Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman
By Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by David Diaz
Grade Level: 2-4
Subject: Biography / Famous African Americans / Track & Field / Polio
Digital Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhu_wuYsmcA
Topic: Students will read the biography of Wilma Unlimited and analyze primary sources to help understand Wilma's childhood, her struggles with Polio in the 1940's, and her victories in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.
Directions:
(Day 1)
1. Read aloud Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman and project illustrations for students to view on interactive white board. Stop throughout the story to allow students to record their "observations" from the text and illustrations in their Reader's Notebook. (Use the Library of Congress Teacher's Guide for Analyzing Books and Other Printed Sources as a resource for setting up Observe / Reflect / Question chart in student notebooks.)
2. Discuss the story with students and have students "reflect" and record "questions" in their Reader's Notebook.
3. Allow students to share their observations, reflections, and questions with a table partner. Select groups to share aloud.
(Day 2)
4. Review the story and a few of the topics students recorded in their charts. Introduce students to the set of Primary Sources (see below) they will use to learn more about Wilma Rudolph, the illnesses she overcame as a child, as well as her track & field career.
5. Distribute two copies of each source throughout the classroom and allow students to do a gallery walk to examine the sources and select one that interests them. After all sources have been selected, ask students to find the student with the matching source to partner with in the next activity.
6. Students will analyze their chosen primary source by using the guided scaffolding questions provided on the reverse side of the source. Students will record their responses in their Reader's Notebook.
(Day 3)
7. Students teams will take turns introducing and sharing their primary source with classmates. With each source, facilitate a classroom conversation about multiple perspectives can give us different meanings. Encourage students to consider the historical context of the object and how it's importance can change over time.
8. After all sources have been shared, have students refer back to their Observe / Reflect / Question chart to see if they have learned new information to help them answer any questions.
9. Provide a template for students to use their scaffolded question responses, to form a paragraph essay about the life of Wilma Rudolph and the obstacles she overcame.
Set of Primary Sources with Scaffolding Questions:
By Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by David Diaz
Grade Level: 2-4
Subject: Biography / Famous African Americans / Track & Field / Polio
Digital Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhu_wuYsmcA
Topic: Students will read the biography of Wilma Unlimited and analyze primary sources to help understand Wilma's childhood, her struggles with Polio in the 1940's, and her victories in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.
Directions:
(Day 1)
1. Read aloud Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman and project illustrations for students to view on interactive white board. Stop throughout the story to allow students to record their "observations" from the text and illustrations in their Reader's Notebook. (Use the Library of Congress Teacher's Guide for Analyzing Books and Other Printed Sources as a resource for setting up Observe / Reflect / Question chart in student notebooks.)
2. Discuss the story with students and have students "reflect" and record "questions" in their Reader's Notebook.
3. Allow students to share their observations, reflections, and questions with a table partner. Select groups to share aloud.
(Day 2)
4. Review the story and a few of the topics students recorded in their charts. Introduce students to the set of Primary Sources (see below) they will use to learn more about Wilma Rudolph, the illnesses she overcame as a child, as well as her track & field career.
5. Distribute two copies of each source throughout the classroom and allow students to do a gallery walk to examine the sources and select one that interests them. After all sources have been selected, ask students to find the student with the matching source to partner with in the next activity.
6. Students will analyze their chosen primary source by using the guided scaffolding questions provided on the reverse side of the source. Students will record their responses in their Reader's Notebook.
(Day 3)
7. Students teams will take turns introducing and sharing their primary source with classmates. With each source, facilitate a classroom conversation about multiple perspectives can give us different meanings. Encourage students to consider the historical context of the object and how it's importance can change over time.
8. After all sources have been shared, have students refer back to their Observe / Reflect / Question chart to see if they have learned new information to help them answer any questions.
9. Provide a template for students to use their scaffolded question responses, to form a paragraph essay about the life of Wilma Rudolph and the obstacles she overcame.
