Christina BookhartTwin Hills Elementary School

TÍA LOLA AND LIFE AS AN ‘OUTSIDER’

TARGET AUDIENCE

Grade 4 Language Arts

OBJECTIVES New Jersey CCCS 3.1.4.G.1

Discuss underlying themes across cultures in various texts

New Jersey CCCS 3.2.4.A.3

Use strategies such as reflecting on personal experiences

MATERIALS

Alvarez, Julia (2001). How Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay. Random House: New York.

Graphic Organizer ‘Outsider’ Writing Paper

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

When was a time that you felt like you did not belong?

What did you do to make the situation more comfortable for you?

How can you help others feel more comfortable in new situations?

PROCEDURES

Whole Group

This lesson begins with an introduction of the author, introduction of theme and the term ‘Outsider.’

The instructor will lead a discussion about the Dominican Republic.

Small Group

Students will brainstorm to generate terms related to the term ‘Outsider.’

Students will discuss a time that they felt like an ‘Outsider’, and what strategies they used to increase their comfort level in that particular situation.

PROCEDURES (CONTINUED)

Students will present ideas from their small group sessions

Instructor will lead a class discussion about outsiders/and the student responsibility related to making people feel included

Individual Activity

Students will complete writing task

Summary

Students will share individual writing responses with the class

TEACHER RESOURCES

About the Author

Tía Lola

Life in the Dominican Republic

Life as an ‘Outsider’

Graphic Organizer – ‘What is an Outsider’

Writing Task

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia Alvarez

Part of the ‘Tía Lola’ Series

THEME

a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art.

TÍA LOLA

Tía Lola is the aunt of the two main characters, Miguel and Juanita

She is from the Dominican Republic, an island in the Caribbean.

LIFE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

LIFE AS AN “OUTSIDER”

In a small group, discuss what it feels like to be an ‘Outsider’

As a group, discuss strategies that help you feel included, and less of an ‘Outsider’

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERWHAT IS AN OUTSIDER?

OUTSIDER

WRITING TASK

Write a 5-7 sentence paragraph that answers the following question: Does ‘Outsider’ status have

its advantages? Why or why not?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.tialolastories.com. (7/28/11). JPEG

http://www.google.com/images/dominican+republic (7/28/11). Digital File

http://www.juliaalvarez.com/gallery/ (7/28/11). Image

http://www.domrep.org/ (7/28/11). Image

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/countrys/cribbean/domnrep.htm (7/28/11). Map

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/theme (7/28/11)