A Reading Grand Slam
Inspiration Book:
Game changers : the story of Venus and Serena Williams by Cline-Ransome, Lesa; illustrated by Ransome, James 2018. 796.342; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.7. Shares the story of the sisters and tennis stars, including their special relationship as sisters and best friends, their constant training as children, and their incredible success in professional tennis.
Rationale: I love a book that I can share/use many ways with students. Game Changers is one of those books. These are a few ideas I have used to share Game Changers:
During March which is Women’s History Month, I use the book as a centerpiece for a biography study. I can then limit the study to women in sports or specifically women in tennis.
During Wimbledon in September, I simply make a display of books we have about famous tennis players.
In spring when our state holds high school tennis championships, I invite a local high school tennis star to talk about tennis, his/her experiences, and schedule a few simple classes. Of course, there is a book display.
But, the method of sharing that doesn’t require a specific time or season is a technique I use to encourage students to share books. This time the book is a tool for me to use to develop a skill, well actually a couple of skills--book sharing, summarizing, and main ideas.
There are a number of already prepared examples for sharing Game Changers. I have listed them in the Teacher Resource segment. One method is the book trailer, a second is a full or partial reading of the book, and a third is reader’s theater. I actually use all three in this lesson geared for grades 3-6.
Grades 3-6--A Reading Grand Slam
Introduction: I don’t like to use the words “book report” because I hear many groans and see few smiles. “Book Sharing” is a more positive term. To make book sharing even more positive, I give examples, allow some preparation time, limit the reading choices, and made a big event out of the actual sharing day(s). My middle grade teachers use the book sharing term, too, and we often cooperate during work and presentation times. A frequent mumble that I hear from teachers is that students just don’t understand summarizing and main ideas. This activity supports these reading comprehension efforts. This activity works best with a flexible schedule when the class can come to the library daily for about a week, and you and the teacher work as an instructional team. My students love the method of sharing described below and will ask whether they can prepare another script to share with another class or reading group.
Preparation:
Gather as many easy individual and collected sports biographies available in your collection. Although this Inspiration Book is about the Williams sisters, be sure to collect more than sports biographies about women--your middle grade boys may rebel otherwise.
Decide whether you will read Game Changers to the class or whether you will use the video of Lesa Cline-Ransome reading the book.
Arrange for the technology needed for using the commercial products--projection and computer capabilities.
Make copies of the reader’s theater script from Texas librarians.
Gather tennis props--ball and racquet.
White board, Smart board, chalkboard, or chart paper.
Write the three basic questions on another paper or board section: important facts, big idea, emphasis.
Introduction: (Show props, starting with the ball) When could I use this? (racquet) Or this? I don’t really know very much about the sport in which these two pieces of equipment are used. In fact, I don’t even know very much about the language for scoring. The sisters in this book do.
Read aloud or show Lesa Cline-Ransome reading the book:
Game changers : the story of Venus and Serena Williams by Cline-Ransome, Lesa; illustrated by Ransome, James 2018. 796.342; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.7.
What would you say are some of the facts to remember from this picture biography? (List on available equipment). What do you think the author was trying to emphasize? (List again). What do you think is the main idea of this book? (List).
Game Changers was chosen as one of the Texas Bluebonnet Awards for 2019-2020. To encourage students to read the book, Texas librarians made this book trailer.
Show:
Video Book Trailer from Texas Bluebonnet Award https://www.teachingbooks.net/booktrailer.cgi?id=6409
What would you say the creators of this book trailer thought were the big ideas? (List on available equipment). What do you think the video maker was trying to emphasis? (List again).
The same group of Texas librarians also made a short reader’s theater script about the book. The script has several narrators plus the sisters as characters. (Select or ask for volunteers and/or you and the classroom teacher take parts.)
Read script with students.
What would you say the creators of the script thought were the big ideas? (List on available equipment). What do you think the writers were trying to emphasis? (List again).
Scattered on the tables I have picture biographies of athletes from various sports. During the next ten to fifteen minutes, choose one of the books, read it, and think how you would answer the questions I asked you about Game Changers. (Allow selection and reading time.)
Turn to your neighbor on the right and ask each other the questions I asked you about Game Changers. Now turn to your neighbor on the left and ask each other the same questions.
Write your name on a sticky note and put it on the cover of the book you read. Think about the same questions overnight. Tomorrow you will write your own short--one to one and a half page with two or three characters-- reader’s theater script about the book you read. You will be able to use the book and quote a few words that your athlete said and are used in the book.Your narrators will be the ones who share the basic facts, big ideas, and main point. We’ll use the computers and print the scripts after they’ve been checked. Then back in the classroom you will practice with other students and eventually share with another class.
