women in profile: political leaders
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Political Leaders by Janice Parker is a compilation of the biographies of six different women. Each of these women were political leaders, and many were history-makers. The book starts off with the biography of Corazon Aquino, who was President of the Philippines for six years, and was responsible for bringing democracy back to the country. The next political figure in the book is Benazir Bhutto, the first female prime minister of Pakistan. Growing up in a family with money and political involvement, Bhutto was able to attend school, where she learned about and experienced first hand the politic behind democracy. This put her on the path to obtaining her position of prime minister. Indira Gandhi's biography is next in the book, and the reader learns all about her life, and her becoming the prime minister of India. Golda Meir- prime minister of Israel- is the fourth woman in the book, and her biography includes important details such as her birth in Russia, move to America, establishment of a kibbutz, and her many accomplishments throughout life. Eva Peron was the first lady of Argentina, and although she didn't hold an official political position, she had major a major impact on Argentina before dying of cancer in 1952. She had so much impact, in fact, that she was given the title "Spiritual Mother of all Argentinian Children". The book concludes with the biography of Margaret Thatcher, who served as the United Kingdom's prime minister for three terms.
Students working in the classroom may use this book for an exercise centered around speaking. In this exercise, each student will be placed in one of six different groups (which represent the political leaders). In these groups, there will be various roles:
The first role is as a reader, who will re-read parts of the biographies to their group members (there will likely be multiple students in this role).
The second role is as the author, who will develop the script.
The third role is as the recorder, who will write the script down, including any details that aren't verbal
The final role is as the speaker, who will represent one of the six women, and perform the prepared script for the class (there can be multiple people in this role too, depending on the script.)
The assignment is to develop a script that shows what a day in the life of one of these women may be like. Such an exercise will incorporate speaking, writing, group work, reading, and critical thinking /creativity.
Students working in the classroom may use this book for an exercise centered around speaking. In this exercise, each student will be placed in one of six different groups (which represent the political leaders). In these groups, there will be various roles:
The first role is as a reader, who will re-read parts of the biographies to their group members (there will likely be multiple students in this role).
The second role is as the author, who will develop the script.
The third role is as the recorder, who will write the script down, including any details that aren't verbal
The final role is as the speaker, who will represent one of the six women, and perform the prepared script for the class (there can be multiple people in this role too, depending on the script.)
The assignment is to develop a script that shows what a day in the life of one of these women may be like. Such an exercise will incorporate speaking, writing, group work, reading, and critical thinking /creativity.
*Grade Level Equivalent: 4.5
*Interest Level: grades 3-5
Parker, J. (1998). Political leaders. New York, NY: Crabtree.
ISBN: 0778700089
*Information found on scholastic.com
*Interest Level: grades 3-5
Parker, J. (1998). Political leaders. New York, NY: Crabtree.
ISBN: 0778700089
*Information found on scholastic.com