1. Maria Mitchell’s Comet
GB2 Unit 3.3
Who is Maria Mitchell?

2. Read aloud Highlight the unknown words
Reading time
Read aloud
Highlight the unknown words

3. Maria Mitchell lived 100 years ago
Maria Mitchell lived 100 years ago. When she was a small girl, she learned how to watch the sky. Her father taught her how to see stars through a telescope. A telescope helped her see things that were very far away.

4. As Maria grew up, she watched the sky each night
As Maria grew up, she watched the sky each night. She lived in a large building. From its roof, Maria watched for hours. She knew the sky well. She made maps of the stars.
One night Maria put on her heavy coat and woolen socks. As usual, she climbed the stairs to the roof. She began watching the stars.

5. Then something important happened. Maria saw something odd
Then something important happened. Maria saw something odd. There was a dot of light where the sky was usually dark!
“What is it?” she wondered.

6. She watched it closely. Slowly, slowly the light moved. “It’s a comet
She watched it closely. Slowly, slowly the light moved. “It’s a comet!” she thought.
The comet looked like a bright ball of light. The ball had a glowing tail.

7. Maria was the first person to see this comet
Maria was the first person to see this comet. She was the first woman ever to discover one.
People around the world learned about Maria’s comet. One king sent her a gold medal. A crater on the moon was named for her.

8. Maria became a college teacher
Maria became a college teacher. She made sure her students learned all about the stars. Sometimes she kept the students up all night to watch falling stars or passing comets.

9. As long as people watch stars, Maria Mitchell will be remembered.
When Maria was very old, she still watched the sky. She still made maps of the stars. Later she became too old to climb the stairs. She couldn’t see well. But her mind kept on wondering about stars.
As long as people watch stars, Maria Mitchell will be remembered.

10. You can play the “Jeopardy” Game now.
Activity Time
You can play the “Jeopardy” Game now.