Friendship Across Boundaries: Return to Sender

Lesson 17
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ELA

Alternate Unit 2

5th Grade

Lesson 17 of 29

Objective


Summarize what the coyotes are demanding and what impact this has on Mari and her family and the Paquettes. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez  pp. 213 – 226

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Summarize what the coyotes are demanding. What impact does this have on Mari and her family? The Paquettes? Explain. 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • Tyler starts the chapter by saying, "April is definitely turning into a month of surprises." Summarize the surprises described on pages 213-215, and the impact they have on different people.

  • Read the quote from page 217: "Grandma closes her eyes as if she's hoping that it's all a nightmare that will disappear when she opens them again." Explain the significance of this quote. Compare Grandma's response with the way others respond.

  • How do the demands of the coyotes impact Grandma's actions? What does her conversation with Mr. Rossetti reveal about how this situation is impacting her?

  • What does the word "baffled" mean as used on page 225? What does Tyler say that makes his aunt and uncle feel baffled?

  • How does Mr. Cruz respond to Tyler's offer?

Vocabulary


agitated

adj.

bothered by something

undisclosed

adj.

not shared with the public

wholeheartedly

adv.

completely

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.5.2 — Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
  • RL.5.3 — Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

Supporting Standards

L.5.4
L.5.4.b
L.5.5
RF.5.3
RF.5.4
RL.5.1
RL.5.4
RL.5.10
SL.5.1
W.5.10
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Lesson 16

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Lesson 18

Lesson Map

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