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The Statue of Liberty
Below-Level Reader
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty: From Paris to New York City
Unit 6 Week 1
Target Skill MAIN IDEA
Target Skill TEXT STRUCTURE
LESSON VOCABULARY crown, liberty,
models, symbol, tablet, torch, unforgettable, unveiled
SUMMARY This book is about the origins of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom in America. It also gives information about Paris and New York City.
INTRODUCE THE BOOK
BUILD BACKGROUND Discuss with students the title and the author of The
Statue of Liberty: From Paris to New York City. Ask students whether the title and the photograph on the cover give them any clues as to what this book is about.
ELL Invite students to talk about important statues or buildings in their home countries.
PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES Ask students how the photographs,
captions, and labels in this book give them a glimpse into 1880s life in Paris
and New York.
TEACH/REVIEW VOCABULARY Review vocabulary words with students.
Then, write a list of definitions in one column and the vocabulary words in the
other and have students match the words to the correct definitions.
TARGET SKILL AND STRATEGY
Target Skill MAIN IDEA Remind students that the main idea is the most important
idea about a topic. Model a way of determining the main idea of this book by asking these questions: In a few words, what is this book about? (the Statue
of Liberty) What are the most important ideas about this topic? (The statue
was offered as a symbol of friendship and took several years to complete.)
Target Skill TEXT STRUCTURE Remind students that a way to find the main idea is
to recognize how the book is organized. Call attention to the heads,
photographs, and captions. These elements will help students gain significant information, and students can learn more about the times during which the
statue was created from the photographs and captions.
READ THE BOOK
Use the following questions to support comprehension.
PAGE 4 What does the map on page 4 tell you about the city of Paris?
(Possible responses: There are many roads; the river Seine runs through the
center of Paris; there is a right and left bank.)
PAGE 6 Why do you think Bartholdi made models of every part of the Statue of
Liberty before he built it? (Possible response: Building a small model can save
time by giving an idea of what it will look like when large.)
PAGE 9 What is the main idea of this passage? (New York City in the 1880s
was full of amazing sights, including the Brooklyn Bridge.)
TALK ABOUT THE BOOK
READER RESPONSE
  1. Paris in the 1880s was a very old and beautiful city.
  2. Responses will vary, but students' diagrams should show the likenesses
    and differences of New York City and Paris.
  3. Unforgettable: not able to forget; Forgettable: able to be forgotten;
    Unpacked: took out of packing; Packed: put into packing; Unveiled: took
    off a covering; Veiled: covered
  4. Responses will vary.
RESPONSE OPTIONS
WRITING Ask students to imagine they are the Statue of Liberty in New York
and have them write postcards to Paris about their new life here.
CONTENT CONNECTIONS
Time for SOCIAL STUDIES
SOCIAL STUDIES Suggest students make up and draw their own symbols of freedom. Post the symbols in class.
 
   
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary