New
New
Year 2

Understanding the authorial context of 'The Proudest Blue'

I can understand the author's life and why they chose to write 'The Proudest Blue'.

New
New
Year 2

Understanding the authorial context of 'The Proudest Blue'

I can understand the author's life and why they chose to write 'The Proudest Blue'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The author of 'The Proudest Blue' is Ibtihaj Muhammad, written alongside S. K. Ali.
  2. 'The Proudest Blue' is a children's picture book which celebrates the importance and beauty of the hijab.
  3. 'The Proudest Blue' is inspired by the author's own life.
  4. Ibtihaj Muhammad was the first American fencing player to wear the hijab and participate in the Olympics.
  5. Ibtihaj wrote 'The Proudest Blue' so that young girls who wear the hijab can see themselves represented and feel proud.

Keywords

  • Author - the person responsible for crafting the words that make up a text

  • Hijab - a head covering worn by some Muslim women

  • Fencing - a combat sport that features sword-fighting

  • Proud - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements or qualities

Common misconception

Children may assume that all Muslim women wear a hijab or struggle to understand why some do and some don't.

Expand upon the cultural and religious significance of the hijab as well as individual choice.

Read an extract from the author's notes at the back of the book to enhance the children's understanding of authorial context through the author's own words.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the 2020 Andersen Press edition of ‘The Proudest Blue’ by Ibtihaj Muhammad for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an author?
a person who creates food recipes
Correct answer: a person who writes stories or other texts
a person who writes music
Q2.
What is a character in a story?
Correct answer: a person or animal in a story
where the story takes place
the person who writes the story
Q3.
What is a setting?
the people or animals in the story
where the author wrote the story
Correct answer: where the story takes place
Q4.
What is an illustration?
the text on the back of the book
the words inside the book
Correct answer: a picture in a book
Q5.
Put the following in the order they appear in a story.
1 - Beginning
2 - Build-up
3 - Problem
4 - Resolution
Q6.
Which of the following support you in reading and understanding a text?
Correct answer: using phonics strategies to decode unfamiliar words
Correct answer: re-reading a sentence fluently after decoding
guessing unfamiliar words and what they mean
Correct answer: asking questions and talking about the text

6 Questions

Q1.
What is 'The Proudest Blue' about?
It is a story which celebrates science.
Correct answer: It is a story which celebrates the beauty and importance of the hijab.
It is a story which celebrates religious festivals.
Q2.
What is the name of the main author of 'The Proudest Blue'?
Hatem Aly
Faiza
Correct answer: Ibtihaj Muhammad
Q3.
Which Olympic Sport did Ibtihaj Muhammad win a Bronze medal for?
swimming
Correct answer: fencing
running
Q4.
Why did Ibtihaj Muhammad pursue a career in fencing?
she loved swords
Correct answer: it allowed her to wear her hijab while competing
it was her parents' favourite sport
Q5.
Which faith/religion is wearing the hijab an expression of?
Christianity
Buddhism
Correct answer: Islam
Q6.
Why did Ibtihaj Muhammad write 'The Proudest Blue'?
She had always wanted to be an author.
Correct answer: She wanted young girls who wear the hijab to see it and feel proud.
Blue is her favourite colour.