Fact and Opinion in Fiction

A fact tells something that is true and can be proven. An opinion tells what a person believes or feels. Sometimes writers use facts to support an opinion. Facts can’t prove an opinion to be true, but they may convince readers to share an opinion.• Fact: The students had

different opinions about art.• Opinion: Watercolor painting

is the best kind of art.

List two facts about Mrs. Guggenheim.

1.

2.

114 Unit 6 • Paintings • Fact and Opinion

LESSON 21

Use the highlighted sentences and the Reader’s Guide to identify facts and opinions in this story.

The school bus carrying Mrs. Guggenheim’s fifth grade class pulled up to the High Town Museum of Art at two o’clock. The museum tour guide, Mr. Warhol, met the students at the curb and shook their hands as they hopped out the bus door.

Last off the bus was Mrs. Guggenheim, the teacher. She wore her favorite pink dress with the pineapples on it. Adjusting her thick, old-fashioned glasses, Mrs. Guggenheim hurried up the steps.

“Greetings!” Mr. Warhol said excitedly.

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115

Do you:

imagine what the

paintings look like?

look for facts and

opinions as you

read?

What was the writer’s opinion of the paintings described in the high-lighted sentences?

Write two opinionspeople had of Flugelhorn.

The students filed up the steps in a straight line and then passed the security guard who sat at his desk. Mrs. Guggenheim worked her way to the front of the group and led the way through a hall of mirrors to a grand marble archway. Above the arch were the words “THE MYSTERIOUS MR. FLUGELHORN.”

“Now pay attention,” Mrs. Guggenheim said. “I want you to explore the gallery and think about what you like and don’t like about each painting.”

The class split into small groups that were allowed to wander freely through the big, open rooms of the gallery. They saw some very unusual paintings. One crazy painting

showed two toasters fighting each other with boxing gloves. Another showed two ridiculous watermelons driving racecars down a street full of singing hamburgers.

The students finished the tour at the final painting in

the gallery. They crowded around the small painting on the wall, shoving to get the best view.

The painting showed a dark, starry night over a small French town. But instead of stars, the sky glowed with shining pink pineapples. The name on the small sign below the frame said “A Sky Full of Pineapples by Flugelhorn.”

“That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Jeni, the brainiest kid in class.

“Maybe it’s silly to you,” Mrs. Guggenheim said. “But some people think Flugelhorn is a genius. Who can tell us about this painting?”

“Well, it’s a watercolor,” Lin said. “I know that much.”“Very good, Lin,” said Mrs. Guggenheim. “Flugelhorn

paints more watercolors than anything else.”

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116 Unit 6 • Paintings • Fact and Opinion

What fact did you learn at the end of the story?

Read the highlighted sentences. List factsabout Flugelhorn.

1.

2.

3.

“The colors are bright,” Jerome said, peering over someone else’s shoulder.

“Yes, the artist uses bright colors,” Mrs. Guggenheim said. “Art experts say that Flugelhorn has very bad eyesight and that he paints things very brightly so he can see them. What else?”

“It looks like something my little sister would draw,” said Melvin.

The class laughed. Mrs. Guggenheim’s face grew red, and she glared at Melvin through her thick glasses. “That’s what you think,” she snapped. “Anyone else?”

“Well, um, the pineapples are hot pink,” Darla said.“They certainly are,” Mrs. Guggenheim said. “It is well

known that Flugelhorn’s favorite color is pink. He absolutely adores hot pink.”

“Who is this odd guy Flugelhorn, anyway?” yelled Bobby, which made the whole class giggle.

“Nobody knows,” Mrs. Guggenheim said, cracking a smile. “That’s why he’s mysterious.” Waving the students along like cars in traffic, Mrs. Guggenheim sent them marching outside to the waiting bus.

On her way out, Mrs. Guggenheim stopped to say goodbye to Mr. Warhol.

“Well, Louis,” she said, “we’re off to school. Thanks for the tour.”

“I should be thanking you for letting us show your work,” Mr. Warhol whispered as he winked at her.

“Just call me Flugelhorn,” Mrs. Guggenheim whispered back, returning his wink. She hurried down the hall to the waiting school bus. Her pink dress flowed behind her, the tiny pineapples waving in the breeze.

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117

Think about the story “The Mysterious Mr. Flugelhorn.” Circle the letter next to the best answer.

1. Which sentence best summarizes the story?A The artist Flugelhorn was very strange, but some thought he was a genius.B The class became very tired at the museum and went to lunch right away.C Mrs. Guggenheim and Mr. Warhol were old friends.D Mrs. Guggenheim took her class to see Flugelhorn’s art.

2. What inference can you make about Mrs. Guggenheim? A She and “the Mysterious Mr. Flugelhorn” were the same person.B She didn’t think Jeni was the brainiest kid in the class. C She had never been to the art museum before.D She did not think that it was important to learn about art.

3. Which of the following sentences is a fact?A Flugelhorn was a genius.B Melvin’s little sister was a talented artist.C Real pineapples are not colored hot pink.D A Sky Full of Pineapples was the silliest painting ever made.

Write your answers on the lines.

4. Write one student’s opinion of the painting A Sky Full of Pineapples.

5. Write one fact that Ms. Guggenheim tells about the painter Flugelhorn.

6. Why do you think Ms. Guggenheim had such a high opinion of the artist Flugelhorn?

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118 Unit 6 • Paintings • Fact and Opinion

Fill in the boxes below with facts and opinions from the story.

Imagine that you are a student in Mrs. Guggenheim’s class. Tell when you realized that Flugelhorn was really Mrs. Guggenheim. SAM

PLE

119

Use details to

describe the painting.

State your opinion

about the painting.

Support your opinion

with facts.

Try to convince

readers to agree with

your opinion.

Team Up

Work with a partner. Write three opinions of the painting A Sky Full of Pineapples.

1.

2.

3.

On Your Own

Imagine that you are an art expert visiting the museum in the story. Write a short article to describe the painting A Sky Full of Pineapples.Do you like it or not? Use facts to support your opinion.

SAMPLE