The Astronaut and the OnionBy Ann Cameron

Illustrated by Anna Rich

Which person in the photo is the leader? How do you know?

Besides a teacher, who else

might be a good

mentor? Explain.

MentorS

For what kinds of

occuptations, or jobs, might a mentor be especially useful to

have?

The Astronaut and the Onion

Strategy: Make inferences and analyze

Skill: Character

GenreRealistic Fiction

This story is called The Astronautand the Onion. Sometimes an authorconnects two things that are verydifferent. How might an astronautand an onion be connected?

Making an inference

You can make an inference, or informed guess, based on information you read or know.

Character

Authors provide clues to a character’s personality throughthe character’s thoughts and interactions with other characters.

Astronauts

What do you know

about astronaut

s?

Let’s start by reading pages 83 - 85.While we read we are going to lookfor character traits, or the way a character acts.

Gloria

wild and daring

testsherself

What waswild & daringabout Gloria’s

actions?

Use inferencesabout Gloria’s character traits

to fill in two boxes of the Character Web.

Topic SentenceWhat is the topic sentencein the fourth paragraph on

page 84?

Next to me there was a giant Berkbee’sBaby Food display.

What are some “TellMe Mores.”

Let’s read pages 86 - 89.

Look for a new character introduced at the endof page 87. Remembersome details about her.

What details about the woman’s appearance did Gloria notice?

She has sparkly

brown eyes.

Hair is shiny black ringlets.

Earrings that spin around like planets.

The Astronaut and the Onion

What parts of this story so far seem realistic, or like they could really happen?

• The parts of the story that seem realistic are _________.

• The parts of the story that seemrealistic are the activity in the grocery store is realistic and astronauts do orbitEarth in space stations.

Let’s continue reading pages 90 - 93.

Be prepared to makean inference about why you think Gloria shivers when she triesto imagine what Dr.Street saw. I think Gloria shivered

because __________.

Dr. Street

is realistic

believes intrying tosucceed

wants to helpby offering

advice

What do you learn about Dr. Street’s character traits on page 92?

What else?

Character

Gloria is daring.How is Dr. Street daring too?

Dr. Street was afraid in space. When has Gloria been afraid?

Gloria has a lot of energy.Does Dr. Street have a lot

of energy? Explain.

Let’s finish reading the story.

What does Dr. Street mean when she says, “Big things are really

little”? (p. 95)

Dr. Street talks about being able to succeed at things that seem difficult. Difficult things seem really big when you think you can’t do them. Once someone learns how to do something, it doesn’t seem like such a big thing anymore.

Using what you have learned aboutspace travel, take 2 minutes and talk to someone at your table about whetheror not you would enjoy being an astronaut. Support your decision.