Set of Primary Sources with Scaffolding Questions:
(A) Photograph: Fast Steppers, 1960
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96501011/
This picture shows Wilma Rudoph's 1960 Olympic Team known as the Tennessee Tigerbelles.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. Why was Wima Rudolph's Team known as the Tennessee Tigerbelles?
2. What inferences can you make from this picture?
Compare to Story & Other Sources
This picture shows Wilma Rudoph's 1960 Olympic Team known as the Tennessee Tigerbelles.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. Why was Wima Rudolph's Team known as the Tennessee Tigerbelles?
2. What inferences can you make from this picture?
Compare to Story & Other Sources
(B) Photograph: Wilma Rudolph at the finish line during 50 yard dash at track meet in Madison Square Garden, 1961
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96501016/
This picture shows Wilma Rudoph crossing the finish line during the 50-yard dash in Madison Square Garden.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What can you infer from this picture?
2. What observations can you make from this picture?Compare to Story & Other Sources
This picture shows Wilma Rudoph crossing the finish line during the 50-yard dash in Madison Square Garden.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What can you infer from this picture?
2. What observations can you make from this picture?Compare to Story & Other Sources
(C) Printed Material: Wilma Rudolph, Star of the 1960 Olympics, Dies at 54; Frank Litsky, New York Times, 1994
https://login.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/login?&url=?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/109369624?accountid=10003
This is a PDF of the microfilm from the November 13, 1994 New York Times obituary for Wilma Rudolph by Frank Litsky.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What is the purpose of an obituary?
2. What were some of Wilma Rudolph's accomplishments during her lifetime highlighted in this newspaper article??
Compare to Story & Other Sources
This is a PDF of the microfilm from the November 13, 1994 New York Times obituary for Wilma Rudolph by Frank Litsky.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What is the purpose of an obituary?
2. What were some of Wilma Rudolph's accomplishments during her lifetime highlighted in this newspaper article??
Compare to Story & Other Sources
(D) Public Record: H.R. 1404 - To Posthumously Award a Congressional Gold Medal to Wilma G. Rudlph, 109th Congress 2005-2006
https://beta.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1404
This document is the official summary of the 109th House of Representatives Session, where a bill was presented to award Wilma G. Rudolph a Congressional Medal years after her death.
Observe /Reflect / Question
1. What type of document is this?
2. Why would Congress decide to award a medal after someone's death?Compare to Story & Other Sources
This document is the official summary of the 109th House of Representatives Session, where a bill was presented to award Wilma G. Rudolph a Congressional Medal years after her death.
Observe /Reflect / Question
1. What type of document is this?
2. Why would Congress decide to award a medal after someone's death?Compare to Story & Other Sources
(E) Photograph: President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson Meet with Wilma Rudolph, 1961
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-AR6512-A.aspx
John F. Kennedy and Vice Presiden Lyndon B. Johnson meet up with Olympic track and field gold medalist Wilma Rudolph in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. (Photo taken by Abbie Rowe)
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. Why would a US President want to meet with Wilma Rudolph?
2. What do you think they spoke about?
Compare to Story & Other Sources
John F. Kennedy and Vice Presiden Lyndon B. Johnson meet up with Olympic track and field gold medalist Wilma Rudolph in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. (Photo taken by Abbie Rowe)
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. Why would a US President want to meet with Wilma Rudolph?
