Today’s Walking Classroom podcast talks about the famous legend, John Henry — a freed slave who began working as a steel driver. His power and strength were put to the test when he raced against a steel-driving machine and died. His story grew more and more exaggerated until he became legendary.
Character Value: Perseverance
Click for Standards Alignment
Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RL.3.1, RL.3.2, RL.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RL.4.1, RL.4.2, RL.4.5, RL.4.9, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RL.5.1, RL.5.2, RL.5.9, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RL.6.1, RL.6.2, RL.6.9, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RL.7.1, RL.7.2, RL.7.9, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RL.8.1, RL.8.2, RL.8.9, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
John Henry Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
John Henry Slide Deck
Presents the trailer for the Disney movie about John Henry.
Shows Doc Watson singing the folk song “Ballad of John Henry.”
Test knowledge of “John Henry” in this online multiple choice quiz.
Explore the real man behind the legend of “John Henry” and write a story about facing adversity in this project from the Canton Museum of Art.
Demonstrate knowledge of “John Henry” by finding the hidden words.
Explore how music can be used to tell a story using the folk tale “John Henry” in this activity from the Savannah Music Festival.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Language Arts
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Heroes and Legends, Songs and Poems