The History of Our Town

Essential Question

Who lived here originally? What processes of colonization or sharing of land, ideas, and values came into play? What did this look like?

Texts

Informational

Always Running

In this excerpt from his memoir, Rodriguez provides a stirring recollection from his adolescence: the first time he experienced racism as a result of being an immigrant in America. As he says, the experience "stays with [him] like a foul odor."

Luis J. Rodriguez

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Class Immigration

July 2, 2014

Literature

We Live By What We See at Night

In this poem, the speaker addresses his father, recalling for him the lush Puerto Rican landscape that he grew up in. Now, this green can be seen only in his father's dreams.

Martin Espada

Grade Level

3-5 6-8

Subject

Geography

Topic

Immigration

July 3, 2014

Literature

What If There Were No Black People?

In this poem, the speaker explores how our culture would be lacking—in people, in music, in movements, in contributions—without contributions of African Americans.

Sean Mauricette (aka SUBLIMINAL)

Grade Level

3-5 6-8

Subject

History

July 3, 2014

Teaching Strategies

Community Inquiry

Critical Listening Guide

A guide to help students interpret, analyze and evaluate information encountered in a variety of media formats. Use this guide with the spoken and performed texts included in the Perspectives anthology.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RL.6-12.2, RL.6-12.4, RL.6-12.6, RL.6-12.7, RL.6-12.8, RI.6-12.1, RI.6-12.2, RI.6-12.4, RI.6-12.6, RI.6-12.7, RI.6-12.8, SL.6-12.1, SL.6-12.2, SL.6-12.3

July 13, 2014

Community Inquiry

Four Perspectives

A strategy to introduce the anti-bias framework into group discussion and textual analysis. Students respond to and pose questions from the four anti-bias domains: identity, diversity, justice and action.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RI.6-12.1, SL.6-12.1, SL.6-12.4, SL.6-12.6

July 13, 2014

Community Inquiry

Say Something

A comprehension strategy during which student take turns reading aloud to each other, stopping occasionally to comment on the text.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RL.6-12.2, RI.6-12.1, RI.6-12.2, SL.6-12.1, SL.6-12.2, SL.6-12.6

July 13, 2014

Student Tasks

Do Something

Be the Change...

Students identify and investigate a community problem and propose a solution. They then plan and implement action directed at solving the problem.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

July 13, 2014

Plan Built By

Holly Telliard

The History of Our Town

Always Running

We Live By What We See at Night

What If There Were No Black People?

Critical Listening Guide

Four Perspectives

Say Something

Be the Change...

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