A RESOURCE designed to help YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS

take part in this interactive online multimedia journal

to CELEBRATE THE BEST OF HUMANITY.

INTRODUCTIONBy Sara Armstrong, PhD

There are heroes all around us. Using valuable class time to

research and discover positive role models in your students’

lives, and in their world, can be a transforming experience.

Illuminating heroic acts and deeds with essays, art, and multi-

media helps students articulate and understand what is good

in the world, and how simple—and epic—acts can make a dif-

ference in who we are, how we relate to others, and how we

think about ourselves and our places in the world.

For many years I have had the opportunity to present The MY

HERO Project to teachers at educational technology confer-

ences across the country. When I talk in my sessions about the

ease with which students and teachers can participate in the

project, I always get enthusiastic responses, and excitement

about going back to school and diving in. The positive feed-

back I have received from teachers reinforces my belief that the

project successfully teaches and fosters key standards-based

themes and strands, including strengthening 21st Century

technology skills, building cross-cultural relationships, and

addressing social and emotional learning.

This educator’s guide was designed to help you and your stu-

dents take part in this interactive online multimedia journal, to

create essays, art, and short films to honor heroes and hero-

ism. You will discover how easy it is to integrate MY HERO into

your curriculum, while deepening student understanding of

concepts and content in social studies, English/language arts,

art—even math and science—depending on the hero and

medium you choose. Take a look at the website; think about

your own heroes; and then encourage your students to cele-

brate theirs and share their ideas with the world.

Sara Armstrong, PhD, is a long-time educator who has promoted

project-based learning for many years. She is a member of the

Buck Institute for Education’s National Faculty, and is working on

a book for the Buck Institute on project-based learning in elemen-

tary classrooms. She conducts workshops and conference presenta-

tions, as well as year-long coaching, on developing and imple-

menting effective projects, including appropriate technology use.

She also serves as editor of OnCUE, California Computer-Using

Educators’ journal, and is an associate of the Thornburg Center for

Professional Development.

21ST CENTURY SKILLS

While academic subjects such as reading, writing, math, sci-

ence, and social studies are vital in education, other skills such

as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, critical

thinking, information literacy, and creativity are equally as

important. Beleaguered educators protest that they cannot

add one more thing to all the subjects they are expected to

teach for students to do well on standardized tests. I suggest

that academic standards, skills needed to thrive in today’s

world that have been identified by such organizations as the

Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org),

can be addressed when students express their understanding

of academic concepts through identifying inspiring people

and then writing, creating short films, or developing art

about them.

Not only does the Partnership for 21st Century Skills recognize

technology literacy and creativity as important parts of learn-

ing and expression of understanding, but the International

Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)’s National

Technology Standards (NETS) Project includes these

practices in their updated NETS for Students

(http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS).

Allowing students to use current technology to express their

understanding and knowledge of academic subjects affords

them practice with important tools and fosters effective com-

munication through these media.

CONTENT STANDARDS

National and state standards in reading and writing can be

addressed through composing stories about heroes modeled

after those at the MY HERO website in the Directory of

Heroes. Communication and technology standards, as well as

writing and researching, are accounted for as students create

short films on their topics. And art standards, as well as com-

munication, writing, and other skills are encompassed in cre-

ating art works and developing the narratives about the pieces.

Students complete work for an authentic audience, and are

motivated by the feedback they receive from their peers and

adults around the world who come across their work at the MY

HERO website.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MY HERO PROJECTThere are three main ways for you and your students to share hero stories: essay, art,

or a short film. The following information will help you get started:

Watch a short film demonstrating how to create a webpage

Teacher’s Guide to Using the MY HERO Create Program

MY HERO Activity Guide

How Should We Choose Our Heroes by Charles Harper – This essay and an online forum help students explore the difference between celebrities and heroes.http://myhero.com/FORUM

Watch a short film about the Gallery

Step through a tutorial entitled, How To Create/Upload Your Original Art To The MY HERO Virtual Art Gallery

Teacher’s Guide to Using the MY HERO Virtual Art Gallery

Creating Hero Art and Engaging Students to Select RoleModels with Life Forming Values

ESSAYS & WRITTEN STORIES (CREATE)Through the Create program, students are invited to build webpages about their heroes using text, images and links.

