United StatesThe Miracle Worker
by William GibsonPage 1 of 2
 The Miracle Worker is a three-act play based on Annie Sullivan's heroic efforts to teach her new pupil, Helen Keller. After an illness renders baby Helen blind and deaf – and, therefore, mute, her desperate parents hire a young governess, Annie Sullivan. After several fierce battles with the little girl, Annie convinces the Kellers to give her two weeks alone with their child. In that time, she teaches Helen discipline and fingerspellings for words, and the true "miracle" begins. | ||
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Enrichment ActivitiesInternet ResourcesPlays by William Gibson
Enrichment Activities
- Ask the Expert
Urge students to think about the problems facing disabled individuals in their community, particularly those who are blind and deaf. Help identify local agencies or groups that might have information about the disabled. Then have students write interview questions that they would like to ask a guest speaker from one of these agencies. - The Challenge
Helen Keller faced a great challenge in her life. On this companion worksheet to The Miracle Worker, students write about a time in their life when they were challenged. - Concepts to Teach, and Writing Connections
Challenge students with discussion concepts and creative writing assignments. - In Someone Else's Shoes
Have students imagine that they have suddenly lost both their sight and hearing and to consider how this new challenge might affect their normal activities. Then have them record their ideas in a two-column chart, one column labeled "Activity," the other labeled "Ways to Adjust for Blindness/Deafness." - Project Ideas
A list of project ideas and curriculum connections to use while teaching the play. - Questions to Consider
Use these questions to either lead a discussion about The Miracle Worker or provide short essay question practice.
End-of-the-Year Resources
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! Celebrate with fun activities, then prepare yourself and your students with report card advice, summer reading guides, summer math, and more.
Common Core Lessons & Resources
Is your school district adopting the Common Core? Work these new standards into your curriculum with our reading, writing, speaking, social studies, and math lessons and activities. Each piece of content incorporates the Common Core State Standards into the activity or lesson.
Top 10 Galleries
Explore our most popular Top 10 galleries, from Top 10 Behavior Management Tips for the Classroom and Top 10 Classroom Organization Tips from Veteran Teachers to Top 10 Free (& Cheap) Rewards for Students and Top 10 Things Every Teacher Needs in the Classroom. We'll help you get organized and prepared for every classroom situation, holiday, and more! Check out all of our galleries today.
June Calendar of Events
June is full of holidays and events that you can incorporate into your standard curriculum. Our Educators' Calendar outlines activities for each event, including: Summer Begins (6/21), Helen Keller's Birthday (6/27/1880), World War I Began (6/28/1914), and Meteor Day (6/30). Plus, celebrate Child Vision Awareness Month, National Rivers Month, and National Safety Month all June long!
Causes We Support: We Give Books
Visit We Give Books, an ever-growing, free online library of children's picture books! For every book read on the site, a brand-new book will be donated to a children's literacy campaign of your choosing. Read aloud to students or encourage them read independently, and you'll teach them to help others at the same time. Giving is as simple as reading!