Related Titles:
Game, set, match, champion Arthur Ashe by Hubbard, Crystal — Lee & Low Books Inc., 2010 796.342; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.3. A picture book biography of the late professional tennis player, Arthur Ashe, that chronicles his personal and professional life and career. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
Billie Jean! : how tennis star Billie Jean King changed women's sports by Rockliff, Mara — G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2019 796.342; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.1. Describes how tennis champion and social activist Billie Jean King showed the world that men and women--and boys and girls--are equal on and off the court.
Sports are fantastic fun! by Konnecke, Ole — Gecko Press, 2018. 796; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.5. Cycling, ice hockey, athletics, tennis . . .There are so many sports and they're all fabulous! Soccer is great, except when your team keeps shooting and missing. Horse-riding is wonderful--so long as the horse does what the rider wants. Running, cycling, and swimming require agility and endurance. Other sports like ballet are not about speed but strength and style.
Althea Gibson : the story of tennis' fleet-of-foot girl by Reid, Megan — Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. 796.342; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.6. Tells the life story of Althea Gibson, the first black tennis player to win at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the U.S. Open.
Girls with guts! : the road to breaking barriers & bashing records by Gonzales, Debbie — Charlesbridge, 2019 796.082; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.9. Looks at several brave women who fought for a woman's right to play sports, including tennis great Althea Gibson and swimmer Gertrude Ederle.
Martina & Chrissie : the greatest rivalry in the history of sportsby Bildner, Phil — Candlewick Press, 2019. 796.342; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.9. Traces the friendship and rivalry of tennis stars Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. FREE Teaching Resources available for download.
Sisters : Venus & Serena Williams by Winter, Jeanette — Beach Lane Books, 2019. 796.342; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Celebrated picture book biographer Jeanette Winter shares the story of champion tennis players--and sisters--Venus and Serena Williams.
Serena : the littlest sister by Gray, Karlin — Page Street Kids, 2019. 796.342; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.7. Explores the life of Serena Williams, professional tennis player, including her childhood and career.
Nothing but trouble : the story of Althea Gibson by Stauffacher, Sue — Dragonfly Books, 2007. 796.342; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.9. Explores the life and achievements of Althea Gibson, the first African-American woman to win the Wimbledon Cup.
Ladies first : women athletes who made a difference by Rappoport, Ken — Peachtree, c2005 p2010. 796; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.7. Introduction -- Gertrude Ederle, "Against all odds" -- Babe Didrikson Zaharias, "The Other Babe" -- Susan Butcher, "The Magnificent Musher" -- Julie Krone, "The Horse Whisperer" -- Shirley Muldowney, "Driving into history" -- Billie Jean King, "Serving one up for women's rights" -- Wilma Rudolph, "The Clarksville Comet" -- Joan Benoit Samuelson, "Marathon Woman" -- Sonya Henie, "The Ice Queen" -- Althea Gibson, "The Jackie Robinson of Tennis" -- Nadia Comaneci, "The Perfect Gymnast" -- Manon Rheaume, "Manon the Warrior" -- All-American redheads "A team of their own" -- Conclusion. Profiles twelve women athletes of the twentieth century including Wilma Rudolph, Nadia Comaneci, Babe Didrickson Zaharias, Gertrude Ederle, and others, and describes how they overcame gender and sometimes race discrimination and demonstrated their extraordinary skill and dedication.
Frenemies in the family : famous brothers and sisters who butted heads and had each other's backs by Krull, Kathleen — Crown, 2018. 306.875; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.1. Presents a humorous look at famous brothers and sisters whose important bonds have shaped their accomplishments ... (mostly) for the better.
Rising above : inspiring women in sports by Zuckerman, Gregory — Philomel Books, 2018. 796; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.4. A collection of mini biographies of female athletes, including Serena and Venus Williams, Simone Biles, and Carli Lloyd.
Teacher Resources:
Reader’s Theater Script from Texas Bluebonnet Award 2019-2020 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BokmnFdUbsLM3_WT_Pza3n1pecLGUHLT/view
Teaching Ideas from Texas Bluebonnet Award 2019-2020 https://texasbluebonnetaward2020.wordpress.com/game-changers-the-story-of-venus-and-serena-williams/
Complete Video Reading narrated by Lesa Cline-Ransome created by KidLit TV https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=19277
Video Book Trailer from Texas Bluebonnet Award https://www.teachingbooks.net/booktrailer.cgi?id=6409
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