Once upon a time our astronauts… Open
By: Ekaterina Kalmanson (James Madison High School, NYC)
Topic(s): Heroes

EU: Every hero is a human, but not every human is a hero.
EU: Significant people and their actions become legends.
EU: Every hero is a human, but not every human is a hero.
EU: Every true hero is a patriot of her/his/their country.
EU: Bravery, respect for labor, love for the home country drive heroes’ actions.
EU: Heroes’ qualities and values are intercultural.

EQ: What makes someone a hero?
EQ: What does a day in the life of a hero look like?
EQ: What are heroes' values and beliefs?

Students explore one day of Yuriy Gagarin's life and create stories and songs about American heroes.


Intermediate Low-CEFR A2

https://youtu.be/PdyPl6SGuVg

In the cartoon "Once our cosmonauts" by artist Galina Golubeva, you will hear the voice of Yuriy Gagarin, hear a song composed by members of the folklore ensemble of the village of Verkhnyaya Pokrovka, Belgorod Region. Soloist - Maria Timofeevna Yakovenko.
https://teksty-pesenok.ru/rus-mariya-timofeevna-yakovenko-/tekst-pesni-a-kak-nashi-kosmonavty/1848480/

Interpretive

Who are the cartoon characters and how did they spend April 12, 1961? Place cards with the sentences in the correct order according to the cartoon and the song.

I can infer meaning from the cartoon and song about astronauts.


Interpersonal

Discuss with your classmates what events described in the cartoon and the song actually happened on April 12, 1961?

I can discuss one day of an astronaut's life.
I can analyze the song.


Presentational

Create and present a song about Neil Armstrong's day when he stepped on the Moon.

I can create a song describing a day of an American hero's life.


Intermediate High-CEFR B1

https://youtu.be/PdyPl6SGuVg

In the cartoon " Once our cosmonauts" by artist Galina Golubeva, you will hear the voice of Yuri Gagarin, hear a song composed by members of the folklore ensemble of the village of Verkhnyaya Pokrovka, Belgorod Region. Soloist - Maria Timofeevna Yakovenko.
https://teksty-pesenok.ru/rus-mariya-timofeevna-yakovenko-/tekst-pesni-a-kak-nashi-kosmonavty/1848480/

Interpretive

What elements of the story are creative imaginations and what happened in real life? List these elements in two tables.

I can differentiate between real and imaginative elements of the story.


Interpersonal

Discuss your findings and come up with the real story that happened to Yuriy Gagarin on April 12, 1961.

I can investigate what makes a person a hero.


Presentational

Create a story describing a day of an American hero's life.

I can create a story describing a day of an American hero's life.


Advanced Mid-CEFR B2/C1

https://youtu.be/PdyPl6SGuVg

In the cartoon "Once our cosmonauts" by artist Galina Golubeva, you will hear the voice of Yuri Gagarin, hear a song composed by members of the folklore ensemble of the village of Verkhnyaya Pokrovka, Belgorod Region. Soloist - Maria Timofeevna Yakovenko.
https://teksty-pesenok.ru/rus-mariya-timofeevna-yakovenko-/tekst-pesni-a-kak-nashi-kosmonavty/1848480/

Interpretive

Write down the sequence of events taking place in the cartoon. Underline real events and facts in blue, fictional ones in red. What elements of this story make it a legend?

I can infer meaning from the cartoon and song about astronauts.
I can classify real and fictional events.
I can define legend's key features.


Interpersonal

Discuss your findings and try to find a rationale behind the author's choices. Why are there three characters? Why did she use the traditional Russian style for the cartoon?

I can explain the author's choices.
I can investigate a legend's key features.


Presentational

Create an iMovie and a song about a day in the life of any real-life hero in the form of a legend.

I can create an iMovie and a song describing a day in the life of an American hero.

I can create a legend.


Student Work Samples
mmmm

Eddy, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Queens College, CUNY | 65-30 Kissena Blvd. | Queens, NY 11367-1597 | Phone: (718) 997-5000 Copyright © 2004-2024