Socratic Seminars Informational Text | Reading Passages with DOK 3 Seminar Questions

Socratic Seminars Informational Text | Socratic Seminars Informational Text Reading Passages with DOK 3 Seminar Questions and Socratic Seminar Observation Checklist Grade 4, 5, 6, and 7

13-year-old Dutch girl, Laura Dekker sails Around the World

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

Exploring the farthest corners of the globe has always been one of man’s most endearing dreams, and this has been taken to a wholly new level by the Dutch teenager Laura Dekker, who has accomplished the seemingly impossible task of sailing around the world solo at the age of 16 years. In fact, Laura became the youngest person to sail across the earth when she completed her voyage at the age of sixteen on the 21^st of January 2012. On her way, she has witnessed countless obstacles that have taken all the resourcefulness and determination that she could muster to realize her dreams into reality. WCPM 105

Laura Dekker turned her dream into reality and inspired countless other teenagers across the planet to dream big with the blessings of her parents but not the Dutch government. This is because the Dutch authorities tried their utmost to prevent Laura from taking this arduous trip across the earth’s perilous waters at such an early age, and did all they could to stop her in her tracks. Even though of Dutch nationality, Laura was in fact born on a yacht in the New Zealand waters. She was born on the 20^th of September 1995 while her parents were in the middle of a seven-year-long sailing trip, and their trip continued for a further five years after she was born before they returned to Holland. Thus, being born within the territorial waters of New Zealand, Laura Dekker enjoys dual Dutch and New Zealand citizenship. WCPM 250

Laura Dekker stayed with her father even since her parents got divorced in 2002, and her father’s passion of building boats has been a strong influence on her eventual quest to sail across the earth alone. She started sailing at an early age of six, and has ever since then been gradually upgrading to bigger boats as she got older. She took part in competitive dinghy races, as well as, offshore events, and finally started going on longer trips when she upgraded to the 7 m long seaworthy boat Hurley 700 at the age of ten. Laura used this boat to take solo trips around Holland, as well as, the North Sea, and then even sailed on her own to England in May 2009 with her Hurley 700. It was during those solo trips that the idea of sailing solo around the world began to emerge, and gradually grew to become her biggest dream. WCPM 403

Laura Dekker began to contemplate seriously about turning her dream into reality in early 2009, and received considerable support from her parents towards her endeavors. In 2009, she announced her plan to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handed. However, the attitude of the Dutch government was quite to the contrary, and the authorities started a court case to thwart Laura from making the voyage. The ensuing battle in court continued for the next 10 months at the end of which Laura’s custody was handed back to her parents in July 2010. Finally, Laura was free to begin her journey, which duly started on the 21^st of August 2010 on the 30-year old yacht Guppy. Laura successfully led her voyage around the world on the 38 feet yacht and finally arrived in the Dutch Antillean island of Saint Maarten in the Caribbean on the 21^st of January 2012. WCPM 538

Laura Dekker traversed the North Atlantic, Pacific, and the Indian Oceans on her journey, and clocked over 27,000 miles. However, much has been said and written about the consequences of allowing young teenagers of going on such arduous trips involving considerable risks, and Guinness authorities have scrapped all records consisting of underage sailors to dissuade youngsters. Even then, Laura Dekker remains an influential figure in popular culture. WCPM 605

1. Laura Dekker has accomplished the incredible task of being – The only person ever to sail across the Pacific ocean The youngest person to sail around the world solo The youngest girl to sail around the world	2. While trying to make her dream come true, Laura received support from – Her parents The Dutch Government Both Part two: What character traits can you infer from Laura Dekkers journey?
3. Laura has dual Dutch and New Zealand nationality because – Her parents are Dutch She was born in New Zealand waters Both	4. Laura Dekker took up sailing from an early age and took part in – Competitive dinghy races Offshore sailing events Both
5. Prior to sailing around the world, Laura Dekker – Took solo trips around Holland, and to England Took solo trips around England, and to Holland Took trips to the Dutch Antillean islands	6. The Dutch Government tired to prevent Laura from taking the trip by – By initiating a court case that lasted for ten months By arresting her By confiscating her boat and provisions for the journey
7. Guinness authorities scrapped all records regarding underage sailors because – They do not appreciate the challenges faced by such sailors in accomplishing the feat They do not intend to encourage more underage sailors to take part in risky voyages They do not believe in honoring challenging feats accomplished by young people	Socratic Seminar: What do you think the main idea or theme of the passage? Circle and Rank the five facts that support your it. Answer the reading comprehension questions. As you answer each one, put the number of that question with the text evidence that supports your answer. Summarize the story using only five sentences. Tell about the main characters and what they do and why (infer).

Directions: Score your performance in today’s Socratic seminar homework using the following criteria:

5 = Brilliant 4 = Excellent 3 = Good 2 = Showing Progress 1 = Zero Participation

_____ I reread the text three times closely, I ranked the text, and I took Cornell notes on unknown words.

_____ I came prepared to ask HOT questions related to the text. What do you think is the main idea of the story? Why?

_____ I contributed several relevant ideas. Why do you think Laura sails around the world?

_____ I circled specific text evidence to support an idea or theme. The theme is the underlying message, what readers "think the work is about" or 'main idea.'

_____ I asked at least one thoughtful, probing question.

_____ I questioned or asked someone to clarify their comment.

_____ I built on another person’s idea by restating, paraphrasing, summarizing, or synthesizing.

_____ I encouraged other participants to enter the conversation.

_____ I treated all other participants with dignity and respect.

_____ I treated my learning opportunity with dignity and respect.Socratic Seminar Observation Checklist