Guiding Comprehension

Theme • Critical

In his conclusion, the author says that Gertrude Ederle "had become a beacon of strength to girls and women everywhere." In what ways did Ederle serve as a role model in her own time? Now?

Responses will vary; answers to both questions will probably be the same or similar.

Compare and Contrast

• Critical

Text to Text Both Gertrude Ederle and the previous selection, Rocks in His Head, are biographies. In what ways are the two selections similar? In what ways are they different?

Both are written by someone other than the subject. Both are about real people. Both include some things that are probably made up, such as things people said. Rocks in His Head is about a man, and the author knew him. Gertrude Ederle is about a woman. I don't think the author knew her.

Summarize When students finish reading the selection, provide this prompt: Imagine that you want to tell a friend what America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle is about. In four or five sentences, explain its important points.

STRATEGY SELF-CHECK

Monitor/Fix Up

Have students write questions they may have about the selection. Then have them find answers.

Students can use their questions and answers to write a summary.

SELF-CHECK

Students can ask themselves these questions.

Do the answers to my questions help me understand the selection better?
Did I understand enough to write a summary?
Can I tell the difference between a statement of fact and a statement of opinion?
To assess students, use Practice Book 3.2, p. 37.

then… Use the Reteach lesson on
p. 111b.

If… children have difficulty writing facts and opinions,

Fact and Opinion

Practice Book 3.2 p. 37

with | without Answers

"America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle"
by David A. Adler

Student Edition
Unit 4, pp. 90–105

This Snapshot is from a biography about Gertrude Ederle. A biography gives facts about a real person's life.

President Calvin Coolidge called her "America's Best Girl" in 1926. She had a huge parade in her honor, the mayor of New York praised her, and she was known all over the world.
Gertrude Ederle was born in 1906. She grew up in New York City with five brothers and sisters. When she was seven she fell into a pond and almost drowned, so her father decided to teach her to swim. No one could have guessed how much she would love it.
When she was thirteen, Trudy took swimming lessons. Two years later she won a big race. The next year she swam a 21-mile course from Manhattan to New Jersey. She beat the men's record--and newspapers began to notice her.
In 1924, her eighteenth year, Trudy Ederle made the U.S. Olympic team and won three medals. By 1925 she had set twenty-nine U.S. and world records. Her next challenge? To be the first woman to swim the English Channel. She almost made it.
In August 1926, more determined and better prepared, she tried again. Her sister covered her with heavy grease to keep her warm in the cold Atlantic current. A tugboat followed her to make sure Trudy was safe. A second escort boat carried reporters and photographers.
Trudy started from the coast of France at around 7:00 a.m. She kept swimming through rain and wind. Twenty-foot waves and strong tides stirred the water against her every stroke. She was exhausted, but she continued. Finally, around 9:30 that night, her feet touched the land of England. People waded into the water to welcome her. Her father wrapped her in a warm robe.
Trudy Ederle broke the record of five men by almost two hours. She swam the Channel in 14 hours and 31 minutes. Newspapers around the world pictured her. She herself said, "I knew if it could be done, it had to be done, and I did it. All the women of the world will celebrate." And they did. So did the men.



	Close
	PRACTICE LESSON VOCABULARY Have students respond orally to each question below. Answers are in parentheses. Did the whole world celebrate when Gertrude Ederle succeeded in swimming the English Channel? (Yes) If I continued to do something, would I stop or keep doing it? (Keep doing it) BUILD CONCEPT VOCABULARY Review previous concept words with students. Ask if they have come across any words today in their reading or elsewhere that they would like to add to the Concept Web.

"America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle" by David A. Adler

"America's Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle"
by David A. Adler