A Hero’s Journey Text Set
Essential Question: What makes someone a hero?
Grade Level: Second grade.
Theme: The hero’s journey and how our individual actions affects others.
Goal: Students will read, discuss and analyze literature and other forms of information related to the theme. Specific standards and frameworks will be covered.
Objective: Students will use grade level appropriate resources to analyze the theory behind a hero’s journey and the idea that we are all heroes on our own journey.
Essential Question: What makes someone a hero?
Grade Level: Second grade.
Theme: The hero’s journey and how our individual actions affects others.
Goal: Students will read, discuss and analyze literature and other forms of information related to the theme. Specific standards and frameworks will be covered.
Objective: Students will use grade level appropriate resources to analyze the theory behind a hero’s journey and the idea that we are all heroes on our own journey.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this text set is to provide materials that can be used with a second grade classroom. The theme and essential question stems from a literary concept that has appeared in both modern and historical narrative storytelling. Found in folktales, fairytales and fables as well as in realistic fiction and nonfiction, this storytelling process follows similar patterns. The concept, “the hero’s journey”, has been analyzed and followed by various writers and storytellers. The hero's journey (or monomyth) is a common story structure explored by anthropologists and mythologists such as Otto Rank and Joseph Campbell (Risch, 2012).
The hero’s journey theme is taught through age appropriate material for second grade students. Texts were chosen that would engage students in this age group to analysis the information presented and make connections to real life heroes. The goal of this text set is that through the use of the literature and other informational formats that they will began to recognize the hero within themselves. Instruction of the content will be within the lines of Social Studies Standards for California and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts (ELA) for second grade. The theme will also integrate with the social-emotional curriculum for the school site.
Anchor Text: Fiction-Picture Book: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
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Supporting Text Formats and Annotations:
1. Quote:
By Maya Angelou
By Maya Angelou
- Information on Maya Angelou: https://www.mayaangelou.com/
- This quote was chosen to introduce the idea that heroes exist in all of us. After students have worked with the anchor text, Each kindness, student's can begin to formulate predictions of what the main character, Chloe (main character), will do in the future with the knowledge she has gained from her experience. Supporting the essential question and theme; Questions that can be asked; “What makes someone a hero? “How did the main characters’ experiences change them?”. “Do we all make mistakes and why do they happen?” After reading the quote, students could discuss with each other what a hero is. Brainstorming ideas of what makes a hero and even writing opinion pieces.
- This text could be use in peer group activities and/or used individually as an opportunity for discussion and/or self reflection.
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA RL2.10, SL2.1, SL2.2, SL2.3, SL2.4, L 2.5 and social-emotional curriculum
2. Picture Book:
How to be a Hero by Florence Barry Hyde
How to be a Hero by Florence Barry Hyde
- This is a story about a boy that wants to be a hero. The inside of the cover has illustrations of typical heroes from traditional fairytales which is a great way to connect this text example with that of fictional hero archetypes. Throughout the story the young boy narrates which characteristics makes a hero which he has learned about in the fairytales he has read--i.e. courage, bravery, strength, cleverness. Gideon, the main character, ends up winning a prize in a supermarket and gets recognition for winning the prize--he thinks he is an instant hero. However, readers who look closely at the illustrations will notice who the real hero really is.
- As a teacher-led activity-this text could be used to start brainstorming ideas of what makes a hero. Class discussion and peer group discussions could be held regarding the choice of characters in the two read alouds. Questions to discuss; Are there any similarities? Do the characters follow a journey of discovery? Is there a lesson learned by the characters in both books? Who is the hero?
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA RL2.1, RL2.3, RL 2.9, RL2.10, L2.1, L2.2, L2.5 and social emotional curriculum
3. Non-Fiction/Biography: Photo and Biography Read Alouds
Wangari Maathai and Various biographies of her life
Wangari Maathai and Various biographies of her life
- Additional information on Wangari Maathai: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai
- In a teacher led lesson, this photo could be used to ask students; “Is this a hero?” “What is her story” There have been many books written about this modern day, real-life hero. A real person who has overcome extreme adversity and injustices to pursue the making the world a better place through her actions. The biographies could be read and/or shared together depending on students’ needs, abilities and time allocation. Texts could be compared and contrasted and used for research and joint observations. Students could discuss in whole group or with partners how Wangari Maathai's life compares to the life of someone else they know or a biography of someone else. One of Wangari's famous quotes is “It’s the little things that citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees”. Students could compare this quote with Maya Angelou’s quote.
- List of Biographies: Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter, Wangari Maathai by Franck Prevot, Mama Mita by Donna Jo Napoli, Planting the Trees of Kenya by Claire A. Nivola
- History and Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA; RI 2.1, RI 2.3, RI 2.6, RI 2.10, W2.7, W2.8, SL 2.2, SL2.2, SL2.3, SL2.4, and social emotional curriculum.
