Curriculum / ELA / 11th Grade / Unit 10: Dreaming in Cuban / Lesson 8

Dreaming in Cuban

Lesson 8

ELA

Unit 10

11th Grade

Lesson 8 of 31

Lesson Overview

Objective

Define “epistolary” and explain the author’s purpose for including Celia’s letters.

Identify tone in Celia’s letters.

Readings and Materials

Book: Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia pp. 49–55 — "Celia's Letters: 1935-1940"

Lesson Notes

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Lesson Map

Lesson

Explain the relationship between Cuba and the United States and the contributing factors to the rivalry between the two countries.

Become familiar with key terms and phrases from the unit.

Materials

“Cold War Rivals: Cuba and the United States”

Lesson

Explain Celia’s role in the family and her opinion of the United States.

Describe the importance of the setting.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 3–9 — "Ordinary Seductions: Ocean Blue"

Lesson

Continue to develop the del Pina family tree.

Characterize Felicia based on her reaction to her father’s death.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 9–15 — "Felicia del Pino"

Lesson

Characterize Lourdes based on today’s reading.

Explain how the author reveals theme through the descriptions of both the United States and Cuba in the opening chapters.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 17–25 — "Going South"

Lesson

Explain how Garcia uses tone to characterize Pilar.

Contrast views on Communism.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 25–34 — "Pilar Puente"
“The Rise and Fall of Karl Marx”

Lesson

Analyze and explain the symbolism of Celia’s pearl drop earrings.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 35–43 — "The House on Palmas Street"

Lesson

Explain the symbolism of the sugar cane.

Describe Hugo and Felicia’s relationship.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 44–48

Lesson

Define “epistolary” and explain the author’s purpose for including Celia’s letters.

Identify tone in Celia’s letters.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 49–55 — "Celia's Letters: 1935-1940"

Lesson

Describe the relationship between Lourdes and Pilar.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 57–64 — "A Grove of Lemons"

Lesson

Analyze and explain how Lourdes’s tragic past may have shaped her current views on Cuba, the United States, and immigration.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 64–74 — "Lourdes"

Lesson

Explain the events that have shaped Felicia’s character thus far.

Analyze and explain how the author uses tone to create suspense.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 75–83 — "The Fire Between Them"

Lesson

Describe the relationship between Ivanito and his mother, Felicia.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 83–89 — "Ivanito Villaverde"

Lesson

Discuss the impact men have had on the del Pino women so far in this novel.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 89–95 — "Celia"

Lesson

Explain how Garcia reveals Celia’s past through her letters.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 97–101 — "Celia's Letters: 1942-1949"

Lesson

Explain how the Cuban revolution impacts the relationship of Felicia and Celia.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 105–111 — "The Meaning of Shells (1974)"
“Fidel Castro, Cuban Revolutionary Who Defied U.S., Dies at 90”

Lesson

Trace the development of Celia’s internal conflict and how she attempts to solve it.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 111–119 — "1975"

Lesson

Discuss and debate the fate of Hugo Villaverde.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 119–126 — "Lus Villaverde"

Lesson

Contrast how Garcia describes New York and Cuba and explain what theme is revealed.

Explain the symbolism of Pilar’s gift to Lourdes.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 127–133 — "Enough Attitude (1975)"

Lesson

Analyze the relationship between Lourdes and Pilar.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 134–144 — "Pilar (1976)"

Lesson

Explain how Garcia uses symbolism to convey theme.

Identify and interpret irony in Felicia’s story.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 145–155 — "Baskets of Water, Ivanito"

Lesson

Analyze and explain the relationship between Celia and Javier.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 155–160 — "1978"

Lesson

Analyze the impact of the author’s choice in chronology.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 161–165 — "Celia's Letters: 1950-1955"

Lesson

Explain how the author develops Lourdes’s character.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 167–175 — "A Matrix of Light"

Lesson

Analyze and explain how Garcia further develops Pilar’s character.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 175–181 — "Pilar (1978)"

Lesson

Explain the factors that led to Felicia’s death.

Analyze the symbolism of the seashells.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 183–191 — "God's Will, Herminia Delgado"

Lesson

Analyze and interpret Garcia’s use of flashback.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 193–203 — "Daughters of Chango (1979)"

Lesson

Explain how Garcia further develops character through Celia’s letters and Jorge’s visits.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 205–209 — "Celia's Letters"

Lesson

Analyze Garcia’s use of juxtaposition.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 213–222 — "The Languages Lost: Six Days in April"

Lesson

Explain how Garcia reveals the impact that Cuba has on Lourdes.

Analyze how Garcia uses juxtaposition to reveal theme.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 222–232 — "Lourdes"

Lesson

Students will be able to explain the title of the final section using evidence from the final scenes.

Materials

Dreaming in Cuban pp. 232–244 — "Castro Announces Mariel Boatlift"

Lesson

Assessment

Content Assessment

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