and placed it in the cool flow of water.
In the palm of the other hand,
she spelled out w-a-t-e-r.
Instantly, Helen's face brightened.
Suddenly, I felt [as if] somehow
the mystery of language was revealed to me.
I knew then that 'w-a-t-er'
meant the wonderful cool
something that was flowing over my hand."
Helen Keller: Her Life In Pictures is: Biographical, Astonishing, Unique, Engaging, and Original
Helen Keller: Her Life In Pictures
Written by George Sullivan
Published by Scholastic Non-Fiction
Reading Level:
Lexile: 770L
Grade Level(s): 2-5
Suggested Delivery: read aloud, independent, guided reading
Summary: This book is about the remarkable life of Helen Keller. It begins with young Helen Keller who was an angry child because she was unable to interact with the world around her. Helen was both deaf and blind. When Helen was young, her parents hired a woman who would teach her how to live and function in the world with her disabilities. Helen did not let her disabilities put limitations on her life and instead found ways to make the world accessible to her. Sullivan shows photographs and describes Helen's educational journey and how she learned to live with her disabilities. He highlights her role in politics and bettering the world. Helen was a very influential, powerful woman who changed peoples views on the blind and deaf because of her determination and will to not let her disability define her.
Electronic Resources for Educators:
Give your students the opportunity to explore more about Helen's life accomplishments. This is an online museum for children and it is all about Helen Keller. This is a great resource to build schema and to get your students excited to read about Helen.
One of the most important people in Helen's life was Anne Sullivan Macy, learn more about her here. Helen credited much of her success to her infamous teacher. It is important for students to understand the impact that Anne had on Helen Keller's life. This might be a good website to look at with your students after you read the book because then they will understand Macy's importance in Keller's life.
Teaching Suggestions:
Key Vocabulary:
Valedictorian-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valedictorian
Comprehension Activities for the Classroom Teacher:
Before Reading Activity: Anticipation Guide
One way to get your students thinking about Helen Keller's life would be to use an anticipation guide. This is a great way to set a purpose for reading about a book and for you, the teacher to determine students' prior knowledge on a topic. I would distribute the following handout to students and then depending on their reading levels I might read the questions aloud to them.
1. Helen Keller was a woman who was both deaf and blind.
True or False
2. Helen could understand what someone was trying to tell her if they spelled words out in her palm.
True or False
3. Helen learned to read and write even though she couldn't see or hear.
True or False
4. Helen was a symbol of courage for many who faced major challenges in their lives.
True or False
5. Helen Keller lived during the 21st century.
True or False
6. Helen worked to better the lives of the blind and deaf.
True or False
7. Our class is reading about this book to learn about a very important woman who changed the way people with disabilities are viewed today.
True or False
During Reading Activity: Split-Page Notetaking
What I want students to take away from this book is an understanding of who Helen Keller was, how she dealt with her disability, her success in life, and what her contributions to society were. A way for students to organize their thoughts and to look for these key ideas and details is to use the split-page note taking strategy. Explicitly say to students what you're expecting them to look for as they read and then model this behavior for them. One example I might use to model is on page 16. The text reads "By this time in her life, she knew she was different from other people. The spoke with their mouths. Being deaf and blind, Helen could not. She got angry as a result. She cried, kicked, and screamed. Her parents were unable to control her." In key terms/Big ideas, I wrote: Ways Helen handled having a disability. In the details column, I wrote: Page 16- She cried, kicked and screamed. Maybe Helen felt frustrated that others couldn't understand her and that she couldn't understand them. I would clearly state the big ideas that you're looking for. Big Ideas: Ways she handled her disability, contributions to the world, and personal achievements. Explain to your students how they might look for the details as they read.
One way to get your students thinking about Helen Keller's life would be to use an anticipation guide. This is a great way to set a purpose for reading about a book and for you, the teacher to determine students' prior knowledge on a topic. I would distribute the following handout to students and then depending on their reading levels I might read the questions aloud to them.
1. Helen Keller was a woman who was both deaf and blind.
True or False
2. Helen could understand what someone was trying to tell her if they spelled words out in her palm.
True or False
3. Helen learned to read and write even though she couldn't see or hear.
True or False
4. Helen was a symbol of courage for many who faced major challenges in their lives.
True or False
5. Helen Keller lived during the 21st century.
True or False
6. Helen worked to better the lives of the blind and deaf.
True or False
7. Our class is reading about this book to learn about a very important woman who changed the way people with disabilities are viewed today.
True or False
During Reading Activity: Split-Page Notetaking
What I want students to take away from this book is an understanding of who Helen Keller was, how she dealt with her disability, her success in life, and what her contributions to society were. A way for students to organize their thoughts and to look for these key ideas and details is to use the split-page note taking strategy. Explicitly say to students what you're expecting them to look for as they read and then model this behavior for them. One example I might use to model is on page 16. The text reads "By this time in her life, she knew she was different from other people. The spoke with their mouths. Being deaf and blind, Helen could not. She got angry as a result. She cried, kicked, and screamed. Her parents were unable to control her." In key terms/Big ideas, I wrote: Ways Helen handled having a disability. In the details column, I wrote: Page 16- She cried, kicked and screamed. Maybe Helen felt frustrated that others couldn't understand her and that she couldn't understand them. I would clearly state the big ideas that you're looking for. Big Ideas: Ways she handled her disability, contributions to the world, and personal achievements. Explain to your students how they might look for the details as they read.
Post Reading:
Make a timeline of Helen's life with your class. Identify the most important events/people in her life and spend some time thinking about how these events or individuals impacted her life or the lives of others.
-use http://www.dipity.com/ to create your timeline.
-http://www.afb.org/annesullivan/default.asp- One of the most important people in Helen's life was Anne Sullivan Macy, learn more about her here. Helen credited much of her success to her infamous teacher. It is important for students to understand the impact that Anne had on Helen Keller's life. This might be a good website to look at with your students as you create the timeline.
Make a timeline of Helen's life with your class. Identify the most important events/people in her life and spend some time thinking about how these events or individuals impacted her life or the lives of others.
-use http://www.dipity.com/ to create your timeline.
-http://www.afb.org/annesullivan/default.asp- One of the most important people in Helen's life was Anne Sullivan Macy, learn more about her here. Helen credited much of her success to her infamous teacher. It is important for students to understand the impact that Anne had on Helen Keller's life. This might be a good website to look at with your students as you create the timeline.
Writing Activity:
Depending on the grade level of your students, you can rephrase this question in a more age appropriate manner. The length of the writing piece will also depend on the grade level. Question: How do you think Helen Keller influenced the lives of disabled people in today's world?
Depending on the grade level of your students, you can rephrase this question in a more age appropriate manner. The length of the writing piece will also depend on the grade level. Question: How do you think Helen Keller influenced the lives of disabled people in today's world?
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