Lesson Plan - History Makers: Jim Thorpe

Watch a Slideshow: “The Greatest Athlete in the World”
Discuss: What were some of Jim Thorpe’s accomplishments? 

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

• professional
• discrimination

 
Set a Purpose for Reading
The article notes that Thorpe may have been the greatest athlete of all time. Have students read on to learn why.

1. What does Jim Thorpe’s grandson mean when he says “there was no stopping” Thorpe?
Jim Thorpe’s grandson means that no matter what challenges Thorpe experienced, he kept pushing himself to excel.
^{L.4.5 Figurative Language} 

2. What is the section “A Star Is Born” mainly about?
This section is about Thorpe’s childhood and early successes. Thorpe was a star athlete at Carlisle Indian Industrial School and won gold medals in two track-and-field events at the 1912 Olympics.
^{RI.4.2 Main Idea and Details} 

3. Why did the International Olympic Committee (IOC) take away Thorpe’s gold medals in 1913?
The IOC took away the medals because Thorpe had earned money playing baseball. Olympic rules said professional athletes could not compete in the Games.
^{RI.4.3 Cause/Effect}

FEATURED SKILL: Text Evidence
Use the Skill Builder “All About Jim Thorpe” to have students complete a profile of Thorpe using details from the article. 
^{RI.4.1 Text Evidence}