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Lady of the Sky Amelia Earhart (Grade 8)

Master Teacher

Marsha Wood

Time Allotment

One 90-minute class period

Overview

Amelia Earhart, her navigator, and plane disappeared when she was attempting an around the world flight in 1937. Students will research the events of this tragic event. They will compare facts with the myths, legends, and theories that surround the events of their disappearance. Students will be able to write a brief report on the facts that they have found by use of the Internet.

Subject Matter

Language Arts

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

use bookmarked sites to find information about Amelia Earhart
describe the events surrounding the disappearance of Ms. Earhart
explore the different theories as to what happened on her last flight
write a summary of the mystery that surrounds the last flight
discuss their findings
form an opinion as to what happened on the flight
defend an opinion with facts

South Carolina Standards

These Standards can be found online at Office of Curriculum Standards.

I. Reading/Literature

I C The student will comprehend and analyze what is read from a variety of sources.

I C5 Evaluate and synthesize information to apply in written and oral presentations.

V. Research

V A1. Select and focus on one aspect of a topic.

V A4. Use skimming and scanning tech- niques, as well as subheadings, to gather information.

V. A7. Select and evaluate a variety of

perspectives.

V. A8. Gather additional information as needed.

VI. Computer/Technology Standards

VI. B1.Use local and worldwide network communication systems.

Media Components

Web Site

Pine River School Web Site: Amelia Earhart—What Really Happened?. This sight contains links to other sights that contain information about Amelia Earhart. It has a link with pictures of Ms. Earhart and of her family home that has been turned into a museum in honor of her many accomplishments.

Materials

Per student:

paper and pencil
computer
bookmarked Web site
Focus Questions: Group One (Activity Sheet 1)
Focus Questions: Group Two (Activity Sheet 2)
Focus Questions: Group Three (Activity Sheet 3)
Amelia Earhart: Comparing Facts with Myth, Legend, and Theory (Activity Sheet 4)
Teacher Answer Key for Group Activities
Teacher Answer Key for Comparing Facts with Myth, Legend, and Theory
personal journals

Prep for Teachers

Go to the Pine River School Web Site: Amelia Earhart—What Really Happened? and read materials, so you are prepared to help students.

Prior to teaching the lesson, bookmark the Web sites used in the lesson on each computer in the lab.

Copy enough Focus Question Activity Sheets for 1/3 of the class to get one sheet according to their group.

Make enough copies of Activity Sheet 4: Amelia Earhart: Comparing Facts with Myth, Legend, and Theory for the whole class.

When using media, provide students with a Focus for Media Interaction, a specific task to complete and/or information to identify during or after viewing of video segments, Web sites, or other multimedia elements.

Introductory Activity

Step 1: Introduce the name Amelia Earhart to your students. Discuss who she was and what they already know about her.

Step 2: Have students go to the bookmarked Earhart Web site. You will find a picture autobiography of her life. Have students skim these pictures and information about her life. The link is Amelia Earhart Museum.

Step 3: Briefly discuss what they have seen on the Internet Website—Amelia's home, family, aircrafts, achievements, photographs.

Step 4: Students love mysteries. So, tell them we are going to try to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.

Learning Activity

Step 1: Divide students into three groups. Give students in each group the corresponding Focus Question Activity Sheet so that each student has one.

Step 2: Students should already be at the bookmarked Web site. Tell students to scroll down to the section that is titled on their sheet. Check to make sure all students are on the correct subheading. Give the students a Focus for Media Interaction by telling them they are to research the answers to the questions on the worksheet on the Web site. They will use the information from each group to help solve the Amelia Earhart mystery.

Step 3: Tell students they are to read the section under their subheading. When students have completed their reading, they are to go back and complete their worksheets. Students that finish early should read the other sections in the article.

Step 4: After most students have completed their worksheets (this should be no longer than 20-25 minutes), have students shut down their computers. Use the Teacher Answer Key to check verbal answers from each group during a group discussion about the information gathered.

Step 5: Give students the graphic organizer titled: Amelia Earhart: Comparing Facts with Myth, Legend, and Theory.

Step 6: Using the worksheets that students have completed, have a teacher led discussion to determine statements that are fact from statements that are myth or legend. Students should be completing graphic organizers during the discussion.

Culminating Activity

Step 1: Have students write a brief summary in their personal journals of the facts and fiction about Amelia Earhart using the information in their graphic organizers. The summary should be titled: "Solving the Amelia Earhart Mystery."

The students should use the facts that have been observed, to state their theory of what happened to Ms. Earhart.

Cross-Curricular Extensions

History: This could be used as a term paper about Amelia Earhart, or it could be used as a springboard to study World War II.

Community Connections

Go to a local museum that has WWII artifacts that include planes of that era.

Student Materials

pencils
personal journals
computer
Focus Questions: Group One (Activity Sheet 1)
Focus Questions: Group Two (Activity Sheet 2)
Focus Questions: Group Three (Activity Sheet 3)
Amelia Earhart: Comparing Facts with Myth, Legend, and Theory (Activity Sheet 4)