SEL Read Aloud: Fauja Singh Keeps Going by Simran Jeet Singh
Summary
“Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon” by Simian Feet Singh tells the remarkable life journey of Fauja Singh, who became the oldest marathon runner at the age of 100. Born in Punjab, India, with physical challenges that led many to believe he would never walk, Fauja’s unyielding spirit and determination pushed him to defy these expectations, learning to walk at five years old and eventually taking up running later in life. Despite facing loneliness and a sense of displacement after moving to England at 81, Fauja found solace and joy in running, which rekindled his zest for life. His story, spanning over a century, is a testament to the power of self-belief, resilience, and the pursuit of personal goals, irrespective of age or physical limitations, encouraging readers of all ages to challenge themselves and never give up on their dreams.
Comprehension Questions
Six questions aligned to Bloom’s taxonomy for teacher’s to evaluate students’ comprehension
- Remembering: What were some of the challenges Fauja faced in his early life?
- Understanding: Explain how Fauja Singh’s childhood experiences influenced his later achievements.
- Applying: If Fauja Singh decided to run a marathon in your community, what steps could you take to support him?
- Analyzing: Compare and contrast the challenges Fauja Singh faced in his youth with those he faced as an older adult.
- Evaluating: Do you think Fauja Singh’s story would have been as inspirational if he had started running marathons at a younger age? Why or why not?
- Creating: Design a motivational campaign inspired by Fauja Singh’s life story to encourage elderly people in your community to stay active.
CASEL Discussion Questions
Five questions aligned to the CASEL competencies for teachers to foster an engaging discussion and foster social-emotional learning
- Self-Awareness: What feelings did Fauja Singh’s story evoke in you? Were you inspired, motivated, surprised? Why?
- Self-Management: Imagine you are preparing for a challenging task, similar to running a marathon. What steps would you take to ensure you remain focused and motivated?
- Social Awareness: Fauja Singh moved to a new country in his later years, facing not only the challenge of age but also cultural differences. How can we show empathy and support to people who are adjusting to a new environment or culture?
- Relationship Skills: Reflect on Fauja Singh’s relationships with his coach, family, and community. How did these relationships contribute to his success?
- Responsible Decision Making: Discuss a time when you had to make a decision that was unpopular or unconventional. What was the outcome, and what did you learn from that experience?
Design Thinking Challenge
Take students’ learning even further by incorporating the Imagineerz design thinking framework
Create a Marathon Support Device for Fauja Singh
Understand
- Begin by reading “Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon” by Simran Jeet Singh.
- Initiate a class discussion on Fauja Singh’s perseverance and challenges. Explore questions like: What obstacles did Fauja Singh overcome to start running marathons? How did his physical condition and age affect his running? What support might have made his marathon experiences better or easier?
Ideate
- Encourage students to brainstorm ideas for a device or tool that could support Fauja Singh or someone similar in completing a marathon. Prompt them to think about the unique needs of an elderly runner: What kind of support or enhancements would be beneficial? How can technology or simple machines assist in improving endurance, stability, or motivation?
Prototype
- In small groups or individually, students will craft a prototype of their marathon support device using classroom materials such as cardboard, elastic bands, straws, fabric, and recyclables. They should consider how their invention aids in marathon running, focusing on practicality, safety, and the specific needs of an elderly athlete.
Test
- Students will present their prototypes to the class, explaining their design process, how their device works, and how it supports a marathon runner like Fauja Singh. They could simulate its function using a small figure or by demonstrating its features themselves.
- Gather feedback from classmates and teachers: Is the device user-friendly for an elderly runner? Does it address the specific challenges faced by Fauja Singh? What improvements could make it more effective?
Read Aloud
If you appreciated getting to read this book with your class, you might also want to share this book with them!
Additional Resources
Copyright Notice
The image on this page comes from the book Fauna Singh Keeps Going by Simian Jeet Singh. Copyright © 2020 by Simian Jeet Singh.
