TITLE: Sadako And The Thousand Paper Cranes GRADE LEVEL: 5-6 AUTHOR: Eleanor Coerr THEMES: Understanding feelings, alternative solutions SYNOPSIS: "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" is based on the life of a real little girl who lived in Japan from 1943 to 1955. She was in Hiroshima when the United States dropped an atom bomb on that city in an attempt to end World War II. Ten years later she died of leukemia as a result of radiation from the bomb. While in the hospital a friend told her the story of the crane who is supposed to live a thousand years. If a sick person folds one thousand paper cranes, he/she will become healthy again. Sadako began making the cranes. She had folded six hundred forty-four cranes before she died. Her classmates folded the rest after she died. Today Sadako is a heroine to the children of Japan, who visit her memorial in the Hiroshima Peace Park and leave a paper crane in her honor.   QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS: Q. Describe Sadako before her illness was diagnosed. A. She was vibrant, enthusiastic, energetic, sensitive, friendly, etc. She loved her family She took school seriously. She did her best. She developed the talent of running. Q. What occurred in her life that made her less energetic and involved in her favorite activity of running? A. She was diagnosed with leukemia. Q. How did she contact the disease? A. She had leukemia as a result of the radiation from the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. Q. Are there other was to settle differences besides wars and fighting? A. Some ways are through communication and treaties. Negotiating is another way. Sharing what we have with those who are in need is a good way of letting others know you are a friend not an enemy. Q. Why did Sadako make the cranes? What was her hope? A. She wanted to be healthy again. She hoped she could make the thousand cranes. Q. How did you feel after you read the story? A. Any acceptable answer. Q. What can you do to make your school, neighborhood, home a more peaceful place? A. Share things. Talk about feelings. Respect the earth.
State Home Page | OCDRCM Home  | The Commission | Updates | Useful Resources For Schools | For Courts and Communities | For State and Local Governments | Write to us