April 28 is National Superhero Day, a great opportunity to encourage students to recognize the everyday and cultural heroes in their lives! With that in mind, take some time today to have a stroll and listen to one of the following Walking Classroom podcasts.
- Importance of Superheroes in Society (Complete-#43, 4-#79)
- Legendary and Everyday Heroes (Complete-#41, 4-#80)
Just like the heroes of the ancient world, superheroes can teach lessons and grant hope in times of trouble. In fact, these larger than life figures often serve as sources of inspiration. As discussion proceeds, encourage students to consider times they needed a superhero, or any heroes (real or fictional) in their lives!
Superhero History
Superheroes as we know them today got their start in the late 1930s with characters like The Phantom and Superman. Many superheroes arose in times of trouble, such as the Great Depression, or World War II. Interested to know more, or curious about superhero comics? Try this PBS learning resource!
As you may remember from Importance of Superheroes in Society, Superman was created during the 1930s, a time of financial struggle. Not only was Superman an inspiration for many Americans, he was also an inspiration to America’s large immigrant population. Superman was written by Jerry Siegel, the son of two Jewish immigrants, and was himself an immigrant.
Superheroes frequently stand as symbols of hope and pride for populations they represent! Good examples of this include Captain America, who helped inspire Americans during WWII. Another symbol of pride would be Black Panther, arising during the Civil Rights movement.
Real Life Superheroes!
This Superhero Day, invite students to explore real Superheroes in their lives, or to think about how they can be superheroes themselves! Over this past year, they likely noticed many superheroes all around, from frontline workers to hospital nurses. Every year, men and women in emergency services, logistics, and many other fields help make the world a better place. Encourage students to share stories about the real life heroes they know and appreciate!
Who are some common heroes students came up with? Start with this lesson plan from Creative Educator, then try one of these follow-up activities! Afterward, talk to students about some ways they can be real life heroes themselves! Whether by participating community service or brainstorming ways to help those in need, students can easily act like their favorite superheroes.
Superhero Activities!
Of course, no Superhero Day lesson would be complete without some fun activities! Sports Connection Foundation offers a wealth of games and activities, including word searches and printable masks. Looking for a language arts activity? Have your students write a story or poem! Or, try some of these activities!
Learn about other timely topics and be on the lookout for more ideas in future posts.
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