grateful for everything he was allowed to experience for the rest of his life.
  
  

Critical-Thinking Question (10 minutes)

• What do you think is the most important cause and effect of the fire and crash of the Hindenburg? (cause and effect) Answers may vary but might include: The flammable bags of hydrogen gas that helped lift the airship into the air were dangerous and caused the zeppelin to explode. Because of this disaster, people were too scared to fly on zeppelins like the Hindenburg.
  

Distribute our Cause and Effect activity. Have students work in small groups to complete the activity.

Discuss the writing assignment in the Think and Write box on page 9. Review the format of an informal letter with the class. Remind students to use the first-person pronoun I, since Werner is talking about his own experiences. Students can share their letters in small group