Cummins, J. and Harness, C. (Ills.). (2008). Women Daredevils. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN: 978-0-525-47948-2.
Annotation – The extraordinary accomplishments of ten women from 1880-1929 are illuminated and discussed in this book for elementary students.
Media – Ink and watercolors
Rating – 3 quality of text and 2 quality of illustrations and 5 for Popularity
Curricular Connection – Depending on the flexibility of the curriculum, this book could serve as a model for students’ own book of daredevil escapades—in their own imagination. Each student could make up their own daredevil experience, write a paragraph using the week’s vocabulary words, then illustrate it, using ink and colored pencil or water colors if available.
Nancy
Women Daredevils: by Julie Cummins and Cheryl Harness, ill. New York: Dutton, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-525-47948-2.
Little-known women gymnysts, magicians, high-wire acts, and all around show-
stoppers and dare devils are highlighted in this book that illustrates a daring pioneer on each page.
Curriculum Connections:
Social Studies
Women's History
(DM 4.28.08)
Cummins, Julie (2008). Women Daredevils. New York, N Y: Dutton Children's Books.Illustrated by Cheryl Harness. ISBN: 978-0-525-47948-2.
Fourteen stories of women ranging from 15 to 63 years old perform stunts such as going over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, being shot out of a cannon, walking on the top of a dust cropper airplane and diving into a tank of water on horseback are just some of the stunts perform from 1878 to the 1930’s. In those days most women grew up to get married or become a teacher, these group of women were surprising and amazing their audiences.
Illustrations are done in brightly colored watercolors and colored pencils.
Rating: 5Q/5P
MWood
Cummins, J. (2008). Women daredevils: thrills, chills, and frills. Illustrated by Cheryl Harness. New York: Dutton Children's Books.
ISBN-13: 978-0-525-47948-2
The stories of 14 larger-than-life women who disregarded the expectations of the day to become entertainers performing all manner of dangerous feats in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Curricular connection: Women’s role in American society
Subjects: Women daredevils; Bravery
Theme: Women can be as talented and brave, not to mention as foolhardy, as men.
Categories: Non-fiction 791; Collective Biography
Age Level Recommendation: Upper Elementary
Rating: 4Q/5P
AAS 5-4-08
Lesson Plan for Women Daredevils by J. Cummins and C. Harness and
A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms by P. B. Janeczko and C. Raschka
Janeczko, P. B. and Raschka, C. (Ills.). (2005). A kick in the head: An everyday guide to poetic forms. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 076360662-6
Cummins, J. and Harness, C. (Ills.). (2008). Women Daredevils. New York: Dutton Books. ISBN: 978-0-525-47948-2.
Target Audience: Students in grades 5-8 or older with more poetic forms to create
Preparation Needed: Short explanations of selected poetic forms; brief summary of 5 women outlined in the book: Women Daredevils.
Overview – Because this book is an anthology of poems using poetic forms, it is a very suitable book to use during a language arts class in the upper elementary and middle school grades to teach how those forms are created. Using another book for some basis for the students to work from will be helpful for those who have difficulty with a blank sheet of paper and are expected to create something.
Rationale – Students have been studying types of poetry and here is a chance for them to put their understanding into a poem of their own devising. (If more explicate instructions are needed for particular students, discuss what kinds of phrases may not be appropriate for a classroom setting.)
State Standards – 3.0 Literary Response and Analysis – Grade 5
Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature. They begin to find ways to clarify the ideas and make connections between literary works. The selections in Recommended Literature, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials to be read by students.
Structural Features of Literature
3.1 Identify and analyze the characteristics of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction and explain the appropriateness of the literary forms chosen by an author for a specific purpose.
Learning Objective - 2 students will create a poem using an assigned poetic form. This exercise synthesizes previous knowledge by applying the understanding of a poetic form into a creative process and producing a finished poem.
Materials
1. Explanation of assigned poetic form – Grade 5 could start with couplets, tercets, quatrains, clerihews (this one would work really well for the Women Daredevils), acrostics, or riddle poems. Older grades could add the more challenging form types.
2. Print out sheet about one of the women daredevils
Procedure – Think – Pair - Share Exercise
q Students will pair off with their previously assigned partner.
q One student will read the poetic form instructions and the other student will have the information about the Women Daredevils.
q Students will have 20-30 minutes to create their poems, if needed.
q Students who finish their poem before the time limit can assist other pairs, if appropriate.
q Students can share with another pair if desired.
q Students can share with the entire class, if desired.
Extension or Enrichment Activities
q Students could illustrate their poem
q Poems could be compiled and put into a book for the classroom to refer to
Assessment
q Informal observation of students working in pairs
q Comments from students in general
Resources Consulted in addition to the specified books
www.readwritethink.org - sample lesson plans based on best practice in English and Language Arts instruction prepared by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English
Reflection
Notes - when using the material from Women Daredevils, make sure the source is cited and any direct text is quoted.
Examples
Quatrain using Annie Edson Taylor, “Queen of the Mist” – went over Niagara Falls in a barrel
Miss Taylor needed more money
Miss Taylor went over the falls
For Miss Taylor it was not very funny
In poverty still she calls.
Acrostic for Zazel – “The Human Cannonball in Pink Tights”
Zoom goes the cannon
Ahhhh goes the crowd
Zip goes Rosa
Elevating above the ground
Landing on a net
List of www sites that have suggested lesson plans
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