Project URL: http://www.teachnet-lab.org/unhs/Armstrong1.htm

How it works:
This program aims to enable students to be able to write an essay about the triumphs and difficulties in the life of champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong. As background to the final product, the students will read a New York Times article about Lance Armstrong. In relation to the reading, students will trace his route through France, and then create their own Tour de_____ (students may choose a state in the United States). They also draw a timeline of his life. A T-bar graphic organizer is included to delineate the difficulties and triumphs.

This program offers many opportunities for teaching across the curricula of English Language Arts and Global Studies. The graphic elements provide opportunities to focus on multiple intelligences.

One example of an activity that goes with this program is the practice of paraphrasing. Quotations are identified and the students are guided through the process of paraphrasing. The thesaurus on the word processing program will be used. There is also a handout with a variety of words to use instead of the word "said". Finally, there is a lesson on peer review which may also be facilitated by the use of e-mail in a wired classroom.

Standards addressed:
Students will be able to:

1. Produce a reflective essay;

2. Independently and habitually demonstrate an understanding of the roles of the English language in written work;

3. Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness;

4. Respond to non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive and critical processes.

5. Use technology to find information and produce a typed report.

Software materials used:
Internet connection, word processing program, printer, traditional classroom materials, i.e., dry board, notebooks, pens, etc.

The students:
This program is designed for regular high school English Language Arts classes 9 - 12. It will also serve a remedial reading class. It may be used for English As A Second Language students. If so, the mapping exercise will serve to advance their knowledge of the geography of the United States or the activity may be changed to allow them to trace a tour through their native countries and share that with the class for native country appreciation.

Overall value:
This program comes with six handouts. One is a vocabulary worksheet specifically designed for the article. There are also three other handouts that may be used independently. Those three handouts contain activities on transition words and word variety. The other two handouts are reading comprehension questions and a peer review sheet.

Tips:

The teacher may want to review the lessons and modify them. There is a lot of material and the teacher may elect to cut some of the activities and add others. There is also a great deal of more recent information including books about Lance Armstrong, so as an extension the students may enjoy researching more about him or what he is currently doing.

About The Teacher

Ms.Vitulano is an English Language Arts teacher with expertise in teaching with computer technology. She continues to act as a staff developer in that area. Her curriculum samples have been electronically published for several years on Murry Bergtraum High School's website, Blackboard.com, and the Manhattan High Schools Superintendency's website.

Estimated Class Periods To Complete: 5

Subject:
English
ESL
Social Studies

Beginning Grade Level: 9

Ending Grade Level: 12