Heroes Around Us

Lesson Plans

Calendar Activities

Podcast Episodes

 

LESSON PLANS

Grades   8 – 12  |  Lesson Plan  |  Standard Lesson

Responding to Tragedy: Then and Now

After reading several poets’ personal responses to the September 11th terrorist attacks, students write a "then and now" poem that puts their early memories of the event in conversation with their current understanding of and response to the tragedy.

 

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CALENDAR ACTIVITIES

Grades   3 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  May 20

Charles Lindbergh began his transatlantic flight in 1927.

Students consider what is meant by the phrase "Human Hero," think of people who fit into the category, and read a biography of a selected hero.

 

Grades   5 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  June 27

Helen Keller was born in 1880.

In the spirit of Helen Keller, students explore the American Sign Language Browser from Michigan State University and try using a few signs.

 

Grades   5 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  May 27

Memorial Day is observed in the United States today.

Observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the United States military. In addition to having celebrations with family and friends, many people visit cemeteries and memorials and place flags on the grave sites of fallen servicemen and women.

 

Grades   5 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  December 1

Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus.

Students make believe that the year is 1955 and they just heard about Parks' arrest. Students write newspaper editorials with their points of view on segregation.

 

Grades   7 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  April 9

In 1939, Marian Anderson was denied permission to sing at Constitution Hall.

Students view Eleanor Roosevelt's resignation letter to the DAR in response to Andersen being denied permission to sing. Students write a letter to a newspaper editor about social injustice.

 

Grades   6 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  May 11

Pedro Albizu Campos leads the Puerto Rican Independence movement.

After learning about the story of Pedro Albizu Campos and his commitment to Puerto Rican independence, students research and share their learning about another nationalist figure from around the world.

 

Grades   5 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  September 11

Patriot Day is celebrated today on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Students write about the name "Patriot Day" and how it marks the anniversary of a huge disaster. An alternative assignment could be to ask students to record their reflections about 9/11.

 

Grades   3 – 12  |  Calendar Activity  |  January 11

Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland in 1935.

Students explore the definition of a hero and use the interactive Venn diagram to identify the most common characteristics of a hero.

 

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PODCAST EPISODES

Grades   K – 5  |  Podcast Episode

Celebrating Women Brave and Strong

Check out these books about two exceptional but nearly-forgotten women—Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen and Brave Harriet: The First Woman to Fly the English Channel.

 

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