Essential Questions
- What does it mean to be strong?
- How can we challenge societal expectations of ourselves?
Literature Connection
- Graphic biography: Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Track Star by Lee Engfer
- Novel: The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Standards Correlations
R.1, R.3, R.4, R.6, R.7, W.2, SL.1, SL.2, L.4, L.5, L.6
Learning Objective
As students read about Olympic athlete Wilma Rudolph, they will make inferences about the plot and characters.
Key Skills
inference, text features, vocabulary, character, author’s craft, figurative language, cause and effect, interpreting text, informational writing
Complexity Factors
Levels of Meaning: Through the story of Wilma Rudolph, who beat polio and won Olympic gold, the play conveys the idea that our struggles don’t define us.
Structure: The play is chronological and has six scenes and an epilogue.
Language: The play includes some figurative language.
Knowledge Demands: Some familiarity with the play’s main setting (mid-1900s Tennessee) will be helpful.
Levels
Guided Reading Level: T
DRA Level: 50
SEL Connection:
This play and lesson plan promote social awareness and self-management skills.
Lesson Plan: Go!
Essential Questions
Literature Connection
1. Preparing to Read
Preview Text Features (10 minutes)
Guide students to locate the play. Then help them preview the text features using the following prompts:
Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)
Make a Plan for Reading
Before students start to read, walk them through a reading plan:
2. Reading and Unpacking the Text
Close-Reading Questions (20 minutes)
Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)
3. Skill Building and Writing
Learn Anywhere Activity
An enrichment activity to extend the learning journey at home or in the classroom
Learn About Another Amazing Female Athlete
After reading about Wilma Rudolph, learn more about incredible female athletes by watching our exciting video “Women for the Win.”
After watching, choose one of the athletes mentioned in the video (or another female athlete that interests you) and learn more about her. (Try searching the athlete’s name on womenshistory.org, or see if the athlete has a website.) Answer these questions about the athlete:
Prepare a short presentation about your athlete, and share the facts you’ve learned with your class.
ELL Springboard
Teach contractions to improve fluency.
Before reading, review these common contractions that appear in the play. Reviewing the meanings and pronunciations of these words will make students less likely to stumble over them when encountering them in the text.
Looking for more ELL support? Download our full lesson plan and scroll to p. 5 to find questions that will help your ELLs respond to the text at the level that’s right for them.
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