Objectives:
To define race, ethnic group, and culture
To freewrite in individual portfolio
To enhance cooperative/collaborative learning
To write an autobiography
Materials:
Newsprint
Markers
Dictionaries
Tapestry: A Multicultural Anthology
Student Individual Portfolios
Assess to computer with printer
Time:
Two—three weeks
Procedures:
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1. Divide students into groups of three to five students. Each group should brainstorm and record all words or phrases related to race.(5-10 minutes)
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2. Each group should select one student to orally report to class the results. Teacher records words and phrases on the chalkboard.
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3. Individually, students should write a definition of race selecting words and phrases from chalkboard.(3-5 minutes)
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4. Within each group, members are to share definitions. Using a dictionary, each group should compare reference definition to definitions from the group. By consensus, each group should write on newsprint a definition of race and display on wall.(l0-15 minutes)
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5. Using steps 1-4, ethnic group and culture should be defined and displayed.
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6. After students have been given time to read other group displayed definitions, students are to write a response to the question, “What is the culture of an American?”
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7. Students are to include this as part of their cumulative portfolio.
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8. Students should be assigned to read excerpts from Black Boy by Richard Wright (Tapestry, pp. 295-299), Cante Ishta—
The Eye of the Heart
by Mary Crow Dog (Tapestry, pp. 108-114), and Lali by Nicholasa Mohr (Tapestry, pp. 183-188).
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9. After reading the excerpts, individually students are to select and complete three of the following activities. . .
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A. In your portfolio, write about an idea, feeling, or question you had as you read these selections. Do the excerpts relate to something in your own life? If so, describe how.
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B. Write a short autobiography of yourself. Include some of your cultural beliefs and values.
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C. Design a poster to visually show who the main characters are in each excerpt.
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D. With a partner, research each author and create a one page newsletter to give biographical information about each. Include graphics and examples of other works written by the authors.
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E. In a short essay, explain what it means to see “with the eye of the heart”.
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F. Pretend you have just migrated to the United States from Puerto Rico. What problems will you face? How would you eliminate the problems? What resources would you need to eliminate the problems? How long would it take to eliminate the problems? Make this into a chart for class display.