Lesson Plan - The King of Surfing

Build Knowledge and Vocabulary

As students watch the video “Into the World of Surfing” or “Across the U.S.: Hawaii,” have them record 3 facts, 2 names of people or places, and 1 question they have. Discuss responses. Then use the Skill Builder Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms from the article.

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to underline, highlight, or jot down the central idea of each section.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

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

• Who was Duke Kahanamoku? What influence did he have? (Central Ideas and Key Details)
Kahanamoku was an Olympic swimmer and a surfer from Hawaii. He is known as the father of modern surfing. He helped spread love for the ancient Hawaiian sport around the world.

• Summarize the section “Shattering a Record.” (Summarizing)
As a teenager, Kahanamoku became known for his athletic abilities but faced discrimination because of his dark skin. In 1911, he demolished the world record for the 100-yard freestyle by 4.6 seconds, but officials refused to recognize his feat. Hawaiians raised money to send Kahanamoku to the mainland, where he won a national title and qualified for the Olympics. In 1912, he won two medals in swimming and returned to Hawaii as a hero.

• How does the sidebar “Hawaii and the U.S.” support the article? (Text Features)
The sidebar supports the article by explaining key events in Hawaiian history that led the islands to become the 50th U.S. state in 1959. It notes that Hawaii was isolated and had a distinct culture before British Captain James Cook arrived in 1778. Americans established plantations and became more and more powerful. Queen Liliuokalani was forced to step down in 1893. The U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898.

Cite Text Evidence

Have students complete the Skill Spotlight activity at the end of the article. Discuss which evidence is strongest.

Create a Timeline

Use the Skill Builder Create a Timeline to have students select and organize key dates in Duke Kahanamoku’s life and in Hawaiian history. You might use string or yarn to make a version across your classroom.

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.