What is a Leader?

Day One

What is a leader?

The answer to this question may vary from person to person, but overall, a leader is somebody who others look up to for guidance, assistance, or inspiration. Often, a leader has achieved something or done something great that causes others to view them this way.

Click on these links to read definitions and qualities of a good leader:

http://www.genv.net/en-us/dream_it/team_building/what_leader

http://www.leadernetwork.org/leaderdef.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/workplace/successstrategies/2002-11-14-leader_x.htm

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/elearning/?article=whatisaleader

After reading several different definitions and opinions, please make a list of what qualities YOU think a person must have in order to be considered a leader. You may also list anything you think this a person has done, or should do, in order to be considered a leader.

Now, take those lists and get together in groups of three. On poster paper, create a depiction of what somebody might look like, or be doing, to show what being a leader means to you and your group members.

Day Two

Who is Harriet Tubman? (If in a regular classroom, take student answers to this question before moving on)

Please take notes on the following information. Be sure to include important qualities that Harriet had that made her a leader.

Link for biography of Harriet Tubman: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html

**If in a classroom, face-to-face, check out books from the library to read to students and supplement with the following links:

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/tubman

http://www2.lhric.org/POCANTICO/tubman/tubman.html

This is a fabulous animated video from United Streaming that depicts Harriet Tubman’s entire life, including her accomplishments on the Underground Railroad. It is approximately 45-60 minutes long. Please take notes during the video.

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=1B1523CD-0DD4-4CDE-A06B-1301419EFBCE&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

Now, make a list of achievements and/or qualities describing why Harriet Tubman is considered a leader and turn in for a grade.

Day Three

Who is Susan B. Anthony? (If in a regular classroom, take student answers to this question before moving on)

Please take notes on the following information. Be sure to include important qualities that Susan had that made her a leader.

Link for biography of Susan B. Anthony: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony

**If in a classroom, face-to-face, check out books from the library to read to students and supplement with the following links:

http://www.susanbanthonyhouse.org/biography.shtml

http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/sba/first.htm

http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blanthony.htm

http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/anth-sus.htm

Please take notes as you watch the following videos:

Here is a video of a re-enactment of the Susan B. Anthony trial, after she illegally voted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OidEONxFpBA

This video discusses how Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton changed voting rights for women.

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/9114-american-diversity-womens-suffrage-movement-video.htm

Now, make a list of achievements and/or qualities describing why Susan B. Anthony is considered a leader and turn in for a grade.

Day Four

Who is Martin Luther King Jr.? (If in a regular classroom, take student answers to this question before moving on)

Please take notes on the following information. Be sure to include important qualities that MLK had that made him a leader.

Link for biography of Martin Luther King Jr.: http://www.thekingcenter.org/mlk/bio.html

**If in a classroom, face-to-face, check out books from the library to read to students and supplement with the following links:

http://www.thekingcenter.org/

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mlkjrday1.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/special/mlk/

http://www.martinlutherking.org/ (kid friendly, including a quiz and videos)

This is a video of the live footage from the day that Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Please take notes during the video.

http://www.mlkonline.net/video-i-have-a-dream-speech.html

Now, make a list of achievements and/or qualities describing why Martin Luther King Jr. is considered a leader and turn in for a grade.

Day Five

We have now discussed three different important historical figures: Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and Martin Luther King Jr. All three of these people have several things in common, namely their accomplishments that made them famous.

Let’s discuss some of the qualities that all three have in common. One example that I have is bravery. Please take a minute to think about it and make a list of some that you can think of.

Let’s share – who would like to volunteer? Be sure to include why you think all three of these people have this quality in common.

(This part can be done in a regular classroom, or on an open chat on the internet)

Great discussion, thank you. Now it is time to take a quiz on all three figures.

(Design and distribute – or post- quiz to match your instruction)

To conclude our unit, you will be required to design a project – individual or in partner groups - that reflects your knowledge of one of the historical figures we have learned about. It will be up to you what you include in the project, but it must include a description of the life, achievements, and leadership characteristics your chosen leader. You may write a formal report, create a short book, design a Power Point, or do a short skit to demonstrate your knowledge. I will be giving you today to design an outline for your presentation. Tomorrow you will have the whole class period (or whole day for online course), and the following day you will be presenting to the class. (if doing a skit for an online course, skit must be video taped and uploaded)

Day Six and Seven

Give one whole class period to work on assignment, then give one whole class period to present the assignment.

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This work is licensed by Kayla Alston under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 3.0), and is an Open Educational Resource.

Last edited by Kayla Alston on Mar 10, 2009 10:47 pm GMT-5.