Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Did you know that slang terms like “wipeout” and “stoked” have their origins in surfing culture? Try to think of any other surfing terms that may have crept into the general lexicon. Which ones do you use or hear occasionally? List additional facts and ideas that come to mind about surfing culture.

Teaching Suggestion: Soul Surfer immerses the reader in surf culture. This prompt offers a way to introduce this sport and associated culture through surfing’s unique jargon. An exploration of surf culture is also an interesting way to introduce the book’s theme of Community Is Critical to Surviving Hardships.

• Outside Magazine’s “The Secret Worlds and Subcultures of Surfing” is an overview of the various subcultures within surfing culture.
• National Geographic’s “In Southern California, Surf Culture Is Becoming More Inclusive” explores how diversity is a cornerstone of the modern surfing scene.
• Surfer Today offers a list of compiled surf terminology; a brief video on the topic from the Los Angeles Times is included.