Lesson Plan - History Makers: Helen Keller

Watch a Slideshow: The Amazing Helen Keller
Discuss: Why do many people consider Helen Keller an inspiration?

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

• advocate 
• breakthrough

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them look for details about the challenges Keller faced.

1. According to the article, why was Keller often angry when she was little?
The article notes that Keller was blind and deaf. She tried to understand what happened around her, but “not being able to communicate often caused her to erupt in anger.”
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2. What is a breakthrough? What moment in Keller’s life does the author call a breakthrough?
A breakthrough is a sudden increase in understanding. Keller had a breakthrough when her teacher spelled out the word water on her hand. Keller made the connection between the letters and the liquid she felt from the water pump.
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3. What was Keller’s message in her writings?
Keller used her writings to call for human rights.
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FEATURED SKILL: Text Evidence
Use the Skill Builder “All About Helen Keller” to have students complete a biographical profile of Keller using details from the article. 
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