ART: VISUALIZE HEROISM (GALLERY)In the Gallery, students are invited to upload their original art anddigital images about their heroes, or the concept of heroism.

myhero.com/create

myhero.com/gallery

No War Zone By Tormusa Koroma (Middle School),Sierra Leone

Happy MotherMother brings joy and security in the family.When she is happy all the family is happy.When she is not the family is miserable.By Assiatou Ngom (Middle School) Senegal

Chief JosephRobert Shetterly (Professional), Americans Who Tell the Truth

Family Hero : Joneice illustrationfor story by Doug Miller(Professional)

My Hero Beginsby St. George Thompson from LagunaCollege of Art & Design

Left to right, top to bottom: Law of Love Produced by Rahul Brown, Oil and Water Produced by Seth Warren and Nicholas Franczyk, OKC Abrasevic Produced by

Katie Hampton and Anina Sator, Sam Produced by Katherine, Jose, Guillermo and Arlene, Awadi: Messenger of Truth Produced by Fatou Jupiter Toure and Aicha

Thiam, First Memories, Produced by Soo Hee Han, Gone Fishing Produced by Chris Jones, Heroes of the Season Produced by Oscar Loreto and Sarah Noone

Media Arts Resources to Get You StartedIncludes production, cinematography, working with images and sound, and post production lesson plans, toolkits, guides, reading lists, and morehttp://myhero.com/MediaArts

SHORT FILMSStudents, teachers, and other artists are invited to view and submit documentary, experimental, animated, or narrative short films, 10 minutes and under, about those making a positive difference in our world.

Please note that short films must be mailed

on DVD to the MY HERO office. For details,

contact media@myheroproject.org

myhero.com/shortfilms

JOIN AN IEARN/MY HERO LEARNING CIRCLE

Elementary, middle, and high school classrooms around

the world collaborate on the subject of heroism.

The MY HERO Learning Circles program is a joint venturebetween the International Education Resource Network(iEARN.org) and The MY HERO Project. The MY HERO LearningCircles provide a unique forum for students and teachers whoare interested in collaborating with other schools from aroundthe world on the topic of heroes and heroism through writing,creating digital art, and filmmaking. Elementary, middle andsecondary schools from across the USA, Pakistan, Israel, Russia,Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Peru and more share their essays, art, and shortfilms in the MY HERO Learning Circles.

A Learning Circle is created when a team of 6–8 teachers andtheir classes join together in the virtual space of an electronicclassroom. The groups remain together over a 3–4 month period,working on projects drawn from the curriculum of each of theclassrooms organized around a selected theme. At the end ofthe term the group collects and publishes its work. Then, just asany class of students does, the Learning Circle comes to an end.Each session begins with new groupings of classes into newLearning Circles.

iEARN is the world’s largest non-profit global network thatenables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other tech-nologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning andmake a difference in the world. Membership in iEARN isrequired to take part in the Learning Circles. To join, click here.Once you become a member, complete the placement form to beplaced in a circle for the next session.

How to Become a Participant

Learning Circle Lesson PlanA semester timeline for this collaborative project

Learning Circle Teacher Debbie Senger’s Class CLASSROOM WEBPAGE

Watch Teacher Debbie Senger's Class Project on GLOBAL TVmyhero.com/globalTV

myhero.com/circle

Bertha KennedyCommunity Schoolstudent from Alberta,Canada

T SHIRT prize winnersMaddy, Kyle & Matthew

SELECTED STORIESELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS:

Angel Hero: Sadako Sasaki by Amanda E.myhero.com/Sadako

Peacemaker Hero: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Nick Campbellmyhero.com/MLK

Writer Hero: Elizabeth Jane Cochrane by Penelopemyhero.com/Cochrane

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS:

AIDS Hero: Austin Gutwein by Lindseymyhero.com/Gutwein

Earthkeeper Hero: Jean-Michel Cousteau by Slatermyhero.com/Cousteau

Peacemaker Hero: Peace Pilgrim by Shiloh.myhero.com/PeacePilgrim

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS:

Artist Hero: Jim Henson by Joemyhero.com/henson

Child Hero: Ruby Nell Bridges by Madisonmyhero.com/Ruby_Bridges

Freedom Hero: Iqbal Masih by Kelly Frostmyhero.com/Iqbal

UNIVERSITY STUDENT AUTHORS:

