Monday, October 29, 2012

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

“Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” (Amelia Earhart)


Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean
Written by Sarah Stewart Taylor
          & Eileen Collins (introduction)
          Illustrated by Ben Towle
Published by Hyperion Press, 2010
  
Strength, Ambition, Dreams, Flying, Pioneer
 
Summary:
Amelia Earhart has always loved to fly, her story is inspirational to women everywhere and proves to anyone that with determination you can achieve your goals.  This is a graphic novel, told through words and images.  The story mainly focuses on Earhart’s epic flight across the Atlantic Ocean, as she was the first to do so.  The cliffhanger ending touches on Amelia Earhart’s mysterious disappearance. 

Reading Level: Lexile Measure: GN1080L
Suggested Delivery: Independent reading
 
 
Key Vocabulary: Obstacles, Competitors, Plagued, Telegram, Petrol, Moxie
 

Teaching Strategies:

a) Graphic novels may be a new format of reading for students, one which they have not yet encountered.  However, ensure your students they are familiar with the layout by connecting it to their favorite comic strips. 
 
b) Time Magazine has recently published an article about Amelia Earhart in the present day.  They have renewed the search for her plane, I feel this will make the book relatable for students. 
 
c) To provide students with background knowledge, the class could read the front page article in the NY Times, originally published in June 1928.  To further set the stage, the front page also includes other important events that were occurring at that time. 
 
d) Read this novel during women’s history month.  Incorporate it into discussion about women role models, heros, along with the impact and greatness women bring to “her-story.”

Comprehension Strategies:
Pre-Reading:
As this is a nonfiction text, implement a K-W-L chart in order for students to keep track of facts, avoiding misconceptions.

During reading:
As events progress in the book, students should develop a timeline, chronicling the events. 
 
Post Reading:
After reading, students should complete the –K portion of their chart.  Ask students to share their charts with each other.
 
Writing Activity:
To demonstrate their literal and inferential comprehension, in writing, students should answer questions found in a Discussion Guide that parallels the novel.  These twelve questions assess students’ literal comprehension (for example, Explain why Earhart and her team have so much difficulty getting airborne.
How do they try to solve the issues?) along with their inferential comprehension (For example, Determine how Amelia Earhart became interested in flying. Do you think her
father regretted introducing it to her or not? Why?) The link can be found below. 
 
Electronic Resources:
1) The March 2012 article about recent developments on Amelia Earhart, which I mentioned in the “teaching strategies” portion of this post, can be found at the link below:

2) The printable, front-page article from the New York Times also mentioned in the “teaching strategies” portion can be found online at:
 
3) The questions used in the writing activity are found at the link below.  This a discussion guide for the whole book, so check it out! It has more than just review questions.
 
Taylor, S. S., & Towle, B. (2010). Amelia Earhart: this broad ocean. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.

No comments:

Post a Comment