Book Detail

Far Beyond the Garden Gate

Publication Information
Author:  Brown, Don Illustrator:  Brown, Don
Title:  Far Beyond the Garden Gate Date:  2002
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin City:  Boston
ISBN, paperback:  0-618-08364-2 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    true story, biography and autobiography

HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies

Summary:
Don Brown has written another intriguing book about an extraordinary woman, one who perservered in her desire to explore Tibet never seen by a Western woman. An author's note, a bibliography, and a map extend the possibilities of this beautifully illustrated book.

Teaching Ideas:
Alexandra David-Neel's life engenders many questions that students will want to explore in discussion and writing. What motivated her to travel to Tibet? How did she prepare for her journey? What hardships did she face? What kind of person was she? Students may want to create a timeline in order to appreciate the length of time it took to reach her goal. Teachers could develop a unit of the geography of Tibet, pairing students to create a map and imaginary travel journal to the sacred city of Lhasa, learning about foods, culture, and terrain along the way. The book is an excellent companion to Peter Sis's _Tibet Through the Red Box_ and can be compared and contrasted using a Venn diagram or a matrix. Another good pairing is _Uncommon Traveler_, Don Brown's biography of Mary Kingsley who established many firsts in exploring Africa to see what the women have in common. Learners may want to look at Brown's other books about well-know and less well-know explorers noted on the book jacket. Don't miss looking at these web sites for pictures and more biographical information: www.alexandra-david-neel.org/indes_anim.htm; www.pacpubserver.com/new/news/9-19-00/tibet.html; www.isop.usla.edu/eas/calendar/foster.htm.

Teaching Strategies:
bullet Types of Journals
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/types_of_journals.pdf
bullet Venn Diagrams
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/venn_diagrams.pdf

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Social Studies > anthropology > cultures > cultural attitudes
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > determination/perseverance
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > life choices > goal setting
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > life choices > problem solving
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > resourcefulness
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > life choices > taking risks
bullet Religion/Philosophy > Buddhism
bullet Social Studies > sociology > women > women in history
bullet History > topic > exploration > explorers
bullet Geography > locations > countries > Tibet


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