← Back to the article

Reading level

Small Whale · Reading worksheet

Naked eye

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/naked-eye

Step 2 · Questions

1. What can we see with our naked eyes in the night sky?
2. Why did ancient people use the naked eye to study the stars?

Step 3 · Words to know

Write what each word means, using the article.

Optical Instrument
Celestial Events
Sky Lore

Step 4 · Two facts in your own words

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

1.

2.

Answer key (teacher copy)

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What can we see with our naked eyes in the night sky?The brightest planets, the Milky Way band, some large asteroids like 4 Vesta, meteor showers, and bright comets can all be seen without any tools.
2. Why did ancient people use the naked eye to study the stars?They charted constellations, tracked the Sun, Moon, and planets, and used this information to make calendars, navigate, and plan farming.

Optical Instrument: A device that uses lenses or mirrors to enhance vision, like telescopes or microscopes.
Celestial Events: Occurrences in space, such as meteor showers, eclipses, or planetary alignments.
Sky Lore: Traditional knowledge, stories, and beliefs related to celestial objects and phenomena.