Naka and Nala talk about space
Refilwe Ramagoshi
Busisiwe Ndlovu
English
First sentences
Nala and Naka are at a school camp.
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They put up their tents and then watch the flaming sun set.
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“It’s beautiful,” sighs Nala happily.
1
They watch the sun sink below the horizon in the west.
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“There’s a full moon tonight,” notices Naka as the moon rises in the east.
2
The children lie on their backs and study the night sky.
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Naka exclaims, “Wow, there are so many stars and they sparkle like diamonds!”
3
He says, “The moon shines because it reflects the sun’s light.
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When it’s a full moon, it looks like the whole moon is lit.”
4
Nala agrees, “The moon moves around the earth. Sometimes we can see only part of the moon lit, and it looks like a banana.”
5
She continues, “The moon looks like a football at full moon.
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As a month passes, we see half of the moon. It looks like a banana.”
6
Naka says proudly, “I knew that! I also know that the moon moves around the earth, and together they move around the sun.”
7
Nala smiles, “Did you know the sun is a star?”
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She adds, “The sun is a huge star of burning gases, making light and heat.”
8
Naka notices, “Without city lights, we see the night sky clearly. Space begins above the layer of air around the earth, but where does space end?”
9
Nala smiles, “We’ll become astronauts and travel on the fastest spaceship. We’ll fly past the farthest planets and stars. Then, we’ll know where space ends.”
10

——Questions


  1. Who is this story about? What are they doing?
  2. What is a full moon? Draw it.
  3. Where does the moon rise?
  4. What is the closest star to the earth?
  5. There are 8 planets. Find out their names.
  6. Draw a picture of the sun and planets.
11
Attribution CC BY
Your attribution should include the following:
Title: Naka and Nala talk about space
Author/s: Refilwe Ramagoshi
Translator/s: Refilwe Ramagoshi
Illustrator/s: Busisiwe Ndlovu
Assurer/s: African Storybook
Language: English

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CC BY includes the following elements:
 BY   – Credit must be given to the creator