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Newton and Copernicus: Lesson #3
1: How are Newton’s ears different from Copernicus’s ears? In these three panels, where
is Copernicus always standing (left or right side)?
2: Take a look at the background information. What kind of objects do you see? What
clues do these objects give you to help you determine where the rats are at? What is
their cage made out of? How do you know?
3: Why is Copernicus disappointed in his name?
4: Do you think Newton is right when he says “I think that’s what Copernicus means?”
5: This cartoon strip series illustrates and discusses accepted scientific concepts, but
science fiction and “fantasy” is used to tell the story. What is the most obvious “fantasy”
in this set of panels?
6: The rats were named after two famous scientists. What have you heard about these
two scientists?
A Newton and Copernicus Companion: Copyright August 2007, J.C. Olson.
Newton and Copernicus: Lesson #3
LESSON GUIDE:
Vocabulary: personification
Academic Vocabulary: science fiction
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A: Have your students read the comic strip silently and carefully observe the
background of the drawing to look for supporting information. (V)
B: Have them read through the questions and circle the number of each question
they believe they can answer correctly.
Pair/Share.
C: Reading aloud. One student reads the “left” lines, the other reads the “right”
lines. Switch roles and repeat. (A)
D: The pair discusses questions 1- 5 then each student draws a box around the
number (or circled number) of each question they believe they can answer correctly.
E: Call on students to come up front and dramatically read or act out the comic strip.
Supply props to represent the background information in the strip: (sawdust, test
tube rack, flask) (K)
F: Whole class: Have students share what they see in the drawings that supports
the dialog.
G: Students individually write out their responses to questions 1-5.
Answers for 1-5
1: Newton’s ears are more on top of his head, Copernicus has ears more on the side
of his head and has space between his ears on the top of his head. Copernicus is
always on the left.
2: Test tubes, boiling flask, sawdust. They appear to be in a laboratory of some
sort. They are kept in a glass cage. You can see lab equipment through the glass
behind them on the counter.
3: He wanted a cool name like “Lord Thunder, Peril of the Universe.”
4: He is probably guessing. Newton and Copernicus are two famous scientists.
5: The most obvious science fiction or fantasy is that rats can talk. (Also accept
that they can be disappointed, and that they think about the meaning of words.)
A Newton and Copernicus Companion: Copyright August 2007, J.C. Olson.