4. Website:
My Hero https://myhero.com/
My Hero https://myhero.com/
- This website could be shared with students. Teachers could also use it to pull information sources to introduce the idea of heros in our everyday world. The website and the organization could be introduced with videos such as this: https://myhero.com/About/Index#promo-vid. This organization provides stories in written and video format depicting the lives of everyday heros. It provides examples of heros from around the world. In peer supported groups or individually, students could use real life heros and compare and contrast the life of an everyday hero with that of a famous hero or superhero. Asking and Answering such questions as: “How are they alike” Do you think that a hero that plants trees or builds a community garden is as much of a hero as stereotypical everyday heros such as firefighters or rescue workers?” “What are some examples of the hero's journey in some of the lives of these people?” “Could you relate to them?” “Do you know any heros at school or at home? What is their story?” Students could work independently with these questions crafting a work of their own about someone they know or themselves and the journey. In either written format or videos of their own creating a “Myhero” narrative presentation of their own.
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA; RI 2.3, RI 2.6, W2.7, SL 2.5, L 2.1, L2.5, and Social-emotional curriculum
5. Video:
Ripple Effect video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/corpfa-inspirational-video_n_4591197.html
Ripple Effect video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/corpfa-inspirational-video_n_4591197.html
- This video supports the thought of our actions affecting others. The term “ripple effect” (concept from the anchor text) is re-introduced. The video depicts one person practicing an act of kindness which results in a “ripple” of random acts of kindness. The video is a source that provides a visual of everyday people practicing kindness. This could be a peer supported or individual resource in that they could watch the video and then discuss or write a reflection. The questions that could be asked are: “Are these people heroes?” “What makes them everyday heros? “Would this make a difference in your life?” “Has it ever happened to you?”
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA; SL 2.1, SL 2.3, SL 2.5, L2.1, L2.5, and social-emotional curriculum
6. Folktale/Tall Tale: Book with Audio (Read by Samuel L. Jackson) or Print
John Henry by Julius Lester
John Henry by Julius Lester
- Using this resource gives the opportunity to bring in a text that supports CCSS in ELA for Second grade (RL 2.2 and RL 2.3)--Using folklore from diverse cultures to determine a central message, lesson, or moral. Lessons could be Teacher led, peer supported, or independent depending on reading level of students. This could also be used as a read aloud with peer supported learning during turn and talks. John Henry has magical powers but still faces adversity and even his extreme strength is sometimes not enough in certain situations. He continues to believe in himself. The story ends describing the legend that John Henry lives buried below the white house in Washington D.C.. The legend is that if you listen very carefully, you can hear his voice. His voice repeats a refrain from the book that uses positive self talk.. This literary piece could open up a discussion and many critical thinking opportunities.
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA; RL2.1, RL2.2, RL 2.3, RL 2.4, RL 2.10, SL 2.1, SL 2.2, SL 2.3, SL 2.4, L2.1 and social-emotional curriculum
7. Interview
-with Jacqueline Woodson (author of anchor text, Each Kindness)
https://www.teachingbooks.net/author_collection.cgi?id=50&mid=90 (will need user name and password)
-with Jacqueline Woodson (author of anchor text, Each Kindness)
https://www.teachingbooks.net/author_collection.cgi?id=50&mid=90 (will need user name and password)
- This is a short clip on Teachingbooks.net. It is Jacqueline Woodson talking about how when she was a little girl her mother would tell her to stop making up false stories and lying. She said if you write them down then it’s ok because it’s fiction! She also discusses how when she grew up that she didn’t see girls that looked like her in the books that she read. This source supports and re-introduces the anchor text but it also shows that Jacqueline woodson is an everyday hero too. She went through some learning experiences in her life and found a way she could make a difference through her writing. Students could find connections to the author.
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA W2.3, SL 2.1, SL2.2, SL 2.5, L2.1, L2.5, and social-emotional curriculum
8. Song
-This Little Light of Mine-Betty Fikes
-This Little Light of Mine-Betty Fikes
- “This Little Light of Mine” is an African-American spiritual. The score is included in this book. (E.B. Lewis, 2005)
- The illustrator, E.B. Lewis is also the illustrator/Artist of the Anchor Text. Here is a video of E. B. Lewis at work: http://eblewis.com/eblewis-tv/
- This text supports the essential question and theme of the text set in that the song not only is historical and follows the hero’s journey throughout time but re-emphasises the that we each have a light, a hero in us all and adversity and hard times can not blow out that light.
- History/Social Science Standard 2.5, CCSS-ELA; RL 2.2, RL2.3, RL2.4, RI 2.6, Rl2.10, SL 2.1, SL.2.2, SL 2.5, L 2.1, L2.5, and social-emotional curriculum.