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