ECB On-line: Interactive Activities: My Hero TG

An Ordinary Hero

Overview

What makes a person a hero? Can anyone be a hero? In this activity the students will learn about ordinary people whose heroic actions made them special. They will be asked to write or present to the class a description of their 'ordinary hero'.

Students can access all the Internet sites for the Interactive Activities by going to the ECB On-line homepage, clicking on Students' Centre and again on Interactive Activity links. The links to the Internet sites are listed under the names of the activities.

Level

Foundation and Intermediate (Grades 5-10)

Time

Two to three 45-minute lessons

Group Size

Pairs or small groups

Students' Prior Knowledge

The students can ...
... follow links on the Internet.
... prepare a PowerPoint presentation (optional).

Objectives

The students will be able to ...
... understand the main ideas and significant details of a text.
... identify the sequence of events.
... use information tools such as a dictionary.
... present information with the help of visual aids.
... combine intonation and pronunciation appropriately.
... express personal ideas and opinions.

Procedure

Write the word superman on the blackboard. Ask the students to brainstorm what this word means to them. Write the words on the blackboard. You should be able to group the words into categories such as: helping, defending law and order, saving people, defeating enemies and special powers (flying, x-ray vision, superstrength).

Would the students consider Superman a hero? Why? What makes him a hero? Do they know the names of any other superheroes? Do they all have the same characteristics? Do the students know of any 'ordinary' people who have characteristics similar to those of superheroes? What makes these people special?

Tell the students that they are going to read about ordinary people who have been singled out as heroes because they have performed challenging deeds or motivated people to support important causes.

Ask the students to go to the Internet site My Hero at http://myhero.com/ and click on directory. Have the students click on a general category. The students should choose one of the heroes listed and complete the activity page An Ordinary Hero. They may want to read the descriptions before they choose.
Note: You may want to browse through the site before sending your students, as some of the stories listed here are shorter and more appropriate for younger learners.

After they have completed the activity, ask the students to prepare a presentation about their hero. Before the students begin their presentations prepare an assessment rubric with them. (See Teachers' Resources for more information about preparing rubrics.)

Presentation

The presentation should reflect their understanding of what constitutes a hero and what effect the hero had on the author of the story at Myhero.com. Their presentation could be:

a letter to the hero thanking him or her

a poster

a PowerPoint presentation

a role-play

a letter to a newspaper

an advertisement in a newspaper, on television or radio

Variations on a Theme

Ask the students to use the activity page An Ordinary Hero to describe a family member or close friend who possesses some of the characteristics of a hero.