Expressing Yourself: Women in the Arts

Lesson 8
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ELA

Unit 3

6th Grade

Lesson 8 of 27

Objective


Explain how watching a documentary about Misty Copeland has further developed their understanding of her story.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What do you now understand about Misty Copeland and her life that you did not understand from simply reading her memoir? Provide at least two things you learned or understand better as a result of watching this documentary.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • How is Copeland’s story of first connecting with Susan Fales-Hill (p. 181-182) different from the story Fales-Hill tells (00:15:02-00:16:45) in the documentary? What do we learn from the documentary that we did not learn from the text?

  • How do the interviews with other dancers from 00:19:16-00:23:04 help develop your understanding of race and racism in ballet? Why is it helpful to hear other dancers’ experiences?

Vocabulary


Text-based

falter

v.

(p. 181)

to hesitate in purpose or action; to lose momentum

Homework


  • Provide students with the summary below:
    • Misty starts dating a man named Olu, who encourages her to pursue her dreams.
    • Misty begins to feel more confident in herself and secure in her place in the ABT company.
    • Famous musician Prince invites Misty to perform with him, and they develop a bond as they continue to work together over several years. Copeland writes, “working with Prince helped me to become a whole artist.”
    • Misty continues to find support and inspiration from older Black women in the arts.

To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland  — pp. 203-211 and pp. 228-233

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who does Misty meet for the first time in this section of text?

  • Is this a positive or negative experience?

  • What does Kevin tell Misty after her performance in Sleeping Beauty?

  • What is significant about this achievement?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.6.7 — Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
  • RI.6.9 — Compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).

Supporting Standards

L.6.6
RI.6.1
RI.6.2
RI.6.4
RI.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.2
SL.6.6
W.6.1.a
W.6.1.b
W.6.4
W.6.9
W.6.9.b
W.6.10
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Lesson 7

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Lesson 9

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