Peacemaker Hero: The 14th Dalai Lama by Catherinemyhero.com/Dalai_Lama

Family Hero: Dick Hoyt by Jaymyhero.com/Hoyt

Faith Hero: Immaculee Ilibagiza by Mollymyhero.com/Ilibagiza

TEACHER AUTHORS:

Literary Hero: Charlotte A. Cavatica by Amy Mackmyhero.com/charlotte

Artist Hero: Mamadou Tall Diedhiou by Cheikh Darou Seckmyhero.com/Diedhiou

PROFESSIONAL FREELANCE WRITERS:

Lifesaver Hero: Ryan Hreljac by Wendy Jewellmyhero.com/Hreljac

Artist Hero: Rembrandt Van Rijn by Rebecca Millermyhero.comRembrandt

Freedom Hero: Chief Joseph by Jennifer Beckmyhero.com/Chief_Joseph

Student Reporter and Mentor: Slater Jewell-KemkerMY HERO provides an interactive and dynamic program to nurture aspiring young writers, artists and filmmakers.myhero.com/Slater

Global Exchange Artistic Director Skip Blumbergand teacher Cheikh Seck from Senegal

Rachel Carson as a Young Girl by Maia Desjardins

GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATIONThe MY HERO Project has developed the following guidelines to promote thoughtful communication, fairness, and concern

for each other. We believe that the world is a better place when everyone can feel safe, respected, and honored for who they are.Your guidance is essential to help ensure that children have a safe and rewarding online experience.

NO HATRED, VIOLENCE OR PREJUDICE – we are looking for heroes who

inspire us with the best in humanity.

NO PLAGIARISM OR COPYING – work must be written in the student’s

own words, not copied or copy/pasted.

Artwork should be original.

All sources must be credited and cited fully. Text from other sources should appear

within quotation marks and include a reference to the original source. All online sources

for information should be cited and linked. Resources such as the Citation Machine

(http://citationmachine.net/?resize=1) make it easy for students to give credit where credit is due.

Examples:

Olaf, Michael. “The Montessori Method.” http://www.michaelolaf.net/. 01 May 2009.

Michael Olaf Montessori. 11 May 2009

The My Hero Project, My Hero: Extraordinary People on the Heroes Who Inspire Them.

New York: Free Press, 2005. Print.

Be very specific. Do not credit a search engine such as Google or Yahoo. Cite the particular source that was used.

Include all online educational resources used to research the essay, artwork, or short film. Sources should be included as live links within the MY HERO Related Links template. Example: The Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov

Media arts educator Wendy Milette with studentsDakar Hero Fest 2008

TEACHER’S ROOM RESOURCESWe highly recommend the Lesson Plans and Resources tabs in our TEACHER’S ROOM. Teachers who have successfully

integrated MY HERO into their classrooms have contributed lesson plans to this growing online resource. Please consideradding your lesson plans to this area of the website.

Lesson Plans, activity guides, handoutsmyhero.com/lessonplans

MY HERO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

The FAQs tab gives quick answers to questions you may have about the MY HERO Project,

and how to use it in your classroom. http://myhero.com/FAQ

THE DAILY CALENDAR lists the birthdays of many heroes, some with links to stories in the MY HERO database, and somewhose stories need to be told by your students! http://myhero.com/calendar

THE THEMATIC CALENDAR can be helpful for developing lessons about global and multicultural events throughout the year.

Resources: Downloadable PDF flyers, DVDs, current newslettermyhero.com/resources

HUMAN RIGHTS HEROES

SPACE EXPLORATION HEROES

EARTH DAY HEROES

?

(EDUTOPIA.ORG ON MY HERO)NECC HIGHLIGHTS: TOP WEB RESOURCES FOR TEACHERShttp://www.edutopia.org/necc-highlights-top-web-resources-teachers

By Peggy Benton7/12/06

If you want a standards-aligned project-based-learning community that uses technology andwriting, you will like The My Hero Project. It offers lessons in creating your own hero essay,including images about a person who has been a hero to you. These become a Web page. Youcan also submit a short video about your hero to the film festival and have the opportunity toread stories of remarkable individuals submitted by others in the library, or view images in thegallery. A great site for social awareness and character education, too.

http://www.myhero.com/organizer

Creating your

Log in

At the bottom of the page.(Remember changes can be made later by selecting Page Details on the toolbar

Title:

Caption

Add

Story:

Link:

myhero.com/organizer

Artwork:

Film:

Text:

Example: classroom photo, school logo, or an image that represents your theme

Divider:

Show,

%

%

%

Submit! %

Please note: When students log on to use MY HERO web authoring programs, i.e. Create or Gallery- their registration form will ask for the name of school or organization and teacher. When using the ORGANIZER, these details will help you search MY HERO’s vast database for your students’ completed MY HERO work.

