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Are You a Hero?

Are You a Hero? Do You Know a Hero?

Yvonne Welsh

DwightCommonGrade School

Summer 2005

Superman and the heroes of September 11, 200, Alex Ross.

Library of Congress,

Prints and Photographs Division

“Heroes” is a school-wide reading theme for the year. First graders will be introduced to the concept of a hero and what makes a person a hero. Heroic characteristics will be applied to men and women honored on Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Casmir Pulaski Day, and Memorial Day. Heroes will be identified as past or present heroes. Students will be encouraged to think about themselves as heroes. Students will be encouraged to read books about heroes during the year.

Overview/State Standards/Resources/Procedures/Evaluation

Overview Back to Navigation Bar
Objectives / Students will:
  • Define what makes a hero.
  • Identify policemen, firemen, everyday people,veterans, Christopher Columbus, Martin Luther King Jr., Casmir Pulaski, presidents, and themselves as heroes.
  • Recognize heroes of the past and
heroes of the present.
  • Create a book of heroes, writing about each hero, and creating an illustration for each hero.

Recommended time frame / Ten 20-30 minute sessions throughout the year
Grade level / 1st
Curriculum fit / Language Arts, Social Studies
Resources /
  • Are Youa Hero?PowerPoint Presentation
  • Image table
  • Adler, David. A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus. Holiday House,1992.
  • Ansary, Mir Tamim. Labor Day (Holiday Histories). Heinemann Library, 2001.
  • Cotton, Jacqueline. Veterans’ Day – (Rookie Read -About Holidays). Children’s Press, 2002.
  • Fisher, Leonard Everett. Picture Book of Revolutionary War Heroes.Stackpole Books, 1970.
  • Hilgartner, Carol. Martin Luther King, Jr. – A Biography for Young Children. Gryphon House, 1990.
  • Kagan, Richard. Real Life Heroes – A Life Storybook for Children.Haworth Press, 2004.
  • Marx, David F. Presidents’ Day – (Rookie Read-About Holidays) Children’s Press, 2002.

IllinoisState Learning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Language Arts:
GOAL 2: Read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras and ideas.
  • 2.A.Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meanings.
  • 2.B.Read and interpret a variety of literary works.
GOAL 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
  • 3.B. Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
GOAL 4: Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
  • 4.A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
GOAL 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
  • 16.A.Apply skills of historical analysis and interpretation.

Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
This unit will continue through the school year as monthly holidays occur.Pages will be saved and compiled in a book to be sent home with each student at the end of the school year.
September:
  • The teacher will introduce the concept of a hero by asking students, “What makes a person a hero?” After class discussion, the teacher will enable students to view a Power Point Presentation on heroes. Heroes are brave, determined, smart, hard-working, and kind. Then teacher and students will talk about the heroes of Labor Day. The teacher will read aloud a book about the hero/heroes of the day. Are Labor Day heroes past heroes or present-day heroes? Students will write about a hero of Labor Day and create an illustration.
October:
  • The teacher will review characteristics of heroes. Then same format used in September will be used for Christopher Columbus in October.
November:
  • Veterans’ Day
January:
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.
February:
  • Presidents’ Day
March:
  • Casimir Pulaski Day
May
  • Memorial Day
When Have You Been a Hero? Students write and draw a picture of themselves being heroes.
Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
Rubric

An Adventure of the American Mind

IllinoisStateUniversity