Medal of Honor
Visualization Helps Understanding
Lesson Time: two 45 minute classes
Suggested Application:
World History, American History, Language Arts
Suggested Level: Middle/High School
Objectives
Students will:
define visualization, cite examples, and explain how visualization helps
with understanding.
define sacrifice and commitment in relation to the Medal of Honor citation
create a story board that exemplifies the sacrifice and commitment that resulted in Tibor
Rubin’s citation.
Medal of Honor Focus:Tibor Rubin, Corporal, U.S. Army, Co. 1, 8th Cavalry Regiment,
1st Cavalry Division / Korean War
Introductory Activity:
The teacher will read any poem with stirring visual images (e.g. "Ballad of Birmingham" written by Dudley Randall. You
may view the poem at http://www.washingtonart.com/beltway/randall.html) and ask the students to imagine what is
happening in the poem.
Whole Group Activity:
The teacher will lead the students to understand how imagination/visualization helps reading comprehension.
Ask students to imagine what their mother's face looks like when she tells them no or what they can or cannot do.
Tell students this is visualization. The teacher will provide the students with the poem and the double entry
journal template.
As the teacher is reading the poem aloud for the second time, the students will follow along and record responses
in the template. If using the "Ballad of Birmingham," the teacher will ask students to describe what they think the
streets of Birmingham looked like during the Freedom March that day in 1963. Prompt students to discuss what
they visualized when they were inside a church. Visualize an explosion.
Small Group/Individual Activity:
Students will view the vignette about Tibor Rubin. The students will use the double entry journal template to record key
actions and events and then sketch a picture of the event.
Whole Group Activity:
The teacher will guide the class in a discussion about what stood out in the vignette. After reflecting on what
stands out in their double entry journal, students will choose an event to graphically represent a moment in Tibor
Rubin’s vignette for a poster presentation.
Concluding Activity:
Students will present their posters and explain the reason for their choice.
Assessment:
Double entry journal, poster
Resources:
Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty. NY: Artisan, 2006.
Randall, Dudley. "Battle of Birmingham." 1969.
Lesson C8
"One must have good character,
solid principles, and high ethical standards
to inspire others to follow." ~Wesley L. Fox, Marine Corps-Vietnam War
Double Entry Journal
Directions
Step 1: While listening and reviewing, record key actions and/or events from the poem or vignette that
you need to remember. Place this information in the left column.
Step 2: In the right column, sketch a picture of what this action or event makes you think of.
Name of Recipient Event/Action in Video
Visualization