Lesson Plan - The Remarkable Journey of an Ironman

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will read about an athlete who has overcome obstacles and apply lessons to set their own personal goals.

Curriculum Connections

• Down Syndrome and Disability Rights

• Discrimination

• Sports and Culture

• Social and Emotional Learning: Perseverance and Goal Setting

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Consider how people can grow and change physically, emotionally, and intellectually

• Understand multiple perspectives

English Language Arts:

• Analyze author’s craft

• Participate effectively in collaborative discussions

• Write for a task and purpose

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, RH.6-8.9, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.9, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.3, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, RI.6-8.9, W.6-8.4, W.6-8.9, SL.6-8.1

1. Preparing to Read

Engage, Connect, and Build Vocabulary

Ask students to respond to this prompt: What’s one of the most difficult things you’ve ever tried to do? What made it challenging? How did it go? Looking back, would you have done anything differently? Invite students to share responses. Then use Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms in the article.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently. Direct students to underline or highlight three details that stand out to them.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• How does the author set the scene at the beginning of the article? (Author’s Craft)
Kurt Streeter sets the scene by including descriptive details about the dark Florida sky and “the hot, humid air.” He uses similes to compare Chris Nikic’s legs to concrete and his back muscles to something shredded. These details introduce Nikic and the race.

• What is Down syndrome? How has it affected Chris Nikic’s life? (Key Details)
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that involves having an extra chromosome. It can cause physical and intellectual differences. Nikic had to have heart surgery as a baby and couldn’t walk on his own until he was 4. He went to seven elementary schools and says he felt excluded but found comfort in sports.

• What does Nikic mean when he says “I learned that there are no limits. Do not put a lid on me”? (Social and Emotional Learning)
Nikic means that completing the Ironman triathlon showed him that he can achieve difficult goals. People have sometimes focused on limits instead of possibilities in his life, but Nikic doesn’t want anyone to limit what he can do.

3. Skill Building

Watch a Video

Have students watch Nikic train for and compete in the triathlon at youtube.com/watch?v=KRBrCHzxfyk. Ask: What does Chris Nikic say keeps him going? What did you learn about him from the video?

Set Personal Goals

Use the Skill Builder What’s Your Goal? to guide students to set a goal and make a plan for achieving it. You can also have students respond to the “Write About It!” prompt after completing the activity.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz, available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.

Printable Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Lesson: The Remarkable Journey of an Ironman

A step-by-step guide to teaching this article in your classroom

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Interactive Slide Deck

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Slide Deck - The Remarkable Journey of an Ironman

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