Amelia and Eleanor
Advanced-Level Reader
Two Women Astronauts
Unit 5 Week 3
SEQUENCE
TEXT STRUCTURE
LESSON VOCABULARY astronauts, astronomy, biofeedback, data, satellites, ventured
SUMMARY Two Women Astronauts tells the story of female astronauts Sally Ride and Mae Jemison. It follows each woman's life, from her youth to her time in space. The book also highlights the history of women in space.
INTRODUCE THE BOOK
BUILD BACKGROUND Students will find interest in astronauts' lives and experiences in space. Discuss what students understand about the space program, NASA, and any individual space trips they have heard about.
PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES Ask students to notice that the book contains photographs. Have them predict why these astronauts are featured in a book.
TEACH/PREVIEW VOCABULARY Many of the vocabulary words have something to do with space. Have students look through the book to find three other words relating to space flights and put them together in a sentence.
Suggest that students work together in pairs to write a paragraph on "What Outer Space Means to Me."
TARGET SKILL AND STRATEGY
SEQUENCE Remind students that
sequence is the term for keeping track of the order of events. This skill helps you to better understand this book because the order of events in each woman's life led to fulfilling her dream of becoming an astronaut. Ask students to look at page 8 to find clue words that signal sequence.
TEXT STRUCTURE Point out to students that each astronaut's biography is written in chronological order. This helps the reader better understand and make sense of the text. Ask students to tell what they think the book would be like if the events in each woman's life were told in a jumbled order.
READ THE BOOK
Use the following questions to support comprehension.
PAGE 4 What career did both Sally Ride and Mae Jemison have before becoming astronauts? (They were both scientists.)
PAGE 6 How did Sally Ride get the idea to become an astronaut? (She saw an ad in the paper for the space shuttle program.)
PAGE 12 How did Mae Jemison solve her problem of space motion sickness? (She used biofeedback.)
TALK ABOUT THE BOOK
READER RESPONSE
| 1. |
Answers will vary, but students should make simple time lines based on a chronological sequence of events in both women's lives. |
| 2. |
Possible response: Reading about events in the order they happened helps me see how one event led to another. The author might have used topics, such as education, hobbies, and career. |
| 3. |
Bio means "life and living things," so biofeedback must mean "feedback about life processes." Other words: biochemical, biohazard, biological, biophysics |
| 4. |
Possible response: Each needed to have the dream of becoming an astronaut and a belief in herself to achieve it. |
RESPONSE OPTIONS
WRITING Students may want to write a few paragraphs on someone they feel exhibits heroic qualities. Suggest varied ways of researching that may include interviewing.
CONTENT CONNECTIONS
SOCIAL STUDIES Ask students why biography is a good way to learn about a topic, such as space exploration.
