| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | English |
| What topic | The house on mango street |
| What length (min) | 30 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 9 |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 5 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
The House on Mango Street
Grade 9
English
20 students
30 minutes
This lesson aligns with the national standards for English Language Arts, focusing on reading comprehension, analysis of literature, and collaborative discussions.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 5 minutes | Briefly introduce the novel "The House on Mango Street," its author, and the central themes. Pose a few guiding questions. |
| 2 | Group Discussion | 10 minutes | Divide students into small groups (4-5 per group). Assign each group a theme or character to discuss. Provide guiding questions for their discussion. |
| 3 | Activity with Printable Cards | 5 minutes | Distribute cards to students. Instruct them on how to fill them out during the lesson, emphasizing critical responses related to the text and group discussion outcomes. |
| 4 | Sharing Insights | 5 minutes | Ask groups to share key insights from their discussions and what they wrote on their cards without formal presentation; students can volunteer to share highlights. |
| 5 | Collecting or Random Checking | 5 minutes | Collect the printable cards (or conduct a random check) to assess understanding and completion, providing feedback on common themes noted by students. |
| 6 | Conclusion | 5 minutes | Summarize key themes discussed. Assign homework related to further reading or reflection on the novel, with a focus on students writing about their favorite character or theme. |
Students will write a brief paragraph summarizing their favorite character from "The House on Mango Street" and how the character represents themes in the novel. This will be collected in the next lesson without student presentations.
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we are going to dive into the fascinating world of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. This novel tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. As we explore this text together, we will focus on the key themes of identity, belonging, and the experience of growing up.
Before we start, I'd like you to think about these guiding questions: What does it mean to belong? How do our surroundings shape who we are? Keep these questions in mind as we proceed with today’s lesson."
"Now, I'm going to divide you into small groups of 4 to 5 students each. Each group will be assigned a specific theme or character from the novel to discuss.
Here are your themes and characters for discussion:
Please take about 10 minutes to discuss your assigned topic. Use the following guiding questions to help facilitate your discussion:
Be sure to take notes, as we will share these insights after your discussions!"
"I'm going to hand out printable cards for each of you. On these cards, you will write down your group's main discussions, insights, and any significant quotes or passages that relate to your theme or character.
For those of you who might need directions on filling them out: The front side of the card will be for your group's theme or character discussion summary, and the back side will be for a personal reflection on how this theme or character resonates with you.
Remember, take your time to fill these out carefully as they will help you in understanding the text and also in providing feedback later on!"
"Now that you’ve completed your discussions and filled out your cards, I’d like to ask each group to share some key insights with the class. There is no need for a formal presentation; simply volunteer to share highlights from your discussions and what you wrote on your cards.
What are some important points that stood out to you? Was there something surprising that came up during your discussion?"
"Thank you all for sharing! Now, I would like to collect your printable cards so I can assess your understanding of the themes and characters we've discussed today. If you haven’t completed your cards yet, please pass them to the front, and I’ll do a quick random check to see who has finished.
As I review these cards, I will be looking for common themes among your responses and any interesting observations you'd like to share in our next class."
"Great job today, everyone! We’ve explored some very important themes in The House on Mango Street, and you’ve all contributed thoughtfully to the discussion.
To wrap up, let's summarize what we discussed. [Summarize the key themes brought up by the students].
For homework, I would like each of you to write a brief paragraph summarizing your favorite character from the novel. Reflect on how this character represents the themes we've discussed in class. Bring this to the next lesson; we won't be presenting it, but I’ll collect your paragraphs for feedback.
Thank you for your participation today! Have a wonderful day!"
| Question | Answer |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| What is the significance of identity in *The House on Mango Street*? | |
| How do gender roles impact the characters in the novel? | |
| In what ways does the community contribute to Esperanza's sense of belonging? | |
| How does Esperanza as a character embody the themes of growth and self-discovery? | |
| Why is the setting, or place, important in shaping the narrative and themes of the novel? | |
| Can you provide examples from the text that illustrate the theme of identity? | |
| How does Esperanza's experience reflect the struggles of growing up in an urban environment? | |
| What are some specific passages that highlight the theme of community and belonging? | |
| In what ways does the author use Esperanza's voice to challenge traditional gender roles? | |
| How do the various characters in the novel influence Esperanza's understanding of herself? | |How do you think Esperanza’s experiences reflect the challenges of growing up in a diverse environment like Chicago?
In what ways do the themes of identity and belonging interplay in Esperanza’s journey throughout the novel?
Can you identify an instance in the book where a character's gender role significantly impacts their choices or opportunities?
How does the setting of Mango Street contribute to the overall mood and themes of the novel?
If you could ask Esperanza one question about her life or experiences, what would it be and why?