Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lesson 1
Lesson 1
Tezak
Age/Grade Level: 1415 yr olds / 9th grade
Date: TBA Unit: Identity and Self Definition
Context: This lesson comes in the middle of a writing unit, focusing solely on
creative writing and personal narratives. The overall themes for the unit circulate
around family, relationships, community, and how one’s culture affects their
identity.
Objective/Learning Goals: Students will be able to…
• Make connections between visual and written texts
• Brainstorm memories for personal narratives
• Compare and contrast their own physical upbringings to that of the
novel
• Utilize their multiple intelligences to create meaning from the text
• Apply their visual thinking to written work
Hook: Art Activity!!!
Skills Taught: Students will be able to…
• Create maps of their neighborhoods, streets, buildings, etc.
• Identify connections between their own lives and the characters’ lives
• Draw understandings of the affects that culture has on upbringing
• Produce visual representations for the larger textual
metaphors/themes
Lesson: After our journaling time, students will work with partners to find
places within the text where Esperanza describes her neighborhood and
upbringing. We will then have a large group discussion about how aspects such
as familial dynamics, relationships, culture, etc. affect her description of her
physical space. Also, we will look at her word choice as an example of figurative
language and imagery and the effect that creates. Students will then use the
remainder of the hour to draft plans for a visual creation of their neighborhood,
street, town, etc. I will show previous examples and provide materials for the
beginning stages.
Activity: Students will work at their tables to create a map of their neighborhood,
street, town, building, etc. Drafts and beginning stages can be done in class. I will
walk around to assist with questions and offer suggestions.
Materials: book, overhead projector, craft/art supplies, and large PostIt paper.
Assessment: I will formatively assess through class discussion and observation
during the drafting stage. Students will bring their maps the following class
period to share and turn in for credit.
MI Standards: 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 3.1, and 3.2.
Sources:
Jim Burke’s text, The English Teacher’s Companion – Chapter 9