2. What do you think they spoke about?
Compare to Story & Other Sources
(F) Personal: Autobiographical Video Interview with Wilma Rudlph
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnr0hu1skVY (original source unknown) Television interview with Wilma Rudoph where she shares the challenges she faced as a child before achieving her dreams. Interview begins at 30 seconds. 1. What did you learn about Wilma from watching her interview? 2. What was Wilma's most difficult obstacle? Compare to Story & Other Sources |
(G) Visual: 1984 Olympic Games Art Collection Wilma Rudolph Signed & Numbered Art Print, 1984
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Olympic-Games-Art-Collection-Wilma-Rudolph-Signed-and-Numbered-Art-Print-/251388181651?pt=Art_Prints&hash=item3a87e73c93O Artwork created by Wilma Rudolph as part of a fundraiser by Anheuser Bush. Observe / Reflect / Question 1. What "feeling" is Wilma Rudolph trying to convey in this picture? 2. Why did Wilma Rudolph create this picture? Compare to Story & Other Sources |
(H) Printed: Newspaper Article from September 1960
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOROTHY-HYMAN-WILMA-RUDOLPH-ROME-SUMMER-OLYMPICS-NEWSPAPER-ARTICLE-1960-/360937880173?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item540992fa6d
British Newspaper, "The Daily News" shows British runner Dorothy Hyman placing third in the 200 meter finale.
Observe / Reflect / Infer
1. Is this article written from a different point of view?
2. When is this newspaper from?Compare to Story & Other Sources
British Newspaper, "The Daily News" shows British runner Dorothy Hyman placing third in the 200 meter finale.
Observe / Reflect / Infer
1. Is this article written from a different point of view?
2. When is this newspaper from?Compare to Story & Other Sources
(I) 3-D Object: Children's Leg Brace (Polio), 1960's
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Polio-Childs-Leg-Brace-Shoes-Steampunk-Medical-Device-/331321901494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d245301b6
Leg brace worn by children with Polio in the 1960's.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What can you infer that the purpose of this device is?
2. Who might use this?Compare to Story & Other Sources
Leg brace worn by children with Polio in the 1960's.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What can you infer that the purpose of this device is?
2. Who might use this?Compare to Story & Other Sources
(J) Map: Map of Italy, 1992
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/service/gmd/gmd6/g6710/g6710/ct001411.jp2&&itemLink=r?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g6710+ct001411))&title=Italy.
Map of Italy. Rome was the location of the 1960 Summer Olympic Games.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What country is this? Locate Rome?
2. Why did Wilma Rudolph travel to Rome?Compare to Story & Other Sources
Map of Italy. Rome was the location of the 1960 Summer Olympic Games.
Observe / Reflect / Question
1. What country is this? Locate Rome?
2. Why did Wilma Rudolph travel to Rome?Compare to Story & Other Sources
Citations
Books
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman (Kathleen Harris, 1996)
Library of Congress
-http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/service/gmd/gmd6/g6710/g6710/ct001411.jp2&&itemLink=r?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g6710+ct001411))&title=Italy.
-https://beta.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1404
-http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96501016/
-http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96501011/
Other Online Resources
-http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-AR6512-A.aspx
-http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Polio-Childs-Leg-Brace-Shoes-Steampunk-Medical-Device-/331321901494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d245301b6-http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOROTHY-HYMAN-WILMA-RUDOLPH-ROME-SUMMER-OLYMPICS-NEWSPAPER-ARTICLE-1960-/360937880173?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item540992fa6d
-http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Olympic-Games-Art-Collection-Wilma-Rudolph-Signed-and-Numbered-Art-Print-/251388181651?pt=Art_Prints&hash=item3a87e73c93O
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman (Kathleen Harris, 1996)
Library of Congress
-http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/service/gmd/gmd6/g6710/g6710/ct001411.jp2&&itemLink=r?ammem/gmd:@field(NUMBER+@band(g6710+ct001411))&title=Italy.
-https://beta.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1404
-http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96501016/
-http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96501011/
Other Online Resources
-http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-AR6512-A.aspx
-http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Polio-Childs-Leg-Brace-Shoes-Steampunk-Medical-Device-/331321901494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d245301b6-http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOROTHY-HYMAN-WILMA-RUDOLPH-ROME-SUMMER-OLYMPICS-NEWSPAPER-ARTICLE-1960-/360937880173?pt=UK_Sports_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item540992fa6d
-http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Olympic-Games-Art-Collection-Wilma-Rudolph-Signed-and-Numbered-Art-Print-/251388181651?pt=Art_Prints&hash=item3a87e73c93O