Lesson Plan - History Makers: Duke Kahanamoku

Watch a Video: Into the World of Surfing

After watching, discuss: Who was Duke Kahanamoku? What is he known for?

Preview Words to Know

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

• exhibitions 
• legacy

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about why Kahanamoku is known as the father of modern surfing.

1. Why do many people consider Kahanamoku the father of modern surfing? Kahanamoku is considered the father of modern surfing because he introduced surfing to the world and was one of the best surfers of all time.

^{(RI.4.2 MAIN IDEA)}

2. The text says that Kahanamoku “shattered the world record” in the 100-yard freestyle. What does the verb shattered tell you? When a thing is shattered, it is broken to an extreme degree. When Kahanamoku shattered the record, he broke it by a lot. He swam the event much faster than the previous record-holder.

^{(RI.4.1 INFERENCE)}

3. According to the article, how did Kahanamoku’s skills in the water prove to be lifesaving? The article explains that in 1925, a boat capsized in rough water near Newport Beach, California. Kahanamoku used his surfboard to rescue eight men.

^{(RI.4.1 TEXT EVIDENCE)}

FEATURED SKILL: Text Evidence

Use the Skill Builder “All About Duke Kahanamoku” to have students complete a biographical profile of Kahanamoku. 

^{(RI.4.1 TEXT EVIDENCE)}