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Maya Angelou : Ideas And Characteristics Of Heroism

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With fictional characters that save the world by possessing superpowers, like supersonic speed and unearthly strength, it is hard to imagine what being a hero truly means. Well, with that being said, what is a hero? According to T. A. Barron (2007), “A hero does something truly important, regardless of whether anyone ever notices” (Barron, 2007, pg. 3). Interestingly enough, this idea is extremely important to embed in the minds of elementary students. Thus, the topic explored in this social studies unit address heroes with a focus on characteristics of heroism; an idea that suggests something special about the qualities of a person. Accordingly, this idea will be further explored in the study of one special, distinct hero that changed the lives of thousands of individuals: Maya Angelou. By looking closely at Angelou’s life, students will use this information to determine who their hero is. During this unit of lessons, the students will investigate the role traits play in the development of a hero. In turn, this will allow the students to resonate with ideas of heroism that suggest anyone could be a hero. This idea is not only relevant to these lessons, but carries onto the civic values of the students, as they learn how to empathize, help others in need, and stand up for their own beliefs. In the introductory lesson, students will explore the characteristics of heroism. It is important for students to recognize these traits in order to identify two things: (1) Who is a

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