The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking development

Additional Resources Click HereClick Here for a School Tube reading of the selection. And video clip attachment

Tier 1 Excerpt from book Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives Habits of Mind

Excerpt Using lyrical text and beautiful illustrations, this book recreates French aerialist Philippe Petit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers, telling the daring story of how, with the help of his friends, he was able to achieve such an amazing and dangerous feat. Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able: Ladder A A1 Sequencing - To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2 Cause and Effect - To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events. A3 Consequences and Implications - To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts. Ladder B B1 Details - To list specific details or recall facts related to the text or generate a list about a specific topic or character. B2 Classifications - To categorize different aspects of the text or identify categories from a list of topics or details. B3 Generalizations - To make general statements about the reading or an idea in the reading and use data to support statements. Ladder E E1 Understanding Emotion – to explain how emotion and feeling are conveyed in a text and/or their personal experience. E2 Expressing Emotion – to articulate their feelings through a variety of media (e.g., song, art, poem, story, essay, speech) E3 Using Emotion – to analyze how emotion affects the passage and/or the reader.

Habits of Mind Working Interdependently Thinking about Thinking (metacognition) Innovating, Creating, Imagining Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A, B & E Thinking Questions.

Tier 2 Rigor (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A, B & E Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames). Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete. A1 — After sequencing the steps that Philipe had to do in order to accomplish his feat on the tightrope, explain how he had to show persistency to complete this. Sequence a task you had to be persistent had to achieve completion. A2 — Do you think Phillipe’s arrest and sentencing was morally ethical? If the decision would have been different would future events and/or actions been different? If so how? B1 — Using the title page of the book, list 5 – 7 details that you feel are important for understanding the story. B2 — Phillipe see many things as he crosses the river. Categorize what he sees in 2 different ways. E1 — Do you consider Phillipe a risk taker? Why? Or why not? During what part/s? What feelings or emotions would Phillipe be having during this? Draw his facial expressions with speech bubbles to explain your answer.

Tier 3 Rigor (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A, B & E Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3- 4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames). Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete. A3 — The illustrator uses a aerial (bird’s eye) perspective. Select three of your favorite pictures from the story and draw them from a different perspective B3 — The title of a book is very important. Make a book cover with a NEW title for this story. D2 — Philippe has several different emotions while lying on the wire looking up at the bird in the sky. List the emotions you think he has. Tell a story or draw a picture the would invoke the same emotions. D3 — While on the high-wire Philippe had many different feelings. When was a time you expereince similar feelings? Make a venn diagram of Phillippe’s and your feelings.

Tier 4 Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the writing ideas to complete. Be creative. 1. Research this actual event, prepare and present what you have learned about the man who did this. 2. Research another famous, brave risk taker, prepare and present what you have learned about the person/people and event/s. Suggested project strategies: Write a podcast script; create a puppet show; develop a PSA; a PowerPoint presentation; write and be an actor in a skit; write a persuasive speech and give before the class.