1.1 Read: About Bravery

Site: Cowichan Valley School District - Moodle
Course: ELA7, CSS, Sferrazza
Book: 1.1 Read: About Bravery
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Friday, 10 May 2024, 12:09 PM

Introduction

Since the beginning of time, why have we told stories?

Stories help us understand ourselves, define ourselves. Perhaps more importantly, stories that are shared with others bring us all closer together as we realize two important facts:

  • We all have common experiences that make us the same.
  • We tell stories from different viewpoints and experiences,  and until we all have the whole picture, we will never understand each other.

Read and listen to a famous story that originated in India. 

Preview

Get ready to learn by thinking about this:

One shared experience that we all have is having to be brave, and finding courage when it is most needed. Some people do this in different ways and to varying degrees of success.

So how does one act brave?

Overview of Lessons:

  • 1. Read a variety of stories that are personal narratives that touch on the theme of bravery.
  • 2. Complete the activities in the reading guide and submit.
  • 3. Complete a reading project.
  • 4. In the writer's workshop, you will go through the writing project to create your own narrative with the theme of bravery.

Learning Targets

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • describe the form, function and genre of narratives (stories).
  • correctly punctuate and use dialogue.
  • respond and analyze different texts.
  • take part in the writing process to plan, draft, and revise a creative piece of writing.

1.1 Tedtalk: What Fear Can Teach Us

Founder and Director of On Stage Leadership Kimberley Davis explores the connection between daring to be ourselves and bravery.

Listen to her speech in this TED Talk.  

It is important to make connections when you listen and read.  Active listening and reading is a process the reader uses to engage with the subject material.  This is a good reading and listening strategy to use to better understand the text and conversation and the task being assigned to you. It is important to read text and listen to conversations while thinking critically about the material and asking relevant questions.  Active listening and reading also involves understanding what is expected of you.

"ACTIVE" reading stands for Asking questionsMaking connectionsTracking down important informationInferring/predictingVisualizing and Evaluating and synthesizing.

While you are listening, complete Activity 1.1 in your Learning Guide: What It Means to be Brave. 




1.2 Poem - A Poem to the Brave

Susie Coreth writes eloquently about bravery shown during times of war.

After you read this poem, complete Activity 1.2 in your Learning Guide:  A Poem to the Brave.

A Poem to the Brave - Poem by Susie Coreth

1.3 YouTube Clip-A Heroic Nanny Tells Her Story to Ellen

Ellen DeGeneres interviews Alyson Myatt, a nanny who ran barefooted through a burning house to save a 5-year-old boy.  Watch this YouTube video of their story. Pay attention to how Alyson reacts without hesitation.  Listen carefully and take notes as you watch the video.

Open your Learning Guide and complete Activity 1.3:  A Heroic Nanny.

 

Short Story: Rikki Tikki Tavi

This story is about a mongoose who saves a family from a cobra snake.

Click here to read the story Rikki Tikki Tavi.

1.4 Literary Element: Figurative Language

"Figurative language uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful. Figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, and allusions go beyond the literal meanings of the words to give readers new insights. On the other hand, alliterations, imageries, or onomatopoeias are figurative devices that appeal to the senses of the readers."   Source:  https://literarydevices.net/figurative-language/


Return to your Learning Guide and complete Activity 1.4:  Rikki Tikki Tavi.  Use the Glossary of Literary Terms to define each example of figurative language on the handout. Then click through the images below to view the lesson on Rikki Tikki Tavi and the purpose of using figurative language.

1.5 Character Traits

In this lesson, you will learn how to determine a character's traits by examining evidence from the text. Click through the images to view the lesson.

Once you've worked through the lesson, return to your Lerning Guide and complete Activity 1.5.

1.6 Deeper Thinking: Sharing Stories

Most of the selections you have just read or viewed look at different ways that people have shown bravery or described it.

Complete the last activity in your Learning Guide, Activity 1.6:  Sharing Stories, to think about how these shared stories have affected the main character or others. 

Submit your Unit 1 Learning Guide in the dropbox: Unit One Learning Guide

Then carry on to "Unit 1 Reading Projects".