Paired Texts > Space Food

by Barbara Radner 2005

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Athena and the Dandelions
Athena and the Dandelions
Leeann Zouras

In Leeann Zouras' short story "Athena and the Dandelions," a girl is embarrassed that her Greek family eats dandelions.

Pair “Athena and the Dandelions” with “Space Food” and ask students to discuss how the two texts explore the importance of food. Why do astronauts need special food for long trips in space? How does this compare to why certain foods are important to Athena’s family? Ask students what it might be like for an astronaut who can’t eat special foods, or tries new foods for the first time, in space.

3rd Grade Short Story 550L
Learning about the Solar System
Learning about the Solar System
Barbara Radner

In the informational text "Learning about the Solar System," Barbara Radner discusses what scientists have learned about our solar system.

Pair “Space Food” with “Learning about the Solar System” and ask students to discuss how the two texts explore ideas about space. How does space food allow astronauts to travel and learn more about space? How do students think scientists help prepare food that is safe to take into space?

3rd Grade Informational Text 530L
Working at the Hospital
Working at the Hospital
Barbara Radner

In the informational text "Working at the Hospital," Barbara Radner describes the different jobs at the hospital. 

Pair “Space Food” with “Working at the Hospital” and ask students to discuss the importance of cleanliness in the two texts. Why is it important to keep a kitchen clean in space? How does this compare to the importance of keeping the hospital clean? How are both related to people’s health?

3rd Grade Informational Text 470L
What Is a Spacewalk?
What Is a Spacewalk?
NASA

In the informational text "What Is a Spacewalk?" the author discusses the purpose of spacewalks and how astronauts stay safe in space.

Pair “Space Food” with “What Is a Spacewalk?” to provide students with information about the kind of supplies astronauts need to bring into space. Why do astronauts need to bring special food into space? In both texts, the authors discuss the safety measures that astronauts take. How do they do this with their food and on spacewalks?

3rd Grade Informational Text 600L
Comida espacial
Comida espacial
Barbara Radner

This text is available in both English and Spanish. Click here to view this text in the other language.

4th Grade Informational Text 630L
A Day in the Life of An Astronaut
A Day in the Life of An Astronaut
Marie Droual

In "A Day in the Life of an Astronaut," Marie Droual describes how to become an astronaut and the important work that astronauts do.

Pair “Space Food” with “A Day in the Life of an Astronaut” to have students learn more about what it is like to eat in space. What do you learn about the kinds of foods astronauts eat in space in “Space Food”? How does this information add to your understanding of the food in space described in “A Day in the Life of an Astronaut”? Would you like to eat the food that astronauts eat in space? Why or why not?

6th Grade Informational Text 1060L