Twelve Rounds to Glory: The story of Muhammad Ali by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Smith, C. R., & Collier, B. (2007). Twelve rounds to glory: the story of Muhammad Ali. Cambridge : Candlewick Press.

Diversity, Coretta Scott King Honor Award  2008

AGES: Scholastic grade level equivalent 4.6

SUMMARY:

Charles R. Smith Jr. depicits the story of Muhammad Ali in a creative way through rap inspired poems, collage artwork, and quotes. These features allow the reader to really feel motivated to keep on reading to find out more about Muhammad Ali, such an important figure in our history. Charles R. Smith Jr. follows Muhammad through 12 rounds of his life depiciting him as a boy til  his life after boxing. His story is truly inspirational and decipicted in this way is a story that any reader would enjoy.

VOCABULARY:

Cassius Clay, performer, taunt, opponents, boxing, precipice, Sonny Liston, Malcolm X, Allah, Nation of Islam, hositility, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, supernova

TEACHING STRATEGIES: (small group instruction)

Before: Go over text structure, this is an infomational text but the story is portrayed through poems. Review the time period that Muhammad Ali grew up in, the 1960s, so students have an idea of were to place Muhammad Ali in history. Also, inform students that Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay.

During: Have students pay attention to each poem and write down the overall message of each. Have students add the main events in Muhammad's life as they read to a graphic organizer or timeline. Could also have students do a jigsaw and each focus on one of the chapters/poems of Muhammad's life.

After: Go through the novel and just pay attention to the quotes, have students try to piece together Muhammad's story just through them. / Have them analyze each quote and write expository text as to how that quote fits into Muhammad's story.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/activities-poems.htm#12rounds- hear the poems that make up Twelve Rounds of Glory

http://www.alicenter.org/Pages/default.aspx- Muhammad Ali Center, Teacher resources and information about Muhammad Ali

http://ali.com/legend_timeline.php- interactive timeline of Muhammad Ali's life

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean by Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle

Taylor, S. S., & Towle, B. (2010). Amelia Earhart: this broad ocean. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.

Graphic Novel

AGES: 1080L, interest level 8-12

SUMMARY:
Through graphics Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle are able to tell the story of Amelia Earhart through a young reporters eyes. Grace, the young reporter, is able to wittness Earhart's determination and amibtion as she tries for two weeks and then is successful at crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The novel then jumps to nine years later when Grace learns of Amelia's attempt to travel the whole world, through learning of this Grace continues to persue her dream of becoming a successful journalist. The illustrations combined with the narrative leaves students to really become inspired by Amelia Earhart' story.

VOCABULARY:
Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Madel Boll, Thea Rasche, President Wilson, Ambition, Atlantic Ocean, Petrol, Telegram

TEACHING STRATEGIES: (small group instruction)
Before: Explain to students the text structure of a graphic novel, how it is set up like a comic strip. Also, go over the time period in which Amelia Earhart flew which was in 1928, so that students have a sense of when this was taking place.

During: Have students create a timeline of Amelia Earhart's journey. This will allow them to get a since of how much went into Amelia actually flying across the Atlantic.

After: Have students perform the book as reader's theatre.  This would be a great way for students to demonstrate understanding of the graphic novel through creating skits. You could also have students create their own comic strip stories.

ONLINE RESOURCES:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/- interactive comic strip maker from readwritethink.org
http://cdn2.dolimg.com/explore/PMPages/DCOM/books/catalog/Printable/Amelia-Earhart.pdf- discussion guide and projects related to the novel
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25287- interview with author Sarah Stewart Taylor