Sadako and the Thousand
Paper Cranes
ELEANOR COERR
Warm-up: FOUND POETRY
 Write a poem about Sadako using the author’s words
instead of your own.
1. Reread parts of the story that talk about Sadako.
2. Then select ten words or phrases that describe Sadako
that you think are important.
3. Rewrite the words as a poem. Take them STRAIGHT
FROM THE TEXT.
4. Your poem should describe Sadako or reflect her
thoughts, feelings or actions.
5. Your poem does not have to rhyme.
6. Use ONLY words and phrases that you find in the book.
Sadako Found Poetry
By Mrs. Carpenter
Sadako
a real little girl who lived in Japan
born to be a runner
a runner before she walked
brown highlights in her dark hair
looked at the ceiling
wondered if her grandmother’s spirit
was floating somewhere above the altar
in Hiroshima when
the United States Air Force dropped a bomb
her courage made Sadako
a heroine
Quick-write warm-up:
 What is luck?
 Do you believe in good luck and bad luck?
 Explain your answer.
 If you believe in luck, do you believe that things
bring good luck?
 If so, which things?
Cultural Bad Luck
 Lebanon: People believe that if you look an owl in the
eye, you will have bad luck for one year.
 Serbia: If an owl is hooting near your house, it means you
have done something bad, and it will bring your family
bad luck.
 Serbia/Peru: If a birds poops on your head, you will have
bad luck.
 Mexico: If you have a bad dream, but you tell someone
about the dream, then it will not come true.
Cultural Bad Luck
 United States: Some people believe that if you carry a
rabbit’s foot in your pocket, it will bring you good
luck.
 United States: If a black cat crosses your path, you
will have bad luck.
Quick-write warm-up
 Do you think people should be allowed to make or
use bombs?
 Why or why not? Explain.
Use all the words below in a short story:
 Japan
 bomb
 Hiroshima
 heroine
 quilts
 peace
 whirlwind
 carnival
 altar
 spirits
Warm-up
 Write about a time that someone you loved got sick.
How did it effect their life?
 How did it effect your life?
 Did he or she get better or not?
 How did you feel about their being sick?
Chapter One
KEY TERMS
Sadako
A thousand paper cranes
Japan
Hiroshima
United States Air Force
atom bomb
WWII /World War II
radiation
courage
heroine
 A female hero
 A dangerous illegal drug
 Highly addictive
 Injected with a needle
good luck signs
 Lucky rabbit’s foot
good luck signs
 Four leaf clover
good luck signs
 Lucky horse shoe
highlights
bed quilts
 A blanket, usually sewn by hand, and made with
small pieces of fabric.
lazy
lazy
yawn
yawn
closet
carnival
radishes
stern look
memorial
memorial
memorial
Memorial Day
 A day to remember and show respect for soldiers
who died in war
spirit
spirit
altar
floating
ancestors
barbershop
 A place where men get a haircut or shave
barbershop
 A place where men get a haircut or shave
leukemia
poison
dragon
fireworks
fireworks
cotton candy
 A treat usually eaten at fairs or carnivals
red bows
braids
tatami mats
fuzzy spider
ceiling
Pretest
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