Above: The toolbarThe MY HERO

MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH MY HERO

GUESTBOOKmyhero.com/guestbook

Sign in to honor and celebrate heroes from allwalks of life in this online journal.

FORUMmyhero.com/forum

Exchange opinions and ideas with peers

around the world on a variety of topics

on this Forum.

LIBRARYmyhero.com/library

View a reading list of biographies about

heroes featured on the website.

HEROES IN THE NEWS myhero.com/newswire

Bring current events into the classroom with

a focus on ordinary people who have made

an extraordinary difference.

MI HEROE miheroe.org

Read and submit stories in Spanish aboutheroes around the world on the Spanish

version of MY HERO.

REMINDERS1. Students register, log in, build, save, and/or submit

essays (Create) and art (Gallery),

2. Mail copies of short films on DVD to MY HERO:

The MY HERO Project

1278 Glenneyre #286

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

USA

3. Teachers can organize activated classroom essays, art, and short films on one index page by accessing http://myhero.com/Organizer

We look forward to viewing your students’ artwork and shortfilms, and reading their stories about their heroes!

For questions, please contact:myhero@myheroproject.org

In this Feb. 26, 1990 file photo veteran anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman, left, holds hands with Nelson Mandela.

Children from the Andile School choir singduring World AIDS Day, in Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008

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MY HERO GUESTBOOKWho is your hero?

MAINZA LIBELEKI from GABORONE, AFRICA BOTSWANA writes:My hero is Ben Carson...one of the best doctors in the world. Fromthe bottom of the class to the best. He brings hope to kids whobelieve there is no hope.

HERO’S HERO: HEROIC WOMENby Wangari MaathaiFrom My Hero: Extraordinary People on the Heroes Who Inspire Them

HERO’S HERO: WANGARI MAATHAIby Frances Moore LappeFrom My Hero: Extraordinary People

on the Heroes Who Inspire Them

Frances Moore Lappe cares deeply about the “roots of suffering in the world.”

A pioneering woman, she has dedicated her life to the causes she cares most

about—hunger and poverty, and social and democratic reform. She believes,

“Hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food, but by a scarcity of democracy.”

Convinced that the problem of hunger will not be solved from the top down, with governments shipping

food to those countries in need, Frances advocates starting from the ground up by giving people a base

to create their own ways of nourishing themselves. At a crossroads in her life, Frances Moore Lappe, like

Wangari Maathai, chose to follow the pounding beat of her heart to create a healthier planet for us all.

For more information about this courageous and tireless activist and author, visit http://myhero.com/lappe

Wangari MaathaiWangari MaathaiVIDEO (part 1) VIDEO (part 2)

MY HERO Short Film Festival 1st Place Student WinnerWANGARI MAATHAI by Will Levitt (age 15) 2006

Nobel Peace Prize Winner WangariMaathai has been celebrated on MYHERO in stories, art and films. Below are selected works that can be used as a model for using MY HERO multi-media in the classroom

Art Miles Mural, Tribute to a Hero - Wangari Maathai - Kenya by Linda Gallagher

“We can work together for a better world with men and women of goodwill,those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind.”–WANGARI MAATHAI

The MY HERO Project is a not-for-profit project.Gifts to this 501c3 organization are tax deductible. Donations from

individuals, foundations, and organizations keep this award-winning,nonprofit, educational project freely accessible to students and

individuals of all ages. http://myhero.com/Donate

Thanks so much for being part ofThe MY HERO Project.

The MY HERO Project is a not-for-profit project.Gifts to this 501c3 organization are tax deductible. Donations from

individuals, foundations, and organizations keep this award-winning,nonprofit, educational project freely accessible to students and

individuals of all ages. http://myhero.com/Donate

Thanks so much for being part ofThe MY HERO Project.