Lance
Armstrong - Tour de France
Project URL: http://teachersnetwork.org/teachnet-lab/unhs/Armstrong1.htm
Lance Article
How it works:
This program aims to enable
students to be able to write an essay about the
triumphs and difficulties in the life of champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong.
As background to the final product, the students will read a New York
Times article about Lance
Armstrong. In relation to the reading, students will trace
his route through France, and then create their own Tour de_____ (students
may choose a state in the United States). They also draw a timeline
of his life. A T-bar graphic organizer is included to delineate the
difficulties and triumphs.
This program offers many opportunities for
teaching across the curricula of
English Language Arts and Global Studies. The graphic elements provide opportunities to focus on multiple
intelligences.
One example of an activity that goes with
this program is the practice of paraphrasing.
Quotations are identified and the students are guided through the
process of paraphrasing. The thesaurus on the word processing program will be used. There is also a handout with a
variety of words to use instead of the
word "said". Finally, there
is a lesson on peer review which may also be facilitated by the
use of e-mail in a wired classroom.
Standards addressed:
Students will be able to:
1. Produce a reflective essay;
2. Independently and habitually demonstrate
an understanding of the roles of the
English language in written work;
3. Analyze and subsequently revise work to
improve its clarity and effectiveness;
4. Respond to non-fiction, fiction, poetry,
and drama using interpretive and
critical processes.
5. Use technology to find information and
produce a typed report.
Software materials used:
Internet connection, word
processing program, printer, traditional classroom
materials, i.e., dry board, notebooks, pens, etc.
The students:
This program is designed for
regular high school English Language Arts classes
9 - 12. It will also serve a remedial reading class. It
may be used for English As A Second Language students. If so, the mapping
exercise will serve to advance their knowledge of the geography of the
United States or the activity may be changed to allow them to trace a tour through their native countries and share
that with the class for native country
appreciation.
Overall value:
This program comes with six
handouts. One is a vocabulary worksheet specifically
designed for the article. There are also three other handouts that
may be used independently. Those three handouts contain activities on transition words and word variety. The other
two handouts are reading comprehension questions and a peer review
sheet.
Tips:
The teacher may want to review the lessons
and modify them. There is a lot of
material and the teacher may elect to cut some of the activities and add others. There is also a great deal of more
recent information including books
about Lance Armstrong, so as an extension the students may enjoy researching
more about him or what he is currently doing. |
About The Teacher
Ms.Vitulano is an English Language Arts
teacher with expertise in teaching with computer technology. She continues
to act as a staff developer in that area. Her curriculum samples have been
electronically published for several years on Murry Bergtraum High
School's website, Blackboard.com, and the Manhattan High Schools
Superintendency's website.
Email Contact: jmvitulano@yahoo.com
Estimated Class Periods To Complete: 5
Subject:
English
ESL
Social Studies
Beginning Grade Level: 9
Ending Grade Level: 12
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