Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Voyage to Mars
CCSS – 6th – 8th Grades
Reading Literature – Key Ideas and Details
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text
says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Reading Literature – Craft and Structure
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a
specific word choice on meaning and tone.
Reading Informational Text – Key Ideas and Details
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text
says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed
through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions
or judgments.
Reading Informational Text – Craft and Structure
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or
section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the
ideas.
Reading Informational Text – Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats
(e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of
a topic or issue.
Writing – Text Types and Purposes
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and
relevant evidence.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1b Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant
evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or
text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and
convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and
analysis of relevant content.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.2b Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions,
concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Voyage to Mars
CCSS – 6th – 8th Grades

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.2d Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary
to inform about or explain the topic.
Writing – Production and Distribution of Writing
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
(Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
Writing – Research to Build and Present Knowledge
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question,
drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.9b Apply grade 6 Reading standards to literary nonfiction
(e.g., “Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing
claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not”).
Speaking and Listening – Comprehension and Collaboration
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
(one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts,
and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1a Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied
required material; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the
topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1b Follow rules for collegial discussions, set specific goals
and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1c Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration
and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic, text, or issue under
discussion.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1d Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate
understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.2 Interpret information presented in diverse media and
formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic,
text, or issue under study.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.3 Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims,
distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are
not.
Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Voyage to Mars
CCSS – 6th – 8th Grades
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a
focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use
appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
Language – Conventions of Standard English
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard
English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.2a Use punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes) to set
off nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.2b Spell correctly.
*CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when
writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.3a Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and
concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy.
Language – Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiplemeaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly
from a range of strategies.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4a Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or
paragraph; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a
word or phrase.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes
and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4c Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries,
glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or
determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.6 Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general
academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when
considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
History/Social Studies – Key Ideas and Details
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or
secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior
knowledge or opinions.
History/Social Studies – Craft and Structure
Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Voyage to Mars
CCSS – 6th – 8th Grades
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
History/Social Studies – Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7 Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs,
photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
Science and Technical Subjects – Key Ideas and Details
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of
science and technical texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text;
provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.3 Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying
out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
Science and Technical Subjects – Craft and Structure
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and
other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or
technical context relevant to grades 6–8 texts and topics.
Science and Technical Subjects – Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7 Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed
in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a
flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts, reasoned judgment based on
research findings, and speculation in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.9 Compare and contrast the information gained from
experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a
text on the same topic.
Science and Technical Subjects – Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.10 By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend
science/technical texts in the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and
proficiently.
Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Voyage to Mars
CCSS – 6th – 8th Grades
Writing – Production and Distribution of Writing
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.5 With some guidance and support from peers and
adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing,
rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have
been addressed.
Writing – Research to Build and Present Knowledge
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question
(including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating
additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and
digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of
each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while
avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support
analysis reflection, and research.
Math – The Number System
Compute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.
 CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.2 Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard
algorithm.
 CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.3 Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit
decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.
Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational
numbers.
 CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.C.5 Understand that positive and negative numbers are
used together to describe quantities having opposite directions or values (e.g.,
temperature above/below zero, elevation above/below sea level, credits/debits,
positive/negative electric charge); use positive and negative numbers to represent
quantities in real-world contexts, explaining the meaning of 0 in each situation.
Math – Expressions and Equations
Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.
 CCSS.Math.Content.6.EE.A.1 Write and evaluate numerical expressions involving
whole-number exponents.
Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis
Voyage to Mars
CCSS – 6th – 8th Grades
Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.
 CCSS.Math.Content.6.EE.B.5 Understand solving an equation or inequality as a
process of answering a question: which values from a specified set, if any, make the
equation or inequality true? Use substitution to determine whether a given number in
a specified set makes an equation or inequality true.